The Occult

Included in things of the occult are precognition (or fortune-telling), ESP, telepathy, clairvoyance, automatic writing, ouija boards and other games that claim a magical or demonically spiritual orientation, astrology, horoscopes, tea leaf reading, palmistry, techniques of mind expansion, drugs, hypnotism, mind control, transcendental meditation, yoga, sorcery or witchcraft, physical phenomena, telekinesis, levitation, astral projection, spiritism, seances and satanism, animal and human sacrifices, animism, etc.

In natural and spiritual history, a society degenerates according to a pattern. It goes from a diminishing God-centered spiritual life, to legalism, to materialism, to liberalism, to seeking life's answers outside the Bible, and then to spiritism, couched in the occult. Occultism often involves drugs, idolatry and sexual perversion.

Even as we are besieged with the many forms and avenues of satanic influence, we have the absolute authority, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to bind the powers of darkness and dispel them. They must do our bidding as we speak "in the name of Jesus." (Matthew 16:19CloseMatthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid* on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit* on earth will be permitted in heaven." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) , Matthew 18:18CloseMatthew 18:18 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Mark 16:17CloseMark 16:17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Luke 10:18-19CloseLuke 10:18-19 "Yes," he told them, "I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Ephesians 1:17-23CloseEphesians 1:17-23 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom* and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.* I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

What Scripture Says

"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 18:10-13CloseDeuteronomy 18:10-13 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.* And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty." (Malachi 3:5CloseMalachi 3:5 "At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21CloseGalatians 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

"Do not allow a sorceress to live." (Exodus 22:18CloseExodus 22:18 "You must not allow a sorceress to live. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) This was the Old Testament means of eliminating a practice and manifestation of the enemy, Satan.

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19CloseLuke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,  for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,  that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free,   and that the time of the LORD's favor has come.*" OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

"But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." (Revelation 21:8CloseRevelation 21:8 "But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

How to be Free

If you have been involved in occultism in any form - even if you have only read about it - renounce any specific occult activity and occultism in general. Repent of your belief in and practice of the occult. It is sin and an abomination to God. Ask forgiveness of God. He will deliver you, save you and lead you into truth. ( :Close : OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE () John 1:8-9CloseJohn 1:8-9 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; John 1:12CloseJohn 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; Romans 6:23CloseRomans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; John 16:13CloseJohn 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

You need the baptism with the Holy Spirit to have an overcoming victorious life. The Holy Spirit warns you concerning what is of sin and what is of God. (John 16:7-11CloseJohn 16:7-11 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate* won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The world's sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) By faith repent and put your faith in Christ for salvation. (Romans 10:9-13CloseRomans 10:9-13 If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced."* Jew and Gentile* are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) By faith, also ask the Lord to baptize you (fill you) with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13CloseLuke 11:13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ) It is the Holy Spirit who gives the ability to stay free from the deception and spiritual bondage of occultism.

Replace occult books, magazines, etc. with the Bible and Christian reading matter. Seek Christian fellowship and practice Christian living. A complete break with occultism is necessary.

If you have attempted to pray to God, change your life, or cease occult or associated activities, but have discovered an inability to do so, you may need further help. God has equipped Christians to minister to you. You do not have to remain in spiritual bondage. Contact your local pastor to help you locate a Christian counselor whose ministry includes deliverance from spiritual bondage.

As You Pray

As you ask forgiveness and God's help, thank and praise Him for His assurance of deliverance from the occult. As you commit your life to God, ask Him to lead you to those Christians who are capable of helping you in your need.

References/Homework

"Saturate" yourself with Scriptures. Begin with the gospel according to John. Then read the rest of the New Testament. Acquire a Bible study guide. Get into a Holy Spirit-led fellowship. Learn about Jesus and get serious with God. You will recognize the counterfeit when you know the real God.

Defeated Enemies, by Corrie ten Boom

Demons in the Word Today, by Merrill Unger

The Devil's Alphabet, by Kurt Koch

His Infernal Majesty, by Dave Breese.

Occult abominations (Deuteronomy 18:9-22CloseDeuteronomy 18:9-22 "When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.* And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things." Moses continued, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the LORD your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai.* You said, `Don't let us hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.' "Then the LORD said to me, `What they have said is right. I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him. I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf. But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.' "But you may wonder, `How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the LORD?' If the prophet speaks in the LORD's name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

Example of God's power over occultism (Acts 13:6-12CloseActs 13:6-12 Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing. Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, "You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time." Instantly mist and darkness came over the man's eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him. When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

Occultism exposed (Jeremiah 27:9-10CloseJeremiah 27:9-10 "`Do not listen to your false prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say, "The king of Babylon will not conquer you." They are all liars, and their lies will lead to your being driven out of your land. I will drive you out and send you far away to die. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard translation of the Bible.