Familiar Spirits Bible Study Series

Familiar Spirits Bible Study

(Rev. Barry Johnson and Rev. Rodney Johnson)

NOTE: New Light Faith Ministries and Barry Johnson Ministries, founded by Rodney V. Johnson and Barry O. Johnson, respectively, are partnering to offer Bible studies for Christians who are seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus. This is a Bible study lesson, not a sermon. The Bible studies teach foundational truth that are designed to challenge, encourage and, most importantly, flame the fire of hunger in the Christian who wants to learn more about who they have become in Christ Jesus. The Bible studies you find on this site contains the written version of the lesson. However, these lessons also include a video and an audio file of the study, a PDF version of the lesson and a sheet for note taking. If you would like any of the additional resources for these studies, please email us at newlightfaithministries@gmail.com or bjteachingltr@gmail.com for more information or contact us at the email provided on both of our Sermon Central pages. Be blessed.

Introduction

With the increasing acceptance of television programs like “Ghost” and advertisements like the “Psychic Hotline” and the availability of weekly horoscopes, Satan is successfully influencing Christians (and non-Christians) to seek information and guidance about their lives, their dead family members, and the afterlife from a counterfeit source – spiritualism. Many television shows have shown innocent people going to fortune tellers to try and discern what is going to happen to them or what has happened to their dead loved ones. All of these so-called “innocent” acts open the door for demonic spirits to enter into our lives. Scripture is clear…

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, (11) or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. (12) For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)

In this lesson we will examine closely what familiar spirits are and how they can be invited into our lives by accepting the “entertainment” that Satan has set before us. Notice I used the term “entertainment” because that is really how Satan positions his devices to lead us astray.

Before we get into the lesson, I want to share a personal story with you that a family member who was present during the event shared with me. I am intentionally keeping the names of the individuals and their relationship to us private. Several years ago, a family member became sick and woke up one morning unable to walk. The day before, the person was fine and had no health issues at all. But the next morning, he awakened paralyzed and could not walk. His father, a Christian minister, believed that the individual’s spouse had put a spell on him. So, he enlisted the person’s sibling to assist him in taking the person to another fortune teller in an attempt to get the spell removed. When they walked into the room, the fortune teller looked at the three of them and immediately focused her attention on the sibling who was not paralyzed – not the person who had been brought to her to remove the spell that had been placed on him.

She looked at the sibling and asked her if she were a minister. The sibling responded that while she was not a minister, their father, who was present, was a minister. Now pay close attention to what the fortune teller told this person next. She said, and I quote, “We know him, but you should not be here because I can see the glory of God all around you.” Although their father was a minister, this fortune teller looked at the sibling and told her that she could see the glory of God around her and for that reason she should not be there.

I want you to keep this story in mind because, as I said, the story was shared personally with me by this sibling, a very close family member. Also, remember that authentic fortune tellers operate under the influence of familiar spirits, so let’s talk about what they are.

Familiar Spirits

Before we get into the meat of the lesson, we want you to understand this simple truth: the living cannot speak to or interact with the dead. The Bible is unwavering on this truth. We are going to read a few passages to help establish this truth in your hearts and minds. But before we do, let me say this: if the Bible is not your sole standard for judging and evaluating what you see and what you hear in life, then you may disagree with what it says about the living communicating with the dead and whether or not you agree with the Bible will be between you and God.