Title: Consulting Mediums, spirits and Spiritualist is it wrong
Subject: The occult and the Christian
Introduction: Our question for this evening is this “is it wrong to consult with a psychic or the spirits?” This we have specific commands about. God gave Moses clear instructions on this and it applies to us just as much today as it did then. Our nation is filled with Spiritualist, psychic hot lines even Ouija boards can be bought for kids to play with. The newspapers have daily horror scopes listed in them. People follow these things daily.
Core: But should we as Christians be delving into these things. That is the jest of the question, what does God say about it and where can we go find scripture to back up our position. The O.T. was clear on it Deuteronomy, Leviticus and 1st Samuel all have verses concerning it. God knows your future as well as He knew your past, in fact He knew it all before you were even born, so why doesn’t He reveal it to you, because He wants you to Trust Him for all things including your future. As we delve into this subject we will see what God told Moses to do in Israel and what King Saul actually did in regards to seeking out the future. Keep in mind God doesn’t want us to consult anyone but Him in matters of our life. We are definitely not to seek answers through the occult.
Body
I. This is a great question for this Wednesday it would be better of course, for the following week because Halloween will be here and it is time for costumes.
A. Witches were and are a popular costume even more today
1. Vampires
2. Werewolves
3. Ghost
4. Goblins all will be out on Halloween night
B. Some call it all saints day here are some facts for us to digest concerning Halloween:
1. Found this in a dictionary for the term Saint, “The original Christian usage referred to any believer who is "in Christ" and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth.”
2. 1st Corinthians 14 backs up this definition, we read in verse 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
3. You see that all churches of saints or of believers
4. Halloween is called all saints day, yet it portrays the occult not God.
5. Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain (pronounced "sah-win").
6. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture.
7. Samhain was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and prepare for winter.
8. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead overlapped and the deceased would come back to life and cause havoc such as sickness or damaged crops.
9. The festival would frequently involve bonfires.
10. It is believed that the fires attracted insects to the area which attracted bats to the area.
11. These are additional attributes of the history of Halloween.
12. The practice of dressing up in costumes and begging door to door for treats on holidays goes back to the Middle Ages
13. Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of "souling," when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2).
14. It originated in Ireland and Britain, although similar practices for the souls of the dead were found as far south as Italy.
C. Today we see all sorts of costumes and practices with Halloween, but many seek out Psychics and spiritualists on this day too.
1. So how does this all go to our question
2. These things have a prominent place in the occult practices
3. Therefore they tie in with Halloween and our question
4. We dive in now to what God says about the practice of the occult.
II. We start with Leviticus 20: 27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
A. This was a serious offense to God and should have been for Israel
1. Matthew Henry states: “It would be an affront to God and to his lively oracles, a scandal to the country, and a temptation to ignorant bad people, to consult them, if such were known and suffered to live among them.”
2. He continued on to say “Those that are in league with the devil have in effect made a covenant with death and an agreement with hell, and so shall their doom be.”
B. We see next Deuteronomy 18:10-14 which states; 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
1. These people are considered an abomination to God
2. Because the people in the land practiced these things God said He would drive them out
3. That is one of the Reasons God wanted the Canaanites driven out of the land
4. He wanted them utterly destroyed.
C. We see also Leviticus 20: 6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
1. Going to them is forbidden
2. It would result in one being cutoff from the nation Israel
3. God condemns the practice of utilizing this
4. We have in our day many of these practices occurring:
a. Tarot cards
b. Palm Readers
c. Horoscopes
d. Ouija Boards
5. These are all modern forms of spiritualist practices
6. They are dangerous links to the demonic world
7. Even if undertaken in a spirit of fun
8. They can turn into a habit and then become a serious offense toward God
9. It is a money making business
10. When the medium performs a séance
11. Gullible people give a lot of money to be deceived into believing that their hearing from a dead person
12. Think about this, often the so called medium believe the message they received are from the spirits of the dead
III. Let’s look now at a prominent Israelite King who sought out a medium or as she is known a witch. 1st Samuel 28:5-19; 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
A. The philistines are gathering for war.
1. Saul is afraid
2. So much so that his heart trembled we are told
3. He goes to the Lord but gets no answer
4. No one else could get him answers
B. So he decided to turn to satan
1. Just as many today turn to the worldliness of psychics
2. Spiritualist
3. Tarot readers
4. As well as Palm readers
C. He goes to as she is called a witch
1. Spiritism
2. Remember this was forbidden in the book of Deuteronomy
3. God said this was an abomination
4. The people were to be put out of the land or stoned for practicing these things
D. We see 1st Timothy 4:1&2 applies for us today, 1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1. Many believers today seek after this practice
2. Seducing spirits
3. Doctrines of devils
4. Their conscience seared with a hot iron
E. The witch calls up what are called gods ascending out of the earth
1. She doesn’t say it is Samuel
2. Verse 14 says Saul perceived it was Samuel
3. He saw what he wanted to see
4. She said that what she saw was an old man covered with a mantle
5. His face stooped to the Ground
6. They jumped to the conclusion that it was Samuel
7. Because they did he answered as Samuel
8. You see demons can impersonate what they will
9. 2 Corinthians 11:13 & 14 we see, 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
10. Saul opened the door for satan and satan moved right in
F. You see that is what we do if we go to a psychic, spiritualist whatever we want to call it.
1. Now understand something here
2. If you are a believer you have the Holy Spirit residing in you
3. Therefore you cannot be demon possessed
4. However, if you are walking in the world and acting as the world acts
5. You can be demon influenced
6. Possession entails the demons controlling a person’s spirit and owning his or her soul.
7. Ultimately, a possessed person has no control over any area of his or her life.
8. Christians can be oppressed in the soul area by demonic influence.
G. What is the difference, here is what Dr. Chafer says about it:
1. Demon Influence / Activity – Demon influence is thought transference of satanic doctrine to the soul and personality of the unbeliever, or to the believer living in the cosmic system (1 Timothy 4:1) “1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”. It is accomplished through both demonic and human agents, primarily through demon possession, and secondarily through every mode of communication, in person to person contact, literature, theatre, music, etc. The degree of demon influence depends on how long the believer resides in the cosmic system without the use of confession of personal sin, restoration to fellowship with God, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Demons are active in and behind some religious ritual (1 Corinthians 10:20) 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. (Romans 1:18-2518 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen; 1 Corinthians 10:14 14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry, 19-2121 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils). Demon influence should be distinguished from demon possession.
2. Demon Possession – Demon possession is defined as demon invasion of the body of the unbeliever only. Generally, this occurs by means of demonic religious ecstasy, and is often accompanied by music which encourages ecstatic experience, and drugs. The Holy Spirit protects the believer from demon possession (1 John 4:4; 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world ). In contrast, demon influence is the demon invasion of the soul with satanic thought. Satanic thought is not expressed in terms of evil, but in terms of improving this world, doing nice things for one's fellow man, and supporting crusades. It is false thinking, comprised of the policy and principles by which Satan operates.
Conclusion: Scripture is clear on the subject of seeking out psychics, spiritualist, Palmist, Tarot cards readers etc. it is expressly forbidden for believers. In fact as we saw in the O.T. Law which said put them to death. God knows your future as well as He knew your past, in fact He knew it all before you were even born, so why doesn’t He reveal it to you, because He wants you to Trust Him for all things including your future. God doesn’t want us to consult anyone but Him in matters of our life. We are definitely not to seek answers through the occult.
