DON’T PLAY WITH GHOSTS, WITCHCRAFT OR MEDIUMS
Deut. 18:9-12
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. This reminds me of the two old baseball players, Abe and Jake, who made a deal. Whichever one died first, he would come back and tell the other guy if there's baseball in Heaven.
2. A few months later, poor Abe passed on. Soon afterward, Jake sat in the park feeding the pigeons and heard a voice whisper, "Jake... Jake..."
3. Jake responds, "Abe! Is that you?" "Yes it’s me!" Jake asks, "So, is there baseball in Heaven?"
4. "Well," says Abe, "I've got good news and bad news." "Gimme the good news first," says Jake. Abe says, "Well, there is baseball in Heaven."
5. Jake says, "That's great! So what’s the bad news?" Abe sighs and whispers, "You're pitching on tomorrow!"
B. DEFINITION: “Ghosts” -In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost or specter, phantom, or apparition is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. (Wikipedia)
C. MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
1. “When the disciples saw him [Jesus] walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear” Matt. 14:26. Also Mark 6:49 and Luke 24:37.
2. After Christ’s resurrection, He had them touch Him to convince them that He was not a ghost; “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Luke 24:39
D. THE SPIRITUAL REALM IS REAL
1. There is a spiritual realm. Some can see it and others can't. This is very clear in the story of Elisha and his servant.
2. “Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” 2 Kgs. 6:14-17. They were angelic.
I. DIFF. BTW ANGELS & HUMAN SPIRITS
Angels and spirits are real. “The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.” Acts 23:8. Paul confessed he was a Pharisee, vs. 6.
A. ANGELIC SPIRITS
1. There is a difference between angels and human spirits. The Angels are a finite number and were created at the beginning of creation.
2. They observed the creation of the Earth and the universe and, I suppose, the creation of human beings.
3. According to the book of Hebrews, angels are "spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation" Hebrews 1:14.
B. HUMAN SPIRITS
1. Humans spirits, however, were not all created at one time, nor is there a limited number that is not increasing, like Angels.
2. Instead, the human spirit is formed within the physical body while it is in formation in the mothers womb, Zech. 12:1; "Who forms ("fashions", Mal. 2:10) the spirit of man within him."
3. So in the Garden of Eden there were only 2 human spirits; now there are billions! One similarity with Angels is that our spirit lives forever, in heaven or hell.
II. DISCUSSION ON SPIRITUAL MIGRATION
There are at least three different spirits in existence which could be interpreted as ghosts: spirits of Angels, spirits of humans, and spirits of animals.
A. MIGRATION OF ANGELIC SPIRITS
1. 1/3 of the Angels fell, following Satan into sin. They were "cast out" of heaven, imprisoned in the abyss or Tartarus, or degenerated into demons.
2. Evidently these demons roam freely in the earthly sphere and can possess individuals who are not safeguarded by covenant, or who open themselves up to demonic activity, or who become slaves to sin.
3. This might be one of the reasons why Paul calls Satan the Prince of the principality of the air.
4. So demon spirits are allowed to migrate around the unsanctified zones of the Earth. Undoubtedly they can’t come near nor would they desire to come near, the righteous or the wholesome; but only near that which is unclean and spiritually corrupted. (1 Jn. 4:4; 5:18).
B. MIGRATION OF HUMAN SPIRITS
1. Paul stated that “to be absent from the body, [is] to be present with the Lord” 2 Cor. 5:8.
2. According to Ecclesiastes 12:7, the human spirit "returns to God who gave it," that is, to God to dispose of it as He sees fit.
3. In Luke 16, we see that Lazarus was immediately transported by the Angels to heaven, while the rich man woke up in hell. There is no reported period of wandering; human spirits are disposed of by God at death either in heaven or hell.
III. WITCHES, GHOSTS, OUIJA BOARDS
A. WE ARE COMMANDED NOT TO SEEK THE DEAD
1. “…do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who…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; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.” Deut. 18:9-12.
2. So what looks so innocent or scientific on "Ghost Hunters" where they try to contact ghosts, isn't just goofy but is extremely evil in the sight of the Lord. God commanded us not to do it.
3. Any kind of meeting where people are trying to contact the dead will only end up forming a connection with some kind of demonic spirit.
4. In His wisdom, God said not to do it, to protect us from coming into contact with demon spirits and meddling in things of the spiritual realm to which he did not appoint us. Using Ouija Boards and reading your Astrology/ the Zodiac is wrong in the sight of God.
B. HAUNTED HOUSES, BAD SPIRITS. So what about haunted houses or buildings where we feel demonic oppression? What should we do about it?
1. I do not believe that human spirits are present to "haunt" a house; it may however be the presence of demonic origin. Demons ARE attracted to things that are sadistic, schizophrenic, occultic, or people who offer themselves as mediums.
2. I have many times gone to people's houses to anoint them, pray over them, and to impart peace to them (Matt. 10:12-13).
3. It’s possible, that if someone lived there before and dabbled in the occult, or, if there are occult materials in the house, that there may be some demonic presence still there.
4. That's where prayer and anointing services drive away any evil presence in the name of Jesus. There’s no set way, but most people circle the house and anoint the doors and windows and plead the blood of Jesus over the entire residence and rebuke any evil spirits and command them to go in the name of Jesus.
5. Then you ask the Lord to enshroud the residence with his Holy Spirit and peace. “Whatsoever we bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever we loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
6. Thank God for his wonderful authority in the spiritual realm and for the Name of Jesus so that we need not be troubled or afraid, but have peace and joy.
C. INSANITY OR SADISTIC MOVIES/BOOKS
1. I want to add one area to my concerns. I believe that movies that portray psychopathic, schizophrenic, or sadistic characters are dangerous to our psyche. Buzzfeed in 2022 had an article “27 Traumatic Filming Experiences That Affected Actors Even When The Cameras Were Off.” https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahmarder /actors-who-were-traumatized-by-one-of-their-roles
2. These actors & actresses’ performance in a disturbing movie never left them. I watched The Dark Knight (Batman) where Heath Ledger portrayed the psychopathic Joker (he had studied psychopathic & schizophrenic mass murderers) and I didn’t like the darkness in it. Ledger overdosed with drugs just before its release.
3. Our own psychological perceptions can be warped if we watch too much twisted-thinking. Stay away from horror movies unless you want to live with the images forever replaying in your mind!
4. Another evil spirit is LUST. Stay away from all pornography or R/X rated movies. They give you bad ideas the devil will encourage you to do yourself.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Tai Mabogungi attended seminary with me. His family had been witch doctors in Africa for many generations.
2. He had a powerful conversion to Christianity and then was filled with the baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in other tongues.
3. His father tried to dissuade him, but to no avail. His father wanted to send demon powers to attack him, but couldn't because they're of the same bloodline.
4. So his father hired another witch doctor to send demon forces. That night the demons attempted to attack Tai, but he resisted them in the name of Jesus and by praying in the Spirit all night long. He said it was a terrible fight in the spiritual realm, but he and Jesus prevailed.
5. The demons then went back and attacked the witch doctor who had sent them, and he in turn sent men to beat up Tai’s father, saying,
6. "You didn't tell me that we were attacking a Holy Ghost Christian! You know the demons have no power against them. You should have told me!"
7. What a great honor to know that the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are respected in the spiritual realm!
B. THE CALL
1. Mt. 18:18 says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Let’s bind the forces of hell during this Halloween season.
2. If you have had any associations with evil spirits or darkness, it’s time to renounce them and begin to serve the Lord in freedom.
3. James told us to “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (4:7). This is what we’re going to do tonight.
4. PRAYER
