The Occult And Spiritism
I. Introduction
A. This study in a broader sense applies to any supernatural source of guidance or information apart from God.
1. Ouigi boards, astrology, horoscopes, seances, E.S.P., out of body travel, palm & tea leaf reading, devil worship
2. Some are fake: Col 2:18. Others may be genuine: Ax 16:16. All are condemned!
3. money is always the primary motivation: Micah 3:11; Jer 6:13; 2 Pe 2;1-3; Jude 11
II. The Bible's View
A. General Condemnations:
1. Central passage in the Bible: Deut 18:9-14
a) Jews did not heed warning but violated the commandment: 2 Ki 17:16-18
2. Divination, soothsaying, fortune-telling, mediums, sorcery, spell casting & dreamers condemned:
a) Lev 19:26,31; 20:6; Isa 47:12; Jer 27:9; Micah 5:12
B. Astrology And Development Of Horoscope:
1. Eyes drawn to the stars beauty: Deut 4:19
2. Worship of the stars: 2 Ki 23:5; Rom 1:18-25
3. Prophecy by stars, predict by moon: Isa 47:12-14 4. Terrified by the signs in heavens: Jer 10:2
C. Penalty For Practicing, Death: Ex 22:18
III. Imposters Meet The Real Thing:
A. Pharaohs magicians meet Moses & Aaron: Ex 7:8-13
1. The magicians were merely practicing magic arts, like Houdini
B. The Witch of En-Dor meets Samuel: 1 Sam 28:7-14
1. Notice the witch's reaction when she actually sees a spirit!
C. The Kings Sorcerers Meet Daniel:
1. Sorcerers: Dan 2:1-13,19
2. Daniel: Dan 2:27-30
D. King Ahab's prophets meet Micaiah: 1 Ki 22:1-28
1. The Jews were warned against false prophets and spiritualists: Jer 27:9-10; Ezek 13:1-9
2. Christians today are warned about giving heed to false prophets: 2 Ti 4:2-4; Mt 24:11
E. Simon the sorcerer meets Philip: Ax 8:4-24
l. Today's Pentecostal pastors, faith healers and all who claim to have gifts of the Holy Spirit would react the same as Simon if they actually saw a true miracle worker: Col 2:18
IV. Conclusion:
Today, disobeying God is the same as the sin of divination: 1 Sam 15:23
By Steve Rudd