Does it make any difference to you what the Bible says on these subjects? If not, the remainder of this sermon will be of little value. Does God’s attitude and disposition change from the Old Testament to the present day? “For I am the Lord, I do not change” Malachi 3:6. God’s declared position is as clear about this matter of spiritism as it is about homosexuality and marriage. Since the sin incident in the beautiful garden, Satan has been challenging God’s declared Word. “Has God indeed said?” Genesis 3:1b.
If we knew the extent of spiritism in our day, shock and dismay would be our portion. Millions of dollars are made by the printed horoscopes. Astrology has swept our country, not to mention other heathen nations. Are you aware that Nancy Reagan looked to the stars after her husband was shot at? (She did not want it known, but the man she made an enemy of exposed her action.) Her public explanation was the stress concerning her husband’s welfare. Her action was an insult to everyone who voted for her husband. Imagine it! The determination of the President’s action dictated by the stars! Of course he was in concurrence.
What blatant disregard for God’s promises, plan, and purpose. Many of our USA presidents operated on this basis in the past. One of the greatest demonstrations of this depen-dence was Adolph Hitler, who was responsible for the death of millions, plus leaving much of Europe in ruins. Large USA corporations make no great investments without consulting the stars. We wonder at American’s economic chaos?
God only knows the price paid for utter disregard of His person and plan. We do see some of the consequence. When God says “No,” we pay a dear price for rebellion and disobe-dience. I wonder when our nation will awaken. Only when individuals like you and me say “NO” and announce our convictions.
Ultimate End of Witchcraft
Are you aware that spiritism (sorcery) is a part of fleshly works? All guilty of such practice will never enter heaven. Many additional practices are also listed here. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, SORCERY, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like: of which I tell you beforehand, just I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” Galatians 5:19-21. Also read Revelation 21:8 and 22: 14, 15.
A Sign of the Last Days
The revival of spiritism indicates that our opportunity for preaching the TRUTH is drawing short. “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” ITimothy4:1, 2.
King Saul’s loss of his crown and wretched death were the result of his dealing in spiritism. Notice God’s reaction to such: “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did not inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” I Chronicles 10:13, 14.
Stoning was the capital punishment that God demanded for spiritual mediums. “A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them” Leviticus 20:27. “And the person who turns after mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people Leviticus 20:6.
When Samuel desired to impress Saul with the enormity of his sin of disobedience, he likened it to spiritistic witchcraft. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king”
I Samuel 15:23.
Peter condemned Simon, who used sorcery and bewitched the people. “For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God. And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorcery for a long time’” Acts 8:7-11. “Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you” Acts 8:18-22.
The Apostle Paul struck Elymas, the sorcerer, blind~ “Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘0 full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And no, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand’” Acts 13:6-11.
A fortune-teller does so by demonic, power. This we learn from Paul’s dealing with such a one. “Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the
name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out that very hour” Acts 16:16, 18. Such action on Paul’s part meant a beating and jail. Please don’t waste your time feeling sorry for him. His reaction? “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” Acts 16:25. He walked away with a jail bar in one hand and the converted jailor in the other.
No Tolerance with God
Spiritual mediums are not allowed to continue in existence. “You shall not permit a sorceress to live” Exodus 22:18. (The same fate is announced for those having sex with animals.) “Whoever lies with a beast shall surely be put to death” Exodus 22:19.
No attention is to be given to spiritism. “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” Leviticus 19:31.
We know what is an abomination before God. He has informed us in His Word. Better not be under such, for His judgment will be severe. “When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 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, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 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. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you” Deuteronomy 18: 9-14.
No Communication with the Dead
How do you know? It is not a parable! God does not identify this story as such. The rich man could not communi-cate with his brothers after death. Lazarus could not do so. “But Abraham said, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but not he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us” Luke 16:25, 26. In séances people think they hear the voice of dead loved ones. Many times demons are imitating their voices. No one from the dead has contact with the living.
It only takes one verse from the Bible to refute the idiocy of reincarnation. “And as it is appointed for men to die ONCE, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27.
Everything God wants you to know about the future is written in understandable language in His Word—the BIBLE. If your enquiry goes beyond God’s revelation, you are in for serious trouble. You desire to know more than God intends for you. God states a clear and unmistakable “NO” to witchcraft, fortune-telling, crystal reading palmistry, Ouija boards, astrology, horoscopes, palm and tea leaf readings, and black or white magic in any form. Be careful to properly train your children that no such thing exists as magic. Slight of hand is one thing, but all magic is of the devil. We put him to flight by resistance. “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” James 4:7.
If you surrender any part of your body to evil spirits, you become enslaved to Satan’s power. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?” Romans 6:16. The resurrection Power of the living Christ must come inside of you. Never will His presence be there until you repent of sin and trust in the faithfulness of Christ, meeting all the righteous demands of His Holy Heavenly Father in your behalf. God, on the basis of Christ’s death and resurrection, will forgive and cleanse you of sin~ He will give you absolute power over all sin. Of course, a Christian obeys the Lord. “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” Romans 6: 17, 18.
You are personally responsible for that which lodges in your mind. With the Lord’s help, stop filling it with the darkness of Satan. Present the members of your body to God for the accomplishment of His plan and purpose. “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life” Romans 6:19, 22.
Let me give you a final word of warning! Stop doing that which God says “NO” to. Fill your mind with that which He has outlined for you. “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS” Philippians 4:8.
I have shared with you biblical facts as to God’s evaluation of the occult. Will you go into action in refuting such? In calling out to God for divine intervention with your mind, heart, and body? “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these DO, and the God of peace will be with you” Philippians 4:9. (by Dwight Porter, D.D.)
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