...what is witchcraft?
by David J. Stewart
A Biblical definition of witchcraft is: Seeking
SPIRITUAL power, guidance, help, or information from any source other than God
and His Word. It's as simple as that. All power (energy) in this
world either originates in God or the devil.
Now I'd like to share with you some various, perhaps even unsuspecting, forms of witchcraft which you may not have been been aware of:
Yoga is witchcraft because it seeks to open the bodies various "chakras" to channel spiritual power. Kundalini Yoga teaches that each of the planets in our solar system have presiding deities (demons) over them. Through mediation, participants of Yoga are taught to obtain power through demons. Yoga is totally unscriptural.
Ouija Boards are witchcraft because they invoke demonic spirits.
Tarot Cards are witchcraft because they invoke demonic spirits. Just take a look at the devilish Tarot card below...
"... the sin of witchcraft..." -1st Samuel 15:23
Horoscopes are witchcraft because they seek information which is based upon the planets, seasons, birthdates...and NOT upon the Word of God. A woman once told one of my children that a person's birthday determines their gifts in life because of the planets. I told the woman to shut up and NEVER teach that garbage around my kids again. You'd be shocked to know just how many people make MAJOR life's decision based on horoscopes. Horoscopes are based upon Astrology.
Astrology is witchcraft because it seeks to find guidance and life's answers in the alignment of the stars and planets. I actually heard this nut on TV advising people to short the stock market because Mars was passing closer than normal to the earth. I heard another guy say that the president of the U.S. was going to be arrested because of the alignment of the planets on his astrological chart. Well, his planets were out of alignment. It was announced in world news that India's top religious leaders said there would be no nuclear war between India and Pakistan because of what they had seen in the stars. This is all of the devil, NOT God. Astrology is of the devil.
Crystal Balls are witchcraft because they seek information from demonic spirits.
Faith Healing is witchcraft because it seeks to heal people with demonic powers. The Bible clearly teaches that it's the "prayer of faith" that shall heal the sick, not some greedy TV false prophet (like Benny Hinn) that doesn't even preach the Gospel. Benny Hinn is of the devil. Just as the Apostle Peter warned Simon that God's power was not for sale; likewise, God's miracles today are not for sale. These sinister ministers that take advantage of gullible old widows and sick people who are suffering from diseases ought to be hung at high noon. God hates the shedding of innocent blood. Many sincere people seeking for help from God's man have been ripped off, and then forgotten about. Turns out it wasn't God's man after all, but an imposter prostituting Christianity to make a buck. I call them "religious pimps". They abuse the things of God to make a profit.
Astral Projection is witchcraft because it seeks the help of demonic spirits to carry one's spirit out of the body. Though Ezekiel did experience astral projection while in Babylonian captivity (when carried into Jerusalem), it was a miracle initiated by God. It is sinful for anyone to attempt such a practice with the help of Satan. When Peter walked upon the water, he had a royal command from the Lord to do so. God works in His own time, NOT ours. One thing that MOST New Agers have in common is an intense interest in the paranormal. They seek POWER. They are NOT grounded in the Word of God and are therefore blown about by every wind of doctrine...
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" -Ephesians 4:14
We read in the Bible about Simon, a former sorcerer. He became a believer upon Christ, but he was still an immature Christian. He actually offered to BUY the power of God (Acts 8:18). Peter rebuked him sharply. We see that Simon was power hungry (as are most of the people who get into Wicca, Yoga, and other black arts of witchcraft). It's the whole concept of casting spells to make their life better that captivates their interest in such evil things. Here's what a group of new converts in the Bible did with such evil things after they got saved...
"Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver." -Acts 19:19
50,000 pieces of silver is estimated in today's worth to be about $48,000. This was no small event. Notice what the Bible calls these forms of witchcraft..."curious arts". It is wicked to dabble in devilish things.
Séances are witchcraft because they invoke the dead through demonic spirits. Saul had consulted a witch in the Old testament to find out who would win the upcoming battle. God allowed Samuel the prophet to return from the dead to pronounce judgment upon Saul and to once-and-for-all settle the matter that conjuring up the dead is prohibited by God.
Also, there is a difference between spirits and ghosts. A "spirit" could describe an angel or a demon. However, a "ghost" specifically refers to the spirit of someone who has died and returned in spirit form. I do NOT believe in ghosts. There is no Biblical record of any departed human being who came back in spirit form. Once a person dies, it's heaven or hell. Though our loved ones in heaven may be able to see us (and perhaps hear us), they certainly cannot contact us or make intercession in heaven for us. The Word of God is adamant that we have only ONE MEDIATOR between us and the Father...The Lord Jesus Christ (1st Timothy 2:5).
Psychics are practicing witchcraft because they are invoking demons. People go to psychics with a desire to know the future. Many police departments around the nation have sinfully employed the use of psychics to located missing persons. Though a person may believe that any means is justified by the end, it surely is not acceptable in the eye's of God Almighty. The Word of God condemns ANY involvement with the Satanic works of black magic. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 reads...
"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, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 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." -Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Deuteronomy 4:16,19 reads...
"Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female...
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven." -Deuteronomy 4:16,19
New Age and Witchcraft
By the way, all the evil practices which I am warning you about are ALL part of the devil's New Age religion. The New Age religion is often not recognized as a "religion" because it has no official headquarters. The entire New Age religion is pure witchcraft because everything it teaches attempts to allure people into Satanic sources of power and guidance. The New Age movement has NO PLACE for God or His Word. The New Age crowd claims that there are MANY roads to God. The Biblical teaching (John 14:6) that Jesus Christ is exclusively the ONLY Way to heaven is totally mocked and rejected by New Agers. As such, religions like Baha'i and other ecumenical groups are welcomed into the New Age circle.
New Age is the end-time religion. It is preparing the masses to receive the antichrist when he comes because of his spiritual POWERS. The antichrist will be the ultimate fulfillment of the New Age philosophy that we are all capable of becoming gods. Thus, nearly every type of "self-improvement" product on the market today is promoting New Age doctrine. Scientology is leading the way as a "self-improvement" religion. Of course, the Word of God exposes Scientology as a false religion. The end time religion will be a ONE-WORLD religion. If you've been keeping abreast of the news and world events in recent years, you fully realize that the world's religions are CONSOLIDATING.
Gradually, the world's religions are compromising their beliefs to become more politically DIVERSE". The Vatican just announced that they will be allowing homosexual priests in the clergy. The Methodists now have umpteen openly professed homosexuals pastoring churches across the world. Pseudo-Christian organization, Christianity Today, sinfully endorses Harry Potter's witchcraft by giving it positive reviews. Now they're saying that banning gay marriages is not the answer. Should it be surprising that a Southern Baptist church in Tennessee recently called an ordained lesbian to be their pastor? Not at all. We are living in apostate days. People are turning away from the TRUTH, not just Biblical truth...ALL TRUTH! It's just unbelievable. Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Witchcraft and the Christian
Believer
No Christian should endorse Harry Potter. No Christian should read the horoscopes or dabble in Astrology. No Christian should participate in Yoga (or any other mind-altering Satanic arts). As born again believers, we are to contend for the faith! We are to stand against evil (Psalm 94:16; Ephesians 6:13). We are to reprove the works of darkness ("And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" -Ephesians 5:11). We are commanded in 2nd Thessalonians 3:6 to "withdraw" ourselves from disorderly believers. When professed Christians start becoming "gay-friendly," it's time to withdraw. All across America, professed "Christians" are falling for the devil's lie that Jesus would have been loving and ACCEPTANT of homosexuals. No sir! Never! No way! Jesus hated sin and NEVER condoned wickedness (Hebrews 1:9). Jesus would not have been understanding towards a group of homosexuals PARADING in rebellion against God down the center of Jerusalem's streets. Let us be vigilant to take an uncompromising stand against evil and corruption. If we don't do it as believers, then who will?
Do You Want Real Power?
The greatest power available to us today is the written PROMISES of the Word of God. If you want power, then do it God's way. Jesus PROMISED that He would return our investment 10,000% (one hundred fold)..."But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life" (Mark 10:30). Everything we do for God is fruitful. If you want real power, then learn the promises of God. The Bible contains over 5,000 promises from God. There is NO power apart from God. Even Satan's power is given by God (Luke 4:7). So if you want real power, forget the middleman of witchcraft, and go right to the source of ALL power...God Almighty!
END
"... the sin of witchcraft..." -1st Samuel 15:23
