The Occult. Demystifying the Deeds of Darkness. By June Hunt

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1 Occult The Occult Demystifying the Deeds of Darkness By June Hunt Just how old is the occult? And what is its appeal? An appetite for supernatural knowledge and power is the same hunger that brought spiritual death to the inhabitants of Eden. As Satan channeled his words through a snake, his subtle seduction of Eve exposed the innate attraction we all have for the unknown. Since that fateful day when Adam and Eve ate forbidden fruit, occultism has flourished. Just as the ancient world was fascinated with numerology, astrology and witchcraft, our contemporary world is enticed by a smorgasbord of horoscopes, fortune-tellers, spirit guides, séances and witch clubs. Tragically, deluded followers seeking the secrets of supernatural power and knowledge are still being seduced today. 2 Cor 11:3 DEFINITIONS If someone were to ask, What exactly is wrong with the occult? how would you answer? The occult has permeated our society to such an extent that we tend to dismiss it as just another fad. You may disregard some new occult craze, but do you understand its real evil? Make no mistake, involvement in the occult launches you into a realm clearly forbidden by God! Lev 20:6-7 A. What Is The Occult? The word occult describes any practice used in an attempt to gain supernatural power or knowledge apart from the God of the Bible. 1 Generally, it refers to superstition, fortune-telling, spiritism, black and white magic, and parapsychology. 2 The word occult comes from the Latin occultus, which means hidden, covered up, concealed. 3 An occultist relies on diverse practices to achieve supernatural power or to acquire supernatural knowledge. (Read 2 Chron 33:1-20.) Biblical Example: Manasseh At age 12, Manasseh succeeds his godly father, King Hezekiah. Over time, this younger King of Judah becomes fascinated with the occult. He follows false gods and through astrology seeks to be led by the stars. Manasseh s descent into the occult knows no bounds. He practices sorcery, divination and witchcraft. He not only consults mediums and spiritists but also burns his children as sacrifices. Because

2 Manasseh and the Israelites deafen their ears to God, the Lord sends the Assyrian army to overpower Israel. They put a hook in Manasseh s nose, bind him with shackles and carry him off to Babylon. In great distress, Manasseh turns to the Lord, deeply humbles himself and prays. As a result, the Lord restores Manasseh to the throne in Jerusalem. Manasseh now knows that his Lord is indeed the only true God. Ultimately, this repentant king destroys all occult objects and stops all rituals and restores the altar of the Lord. What is the difference between a cult and the occult? A cult is a deviant religion that departs from or rejects essential doctrines of the Bible. 4 The occult refers to diverse practices forbidden in the Bible. Most cults do not use occult practices. On the other hand, Wicca also known as witchcraft uses occult rituals, spells and divination in an attempt to gain power over people and nature. 5 Both the cults as well as the occult are equally destructive because their false teachers and prophets promote a misplaced dependence on destructive heresies. 2 Peter 2:1-2 B. What Is Divination? Divination is the attempt to discover hidden knowledge or foretell the future through occult practices. 6 The Hebrew word for divination is qasam, which means to prophesy or soothsay. 7 (Read 1 Sam 28.) Biblical Example: Saul The heart of Saul, King of Israel, is full of fear at the sight of the Philistine army gathered against him. The mediums and spiritists (witches) have been thrown out of the land. Because Saul rejects the Word of the Lord, God rejects him as king and refuses to answer his prayer for direction. Saul disguises himself and travels to the town of Endor to see a medium. He persuades her to consult a spirit and bring up the dead prophet Samuel. To the terror of the medium, Samuel appears. He reminds Saul that on the day he disobeyed, God had already torn the kingdom from his hand and given it to David. Samuel then foretells the defeat of Saul s army, the death of his sons and even his own impending death. What is the difference between learning something hidden and studying Biblical prophecy? Divination is an attempt to know and control the world apart from the one true God. 8 Lev 19:26 says, Do not practice divination or sorcery. Prophecy is the proclamation of the divine will of the one true God. Divination is the pagan parallel of prophecy. 9 2 Peter 1:21 C. What Are Doorways into the Occult?

3 The five primary avenues into the occult are as follows: superstition, divination, spiritism, magic/sorcery, and supernatural phenomena. 10 (Certain occult items or practices can be listed in one category and also overlap into another.) Openings into the Occult Superstition Superstition is unfounded beliefs based not on the Bible but on tradition regarding items or practices assumed to have supernatural power. Bad luck Assigning supernatural power to and avoiding: black cats breaking a mirror (results in seven years of bad luck) walking under ladders number 13 evil eye Good luck Assigning supernatgural power to and trusting in: rabbits feet four-leaf clovers horseshoes knocking on wood crystals amulets talismans religious items Just to be safe, isn t it wise to avoid black cats or walking under ladders? Could breaking a mirror cause seven years of bad luck? No. Believers must not attribute power to created things but to the Creator. Many cultural traditions are not Biblically based. Even church traditions can cause a misplaced dependence... on an object rather than on Jesus... on a statue rather than on the Savior... on a cross rather than on Christ. Col 2:8 Divination Divination is an attempt to divine or foretell the future through the following practices: Astrology The study of the positions of the stars and planets to reveal their supposed influence on people and events Cartomancy Reading tarot cards or a deck of 52 cards

4 Horoscopes Forecasting the future based on dividing the year into twelve sections according to the signs of the zodiac and determining supernatural influences by time, date of birth and the alignment of the stars Numerology Assigning power numbers (the date of your birth) Palmistry Reading lines in the palm of a hand, Chiromancy Psychic games Using games such as the Ouija Board and the Magic Eight Ball for answers Rod and pendulum Locating lost objects or persons or diagnosing diseases Scrying Gazing into a crystal ball, water or mirrors Sortilege Casting lots Tasseography Reading loose tea leaves on the sides or base of a cup Water witching/dowsing Using a divining rod to locate water, minerals or oil Jer 29:8 What is the difference between astronomy and astrology? Astronomy is the scientific study of celestial bodies (sun, moon, stars, planets) beyond the earth in order to present scientific facts. Astrology is the occult study of celestial bodies and their influence on the earth in an attempt to present knowledge of the future. One of the major differences is that the God of the Bible not only forbids astrology, but also promises severe judgment upon astrologers. Isa 47:13-15 Spiritism Spiritism is an attempt to communicate with the unseen world through the following practices: Channeling A spirit guide or medium channels information from the spirit world of a dead person to the person seeking communication. This channeler is in the middle position between both worlds. Familiar spirits A familiar (companion) spirit is usually embodied in a small animal and is held to serve and protect a person. Halloween The darkest day of the year for the underworld occurs when spirits of the dead are believed to roam the earth and commit violent acts and when occult practices are used for power and protection. Materialization The physical manifestation of spirits, ghosts or apparitions.

5 Necromancy Communicating with spirits of the dead. Psychometry Knowledge gained through contact with personal possessions. Reincarnation The belief that a person s soul migrates from one body into another through numerous death and rebirth cycles. (Prevelent in Hinduism and Buddhism) Seances Meetings to receive spirit communications. Sexual spirits Sexual contact with unseen spirits. Shamanism Ancestral spirits. Spirit writing Automatic writing under the influence of spirits. Spirit guides/ spirit imaginary friend A demonic spirit that appears to befriend and protect a person Isa 8:19 Is there any harm in seeking help to communicate with loved ones who have died? Yes, this occult practice is not only forbidden by God, but it also opens the door to being defiled by demonic spirits. Lev 19:31 Magic/Sorcery Magic and sorcery are attempts to control the natural world by invoking supernatural power from the spirit world through various practices. Forms of magic Black magic Intended for evil, using spiritual powers for evil ends, such as selfish gain or to harm rivals and enemies. 11 White magic Intended for good, using rituals to bring about healing, fertility and divining information. 12 What is the difference between a charm and a spell? A charm is a spoken incantation intended to protect the person who is speaking and only that person. Popular use of the word charm has come to include the object itself (an amulet or talisman). 13 The charm is always considered good. A spell is a ritual for raising psychic power and directing it to a specific and practical purpose. A spell can be used for good or evil depending on the intended desire of the individual performing the spell. 14 A spell is often used to invoke evil on an enemy. Channels of magic Witchcraft The word witchcraft is from the Old English word wicca, which means witch. 15 Witchcraft is the use of sorcery or magic by means of objects or sayings to control people or forces of

6 Witchcraft is the use of sorcery or magic by means of objects or sayings to control people or forces of nature. Objects: voodoo dolls, talismans, amulets, potions, locks of hair, chicken bones, clothing, shells Sayings: chants, charms, spells, curses, incantations, calling up of spirits What is an amulet or a talisman? In many minds, there is no difference between an amulet and a talisman. They are both man-made objects believed to possess magical power of protection to ward off evil, including spells and demons. An amulet is an object worn as a protective charm against evil. 16 It is usually a smaller object worn around the neck or wrist. A talisman is an object similar to an amulet but more specific and often constructive, not merely protective. It is designed for a particular individual and purpose, making the maximum use of appropriate symbols. 17 A talisman is usually a larger object held in the hand, such as a sorcerer s wand. Both are usually inscribed with a charm magical words that empower them with protective presence. Ezek 13:20 Modern Magic Books, video and computer games with characters that possess magical powers, and in which the players or leaders call upon these same powers. Modern magic is rooted in the Old Religion or sometimes called the Craft of witchcraft. 18 Many engage in modern magic without realizing they are drawing from the same power source as that of witchcraft. Satanism The word satanism is from the Hebrew word satan, which means adversary. 19 The worship of Satan is marked by mockery of Christianity or exaltation of the powers of evil and baseness. Satanism is practiced by a broad range of individuals. Some declare allegiance to a personal Satan and practice black magic, vengeance and ritual sacrifice. However, others deny that Satan is a personal being and practice satanism as a way to live out their desire for personal power, as well as an outlet for an indulgent and hedonistic lifestyle. 20 Satanic practices include black magic, dismemberment, sexual sacrifices, killing of animals and humans, eating human flesh and drinking blood. Deut 18:10-13 According to the Bible, are some witches good witches? No, quite the contrary. The Bible never presents witches as being good. Scripture mentions nine times that witches deserve the most severe consequence death. Ex 22:18 Supernatural Phenomena Supernatural phenomena is the appearance or manifestation of something beyond the natural realm. Parapsychology is a field of study investigating appearances of paranormal psychological phenomena supernatural mental manifestations. 21 Paranormal means beyond the norm, or supernatural. 22 Eccl 8:7-8

7 Various methods are used in an attempt to give a scientific basis for occult phenomena. Apports The supernatural power to transfer objects through closed rooms and sealed containers Clairaudience The supernatural power to hear something beyond the senses Clairvoyance The supernatural power to see something not present ESP/extrasensory perception The supernatural power to perceive something beyond the senses Kirlian effect The supernatural power to see colored auras around people which reveal information about them Levitation The supernatural power to lift objects or people so that they appear to be floating Mental telepathy The supernatural power to communicate from one mind to another without the senses Precognition- The supernatural power to know something before it occurs Psychic surgery The supernatural power to perform surgery only through the use of the mind Psychometry The supernatural power to identify facts about an object or a person through contact with something a person wore or used Telekinesis The supernatural power to move physical objects by the mind (playing a musical instrument with unseen hands) C. What Is the Relationship between the Occult and Evil? The Bible clearly states that occult activity is real and is the work of Satan and his demons. Even the Pharisees recognized this truth and sought to accuse Jesus of using the demons to heal the blind and the mute. Occult phenomena are real, but the source is not God. Occult power is evil. Occult involvement is progressive. Occult participation brings a person under Satan s control. Occult practices run counter to Biblical commands. Occult involvement breeds rebellion against God. Occult practices and involvement in them are detestable to God.

8 Matt 9:34 Should I be afraid of the occult? No. There is no reason to fear the occult as long as you avoid involvement and rely on the indwelling power of Jesus Christ to overcome evil. 2 Tim 1:7 CHARACTERISTICS OF OCCULT INVOLVEMENT The alcoholic never begins a drinking career by deciding, I m going to become a drunk! In the same way, involvement with the occult may start with an innocent curiosity but quickly spirals into emotional and spiritual bondage. Like most sin, the longer you leave the door to evil open... the more deeply you become drawn away from God. Deut 30:17-18 A. What are the Three Levels of Involvement? #1 Innocent Curiously seeking and experimenting, usually teenagers listening to music with occult lyrics looking to horoscopes and astrological signs for guidance playing psychic games: Ouija Boards, Dungeons and Dragons, automatic writing visiting fortune-tellers wearing jewelry with magical powers: amulets, fetishes reading occult literature 1 Thess 5:21-22 #2 Indoctrinated Making the decision to adopt an occult worldview relying on astrologers, mediums, spiritualists for information joining organized occult groups such as a coven making major life decisions based on occult practices Jer 10:2 #3 Immersed Consciously becoming more deeply involved in black magic and the forces of evil actively joining occult organizations such as Order Temple Orientalkis (OTO) or the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn or other organizations of like mindedness practicing black magic

9 participating in spiritualism and seeking a personal spirit guide participating in ritualistic sacrifices Deut 18:10-13 How do I handle loyalty to a family member or friend who continually pressures me to become involved in the occult? Tell your loved ones that you deeply care about them, but that the Bible forbids such involvement and that you must remain true to the God of the Bible. Don t shield them from the truth and the consequences. Ask, Would you like to read what the Bible says? If the answer is yes, show them the pertinent passages and encourage them to read the Scriptures out loud. Deut 13:6-8 B. What Are Signs of Occult Involvement 23 Obsessed Those caught in occultism experience a change from normal interests to a preoccupied interest in signs and symbols of evil. They become obsessed by an inner craving for several of the following: Occult material Black clothing, Gothic attire 24 Sexual perversion Exclusivity, extreme secrecy Stimulants, drugs Satanic fascination (satanic symbols and items) Evil, violence and suicide Disdain for Biblical truth and authority Ps 52:1-3 Does Satan have the power to affect a person s actions? Yes. Satan can influence a person s heart to do evil. The Bible says that Satan prompted Judas to betray Jesus. John 13:2 Possessed Those controlled by occultism experience a change from what is normal and often appear to be possessed by indwelt and controlled by someone or something unfamiliar. They will exhibit several of the following symptoms: Persistent headaches Obscene, profane language

10 Sleeplessness or extreme sleepiness Suicidal threats or attempts Extreme fears Satanic indulgence Sudden personality changes (loss of contact with reality, the appearance of mental illness, e.g., MPD/DID, schizophrenia) Extraordinary abilities (supernatural revelations and power) Deeds of violence and desecration Biblical example: Matt 8:28 Can a person actually be possessed by Satan? Yes. Judas was possessed and used by Satan to betray Jesus. The Bible says that Satan literally entered into Judas. John 13:27 Can Christians be demon possessed? No. The Bible never presents even one believer as being possessed by a demon. Christians can be oppressed, but not possessed. Instead, they have been bought by the blood of the Lamb; therefore, their bodies are not their own they belong to Christ. 1 Cor 6:19-20 CAUSES FOR AN ATTRACTION TO THE OCCULT The phrase The devil made me do it! is often meant to be a joke... a humorous euphemism in casual conversation, yet Satan, with his demonic influence in this world, is no laughing matter. The temptation to indulge any fascination with the occult leads to courting a deadly danger. 1 Peter 5:8 A. Occult Enchantment For many years the occult has permeated our society. Shopping centers are full of stores displaying occult crystals, horoscopes and Ouija Boards. Witchcraft walks through the doors of our children s rooms in the form of occult books, trolls, games, music, cartoons, movies and Halloween paraphernalia. If God chose to destroy this world today, embedded in the ashes would be overt signs of a world fascinated with the trappings of ungodliness and demonic evil. 1 Tim 4:1 The occult invasion is penetrating movies, television, videos, even cartoons as well as: Books The Satanic Bible, Satan Wants You, Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses (This book, supposedly written by Moses, attributes his supernatural powers to magic.)

11 Sixth Book describes how to enter into a relationship with Satan. Seventh Book describes how those with a relationship with Satan acquire power over earth, heaven and hell through magic. Grimoiries a how-to magic textbook with such processes as how to make lore talismans and how to summon a spirit to do the magician s bidding. Newspapers Horoscopes, articles about witches, warlocks and New Age Seminars Self-improvement seminars that are based on New Age philosophies such as The Forum (formerly EST), Lifespring, and Momentus, among others 25 Schools New Age educators developing textbooks of indoctrination Music Heavy metal and hard or black rock Games/toys Dungeons and Dragons, Ouija Boards, Quake, Heretic The Internet Satan s most unrestricted playground Can children be affected or possessed by demonic spirits? Yes! Children are a prime target for Satan s enchantments. Mark 9:17,21 B. Occult Enticement Behind the entire realm of the occult is Satan, who constantly seeks to capitalize on our hidden fears and secret desires. The basic appeal of the occult philosophy began at the onset of human history. In Gen 3:4-5, the serpent offered Eve four temptations that promised to fulfill her three God-given inner needs for love, for significance and for security. The temptation was more than she could refuse. 1. Escape from death... You will not surely die, the serpent said to the woman. (Gen 3:4) The greatest fear for most people is the fear of death. In many occult rituals, Satan lures his prey with promises of power over life and death. Sometimes he offers immortality through false philosophies like reincarnation. The perceived ability to control life and death provides a false sense of security. 2. Secret knowledge... Your eyes will be opened. (Gen 3:5) In different ways, most occult rituals offer hidden, esoteric knowledge reserved for only a select few. Feelings of specialness enable participants to feel privileged and to fill their need for significance... at least temporarily. 3. Become like a God... You will be like God. (Gen 3:5) Though still just a created, fallen angel, Satan continues the battle to defeat and ultimately become like God. Woven throughout the occult is the New Age mentality, or the old pantheistic mindset that we can become gods. What could be more significant than to be like God? 4. Knowledge of both good and evil... Knowing good and evil. (Gen 3:5) Good and evil are experienced through the practice of magic. Use of magic is supposed to harness occult forces to produce powerful results. Seeking supernatural power and knowledge in opposition to the command of God constitutes rebellion. The occult proves to be more than evil, demonic practices. It parades as counterfeit Christianity. Satan tries to persuade us that God will not provide, tries to tempt us to be self-reliant and to worship him as the ultimate source of power. In the words of the serpent, Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree

12 in the garden? (Gen 3:1). Satan planted the cunning suggestion that God wanted to withhold something good from her and therefore should not be trusted. James 1:14-15 C. Root Cause of Attraction Of all the underlying appeals drawing people to the occult, the predominant cause is to possess supernatural power. The appeal of personal power provides an enticement that ultimately consumes the practitioner. Possession of power fulfills the need for significance, and the use of power becomes the means of obtaining love and security. This compelling desire for power is the driving force to enter the demonic world of the occult. Wrong Belief: I feel significant when I use occult practices to give me supernatural knowledge and power. Right Belief: I do not need to be involved in occult practices to feel significant. My significance comes through having the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ living within me, reflecting His power and glory through me. The more time I stay dependent on Him, the more He is transforming me into His likeness. 2 Cor 3:18 STEPS TO SOLUTION C. S. Lewis said in his book The Screwtape Letters, There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves [the devils] are equally pleased by both. 26 Accordingly, we must be balanced... neither sticking our heads in the sand nor being obsessed with demon possession. God wants you to be a lamp that boldly illuminates the darkened world of the occult... not a light that flickers with fear, nor one that becomes dim with denial, but a light that radiates love and demystifies the deeds of darkness. Matt 5:14-16 A. Key Verse to Memorize Isa 5:20 B. Key Passage to Read and Reread 1 John 4:1-6; John 4:9-10 The Spirit Test 1 John 4:6

13 #1 Are you willing to take a test to see if your beliefs are of God? 1 John 4:1 #2 Are you willing to admit that you could be placing your trust in something false? 1 John 4:1 #3 Are you willing to acknowledge verbally that Jesus Christ, who is God, came in the flesh? 1 John 4:2 #4 Are you willing to admit (if you cannot verbally acknowledge Jesus as being God in the flesh) that the spirit residing in you is not from God? 1 John 4:3 #5 Are you willing to admit that you may have an evil spirit within? 1 John 4:3 #6 Are you willing to overcome the attacks of any evil spirit if you are a Christian? 1 John 4:4 #7 Are you willing to admit that you do not have the Spirit of God living in you to overcome evil? 1 John 4:6 #8 Are you willing to renounce Satan, confess your sins and accept Christ as your Savior (if you are not a Christian)? 1 John 4:9-10 If this is your desire, repeat this prayer... God, I admit I have had a rebellious heart and have sinned against You. Please forgive me for all my sins. I now renounce Satan and all my involvement with the occult. I recognize that You are the one true God. Jesus, thank You for dying on the cross for me and for shedding Your blood on the cross to purchase forgiveness of my sins. Jesus please come into my life to be my Lord and my Savior. I give You complete control of my life. I reject any and all demonic works in my life and now announce to Satan that Jesus is my Lord. I believe that I am saved through Christ and now I belong to You. Thank You for cleansing me of all my sins. I ask for Your power to resist all evil influences. In the powerful name of Jesus, I pray. Amen. C. Key Questions About the Occult Have you even been in a very dark place one where it was literally black? Perhaps you were in a deep cave or a windowless room on a night without moonlight. In such a circumstance it is of great relief to light a candle for illumination. The candle flame seems to put out very little light at first. However, once your eyes become accustomed to it the candlelight allows you to increasingly see more and more of your surroundings. Our Lord Jesus Christ as the light of the world provides us enough light to take the next step into His presence and find our way to the Father.

14 Psychics: Many psychics say their power comes from God. If a prophecy comes true, doesn t that prove the fortune-teller possesses God s power? The true test of genuine prophets from God is that their predictions must be 100 percent accurate. If any of their prophecies do not come true, neither the so-called prophet nor the power is from God. Deut 18:20-22 Fortune Tellers: Can occult fortune-tellers possess supernatural power to be accurate? Yes, but the information is a result of a demonic spirit helping them. Acts 16:16-18 Astrology: Is there any proof that astrological readings are not valid? Yes, astrology has three major problems. 27 #1 The scientific problem: Astrology is based on the belief that the sun circles the earth; however, scientists have proven that the earth circles the sun. 28 #2 The sociological problem: Since astrological readings are based on the exact date and place of birth, identical twins should have the identical future but they don t. One might be a college professor and the other, a high school dropout! #3 The Biblical problem: Astrology violates the Word of God. Isa 47:13-14 Is channeling mentioned in the Bible? Channeling: Although not mentioned by name, channeling makes a dramatic entrance in the Garden of Eden immediately following the creation of Adam and Eve. The serpent channeled a message to Eve from Satan himself... but true to his character, it was a lie. Gen 3:1,4 Rev 12:9 Spiritism: Can dead ancestors bring either help or harm to the living? No. The dead know nothing.... According to the Bible, the dead have no knowledge or feelings about the events on earth, and they have no ability to be involved in this life. A demonic spirit, however, could be a counterfeit of a deceased person.

15 Eccl 9:5-6 Witchcraft: What is the Truth About Witchcraft? God s Heart on Witchcraft Witchcraft is forbidden by God Deut 18:10 Witchcraft angers God 2 Chron 33:6 Witchcraft will be destroyed by God Mic 5:12 Witchcraft destroys peace 2 Kings 9:22 Witchcraft enslaves people Nah 3:4 Witchcraft is a barrier to entering the Kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 D. Repelling the Deeds of Darkness To repel means to turn away, fight against or drive back. Before the invention of the spray can, we would cover ourselves with a sticky liquid to repel pesky insects and to protect our body from poisonous stings and bug bites. An even newer method is the use of a special light bulb that insects will instinctively resist. The demonic is a much more formidable enemy than insects, but you can cover yourself with the blood of Jesus and allow the light of God within you to repel and to protect you from the influences of this world of darkness. 1 John 1:5-7 Renounce any involvement with the occult. Acts 19:18 Remove all objects related to the occult. Acts 19:19 Recognize your enemy as Satan.

16 1 Peter 5:8 Rely on your authority over evil. 1 John 4:4 Refuse fascination with the occult. Deut 18:10-14 Reside in close fellowship with believers. 2 Cor 6:14 Realize the truth of Scripture. 2 Tim 3:16 Read Scripture for wisdom and knowledge. Prov 2:1-6 Reap the benefit of earnest prayer. James 5:16 Remain clothed in the armor of God. Eph 6:10-18 Could my past involvement with demons and the occult separate me from the love of God? When you rely on the sacrifice Christ paid on the cross to forgive all your sins and give Him total control of your life, He not only fully forgives you but also places you into His family forever. You can never be separated from His everlasting love. Rom 8:38-39 E. Dispelling the Darkness One of Satan s strategies is to engage you in anything that would open the door to ungodly influences... ensnaring you through curiosity, excitement, thrill seeking, trickery, subtlety, peer pressure and any other possible means. Just witnessing evil practices exposes you to the evil one behind those practices. Therefore, the key to dispelling the darkness is prayerfully renouncing every exposure to evil that comes to mind in order to remove every possible foothold of Satan in your life. Even occult things that seem innocent can leave you open to demonic attack. 2 Cor 4:2 INVENTORY OF OCCULT INVOLVEMENT

17 Check all the occult powers and practices in which you have been involved where supernatural power or knowledge was sought apart from the God of the Bible. Then, through prayer, renounce your past involvement in them. 29 Superstition Bad luck assigning power to and avoiding Black cats Breaking a mirror Evil eye Num 13 Walking under ladders Good luck assigning power to and trusting Four-leaf clovers Horseshoes Knocking on wood Rabbits feet Religious items Fortune-Telling/Divination Astrology/horoscopes Palmistry (reading lines in the hand, chiromancy) Automatic writing/speaking in a trance Psychic games (Ouija Board, Magic 8 Ball ) Cartomancy (tarot cards) Rod and pendulum (locating lost items or persons, diagnosing illnesses) Dream interpretation (dream work) Shooting arrows and interpreting their flight Fortune-tellers, soothsayers Sortilege (ccasting lots) I-Ching (Chinese book of wisdom and divination) Tea leaf reading (tasseography, patterns formed inside a cup) Numerology (power in numbers) Scrying (gazing into crystal ball, water, or mirrors) Water witching/dowsing (using a divining rod to locate water, oil or minerals) Spiritism Blasphemous, lustful or suicidal voices (demonic, deceiving spirits) Psychometry (identifying persons through objects)

18 Channeling (channelers, mediums) Reincarnation/karma/some regressive therapy (Hinduism, Buddhism) Familiar spirits (companions, animals) Seances (meetings to receive spirit communication) Ghosts, apparitions or manifestations Sexual spirits (sexual contact with unseen spirits) Halloween (spirits of the dead wandering on earth) Shamanism (ancestral spirits) Materialization (physical manifestation of spirit) Spiritists/spirit guides/spirit imaginary friends Necromancy (communicating with spirits of the dead) Magic/Sorcery Alchemy/New Age potions Halloween power Amulets, fetishes, idols and talismans (objects of magic power or worship) Jewish mysticism (kabbalah, Animal and human sacrifices Martial arts power Astral projection Music exalting evil or Satan Blood pacts and ceremonies Occult games (Dungeons & Dragons, Heretic, Quake, Bloody Mary) Crystal power/candle power/pyramid power/ incense power Odinism/Asatru/pantheism/panantheism Cults using the occult (Santeria) Satanism (satanic rituals and symbols) Curses, spells, chants, incantations (Sorcery) Secret religious ceremonies (Freemasonry, The Golden Dawn, Theosophy, Rosicrucians) Cutting the body destructively Tattoos of evil, Satanism or the occult or evil Drinking blood/eating human flesh Satanic folk religions (voodoo/hoodoo/santeria/macumba) Gypsy lore Witchcraft (white or black magic) Supernatural Phenomena

19 Kirlian effect (seeing different colors of auras) Mental telepathy (communicating thoughts without words) Clairaudience (supernatural hearing) Precognition (foreknowledge) Clairvoyance (supernatural visions) Psychometry identifying information through holding worn or used items. Drug induced states (psycho-stimulants) Psychic surgery ESP (extrasensory perception) Telekinesis (moving objects by the mind) Hypnosis/Self-hypnosis (learning information through altered states of consciousness) Visualization (visualizing something into reality) Levitation (lifting objects without touch) Yoga or other religious rituals Other In regard to occult practices, the Bible says (Deut 18:12-13). As a Christian, acknowledge your position in Christ and the presence of Christ within you to cancel any and all oppressive powers. Prayer of Deliverance Lord God, right now I bow only to Your power and authority. I confess that I have submitted to ungodly powers and practices. Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood on the cross to purchase my forgiveness. Thank You for enabling me to become a child of God. Through Your supernatural power I totally renounce (name occult influences). Thank You, that in Christ I am forgiven and free. In His powerful name I pray, Amen. The person drawn into the occult is like the addict drawn into drugs: Both are dependent on a potentially deadly source! To defeat this realm of darkness, make a determined decision: Lord, I refuse all occultic involvement. I will only live in Your light. June Hunt OPENINGS INTO THE OCCULT Have you ever gone out of your way to avoid walking under a ladder, or maybe you read your horoscope in the paper just for fun? What seems to be innocent dabbling in the outer fringes of the supernatural can actually be the first step into a whirlpool of occult practices. Beginning with seemingly simple superstition, each of the five levels in the occult is like a magnetic force, drawing you deeper and deeper into occult involvement.

20 UNMASKING HALLOWEEN Remember the fun of roaming neighborhoods and accumulating bags full of candy? Even though most of our Halloween traditions are still followed in innocence, Halloween is a serious event in the lives of those who practice witchcraft and satanism. This most unholy night has its roots sunk deep into occult, pagan practices. The Bible warns us that Satan and his demons are real and actively behind most of what is wrong with Halloween Cor 10:20 Halloween Beginnings Originated with the ancient Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh) harvest festival, Samhain (pronounced sow-in, the ow rhyming with cow ), which means Festival of the Dead. 31 The people believed that on October 31 the spirits of the dead were able to move freely among the living people and commit violent acts. As part of the festival ritual the Druid Priests offered human sacrifices to appease the dead souls. And tragically, in satanic cults today this practice still continues. Druids Celtic, king-like chiefs and priests. Jack-O-Lanterns The tradition came from the Irish, who carved out potatoes and turnips then illuminated them in an attempt to scare away the evil spirits. Eventually the Celtic people replaced turnips with carved, grotesque faces in pumpkins. Costumes and Masks The Druids believed that if people assumed disguises, the evil spirits would not be able to recognize their victims. Some believed that demons could be frightened away if people wore hideous masks. Some even believed that the identity of one wearing a mask could be changed to whatever was represented by the mask. Trick-or-Treating To appease the dead troublemakers, people would place food on their doorsteps in hopes that the evil spirits would be satisfied and pass them by. Orange and Black The traditional color of orange is for the autumn harvest and black represents death. Both represent major themes of Halloween s original purpose, the Festival of the Dead. Bobbing for Apples Apples were the favorite fruit of Pomona (the Roman goddess of orchards and gardens), and many games of divination centered around them. 32 Apples are still a symbol of renewed life for witches. (Remember Snow White?) Black Cats and Bats

21 Originally people thought that witches turned themselves into cats, especially on Halloween night. The bat symbolizes both the bird (the soul) and the demon (dweller in darkness). In medieval times it was thought that the devil often assumed the shape of a bat. 2 Cor 6:14-17 NOTES 1. See To Divine, Practice Divination in W. E. Vine, Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996), and Occult, the, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), 806; James Walker, What is the Occult? The Watchman Expositor 9, no. 8 (1992). 2. See Russ Parker, Battling the Occult (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1990), New Oxford Dictionary of English (electronic ed.) (Oxford University Press, 1998). 4. Alan W. Gomes, Unmaking the Cults, Zondervan Guide to Cults & Religious Movements, ed. Alan W. Gomes (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), Kenneth Boa, Cults, World Religions and the Occult (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 1990), 143; Stewart Farrar and Janet Farrar, A Witches Bible Compleat (New York: Magickal Childe, 1984), 22, n Divination, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), See Vine, Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary, and James Strong, Strong s Hebrew Lexicon (electronic edition; Online Bible Millennium Edition v. 1.13) (Timnathserah Inc., July 6, 2002). 8. Vine, Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary. 9. Vine, Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary. 10. See Parker, Battling the Occult, Black magic, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), See White magic, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), Amulet, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), Farrar and Farrar, A Witches Bible Compleat, Wicca, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), 1131; Witchcraft, in The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, ed. Jonathan Z. Smith (New York: HarperCollins, 1995), See also Doreen Valiente, An ABC of Witchcraft Past & Present (New York: St. Martin s, 1873), Farrar and Farrar, A Witches Bible Compleat, Farrar and Farrar, A Witches Bible Compleat, 87, Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Demons, Witches, and the Occult, Pocket Guides (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1986), 71.

22 19. Vine, Vine s Complete Expository Dictionary. 20. See Bob Passantino and Gretchen Passantino, Satanism, Zondervan Guide to Cults & Religious Movements, ed. Alan W. Gomes (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary (electronic edition) (Merriam-Webster, 2001). 22. Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary; American Heritage Electronic Dictionary (Houghton Mifflin, 1992). 23. For this section, see Frank York, Rescuing the Devil s Teenagers, Focus on the Family Citizen, October 1989, Jason Barker, Youth and the Occult, The Watchman Expositor 15, no. 6 (1998). 25. Russell V. Wise, Transformational Seminars: And the loss of Mental Health (pre-publication edition) (2002); C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast (New York: Macmillan, 1961), See McDowell and Stewart, Demons, Witches, and the Occult, Boa, Cults, World Religions and the Occult, See Parker, Battling the Occult, For this section, see Rick Branch and James Walker, Halloween: Watchman Fellowship Profile (2000); Johanna Michaelsen, Your Kids and the Occult, Harvest Pocket Book (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1989), Branch and Walker, Halloween: Watchman Fellowship Profile; Arnold Crowther and Patricia Crowther, The Secrets of Ancient Witchcraft (Secaucus, NJ: Citadel, 1974), 67; Farrar and Farrar, A Witches Bible Compleat, Michael Jordan, Encyclopedia of Gods (New York: Facts on File, 1993), 206. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY With grateful appreciation for editorial review by Christian Information Ministries. Amulet. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, 45. New York: HarperCollins, Ankerberg, John, and John Weldon. The Coming Darkness. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, Ankerberg, John, and John Weldon. The Facts on the Occult. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, Barker, Jason. Youth and the Occult. The Watchman Expositor 15, no. 6 (1998). Black magic. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, 117. New York: HarperCollins, Boa, Kenneth. Cults, World Religions and the Occult. Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, Branch, Rick, and James Walker. Halloween: Watchman Fellowship Profile, Crowther, Arnold, and Patricia Crowther. The Secrets of Ancient Witchcraft. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel, 1974.

23 Divination. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, New York: HarperCollins, Farrar, Stewart, and Janet Farrar. A Witches Bible Compleat. New York: Magickal Childe, Gomes, Alan W. Unmaking the Cults. Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements, ed. Alan W. Gomes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Jordan, Michael. Encyclopedia of Gods. New York: Facts on File, Lewis, C. S. The Screwtape Letters and Screwtape Proposes a Toast. New York: Macmillan, McDowell, Josh, and Don Stewart. Demons, Witches, and the Occult. Pocket Guides. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, Michaelsen, Johanna. Like Lambs to the Slaughter. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, Michaelsen, Johanna. Your Kids and the Occult. Harvest Pocket Book. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, Occult, the. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, New York: HarperCollins, Parker, Russ. Battling the Occult. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, Passantino, Bob, and Gretchen Passantino. Satanism. Zondervan Guide to Cults and Religious Movements, ed. Alan W. Gomes. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Valiente, Doreen. An ABC of Witchcraft Past & Present. New York: St. Martin s, Walker, James. What is the Occult? The Watchman Expositor 9, no. 8 (1992). White magic. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, New York: HarperCollins, Wicca. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, New York: HarperCollins, Wise, Russell V. Transformational Seminars: And the loss of Mental Health (pre-publication edition), Witchcraft. In The HarperCollins Dictionary of Religion, edited by Jonathan Z. Smith, New York: HarperCollins, York, Frank. Rescuing the Devil s Teenagers. Focus on the Family Citizen, October 1989, 6-8. (from Hope For The Heart Biblical Counseling Keys 2005 by Hope For The Heart. All rights reserved.)