Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 NLT “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.
- While burning your children is unthinkable, this warning begins the list – so the rest of the items on the list are equally detestable to God.
“I designate anything as belonging to the occult that involves dealings with the world of spirits or of supra-normal forces which (dealings) are not oriented on Jesus as he is revealed in the Bible…” – John Piper, “Jesus vs. the Occult”
- Our involvement in the occult belittles God because our actions tell Him that we believe He is inadequate to reveal mysteries or to truly protect and care for us.
- When you invite satan to give you anything – he can come in and torment you in many ways unless and until you close that door.
- You might think it is all just fun and games; but the supernatural realm is very real and God does not think it is fun. He knows how harmful involvement in the occult is to you and your relationship with Him.
Saul and the Spirit World
- Saul did not really want to hear from the Lord. He wanted to hear from Samuel.
- He snuck out one night and found a medium, a woman who was known to be able to communicate with the spirits of the dead.
- Not long after that encounter Saul went into battle and was killed.
I Chronicles 10:13 NLT So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium.
Nadine’s story
- When demonic creatures showed up in Nadine’s room, she was terrified and the power of God was the only answer.
- When she felt those creatures start physically attacking her, she heard someone say on Christian TV that there’s power in the name of Jesus.
- So she shouted “Jesus” and the instant she did those creatures left her room.
- She still didn’t know Him as her Savior but just the use of His name was so very powerful.
- Nadine wanted to know more about this Jesus.
Isaiah 64:6 NIV All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Romans 3:23 NIV For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
- “Well, I thought I didn’t sin. I was a good girl.”
- Then she found herself in a white room with God sitting on His throne with flashbacks of every place that she had fallen short of the glory of God and it wrecked her.
- That moment led her to praying a prayer of repentance and asking the Lord to be her Saviour.
- Before Nadine knew Christ, she was tormented by demons after just visiting a place where the occult was practiced. Once she gave her life to the Lord, however, they did not bother her again.
Mary Nelson’s encounter with the spirit world
- Satan will take every opportunity he can to target Christians as well as unbelievers, so we need to know how to stand against his attacks.
- Mary Nelson learned how to do that when satan tried to do his destructive work in her life.
- Her family was convicted that they didn’t want anything to do with anything related to Satan or demonic forces and they got rid of it.
- And there was a change in the environment in their home after that.
2 Chronicles 16:12-13 NKJV And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. So Asa rested with his fathers; he died in the forty-first year of his reign.
- When they encountered spiritual forces of wickedness, they prayed through their house, named them, and commanded them to leave in the name of Jesus.
- They also prayed scriptures over their home and property and dedicated it to the Lord and peace returned.
As believers, we have authority to stand against the attacks of the enemy.
- But we must make sure that we have closed any spiritual doors that we might have opened, knowingly or unknowingly.
Acts 19:11-20 NIV …A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly…
Ephesians 6:12 NLT For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
James 4:7 NLT So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
- We humbled ourselves by getting rid of things that the Lord directed us to get rid of. Then we could resist the devil effectively so he had to flee.
Luke 10:19 NLT Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
Genesis 3 NLT The serpent in the garden
- Satan was referred to as the serpent – Jesus has given us authority over him and all his power – as long as we stay submitted to Christ.
Victoria’s Encounter with the Spirit World
Luke 4:10-11 NLT …‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’
- God also sends angels to care for us.
- Sometimes angels are sent to announce His plans.
- They also come to guard and protect us.
Psalm 91:11-12 NLT For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
- And while angels are supernatural beings, we certainly should never worship them.
Colossians 2:18 NLT Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud.
- Victoria’s death experience was supernatural.
- God lives in timelessness outside of time and He gives each of us a time to live and a time to die.
- The choices and the wisdom that we get from the Lord are not physical, but all spiritual gain.
Romans 11:29 NKJV For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
- “You’re going to receive all that God has planned for you. And you’re going to teach others what you understand.”
- Those of us who have been brought up with the western worldview, often discount the supernatural world.
Put your full trust in the Lord to lead you and guide you, even through painful times.
Philippians 2:10 NLT That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT …Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil…
Philippians 4:7 NKJV And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
Isaiah 54:17 NLT …no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you…
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life…
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