Seances, Ouija Boards and Fortune Telling Lead to Demonic Possession

A seance is a meeting of a group of people who attempt to communicate with the spirit world or souls of dead people through the use of a medium. Medium is the occult term for one who acts as an intermediary between the spirit world and the physical world. He usually claims to have a spirit-guide who is his initial contact in the spirit world. Mediums make use of various objects such as ouija boards, drawings, rapping, noises, automatic writing, etc.

An oiuja board is a small game board containing numbers and letters used by spiritists to contact the souls of the dead. Participants sit at a table around the ouija board and place hands on a "pointer," which is then moved around the board to various letters by the "visiting spirit(s)." The resulting message is supposedly the message desired from the supernatural spirit world.

Fortunetelling is of the three branches of the occult. The other branches are black magic ("witchcraft" and "sorcery" are synonymous terms) and spiritism. Fortune telling involves divination and takes such forms such as horoscopes, crystal ball gazing, palmistry, reading of tarrot cards, numerology, psychometry (ability to foretell a person's future by possessing an object belonging to that person).

Can the dead communicate with the living? According to Scriptures, it is not possible to contact the spirits of the dead. Jesus made this clear in the account of the rich man and Lazaruz in Luke 16:19-31. The Bible condemns all forms of witchcraft, including sorcery, astrology, and reading signs in human and animal entrails.

"You shall not ... practice divination or soothsaying... Do not turn to mediums or spiritists: do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord you God."

Leviticus 19:26, 31

"There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead... For those nations, which you shall dis-possess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so."

Deuteronomy 18:10, 11, 14

All occult practices are sins against God; the Bible forbids their uses. They are also potential sources of demonization.

Can a Christian be Demon-Possessed?

(From OMF Literature & CBN International Ministries)

The Bible does not use the term "demon-possessed." The word used is "demonized" or "one with a demon." Demonization is in different degrees of severity.

The writer had an incident while staying in a motel near Seattle, Washington. An awful depression seized him one morning when he was in that stage between sleep and walking. He felt that everyone was against him, that people around him were failing, and that everything he was doing was falling to pieces. Discouragement overwhelmed him like a dark cloud.

As he struggled to get up, it dawned on him that he was under demonic attack. He took control over it and said: "Satan, in the Name of Jesus, I cast you fourth." His mind was free and his despair was gone the minute he said that. The Seattle-Tacoma area, he discovered later, led the US in the number of suicides. And the spirit that was coming upon him was a suicidal spirit -- the evil influence that would lead a person to such depression that he would wish to kill himself. He was in an area where many had been gripped by this kind of demon.

Had he not recognized what he was dealing with, he could have gone into a very deep depression that would have been hard to get out of. Even Spirit-filled Christians are subject to this kind of demonic activity upon their minds or in their bodies (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

If our spirits are joined to Jesus Christ, we should believe that there is no way a demon can possess them. The believer is already regenerated, justified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is stronger than demons (see 1 John 4:4, Revelation 12:11). There is simply no room for a demonic spirit to reside there.

Why is There Suffering in the World?

Everyone of us, at one time or another, has suffered. Accidents, disease, crimes, death, earthquakes, typhoons inflict untold pain, trauma and suffering. Much suffering is satanic in origin. Satan, the Adversary, delights in hurting us, and in trying to turn us away from God.

Suffering is also caused by our rebellion against God, and by the evil in our hearts. Think about the suffering caused by godless dictatorships or by men hurting other men. Also, God has set up certain natural laws to govern the universe. We can ignore them and be hurt. Much disease, ill health and malnutrition is man-made. We make ourselves sick by smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or eating too little or too much. It is equally true that the righteous or good people often suffer, and this will continue as long as we live in this world.

While it is not God's will for anyone to suffer, suffering, if we allow it, has a way of purifying us. Many people have turned to God because of suffering. God will intervene to relieve our pain and suffering, but this depends on a closeness and an intimacy with Him.

We must accept suffering without becoming bitter, and we can accept it without resigning ourselves to it (Romans 8:28). We should never quit seeking GOD'S TOUCH and asking Him to set us free. Suffering in this world, is temporary (Revelation 21:4).

How powerful is Satan?

We can judge the character and methods of Satan by the Biblical titles ascribed to him. Satan was one of God's created beings. But he rebelled against God. Extraordinarily powerful, he is also subtle, deceitful, vile, and hateful beyond our imagination. He was called "prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:1, 2) and "murderer and father of lies" by Jesus Himself (John 8:44).

Satan is not necessarily some hideously deformed creature. He appears as an "angel of light" -- very handsome, very attractive, and very appealing (2 Corinthians 11:14). His name Lucifer means "the light one." His name Devil (John 8:44), a Greek word that means "the slanderer," shows he will tell lies of any kind to achieve his end. His name Satan (Matthew 12:26) a word meaning "the adversary," describes his reign over a kingdom of darkness that is organized in opposition to God.

His name Tempter (Matthew 4:3) points to his way of seeking to lead men into sin because he himself is a sinner. His name Beelzebub (Mark 3:22, 23) means "lord of the flies" or "lord of the dunghill." His name Apollyon means "destroyer." Peter the apostle wrote that Satan is like a roaring lion going to and fro, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

But as far as the believer is concerned, Satan's power is limited. For instance, he has to ask leave of God to try Job (Job 1:9-12; 2:4-6). Satan has already been judged, that is, his power and dominion over believers was broken at the Cross because of Christ's victory there (John 12:31; 16:11). Demons, Satan's agents even had to ask permission to enter swine (Matthew 8:30-32).

The Bible tells us that Satan is already a conquered enemy (see John 12:31; 1 John 3:8; Colossians 2:15). And Satan will finally be cast alive into the lake of fire where he will be tormented for ever and ever (see Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10).

Christians are to resist Satan (1 Peter 5:8, 9; James 4:7). This is best done by submitting to God and by putting on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20). Firstly, it is essential for us to know the Word of God (John 8:32-34). Satan's power to deceive us is on the ground of our ignorance. We are often destroyed for lack of knowledge. Next, Jesus has given all believers the right to use His Name, which represents all power and authority. Thirdly, by virtue of the new birth, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. Greater is He who is in the believer than he that is in the world.

Fourthly, the blood of Jesus is the cleansing power for the believer against sin. Fifthly, the believer who is Spirit-filled is given spiritual gifts to contend and withstand all the power of the enemy. Lastly, another spiritual weapon is the gift of the discerning of spirits. This is a protective gift that enables the body of Christ to discern what spirit (demonic? of the world? of the flesh?) is operating in any supernatural manifestation.


OMF Literature
CBN International Ministries

What are ANGELS?

The word angel means messenger. The holy angels are messengers from God while the fallen angels are messengers from Satan. Angels are created spirit beings -- they do not have bodies in the sense that man does.

Angels can be present in a given place. They are not omnipresent. Angels are a company, not a race. They were created all at one time; there is no procreation among them. Jesus made it plain that angels do not marry (see Luke 20:34-36). Angels do not give birth and do not die, hence they neither increase or decrease in number. In the Bible, they are referred to in the masculine gender. Angels are not to be worshiped -- the Bible warns against such practice (see Revelation 22:8, 9).

Except on those very special occasions when God chooses to allow man to see them, angels are invisible to the human eye. We are unaware of their presence.

Angels are moral beings endowed with the ability to know and do what is right or wrong. They are represented as having superhuman wisdom and intelligence, which implies that they have knowledge that is above man's. Although the Bible tells much about their power and strength, they ate not omnipotent -- their power is derived from God.

Angels are sent by God to protect, help or fight for His people. Angels were involved in announcing the birth of Jesus -- to the shepherds, Mary, Joseph -- and also to Elizabeth and Zechariah. Although angels are more powerful than humans now, in the end believers will judge or rule them (1 Corinthians 6:3).


OMF Literature
CBN International Ministries

Insights for Living: Tough Days, Part 2

Tough Days, Part Two
by Charles R. Swindoll

Galatians 6:9-18

Tough days. We all have them. And most of us, if we're honest, must admit we don't handle them well. Others who love us try to help, but they tend to complicate matters.

Take the four guys who decided to go mountain climbing one weekend. In the middle of the climb, one fella slipped over a cliff, dropped about sixty feet, and landed with a thud on the ledge below. The other three, hoping to rescue him, yelled, "Joe, are you okay?"

"I'm alive . . . but I think I broke both my arms!"
"We'll toss a rope down to you and pull you up. Just lie still!" said the three.
"Fine," answered Joe.

A couple of minutes after dropping one end of the rope, they started tugging and grunting together, working feverishly to pull their wounded companion to safety. When they had him about three-fourths of the way up, they suddenly remembered he said he had broken both of his arms.

"Joe! If you broke both your arms, how in the world are you hanging on?"
Joe responded, "With my TEEEEEEEEEEEETH . . ."

No, other people can't help much on tough days. They may be good companions, but they sure can't stop the pain. Holding hands and singing during an earthquake is small comfort.

Some would advise, "Just get in there and keep busy---work harder." But that doesn't help much either. When the barn's on fire, slapping a coat of paint on the other side doesn't make much sense. If the tires are flat, driving faster is pretty dumb.

So---what's the answer? How can we handle tough days when the Enemy works overtime to persuade us that God doesn't care? I have found solid encouragement from four threads woven into the fabric of Galatians 6. See if you don't agree.

1. Let us not lose heart (v. 9). On tough days, you gotta have heart. Don't quit, whatever you do. Persevere. Stand firm. Be strong, resilient, determined to see it through. Ask God to build a protective shield around your heart, stabilizing you.

2. Let us do good (v. 10). Our tendency will be anything but that. Instead of good, we will feel like doing evil. Fume. Swear. Scream. Fight. Pout. Get irritated. Burn up all kinds of emotional BTU's. Rather than parading through that shop-worn routine, stay quiet and consciously turn it all over to the Lord.

3. Let no one cause you trouble (v. 17). Superb advice! Refuse to allow anyone (or anything) to gain mastery over you. That throne within you belongs only to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stop leasing it out!

4. Let grace be with your spirit (v. 18). Allow the full impact of grace to flow through your thoughts, your attitudes, your responses, your words. Open the gates and let those good things stampede freely across your tough day. You sit on the fence and relax.

It works. It really does.

Insights for Today: CRITICISM

Criticism
by Charles R. Swindoll

2 Timothy 1:7

Looking for a role model on how to handle criticism? It would be worth your while to check out the book of Nehemiah. On several occasions this great-hearted statesman was openly criticized, falsely accused, and grossly misunderstood. Each time he kept his cool . . . he rolled with the punch . . . he considered the source . . . he refused to get discouraged . . . he went to God in prayer . . . he kept building the wall (Nehemiah 2:19-20; 4:1-5).

One of the occupational hazards of being a leader is receiving criticism (not all of it constructive, by the way). In the face of that kind of heat, there's a strong temptation to "go under," "throw in the towel," "bail out." Many have faded out of leadership because of intense criticism. I firmly believe that the leader who does anything that is different or worthwhile or visionary can count on criticism.

Along this line, I appreciate the remarks made by the fiery president of a past generation, Theodore Roosevelt:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.

To those words I add a resounding amen.

A sense of humor is of paramount importance to the leader. Many of God's servants are simply too serious! There are at least two tests we face that determine the extent of our sense of humor:

• the ability to laugh at ourselves
• the ability to take criticism

Believe me, no leader can continue effectively if he or she fails these tests! Equally important, of course, is the ability to sift from any criticism that which is true, that which is fact. We are foolish if we respond angrily to every criticism. Who knows, God may be using those words to teach us some essential lessons, painful though they may be.

Isn't this what Proverbs 27:5-6 is saying?

Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

And let me call to your attention the word friend in these verses. Friendship is not threatened but strengthened by honest criticism. But---when you are criticized by one who hardly knows you, filter out what is fact . . . and ignore the rest!

Nehemiah did that . . . and he got the wall built.