THE WORD OCCULT REFERS TO THINGS WHICH ARE COVERED OVER, THINGS WHICH ARE MYSTERIOUS, CONCEALED, OR HIDDEN. TO BE INVOLVED IN

 THE OCCULT IS ATTEMPTING TO GO BEYOND THE 5 SENSES TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING  OF WHAT IS NOT KNOWN.

DEUT.29:29 SAYS THE SECRET THINGS BELONG TO THE LORD OUR GOD, BUT THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE REVEALED BELONG TO US AND TO OUR CHILDREN FOREVER, THAT WE MAY DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS LAW.

Classically the word "occult" means hidden or secret teachings and practices. But "by `secret' it is not meant that the positions taken are not available in most instances. Rather, the beliefs and practices are secret in the sense that performance of the rites is considered to be effective only when performed by those who are deeply initiated in the lore of the cult," Like its new age counterpart one cannot explain it biblically but can only attest by experience. They become pragmatic if it works its fine , never mind what the bible has to say.

Science cannot explain Occult power  but classifies and research's it as paranormal cosmic power. Its power source is not of God, nor is it natural latent in the human psyche, although it is explained as such .

In DEUT. 18:10-12 GOD STRICTLY FORBIDS BELIEVERS TO HAVE ANY TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT WITH THE OCCULT.  While many claim there are counterfeits in the Occult -- THERE IS NO CHRISTIAN FORM OF FORTUNE TELLING, ASTROLOGY, Ouji board, visualization, or astral travel, channeling, angelic communication or talking to the dead. The biggest danger is that these concepts are christianized for acceptance , the names are changed so one does not know immediately what they are engaged in. As a Christian   They can then practice unknowingly what is forbidden .There is no truth to the statement that everything Satan has  is a counterfeit. While it is true he does counterfeit many practices he also invents many too.

occult practices promise to give an experience of extra power. this comes through the magazines, and newspapers advertising the powers of the mind, with some rings or crystals to gain control over themselves, their lives things around them, and others ! this is what attracts people into this activity. yet once they gain this power, they become subject to it, prisoners to the one thing that they thought would help set them free.
occult practices can be passed on to the 3rd and 4th generation in families.
by seeking out the occult arts and knowledge, or power; we are refusing the true god and are indirectly replacing him with worship and allegiance to another god.
ex.20:3-5 tells of our punishment for doing this..

Deut.29:26 tells us that the Israelite's went after and served other gods and worshipped them, gods that they did not know and that he the lord had not given to them.
many can be suffering today through demonic oppression and control because of their parents, grand parents, or great grand parents involvement in the occult which is passed on in practice if as a christian we are aware of someone in our family that was involved in this practice, we should pray a prayer of renunciation to break the control or oppression passed on in the generations. this in no way is a promotion for generational curses. it is a way to make someone aware of a spiritual influence that can oppress them and plague them hindering their walk with the lord.

Spirits cannot just enter or, take control of a person. occult practices almost always require a meditative, or passive state. by doing this we are allowing them control, emptying ourselves, neutralizing our mind is the easiest way to allow another to have control.Deut. 18:10-15 "There shall not be found among you anyone w ho makes his son or his 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 (Necromancer). For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. The Lord you God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him." (Prophecy of the Messiah Jesus) "There shall not be found among you anyone w ho makes his son or his 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 (Necromancer). For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For those nations, which you shall dispossess, listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners, but as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so. The Lord you God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him." (Prophecy of the Messiah Jesus)

These are the biblical terms defined, those involved in these practices may not see themselves described as this nor call themselves by such terms.

DIVINATION-- (Hebrew ‘qecem’) The art that seeks to discover hidden knowledge. to determine by lot or magic, to foretell the future--prophesy. to discover knowledge by occult or supernatural means (same as a soothsayer foretells the future (deut. 18:10; i sam 15:23; jer. 14:14; ezek. 13:6; 23; 21:21). -- (hebrew ‘qecem’) the art that seeks to discover hidden knowledge. to determine by lot or magic, to foretell the future--prophesy. to discover knowledge by occult or supernatural means (same as a soothsayer foretells the future (deut. 18:10; i sam 15:23; jer. 14:14; ezek. 13:6; 23; 21:21). -- (hebrew ‘qecem’) the art that seeks to discover hidden knowledge. to determine by lot or magic, to foretell the future--prophesy. to discover knowledge by occult or supernatural means (same as a soothsayer foretells the future (deut. 18:10; i sam 15:23; jer. 14:14; ezek. 13:6; 23; 21:21).

OUIJI BOARD, I CHING, CRYSTAL BALL, DREAMS AND VISIONS, TEA LEAF READING.

OBSERVER OF TIMES-- (Hebrew ’anan’) A METHOD OF FORETELLING AND EXPLAINING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. UNDERSTANDING A PERIOD OR ERA OF TIME, AND WHY CERTAIN CONDITIONS PREVAIL.A SOOTHSAYER, ASTROLOGER, PSYCHIC(Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10-15; 2 Kings 21:6; Isa. 57:3; Mic. 5:12). Isa. 47:10-13 "For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know. "Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth-- perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.-- (Hebrew ’anan’) A METHOD OF FORETELLING AND EXPLAINING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. UNDERSTANDING A PERIOD OR ERA OF TIME, AND WHY CERTAIN CONDITIONS PREVAIL.A SOOTHSAYER, ASTROLOGER, PSYCHIC(Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10-15; 2 Kings 21:6; Isa. 57:3; Mic. 5:12). Isa. 47:10-13 "For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know. "Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth-- perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.-- (Hebrew ’anan’) A METHOD OF FORETELLING AND EXPLAINING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. UNDERSTANDING A PERIOD OR ERA OF TIME, AND WHY CERTAIN CONDITIONS PREVAIL.A SOOTHSAYER, ASTROLOGER, PSYCHIC(Lev. 19:26; Deut. 18:10-15; 2 Kings 21:6; Isa. 57:3; Mic. 5:12). Isa. 47:10-13 "For you have trusted in your wickedness; you have said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and your knowledge have warped you; and you have said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me.' Therefore evil shall come upon you; you shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; you will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know. "Stand now with your enchantments and the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth-- perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will prevail. You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; let now the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from what shall come upon you.

 ASTROLOGY, NUMEROLOGY, PALMISTRY, TAROT CARDS, TEA LEAVES

ENCHANTER-- (Hebrew ‘nachash’) TO CHARM GREATLY, LEARN BY EXPERIENCES, TAKES PART IN SECRET THINGS,  WHISPER MAGIC INCANTATIONS, CASTS SPELLS, SEDUCTIVE. (Lev. 19:3,26,31; Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6;Isa.8:19-20). -- (Hebrew ‘nachash’)TO CHARM GREATLY, LEARN BY EXPERIENCES, TAKES PART IN SECRET THINGS, WHISPER MAGIC INCANTATIONS, CASTS SPELLS, SEDUCTIVE. (Lev. 19:3,26,31; Deut. 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 2 Chron. 33:6;Isa.8:19-20).

MEDITATION, HOLISTIC HEALTH, YOGA, SUBLIMINAL TAPES, MANTRAS, HYPNOTISM.ASTRAL TRAVEL

WITCH-- (Hebrew ‘kashaph’,root from kesheph) A WOMAN SOCERESS, Wiccans, Witch

INVOLVES CONTACTING THE-SPIRITS TO DO YOUR BIDDING, CASTING SPELLS AND INCANTATIONS FOR MATERIAL WELL BEING AND PLEASURES IN LIFE. HERBALIST THAT CASTS SPELLS, ALCHEMY (Exod. 22:18; Deut. 18:10-12; 2 Chron. 33:6 ). II Ki 21:6 Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted Spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.

CHARMER--ANY FORMULA OR ACTION SUPPOSING TO HAVE MAGIC POWER USING TRINKET OR A PIECE OF JEWELRY WORN ON THE BODY TO ATTRACT THROUGH PERSONALITY, BEAUTY, FASCINATION: USING AN IRRESISTABLE POWER--OF PLEASING AND ALLURING INFLUENCE, TO ATTRACT ONES OWN DESIRES.(Isa.19:,31 Isa.8:19-20)

TALISMAN, CRYSTALS, OCCULT SYMBOLS, POSITIVE THINKING, POSITIVE CONFESSION

MEDIUM OR CONSULTER OF FAMILIAR SPIRITS- (Hebrew ‘owb’)-A PERSON WHO CONJURE UP OR CONTACT THE SPIRITS OF SUPPOSED DEAD PEOPLE WHO THEY OR OTHERS ONCE KNEW, SPIRITS THAT ARE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM (ASTRAL REALM, OTHER DIMENSIONS.) A MEDIUM CONTROLLED BY A FAMILIAR SPIRIT. (Lev. 19:31; 20:6; 20:27; Deut. 18:11; I Sam. 28:3; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; I Chron. 10:13; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa. 19:3). Isa 8:19-20 And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

CHANNELING, SPIRITISM, ASCENDED MASTERS COMMUNICATION, SPACE BROTHERS, ANOTHER JESUS, INVISIBLE FRIENDS IN KINDERGARTEN

1 JOHN 4:1--BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: BECAUSE MANY FALSE PROPHETS HAVE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD.

WIZARD--(Hebrew ‘yidde’)   A PERSON WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE OCCULT ARTS, IN TOUCH WITH THE SPIRIT WORLD. A CONJURER, TO SUMMON UP A DEVIL OF A SPIRIT BY INVOCATION OR SPELL. TO PRODUCE BY MAGI OR TO BRING TO MIND AS IF BY MAGIC. BOOKS OF OCCULT KNOWLEDGE: KABALA, HANDBOOK OR WITCHES AND SPELLS .(Lev. 19:31; 20:6, 20:27; Deut. 18:11-12; I Sam 28:3, 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 2 Chron. 33:6; Isa 19:3)

VISUALIZATION, SHAMAN, SORCERER, ASTRAL TRAVEL, DECREEING, MANTRAS, CLAIRVOYANCE

NECROMANCER--EXCLUSIVELY CONSULTS WITH SPIRITS OF THE DISEASED AND CALLS UP PEOPLE FROM THEIR GRAVES AND DISTURBS THEIR PEACE. VOODOO, ZOMBIES (NECROMANCY -ALSO TO  HAVE SEX WITH DEAD BODIES)

MAGICIAN (Hebrew ‘khartome’) TO USE THE OCCULT ARTS (Acts 13:6-13).   This is not the slight of hand or planned stage show with human ability .

NEW TESTAMENT SORCERY

PHARMAKIA –Use of medicine and drugs used not for medicinal purposes , used in spells and religious rituals and ceremonies or for ones own pleasure includes charms amulets appealing to occult powers.

In Gal.5:19-21 it gives a list of practices that are from the fallen nature of man that are condemned. One is called witchcraft (sorcery) this word in the Greek language is Pharmakia where we get our word Pharmacy. Using these substances for pleasure and not more medicinal value. These  things are used to put people under an outside influence bringing them into an altered state. That is a state that is not natural to mind but prompted by a foreign substance. This is called sorcery and is just as forbidden as drunkenness caused by another foreign substance, alcohol.

After the fall of Adam and Eve the ground was cursed by God it was no longer sustaining the state He created it in that he pronounced was good. There are plants that are medicinally good and others that are not. We should consider the bibles actual interpretation before using the bible to validate what it actually forbids

Rev.9:21, 18:23. MAGIA—magic wizardry or sorcery. an example of this is marijuana which can be used to alleviate side effects in cancer patients chemo therapy. There are numerous other drugs far more addictive then marijuana. yet it does have a medicinal use. but there are those who use it by smoking it for spiritual use and recreation and this is where it becomes pharmakia.

Another example would be Paul telling Timothy to take a little wine ( for medicine) for his stomachs ailments. But he also writes to Timothy, a leader in the Church should not be given to drinking wine. So he is making a distinction of a custom  of drinking at dinner and  recreation or pleasure vs. medicinal value. This is not to promote the freedom we have to take drugs  but to give the example that they have a medicinal use. Almost all drugs are based on their original source of plants and herbs. We should always seek a better alternative and natural does not always mean better.

Oftentimes we need to be reminded that spiritual warfare exists in our lives.

Ephesians 6.10-18). When God's people do not make knowledge of Him a priority, and His glory preeminent, given the fact of spiritual warfare, is it really surprising some are led astray by false practices and deceitful spirits or  such deception that there are consequences. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. (1 Timothy 4:1, NIV) Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NIV) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the Powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians :11-12, No one who has experienced severe pain, or pain of any type, enjoys it. But we should not go to broken cisterns which cannot satisfy.

When Saul Israel's king stopped hearing from the Lord  he sought out a witch, a sorcerer. People will always go to the occult when they can’t hear from God. Its easier, but  the damage can be irreparable, and certainly the consequences are eternal.

 

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