The Occult The hidden secret and mysterious Popular

The Occult The “hidden, secret, and mysterious. ”

Popular Since the 60’s

Popularity Today: u u u ESP Meditation Astrology Reincarnation Ouija boards Palm reading Tarot cards Satanism Crystals Channeling I Ching Girls 60% 47% 48% 34% 25% 27% 16% 13% 12% 2% Boys 53% 39% 35% 25% 17% 14% 9% 11% 9% 3% Source: October 1989 edition of Seventeen magazine contained a survey conducted by Market Facts, Inc. Of 2, 046 teenagers polled, the following are the responses to “I have some or a lot of faith in. . . ”

Popular Occult Practices: u u u Astrology Channeling Crystals Demons Parapsychology Dowsing Psychic surgery ESP Reincarnation Rosicrucianism Satanism Ghosts-Séance u u u Meditation Ouija boards Palm reading Fire walking Hypnotism I Ching Tarot cards Magic Witchcraft Spiritualism Fortune telling

Reasons for Popularity: u The church is boring and irrelevant! u Escape from reality (non-drug high). u Fascination, desire for adventure. u Desire for power. u Promises for healing, help.

But The Bible Says: Deut. 18: 10 -12 10"There shall not be found among you anyone who 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, 11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12"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.

The Danger of the Occult: u There are only 2 sources of Spiritual Power: – God – “Lucifer” v Means “Son of the Dawn” v A beautiful creature 2 Cor. 11: 14 …for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

The Danger of the Occult: u God does not perform magic. – Definition: compelling or influencing God to perform your bidding. – He responds to prayer, by Christ’s authority John 16: 23 “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in My name. ”

The Danger of the Occult: u Since God does not perform magic… – Only one other source: “Lucifer”. u. A very real spiritual being. 1 Peter 5: 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

How Satan Uses the Occult: u Dominating people via fascination u Counterfeits God's spiritual experiences – Fakes discredit anything spiritual – Offers alternative to Spiritual life with God 1 Tim. 6: 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Renunciation u Basis: Acts 19: 18 ff u As many INVOLVED brothers & sisters as possible should be there: support – Don’t involve compromised believers Acts 19: 13 f u Always stick close to Biblical truths; NOT superstitions, etc. – Faith problem may occur: like disciples Mt. 17: 19 – Don't engage in fascination or superstitious fear u Key questions to ask: – Any medical history? What diagnosis? – Pentecostal background? – For believer: A any sins lately?