The Bible warns us that there is a counterfeit supernatural power, that can perform wonders. Being aware of the existence, and of the root of the power at work, is vital. If we are not to be tricked by Satan we need to know his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11)
‘Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…’ (1 Peter 5:8-9)
If Satan cannot stop us being saved, he will seek to compromise us, often by making us fearful. This is helpful to know, so that we are aware of what is happening in our own life, but also to understand how others are drawn in. Satan’s character is described in the Bible as, a deceiver (Rev.12:9), a causer of doubt in God (Gen’3:1-5), a liar (Jn.8:43-45), a tempter (Mt.4:1-11) and, if he can, a devourer (1 Pet.5:8)
We should not be surprised that the devil can counterfeit, to a degree, what God does. For instance, we have the changing of Aaron’s rod before Pharaoh. The Egyptian magicians could counterfeit that. However, God showed He was supreme in the events that followed and the magicians lost their magic rods for good! (See Exodus 7:8-13).
The occult contains a large spectrum of practices. Some, at the lower end of the scale, may seem harmless but they could be a doorway that leads down a path to something more sinister and dangerous. There is, really, no such thing as a ‘safe’ level of involvement in the occult. Whatever the situation we must remember that Satan does not play games.
Fear is a potent tool of the devil, it is the opposite of faith, it can paralyse us, make us ineffectual in stepping out in true faith. We must never underestimate the damage done by occultic practices, but neither should we ever give the devil more credit than he is due.
The battle is not yours but God’s
When Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, son of David, was told a great multitude was coming against him he was afraid, but his fear did not paralyse him:
‘Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.’ (2 Chron.20:3-4)
The Lord answered them:
‘All Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahazeil the son of Zechariah...And he said, ‘Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.’’ (vv13-15)
There is great truth in this, to which we must cling. We do not face the enemy alone, nor are we ill-equipped for the fray. We are reminded, as Christians, that, ‘God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.’ (2 Tim.1:7) that, ‘perfect love casts out fear.’ 1 John 4:18)
We are encouraged to, ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ (James 4:7) Paul reminds us, ‘Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.’ (Eph.6:11)
As we, like Jehoshaphat, consider soberly the enemy ranked against us, we must, like Jehoshaphat, know where our help comes from:
‘I lift my eyes up to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.’ (Ps.121:1)
Last time we looked at Ouija Boards and other Abominable Practices
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