Testing the Spirits
Avoiding the Occult
Forbidden Practices
Description
Scripture absolutely forbids any involvement with the occult. The Mosaic law condemns witchcraft, divination, necromancy, enchantments, and consulting familiar spirits—all are abominations to the LORD. Saul's consultation with the witch of Endor was a sin for which he died. The Ephesian converts burned their magic books worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. Believers must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. What communion has light with darkness? What concord has Christ with Belial? All occult practices open doors to demonic influence and must be completely forsaken.
Key Verses
There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD.
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it; And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him.
Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.