By Dr. John N. Chacha
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. I Timothy 4:1
There is a great revival in occultic and demonic activities across the nations. People are getting involved with witchcraft, fortune-telling, magic practices, cultic religions and many other satanic activities.
Multitudes of people, Christian and non-Christian alike, find themselves suffering physical, mental, psychic and spiritual oppressions, few realizing that it is because they have allowed themselves to become involved and ensnared in the diabolical web of occultism, which is under the influence and control of the power of darkness.
VITAL QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
Have you ever been involved in any way in the following occult practices? Whether done innocently or not:
1. Have you ever visited a witch doctor, fortuneteller, palm reader, or those using crystal balls, Ouija boards or similar methods?
2. Have you consulted the Ouija board (out of curiosity or in earnest) or played with occult games such as: ESP, Horoscope, Clairvoyant, Voodoo, Dungeons and Dragons, and so on?
3. Have you at any time consulted a medium or anyone with psychic or clairvoyant powers? Have you attended a seance or spiritualist meeting, or attempted to communicate with the dead?
4. When ill, have you sought, (or where you subjected to as a child) treatment through magic charming, witch doctor, spiritualism, or by anyone who practiced psychic healing or who used hypnosis, the pendulum, or trance for diagnosis or treatment?
5. Do you read the horoscopes? Do you read occult literature on reincarnation, fortune telling, astrology, magic, clairvoyance, hypnosis, crystals, and the like?
These are works of darkness and are condemned by God in the Scriptures, being an abomination to Him, and are under His curse. Anyone who has ever practiced or participated in any form of occultism has opened the door to oppression by the powers of darkness, even though such occult activity may have occurred before you became a Christian, even though you may not have taken it seriously.
OCCULT INVOLVEMENT IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD
. . .thou shalt not learn to do after the abomination of those nations. There shall not be found with thee any one . . . that useth divination (fortune-telling), or an observer of times (soothsayer), or an enchanter (magician), or a witch (sorceress), or a charmer (hypnotist), or a consulter with familiar spirits (medium possessed with a spirit “guide”), or a wizard (clairvoyant or psychic), or a necromancer (medium who consults the dead). For all that do these things are an ABOMINATION unto the Lord! (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)
The Scriptures condemn all forms of occultism as sorcery and warn that:
“. . . they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21), and “. . . shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Revelation 21:8).
From earliest times God forbade occultism as spiritually defiling (Leviticus 19:31). He made participation in it punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27) and cause for rejection of that soul by God (Leviticus 20:6).
(See also:
Exodus 7:11-12 with II
Timothy 3:8; Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6; I Samuel 15:23; 28:3;
II Kings 21:5-6; II Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 2:6; 8:19; Jeremiah 27:9-10; Zechariah
10:2; Malachi 3:5;
Acts 8:9; 16:16; 19:19; I Timothy 4:1.)
CHARACTERISTICS OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION
The following are a few of the evidences of occult oppression or bondage, although some of these symptoms may stem from other causes. Usually, however, when one or more of these manifestations are present, it is an indication of the presence and activity of demonic spirits, as well as the need of deliverance.
1. Prolonged depression or gloominess; irresponsibility; unpredictable behavior; delusions; uncontrollable lusts and appetites; sexual perversions; enslavement to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco; uncontrollable temper, hate, or other psychopathic tendencies.
2. Chronic fear or anxieties; nervousness or neurotic behavior; feelings of inadequacy or self-pity; abnormal desire for attention; extremely negative personality; compulsions (lying, stealing, gambling) or obsessions (fear of dying, acute jealousy); thoughts of self-destruction.
3. Psychic experiences; possession of psychic or extrasensory powers (none of which are to be confused with genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit); psychic oppression (seeing apparitions, hearing voices, poltergeist phenomena).
4. Indifference to spiritual things, the Scriptures or prayer; chronic doubts and difficulty in exercising faith; unscriptural religious beliefs or practices; inability to receive Christ or the Holy Spirit; hatred of the blood Atonement; blasphemous thoughts against God.
5. Abnormal talkativeness or loudness; muttering to oneself; shunning others; unkempt appearance; abnormally bright or glazed eyes; sullen, perverse or defiant facial expression.
6. Chronic physical ailments that do not respond to prayer or treatment; serious marital or parental problems; strife and discord in the church.
HOW TO BE SET FREE FROM DEMONIC OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION
Anyone, whether Christian or not, can be oppressed, vexed, depressed, deceived, bound and afflicted, especially when there has been any occult involvement, whether before or after conversion (See Job 1-2; Luke 13:11; 22:31-32; II Corinthians 12:7; I Thessalonians 2:18; I Timothy 4:1; I Peter 5:8-9; Ephesians 6:11-12.)
Defeat Satan’s Work in your life.
1. Give your life to Jesus and let Him be your Savior. If you have never let Jesus be your Lord and Savior, you need to do that right now. Satan will have no legal rights to touch you in any way after you have given your life over to Jesus. (Read Matt. 11:28; Acts 4:12.)
2. The name of Jesus is one of the greatest weapons we have against Satan.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues. (Mark 16:17)
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:9,10)
The name of Jesus is very powerful. Satan trembles at the mention of His name.
3. The blood of Jesus is the surest protection you will ever find against evil spirits.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11)
4. Destroy all occult objects you have in your possession. This includes books and magazines written by occultists and occultic records. As long as you keep them, Satan has a stronghold on you. They are his contact.
5. Break off all occultic contacts and friendships. It is not enough to destroy occult objects; you must give up the old friends who are still practicing, otherwise they will pull you back.
6. Renounce and declare yourself free from Satan and the sins of the occult. If one does not denounce occultic practices, he automatically gives Satan a right to control him. So the prayer of renunciation is important. You can pray and say, “In the name of Jesus, I renounce all the occultic sins I have been involved in and I submit myself to the Lord Jesus for time and for eternity. Amen.”
7. Accept God’s forgiveness by faith. (Rom. 10:9; Heb. 11:6)
8. Seek out a Christian counselor who has spiritual authority to help you.
9. Join a prayer group and read your Bible often.
10. Put on the spiritual armor. (Eph. 6:10-18)
11. Guard against the return of the demons. (Luke 11:24)
12. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Eph. 5:18)
• Accept the victory that Jesus has won over Satan.
In spite of all the devil’s present power, he is actually a defeated foe whose doom is already sealed. Through the death and resurrection power of Jesus Christ, we have victory over him.
Since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14,15)
The Lord Jesus Christ has eternally defeated Satan and fully paid the price for our sin on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, He destroyed the power of death. Though Satan is still called “the god of the world,” he is a defeated foe. His end is the Lake of Fire. Jesus Christ is the only sure refuge from Satan’s power.
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (I John 3:8)
And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15)
Jesus has given the believer authority over all the powers of Satan.
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)
Jesus’ triumph was our triumph. His victory was our victory. He defeated and spoiled Satan’s powers for us.