WITCHCRAFT
Defined and
Described: The Hebrew word for “witchcraft” is קֶסֶם qesem pronounced keh'-sem a lot
as by bones or other magical items; also divination usually including its fee, oracle: divination, divine
sentence (H. 7081) (1Sam 15:23); another word is כָּשַׁף kâshaph
kaw-shaf' properly to whisper a spell, that is, to enchant or
practice magic as a sorcerer (H. 3784) (2Chron 33:6). In Greek the word is φαρμακεία pharmakeia pronounced far-mak-i'-ah translated medication (“pharmacy”), that is magic or sorcery (G.5331).
Webster: “witchcraft” is the “power
of evil and of the practices of witches, black magic, sorcery.” A witch is a
person supposedly having supernatural power by a compact with evil spirits,
sorceress/sorcerer.
According to A. Clarke and K.
Wuest witchcraft was always coupled with the use of drugs. As we have seen the word pharmakia, which is
where the word pharmacy originates. Thus the use of drugs and sorcery to be practiced go hand in hand. Moreover in Native Indian cultures it has
been discovered that shamans utilized different types of drugs such as peyote
for example to experience the unseen world. It then can be understood that the
use of drugs can open one up to the supernatural world, for years marijuana has
been expressed as a gateway drug to other types of drugs. The idea of sorcery in
the Bible does intimate that one who uses drugs particularly to escape reality,
or said another way, recreationally, is sinful and can be consider a practitioner
of sorcery:
Rev. 22:14-15
14. Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in
through the gates into the city.
15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Of course we must be balanced
in this teaching, not everyone who uses prescription drugs is sinful, but as we
consider this truth, one must be watchful that Satan does not take advantage of us.
For example, the use of oxycontin for many has lead innocent people into
addiction now because of it’s highly addictive nature and has ravaged many
millions of Americans. Many people who took this substance could not stop it’s
use after a surgery. In Christian liberty we must ensure that whatever we allow
does not bring us into bondage (2 Peter 19-20).
One of the
most popular endeavors today is to consult with people who call themselves
psychics. These individuals claim to be able to communicate with the dead,
predict or foretell the future and tell individuals about their past. Psychic
programs have flooded the cable and independent television stations, because it
has been determined there is a large audience for them. The world also has a
fascination for horoscopes, fortune telling cards and occult board games like
the Ouija board.
These
things are a product of the works of the flesh and those who engage in these
activities cannot please God. These things involve witchcraft and spiritualism,
which the scriptures teach defile those who are involved in them. God’s hatred
for witchcraft and spiritualism are first revealed in the Old Testament:
“Regard
not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled
by them: I am the LORD your God” (Lev. 19:31). “And the soul that turneth after
such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I
will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his
people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for l am the LORD your
God” (Lev. 20:6, 7).
Many of
those who engage in spiritualism will deceptively claim to be servants of God.
Some try to make a distinction between those who are involved in black magic
and white magic—good witches and evil witches. There is NO distinction in
God’s sight—all of it is evil and unholy. There are many forms of
witchcraft and spiritualism, including root doctors who practice a form of
voodoo. It is amazing the number of people who believe that roots work and live
their lives in fear of the powers of root doctors.
“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: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them
out from before thee” (Deut. 18:10-12).
Paul was
confronted by spiritualism in many localities during his ministry. Sometimes
individuals who are possessed by evil spirits will imitate being children of
God. Consider the magicians in Egypt who mimicked the miracles of God up to the
lice (Ex 5-7). Usually those who are falsely representing themselves as having
special powers from God are interested in monetary gain. Many with evil motives
looked on the miracles performed by the disciples of Christ and the power of
the Holy Ghost as tools for great gain. There is an account in the book of Acts
of one individual (Simon, a sorcerer) offering to buy the power of the Holy
Ghost. He was no doubt thinking about how much money he could make using this
great power. Simon was rebuked by the apostles and told to repent of his evil
surmising. The damsel who was following Paul in the sixteenth chapter of Acts
had been used by her masters to obtain large monetary gains.
“And it
came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of
divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The
same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the
most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many
days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour”
(Acts 16:16-18).
We must
not forget that there are real, evil, supernatural forces that must not be
taken lightly. The devil has supernatural power and those who engage in
witchcraft are doing it by the power of Satan. Everyone engaged in these
activities may not admit that their power source is Satan, and many will try to
attribute their powers to God.
“And when
they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a
false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the
country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and
desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the
faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set
his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child
of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert
the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee,
and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there
fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him
by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished
at the doctrine of the Lord” (Acts 13:6-12).
Satan will
empower the Antichrist and the False Prophet to do great signs and wonders in
the people’s sight. For the discerning person they will use the likeness of the
Godhead Trinity, and may even imitate the resurrection (Jesus) and the ministry
of Elijah (Revelation 13). Ultimately, the root of witchcraft of whatever brand
(Druidism, Satanism, White and Black Magic, etc. is to attempt to have power
that is illegitimate). Satan wanted to
rule in heaven and take God’s throne by a rebellion. Today we see the rise of
Paganism all around us, but it’s root is rebellion against God the creator.
This is why Samuel declared Saul’s actions when he did not do what God asked
him to against the Amalekites as witchcraft: "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king" (1 Sam 15:23).
To have true authority, we must be obedient to The Lord God in everything, not just in what is convenient.
To have true authority, we must be obedient to The Lord God in everything, not just in what is convenient.
If you have never accepted or if you have fallen away from Jesus Christ here are three steps you need to take to be saved:
You must admit you are a sinner, confess your sin to Jesus, repent (turn from all you know is wrong), ask Jesus to come in your heart, and begin to follow Jesus by reading and obeying his word and go to a bible believing church that teaches his word. And tell someone what Christ Jesus Has Done For You (Rev 12:10)
May God through Christ bless you!
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