Empathy is a good thing when it helps someone understand and provide an appropriate response in a given situation. However, empathy may leave someone feeling alone, unloved and uncared for.

In this very long but interesting blog post, I throw some light on the act and practice of witchcraft, attempting to expose the spirit behind witchcraft, what it seeks to achieve, how God (Jehovah) expects Christians to handle ‘witches et al’ and how to recognize people with a semblance to the spirit of witchcraft.

The aim is not to create fear or torment, but like in one of my past posts; ‘Satan Demystified’, I sincerely hope that Christians would become liberated, fearless and equipped to recognize and tackle the spirit of witchcraft in whatever form it may want to present itself. More importantly, it is my fervent prayer, that people already immersed in sorcery and witchcraft (by choice or by birth) would seek The Only Light (Jesus Christ), who is able to liberate and set them free so they don’t burn in Hell.

The Bible asks us in 2 Corinthians 10:7;

“Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?”

And my response is; everything is first spiritual then physical!

Believe it or not witchcraft, mediums, spiritists, soothsayers, sorcerers exist.I found a very thrilling and hilarious encounter between a dead Samuel and Saul in 1 Samuel 28:3-20. A greatly frightened and troubled Saul had contacted a medium to talk to dead Samuel because The Lord wouldn’t talk to Saul either through dreams, the Urim or the prophets. Even in death, Samuel gave only the word of The Lord!

How should one born and filled with the Spirit of God handle witchery? Should a Christian be concerned about them or just ignore them? Is it okay to be intimidated and oppressed by these spirits?

By providing answers to these questions from God’s word, I believe that the eyes of our understanding on the subject of this blog post, would become enlightened. Praise God!

Let God’s people not perish because of ignorance. Amen.

 

1. What is witchcraft?

For many young inquisitive story-lovers and TV-watchers, the word ‘witchcraft’ brings to mind some of Harry Potter’s books, TV movies such as Charmed, Bewitched, etc.

While I am personally not a fan of witch-laden movies and the likes, witchcraft can mean a lot more than the nicely scripted acts we see in movies.

I am a strong believer in the notion that our thoughts (and sometimes dreams) are greatly influenced by what we expose our minds to. So I must conscientiously choose the pictures created in my mind (and those of my children), remembering at all times to guard our fragile hearts with all diligence (Bible verse) and to carefully test and name every spirit as either good or evil.   For instance, what spiritual edification is there in a film on witchcraft?  Selah.

Witchcraft is understood by many as having pact with Satan to secure power to do evil and hurt people. While some persons refute description of witchcraft, preferring instead to argue that membership into Wicca (a duotheistic worship of the ‘Moon Goddess’ and the ‘Horned God’) gives personal protective cover, a little dig however into the history of witchcraft reveals its strong connection and roots to magic.

Magic was discovered in the period of chaos, scarcity, sickness, bad weather. At such times, witches and sorcerers would cast spells and carry out rituals to draw the powers of the gods. By harnessing such powers, witches could groom, nurture or destroy,  thus breeding fear among people. In fact, the Roman law, distinguished between good and bad magic. Jail, fine and banishment were possible punishments for bad magic. Good magic on the other hand, resulted in healing and hopeful divination and was therefore sanctioned.

Before we go too far, I’d like to give you  definitions of witchcraft from the dictionary. So for all logical thinking persons, the dictionary recognizes witchcraft!! 🙂

Because witchcraft operates within cultural beliefs and practices, it can be pretty difficult to offer a uniform, precise definition. However, witchery cover a religious, divinatory and medicinal role and operates from a magical standpoint in every context.

“Witchcraft (also called witchery or spellcraft) broadly means the practice of, and belief in magical skills and abilities that are exercised by individuals and certain social groups.” -Wikipidia

“the use of sorcery or magic; communication with the devil or with a familiar spirit. An irresistible influence or fascination” -Merriam-Webster.

“the practice of magic, especially black magic; the use of spells and invocation of spirits“

The dictionary therefore suggests a strong link between witchcraft and magic. Magic means;

“the use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces. *magic rites or incantations. *an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source. *something that seems to cast a spell;  *enchantment.” -Merriam Webster.

Scientifically, magical powers and witchcraft have no credence as they have remained unsupported by experimental testing and have generally lacked scientific explanation. So again, for the very logical and scientific thinkers, magic (and witchcraft) can very well be a joke.

Does the Bible consider magic and witchery as jokes? 

Accounts of acts and practice of magic are replete throughout the Bible. Both the New and Old Testament strongly condemn witchcraft, magic, sorcery and all forms of divination and soothsaying.

Magic is an illusion, its unreal and it cannot be substantiated. Sometimes, people experience very strange feelings of ill-health that defies all known medical explanations.  A Godly intervention may be all that is required.

We have some descriptions of witchcraft in the Bible.

a. Witchcraft is sin.

“..rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, …” (1Samuel 15:23). So witchcraft is defiance, resists authority, loves control, insubordinate and nonconforming.

b. Witchcraft steals peace. 

“...what peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?..”     (2 Kings 9:22)

c. Witchcraft does evil and never good. 

“…practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil..” (2 Kings 17:17; & 21: 6, 2 Chronicles 33:6).

d. Witchcraft provokes God to anger.

“…and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.”    (2 Kings 17:17 & 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6).

e. Witchcraft et al (witchcraft, sorcery, occultism, and all forms of divination) defile.

“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.”   (Leviticus 19:31)

f. Witchcraft is cowardly.  Mediums make low speeches (lacking in authority). They mutter and whisper out of the dust. (Revelation 21:8;   Isaiah 8:19; 29:4).

 

2. Why do people indulge in witchcraft?

Just put a handful of toddlers in a small play room with the best toys in the world and in no time you’ll notice teams and team leads naturally emerge among them. Man seems to have misconstrued God’s command in Genesis to subdue the earth and dominate it to mean dominance over every other human! 🙂

There is a strong desire for power and dominance in every man which if uncontrolled and unchecked pushes one to search for aids to dominance. Occultism and all forms of evil divinations (including witchcraft) are primarily birthed this way. Most times, people who indulge in these ungodly associations start off seeking personal gratification and powers that can safeguard them from others. But just like other gifts from Satan, acts and practice of divination ultimately kills, steals and destroys (John 10:10).

 

3. How do witchcraft et al work?

*By ‘witchcraft et al’ I mean; witchcraft, sorcery, occultism, and all forms of divination.

(a). Witches use means to hunt after souls by influencing natural forces through supernatural powers or by invocation of spirits . Some of the means used in witchcraft include;

• Spells (Acts 19:19;  ). These include; love spells, money spells, white magic spells, doll spell, chants, spells for flying, spells with candles, spells with cats, spells for protection, etc                 **Witches generally cast their spells when they get angry and they have spells in books.
  
• Enchantments (Acts 8:11, Revelations 18:23; Exodus 8:7 ). This simply means operating under a spell, being astonished or attracted to something or greatly fascinated without good reason.
• Charms (Ezekiel 13:18-20; ). Means to become fascinated, delighted, pleased, attracted, captivated, dazzled, hypnotized, bewitched, seduced spellbound etc.
• Poisons
• Gifts   (Ezekiel  13:18,
• Invocations (Isaiah 8:19).  Witchcraft and all forms of divination invoke the dead.

(b). Initiation into witchcraft involves a passing through fire (2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6, ).

(c). Individuals can be initiated at birth or become enchanted or charmed using any of the means listed above (2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6).

I believe that a witch once entered my home in the guise of a nanny; I’d just had one of my babies. On this particular Sunday morning, I just suddenly felt feverish and literally passed out. Of course I didn’t make it to church that day. Waking up, I felt something was wrong, I immediately asked for my few weeks old baby who was brought, and she looked okay physically. The discomfort I felt made me start thinking and praying. The next Sunday, the same feverish feeling started again, this time, I got up carried my baby and the nanny to church! The nanny was very uncomfortable and restless throughout the service and a few days later she insisted she must leave my home.

My next meeting with her was at an immunization session, she’d found another victim; a harmless innocent new mum.  She almost jumped out of her skin when she saw me and tried very hard to avoid any close contact with me. But I managed to get close to her and asked her; ‘what are you up to now?’ She didn’t want her new boss to hear our discussion and so preferred we spoke a distance from her. 

I believe she’s on an assignment to initiate newborn babies. She didn’t succeed with mine! My subsequent calls to her agency to bring me another help wasn’t fruitful as the manager muttered something about my home which I can’t remember clearly.

 

4. What does God think about witches?

a. Witchcraft et al is delusional,  full of lies and does not bring comfort.  Zechariah 10:2 tells us that;

“..The idols speak delusion, the diviners envision lies and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep…”

The sheep without The Shepherd (Jesus Christ) is the one most prone to following after the falsehood of divination. For the Bible records that the sheep of Jesus Christ is sensitive enough not to follow the voice of a stranger (John 10: 14, 27).

b. God does not want His children seeking after mediums. In Leviticus 19:31 God commands us;

“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits, do not seek after them: I am the Lord your God.”

c. God turns his face away from anyone who practices witchery and consults medium.  Leviticus 20:6 reads;

“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people”

d. God’s penalty for a witch is death.

“You shall not permit a sorcerer to live”.   (Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10,

And Leviticus 20:27 reads;

“A man or woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, shall surely be put to death; they shall stone them with stones. Their blood shall be upon them”.

e. Witchcraft et al will be destroyed in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone in the Second Death;

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,..“

 

5. So until the Second Death comes, how should Christians handle witches? 

How many witches should we kill and how would we kill them?  🙂 . Ephesians 6 answers these questions for us;

“Finally my brethren, be strong in The Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. stand therefore, having girded your with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,..” Ephesians 6:13-19.

This scripture tells us how to handle all forms of principalities and powers (including witchcraft).

• We need to be strong in The Lord
• We need to be strong in the power of the Lord’s might
• We need to pray always in the Spirit
• We need to be watchful and cultivate perseverance
• We must wear (as clothing) the full amour of God and take a stand against the devil’s schemes.  Wearing the full armour of God entails putting on  the Helmet of salvation, the Breastplate of righteousness, girding our waist with the truth, covering our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, carrying the Shield of faith and holding strongly in our hands the Sword of the Spirit. It is with the sword of the Spirit (the weapon of our warfare), that we pull down strong holds, cast down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We bring into captivity every thought(certainly not of good) to the obedience of Christ and we punish every disobedience and rebellion (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6). 

We must also remember that Christ disarmed all principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them and triumphing over them in victory (Colossians 2:15). After gaining that feat, Christ received all authority  in Heaven and on Earth which He handed over  to us-Christians (Matthew 28:20) and God the Father made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Friends, fear not for Christ has conquered the devil and all his agents. Christ is in us (John 16: 20) and He is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4, Exodus:18:11). 

Can you imagine the devil walking up to Jesus Christ and saying to Him; ‘look Jesus, whatever You did at Calvary was nothing, I am here to oppress and suppress You‘. If you cannot imagine that happening with Christ, you shouldn’t accept it happening to you.

Some months ago when I got really sick without a satisfactory medical explanation, some elderly Christian friends of mine became very worried that I might die. They suggested I go inquire (from a medium) what the problem could be.  My response to them never changed; “if I was bewitched or poisoned, then that for me is much easier than being labelled with a disease. Jesus already settled all principalities and powers”.

Truth is, both the bewitching and the known disease emanate from the same source (John 10:10). And it is aimed at killing, stealing from and ultimately destroying the destiny of Christians without knowledge. Christians who have been given all authority and don’t know it.

Brethren, Fret not about witches and all kinds of principalities and powers. Apostle Paul  in Acts 13:6-12 being led by the Holy Spirit, demonstrates to us how to handle a sorcerer or witch acting under guise of a prophet.

Bar-Jesus, like many sorcerers and false prophets today, knew his trade and didn’t pretend about his intention to make money. He recognized a need in Proconsul Sergius Paulus, who though described by the Bible as an intelligent man, was very lacking in Godly wisdom. Bar-Jesus sucked up to Sergius Paulus and continuously fed him with false prophecies.

Interesting thing about Bar-Jesus, which Christians must not miss is that he knew he was a false prophet 🙂 because when Paul and Barnabas showed up, Bar-Jesus recognized that his trickery was over! Paul only made his sure exit less traumatic by simply cursing him with temporary blindness first.  Oh! I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit like Paul was in this narration such that no stinking deceitful, fraudulent, son of the devil and an enemy of righteousness like Bar-Jesus misses a taste of God’s fury.

 

In sub-theme 6, I discuss my little concern about witchery and the Church…

   6. Can a Christian be under the influence of witchcraft and not know It?

My answer to this question is a resounding ‘Yes’.

And this is where things around witchery gets a bit confusing. Sometimes the people we have very high regard for may actually be exhibiting features of witchcraft and because of the respect we have for them, we only realize after a lot of harm has been done, or we still carry on without knowing what’s up!

As a young Christian, I remember my Pastor frequently mentioning 3 main attributes of witchcraft; Manipulation, Seduction & Control (MSC).

All 3 features may not be present in one person at the same time, but the presence of any them in strong uncontrollable measure should make us begin to consider operation of a spirit other than the spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ is evident in the Spirit-filled life (Galatians 5:22-23).

So as I end this very extended blog-post, we must remember  as 1 John 4:1 commands;

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Many false prophets are presently in the world, leading churches, teaching the bible, calling ‘Jesus’, ‘Jesus’ everywhere.  The Bible admonishes us to Test every spirit to ascertain whether they are of God.

Where you find Manipulation, Seduction and/or Control ruling in a church, pause, stop, look again, then conduct the litmus test;…….whose spirit is at work here? If it is Not the Spirit of God, then it must be the spirit of the devil.

Your ‘prophet’ may actually need help and the earlier you start praying in the Spirit for him, the safer it will be for you, the church and your leader/prophet.

May God help us all.

We are victories through Christ. And it doesn’t matter how the devil wants to come after us, he’ll come in one way but disperse in several directions because the Greater One lives in us.

Halleluyah to Jesus Christ.