If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. 2 Cor 5:17
Comments, questions or discussion can happen on Facebook
Go to the source! Discover what the Bible says about …
These pages are designed to aid study or investigation for Christian discipleship through individual Bible study, Cell groups, Home groups, or meeting one to one. The questions could be used alone allowing each person to use their own Bible.
There is an unseen spiritual world. In this unseen world are such beings as angels and demons. There are people who interact with the spiritual forces of darkness, commonly known as ‘the occult’. This is forbidden by God in the Bible. These forces do have power, but interaction with such beings puts a person under their control and leads to death.
Bible Zone
- Occult practices forbidden - Seeking to control others, or gain hidden knowledge.
- Ghosts - ghost are recognised as existing.
- Demon Worship - Worship of idols is worship of demons..
The Bible clearly speaks against any practices that exercise power through the spirit world or seek to gain knowledge from the spirit world.
- What practices are mentioned?
- What does the Lord say about them?
Deut 18:10-13 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering.* And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft,11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you.13 But you must be blameless before the LORD your God.14 The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things."
There are those who justify themselves saying they want to use these powers for good. The occult however is against God and against His love. A person cannot work with God and spirits, who are His enemies at the same time. The Bible calls this wickedness.
Jesus, following his death and resurrection is mistaken for a ghost, and sets out to demonstrate that He is a real physical being. Luke 24:36-42.
- How does Jesus describe ghosts?
- What was Jesus showing the disciples by eating?
Luke 24:36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. "Peace be with you," he said.37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 "Why are you frightened?" he asked. "Why are your hearts filled with doubt?39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it's really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do."40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,43 and he ate it as they watched.
Though ghosts are never explained in the Bible, there is evidence to suggest that they are the spirits of people who have died, but due to some circumstance in their life, cannot let go of the physical world, and are thus stuck between earth and heaven.
Just as taking the Lord’s supper opens the way for us to receive more of Jesus, so taking part in what is evil opens us up to receive evil spirits. 1 Corinthians 10:19-22
- To whom could sacrifice be offered?
- What does participate mean? What is participation with demons?
- What is God’s attitude to his children participating with demons?
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don't want you to participate with demons.21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord's Table and at the table of demons, too.22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?
If participation with a demon opens a person to receive that demon, then who is in control of the power or knowledge coming from the demon?
THE OCCULT
