Wizards, Witches, and Those Who Speak to the Dead

Through the revelation of scripture we find that God punishes certain sins more seriously than others. In the cases of witches, wizards, and those who speak to the dead, God, under the Law (Old Testament) commands the Levites, His priests, to put those who participate in these demonic activities to death. In Leviticus 20:27, God says, “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” Earlier in Leviticus 19:31 He warns His people, “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God” Again in Leviticus 20:6, God gives a serious warning to his people, “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.” Going further in the Old Testament in the book of 2 Chronicles chapter 33 verse 1 through 6, a king named Manasseh angers the Lord by participating in witchcraft, dealing with a familiar spirit, and wizards. Without doubt the weight of scripture clearly shows that wizards, witches, and those who call upon the dead, ghosts, or spirits (familiar spirits), are clearly in violation of the holy Law of God.

Now for us in the age of grace, many have completely disregarded the Law, as if it were obsolete. However, in the law there are basically two types of laws, ceremonial and moral. The laws of God speaking against witches, wizards, and those who speak to the dead are still applicable today, in the sense that they solidify a Godly moral compass. In Acts 16, Paul encounters a young damsel who had the ability to see the future. At first it seems like a harmless, fun, even helpful gift. But Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, doesn’t speak out against the fortune telling, he actually casts a demon out of the girl and she losses the ability to tell the future. This account from Acts, clearly explains that those who have the ability or hold claim to the ability to tell the future are at the very least tampering with demonic forces and at the most possessed of a demon.

The practical application for us, as followers of Jesus Christ, is that horoscopes, fortune tellers, palm readers, and the like, may simply be masquerading as authentic, yet are still representing demonic forces that are absolutely opposed the true things of God. Beyond just fortune telling, are those who claim a “connection” to those who have passed on. Without a doubt, this is NOT EVER of God and is a trickery of satanic forces. As followers of Christ we must never participate in any of the previously discussed acts and in turn must reveal the true source of future revelation, the Word of God.

A Spirit of Fear

October for many is a season of fear, and truthfully our culture finds a lot of fun in it. Hollywood will distribute it’s most bloody and terrifying movies of the year, while on television old horror classics will be re-run over and over. Haunted houses, scary costumes, and other more sinister events such as séances and the like, will happen as Halloween is celebrated. For many Christians this seasons becomes a time where we regularly violate our conscience and the fundamental reason for this guilt and source of questioning the “season” is found in 2 Timothy 1:7, where Paul writes, “…God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Often times this scripture is misused to say all types of things, but we must let the scripture speak. All fear is not bad, but a “spirit of fear” is clearly not from God and comes from another source. To ride a roller coaster and sky dive or to participate in some other “death defying” act, for some of us, becomes a way we face our fear. But in these cases, we are not perpetuating a “spirit of fear.” In my own life I have examined the movies, television shows, events, and so on that I allow myself and my children to participate in. I do so, not because I want to necessarily shelter my children from culture, but because I look to scripture and realize that God does not impart to His people a “spirit of fear,” and nor should I to my children.

This year, stop and think about the things that you and I are allowing ourselves and our children to participate in. Stop and think about the movies that we see or allow our kids to see. Do they foster a “spirit of fear,” or of love and a sound mind. How about the TV shows? There are so many that clearly violate scriptural teaching (more on this in tomorrow’s blog), and yet many of us continue to watch regularly. Of course our children will be wearing costumes, but in truth, are the costumes we allow them to wear God honoring or do they honor things that scripture clearly speaks out against? Each of us must, as scripture teaches, examine ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to show us areas where we can align our life and our family with the Word of God. Am I telling you that the Bible says not to let your children walk around a collect candy from friendly neighbors? Of course not. But what I am saying that there is a proliferation of a "spirit of fear" that is accepted as normal that we must protect ourselves and our families from.

Tomorrow I will be writing about clear violations of the scripture found in culture, like witches, séances, fortune telling, and several others, which some deem as silly games, but God calls them for what they are…sin.

1 Peter 2:9

People have occasionally asked me if my Dad and I discuss our sermon topics before Sunday, and the answer is “No.” Actually sometimes we’ll talk about Biblical truths that I later hear in sermon form, but anything planned never happens. Occasionally, however, the Holy Spirit does something funny and we end up preaching sermons that are connected. This past week was one of them, from 1st Peter 2:9.

As I studied 1st Peter 2:9, I began to see an incredible pattern that, honestly, humbled and shocked me. Here is what the Word of God says:
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

As I read this verse, I began to realize that it’s all about God and His action. Peter uses the words chosen, royal, holy, and peculiar. When I read those words, which Peter is using to describe the believers position in God’s Kingdom through Jesus Christ, I realize that everything we have is not from our efforts, but from the action of a sovereign and loving God. God chooses us, through His son He makes us royalty and holy, and claims us as His own (peculiar). Then He allows us to show the world His goodness and greatness, because He and He alone has called us out of the darkness of this world and into a life lived in the light of Himself. Peter, better than most, understood the gracious call of God, out of a life of meaningless pursuits, into a life full of God’s majestic displays of power through fishermen and simple servants. When we realize that God’s grace is so much more than just eternal life, we will truly be speechless at the revelation of who God is.

True Religion

“Why did I do that?” seems to be a question I ask my self on a pretty consistent basis. So often I make dumb decisions and in hindsight I realize the effects and lunacy of my previous thought pattern. Yet on the rare occasion, I get to do things that are so clear in scripture, that they are completely idiot proof. In the book of James, chapter 1 verse 27, it explains what “religion” is really supposed to look like. It says, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
Three weeks ago a fire burnt through an apartment building in downtown Goodrich, leaving many families in need. Specifically, though, what caught my attention was an 80 year old lady who had no husband or children. Immediately I thought about what James said. So I called Bernadette Jacobs who, besides knowing everybody and everything, has a real love for people and asked how we could help. From that point, she and our staff began to coordinate our efforts to really take care of this lady. We started by paying her hotel bill, where she stayed during the transition.
Yesterday she moved into her new apartment in Grand Blanc. The sad fact was that she had nothing, but by the time we had left, it was taken care of. People from our church helped with just about everything, beginning with her kitchen, which is now totally stocked with food and all that a kitchen needs, all the way to her clothes and stocking the bathroom. When I arrived at the apartment to find it bustling with action, Jean, our widow, was overwhelmed to the point of tears. I introduced myself and explained that if she needed anything to just call us. Nothing dramatic happened, other than the fact that God’s people came together to be truly religious.
Most of the things that a Pastor does on a daily basis are design to get more people into “his” church. But the real things that God calls all of us to do, including myself, are usually invisible to the world around us.

Here's the church...here's the steeple, open the doors, and see all the people.

Church…what does it mean? I’m sure many of you know the little hand motion, where you explain, “Here’s the church…here’s steeple, open the doors see all the people.” But the truth is that the church is so much more than a building, a denomination, a Sunday gathering place, or much of what we call church today. The church is a called out group of people…the true followers of Jesus Christ. When the church “opened it’s doors” in Acts 2, things were truly different than they are today in most “churches.” I often wonder throughout the course of a week if what we are doing is God’s ideas or some man’s. The truth is, often traditions dictate more of what we do than the word of God. So to be true to Christ intended for the church, we must go back to the beginning.
Here are some things that you find the church doing:
Learning doctrine (Word of God)
Praying together
Living in unity
Selling possessions and giving to those in need
Eating together at each others homes
Praising God
Seeing people saved

Each time I read this list, I am forced into a serious self examination. You see, church is more than just a Sunday morning “thing,” or a building. The church is a group of people who together prompt each other to deepen their commitment to Christ and encourage one another in difficult times. Maybe you have said, “I love God, but “church” just isn’t for me.” If so, read Acts 2 and 1 John this week and let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Honestly, if we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, we must be learning the word of God together, fellowshipping together, caring for one another, praying together, and praising God in music, words, and deeds.
So this week, make time for the Point Institute on Wednesday night and a get connected to a Small Group. You can find all the details and information on hispoint.net. Have a great week!