Session 1 – The Bible and the Occult

In this first session, we will be looking at the Biblical perspective on the occult and

spiritual warfare.

We will look at some terminology used in the occult, and some practices common

among different groups.

The words “cult” and “occult” are popular terms

that should not be confused with one

another. So, what is the difference between them?

To orthodox Christians, the word “cult” takes on a wider meaning. Not only can

groups be considered cultic in the sociological sense, groups may be deemed

cultic in a theological sense as well.

Groups which claim to be in harmony with Christianity but deny foundational Christian

doctrines — such as the Trinity, or the unique deity of Jesus Christ — are cults in a

theological sense.

The word “cult” is very different from the occult, although it can include aspects of it.

The occult is a broad term, and is identified with many different practices.

Fortunetelling, witchcraft, trances,

channeling, etc. are the sort of thing described

in Deuteronomy 18. Additionally, tarot cards, crystal balls, Ouija boards, and

horoscopes are other examples of things associated with the

occult.

Keep in mind, there are many cases where the occult and the cults overlap.

However, not all cults indulge in the occult. For example, it would be unfair to link the Jehovah’s Witnesses

and the United Pentecostal Church

with the occult.

While there are differences, keep in mind both groups are just as dangerous as the other. They are both leading people away

from the truth of God’s Word.

Warning for a Christian

According to the Bible, the occult is real! And the power associated with it is real –

and demonic. Christians who say it’s all fake need to read their Bible.

Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and

blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the

rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of

wickedness in the heavenly places.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to

the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God

for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,

bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”

It’s a battle greater than any world war.

What does the Bible say about the different practices of the occult? Many of them are

listed in Scripture (and not in a friendly way)

Deuteronomy 18:9-12: “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow

the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among

you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire,…

“or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a

sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the

dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them

out from before you.”

The New Testament also condemns witchcraft in many places (Galatians 5:20).

Certain groups come to mind when dealing with the occult:

Wicca

Back in 2008 (most recent number I’ve found) there were approximately 700,000 admitting Wiccans in America (it has been

growing fast) .

We will spend a session talking about Wicca.

Satanism

Three main traditions of this form exist today: the Church of Satan, the Temple of Set, and the Church of Satanic Liberation.

The New Age Movement

We will not go into great detail on this group (but will reference them).

We will spend a session looking into more detail on these groups.

To start, we will be looking at what the Bible says about the topic of the demonic

realm and Satan; we will also be examining commonalities between all

these groups and things today that many people get involved with unknowingly.

We will also be looking at ancient groups that still have influence today, and the

history of the occult.

What does the Bible say?

Genesis 1:31: “Then God saw everything that He

had made, and indeed it was very good. So the

evening and the morning were the

sixth day.”

Everything God created would include the angels (even those who fell!).

Since the angels (and Lucifer) were created, that means they were created in the six

days of creation (probably day one or two).

And there was no evil at that time!

As we all know, though, that is not the way that the world stayed.

We have two falls that happen: Lucifer from heaven and Adam and Eve into sin. There

are two verses that talk about Lucifer's fall.

Ezekiel 28:11-16 “Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Son of

man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the

Lord GOD: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of

God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper,

Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold…

“The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you

were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You

were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery

stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity

was found in you. “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with

violence within, And you sinned;

“Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed

you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.”

We know that Lucifer was not fallen when God created Adam and Eve because he is

in Eden (created day six) until iniquity was found in him.

More people are familiar with the next verse that speaks to Lucifer's fall.

Isaiah 14:12-15:“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have

said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the

north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ Yet you

shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”

Because of Lucifer's pride he fell, same thing for humans!

The Bible says that 1/3rd of the angels fell with Lucifer and became fallen

angels, or demons.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”

This is why God hates pride so much.

Satan and the demonic realm have great power in this world.

Luke 8:24: “And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they

ceased, and there was a calm.”

Power of nature and weather

There are several examples in book of Job: lightning, tornado’s, etc.

He has power over sickness and disease

Book of Job again shows us this, as well as different examples in Jesus’ ministry.

Luke 8:24: “And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and

there was a calm.”

Why does he rebuke weather?

Satan has the power to hinder and delay believers

1 Thessalonians 2:18: “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time

and again—but Satan hindered us.”

This is after the resurrection! Satan did not lose all his power at the resurrection, he is

still the ruler of this world.

We also see something similar with Daniel.

Satan fought Michael over the body of Moses

Jude 1:9 “Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he

disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation,

but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’ “

You have to understand that Satan and demons have power in this world! Christians often times say things like “Satan is a joke.”

But also remember that he can do nothing without God’s permission.

Job 1:12: “And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power;

only do not lay a hand on his person.”

But as Christians, we don’t need to fear.

Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and

over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

But make sure you know you are walking with the Lord, or things won’t go well.

Acts 19:13-16: “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the

name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ’I adjure you by the

Jesus whom Paul proclaims.’ Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva

were doing this But the evil spirit answered them,…

‘Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?’ 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they

fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Don’t think you can live your life any way you want to, and still use

the power of the name of Jesus.

If you are following God, keep this in mind:

God is God, Satan is not.

God created Satan, and Satan needs his

permission to do certain things.

There is no reason to fear Satan, but don’t take this matter lightly, Satan is not a

“joke”.

Isaiah 14:16-17 “Those who see you (Satan) will gaze at you, And consider

you, saying: Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who

made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the

house of his prisoners?’”

Consider this about Satan:

Some occultic practices defined:

1) Human Sacrifice – Many ancient groups did this (and modern)

2) Divination – The Heart of the occult. Manipulation from demonic sources.

3) Astrology – Trying to get information from the zodiac.

4) Enchanter – Someone satanically endowed to produce seductive spells.

5) Witchcraft and Witches – Includes its modern, organized counterpart, Wicca.

6) Charmer – One who manipulates objects or beings via demonic power.

7) Consulter with Familiar Spirits – One who gleans knowledge from demonic contact.

8) Wizards – Practitioners of magical arts.

9) Necromancers – Those who claim to be in contact with the dead.

Occultic things you can easily encounter today

Child sacrifice and the occult

This was heavily practiced in the ancient times.

Moloch was a notable pagan god that was

associated with child sacrifice.

The Bible mentions it several times.

Leviticus 18:21: “And you shall not

let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the

name of your God: I am the LORD.”

The Bible talks several times about this topic of child sacrifice.

We sacrifice around 3,500 children each day here in America by abortion to our own

gods of luxury (among other things)!

Deuteronomy 12:31: “You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates

they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the

fire to their gods.”

Magic Spells and Nature Control

Most people don’t believe in “magic” and spells. The Bible

doesn’t take that position, though; it admits these

things are real.

The public has become very used to the idea of these things with popular movies and

books such as Star Wars (the Force) and Harry Potter (Spells).

Many Christians say that everything people claim as demonic activity is actually just people on drugs, or with mental illness.

Some things obviously are, but we cannot explain everything in those terms.

What is a Christian to do in this world of demonic activity?

James 4:7: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

DO NOT go looking for trouble in the occultic world! It is not something to be messed

around with.

Finally, don’t forget your gear.

Ephesians 6:10-20 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His

might. Put on the whole armor 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 powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore

take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist 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 the fiery darts of the wicked

one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…

” praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all

perseverance and supplication for all the 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, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak

boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Memory Verse

Luke 10:19: “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and

scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any

means hurt you.”