Tag: sorcery
Fatal Breaches of Faith
Scripture reading for August 3: 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 “So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeing guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.”
Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The old covenant of law brought a penalty of death for idolatry, sorcery, adultery and murder. Saul, the first king of Israel, knew God’s law but willfully disobeyed God. He continually sought to murder David, the covenant friend of his son Jonathan and His own personal musician. Towards the end of his life, he sought out a medium to give him direction instead of going to the Lord through a prophet. It is ironic that he had the medium call up Samuel the prophet and he told him he would die soon. The law can reveal sin and its penalty, but cannot fix a rebellious heart.
However, under the New Covenant of grace through faith, we are also encouraged to stay in the faith by walking in the Spirit of God Who indwells us. (Galatians 5:16, 25) We can resist the Holy Spirit, however, and set our minds on our flesh. The flesh produces works of its own that eventually block even believers from receiving their full inheritance in God’s kingdom. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us walk in His power to live a life of faithfulness through grace. Christ Jesus perfectly obeyed God and now has given us His righteousness and forgiveness when we accidentally fail.
If you find yourself living in the works of the flesh as a believer in Jesus Christ, run to the Lord in faith in His willingness to forgive you and empower you to walk in the newness of the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, healing and deliverance belong to you because of Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf.
Prayer: Father God, as I read about the works of the flesh, forgive me for those areas that are still not given over to the Holy Spirit’s control. By faith, I trust in Your promises of a full inheritance! Amen!
Casting out evil spirits!
Scripture reading for November 12th: Acts 19-20
The Apostle Paul began his third missionary journey to reach those in the province of Asia. (Acts 18:23) He ended up in Ephesus where he found a group of disciples gathered. These twelve men had been baptized into John’s baptism of repentance but had never heard about Jesus Christ. Paul gave them the Gospel of Jesus, told them about the Holy Spirit and then laid hands on them. The Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied! Thus the church at Ephesus was born. Paul’s ministry went on there for nearly three years. This event took place about 20 years after the first Pentecost!
The Lord promised that signs would follow those who obediently preached the Gospel. (Mark 16:15-20) As Paul preached in Asia, God did extraordinary miracles through him to win the lost and confirm that Jesus was the Christ. These miracles included supernatural healing and casting out evil spirits. (Acts 19:11-12) Handkerchiefs and aprons that Paul used were taken to the sick and they were healed and delivered!
Paul’s preaching of Jesus and these extraordinary miracles caused some Jewish exorcists to imitate Paul’s methods. They tried to cast out a demon from a possessed man “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches.” The demon spoke to them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-15) These seven exorcists were then severely beaten by the demon possessed man! The word about this spread and brought a revival of holiness. Fear seized the populace and they confessed their evil deeds, sorcery, and witchcraft. They publicly burned their books and charms and the word of God spread and grew in power!
God’s power is no match against the powers of the Devil! Jesus told us that in His Name, we would cast out devils! We must know Jesus personally! It can’t be a second hand knowledge or we will be in trouble, just like the seven who tried it. Demons recognize and know Jesus and those who have Him as Lord! In His name, extraordinary miracles will follow the preaching of the Gospel and the ministry of those who obediently go! Be bold as you enter your mission field today! We have a mission field that is full of demonic bondage in need of bold confrontation.