Darrell McKnight Minister/Musician, Central Carolina Sch. of Preaching

The Scriptures are very exact when dealing with witchcraft and sorcery. Deuteronomy 18:9-14 gives a strong statement on how God feels about these practices. They are an abomination unto God!

Isaiah 8:19,20 says that you don't need seducing spirits and practices when you already have a living Almighty God available to you (v.19). And if you speak not according to this word there is no light in you (v.20). 
So now if you lay claim to being Christian all life and spiritual needs are answered in God through Christ. You need not search anywhere else! I suggest one read Philippians 4:13 and 2 Peter 1:3 together in this case.

Now concerning resisting the devil and casting out demons. These are fundamentally different areas of operation. Any and all Christians are capable of resisting the devil. But not all Christians are wise or strong enough to contend with demonic activity. These agents of sin operate in an unseen realm that can produce seen results and behavior. Ephesians 6:12 fully describes these forces. They possess intellect and knowledge that can put many Christians to harm and shame. Luke 4:41 recalls an encounter(s)
between Christ and many demons. They knew who Jesus was whereas many of the people didn't know this fact. Read Acts 19:13-20 about the sons of Sceva and what happened to them? 

Demons are not doubled minded nor do they second guess themselves. They are crafty and powerful and have no doubt about their purpose. If you are not strong in faith, wise in spirit, deep in spiritual understanding live and walk a path acceptable to God this evil force will prevail over you.

Contending with evil in it's many forms requires the spiritual mindset of wise and mature Christians who have been immersed and saturated with the Holy Spirit that also led and ministered unto the incarnate Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1). 

Find yourself a mature and wise man/woman of God to assist you more in this area if you yourself have not yet matured in confidence in the LORD. It takes being girded in the whole armor of God. But be sure to try/test every spirit (1 John 4:1).

We will deal with this subject more in the future, Thank you and Love you!

April 24 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Joseph Turner Christian, Sunday School Teacher, Actor, Health Food Worker

Here is a passage recording an encounter between Jesus and demon oppressed men:

Matthew 8:28-34
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

I will note here that Jesus was in Gentile territory. Not only that, but, while at first the death of the pigs seems a bit harsh, remember that pigs were considered unclean by the Jews, and that particular herd of pigs was being used to be offered as sacrifices to the false gods of the region. Jesus was asked to leave because was messing with their thriving industry. In many instances, all Jesus had to do was tell demons to leave because He is the Son of God. There was another instance where Jesus' disciples, whom had been given authority to cast out demons, could not, so they called Jesus over. 

The passage is Mark 9:14-29.

The main focus is that the boy had been suffering with this demon his whole life. (Mark 9:21) The demon had been causing him to be deaf, mute, convulse, and would throw the boy into fires in an attempt to destroy him. (Mark 9:22) When the father says, "If you can," Jesus responds:

Mark 9:23
23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

To which the father tearfully replies:

Mark 9:24
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

And I think that that is something all believers struggle with. Look at what Jesus does next:

Mark 9:25-29
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Some passages add, "and fasting."

As you can see, Jesus has power over demons and gives us (and anyone else who believes) the power to rebuke them in His name. 

Mark 9:38-39
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.

Later, after Christ was crucified and Paul converted, he was spreading the gospel and they encountered a demon possessed girl who prophesied:

Acts 16:18
18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.

I advise prayer and reading of scripture. James says further:

James 4:7-8
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Draw near to God. It may take time. We will pray for her as well; she is not alone. 

God bless.

April 24 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

James M

There are different versions of Witchcraft just like different denominations of Christianity. I'm a Christian and my wife is Wiccan and we get along just fine but we differ on spirituality. I will say that she believes in "Harm none," which is totally different to the person(s) you described. As far as my wife goes there is not one evil thing about her and we accept each other for what we believe. I do however, tell her about Jesus and that he is the only way. I pray for her that in God's time she will come to true salvation through Jesus Christ.

April 24 2015 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report