Religions > Bible > 20-Your Adversary, the Devil - Trafficking With Demons
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20-Your Adversary, the Devil - Trafficking With Demons |
20-Your Adversary, the Devil - Trafficking With Demons
Deuteronomy 18:9-11
Man has an insatiable curiosity about the future. Even though he is
unable to cope with all the problems that the present brings, he still
wants to assume the burden of the future. By one means or another he
seeks to discover what lies ahead. This is not a new phenomenon; it is as
old as the human race. As we go back into the earlier chapters of the
Word of God we find that men there sought to find out concerning coming
events.
God has seen fit to take us into confidence concerning some of His
program. The Word of God is authenticated, if for no other reason,
because it contains many prophecies which we can examine for
understanding and edification. But when a man goes beyond what has been
written in the Word of God he is subject to delusion; he is subject to
deception through the activity of Satan through his demons.
Any contact with demons is expressly forbidden in the Word of God. This
was so prevalent, even in Israel's experience in the Old Testament, that
God had to give the commandment in Exodus 22:18, "Thou shalt not suffer a
witch to live." There was evidently something very serious about
witchcraft, for to practice witchcraft brought the witch under a death
penalty. We have to be careful concerning our definition of a witch. Our
thinking is molded a good deal by medieval theology and by the practices
in colonial days in New England. Our concept of a witch is one who calls
down a curse upon an individual. Such a concept says that a witch could
bring physical, mental, or emotional harm to an individual upon whom a
spell was cast. But the Word of God has no such concept of a witch. The
word translated witch in the Old Testament means one who knows, one who
prognosticates, one who foretells the future. Witchcraft in the Old
Testament was a demonic means by which future events were revealed to an
individual who submitted himself or herself to control by demons.
In its early experience, Israel was not satisfied with the revelation
which God had given concerning His program. There were those who sought
to know more about events. Not satisfied with the revelation that God
gave in the Word, they consulted demons that they might receive
revelation concerning the future. To discount the authority of the Word
of God, to deny the sufficiency of the revelation of the Word of God, and
to consort with demons to obtain further information which God had not
seen fit to reveal brought such a one under a death sentence.
Witchcraft or sorcery is dealt with in the eighteenth chapter of the book
of Deuteronomy. In verse 9 God said through Moses, "When thou art come
into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to
do after the abominations of those nations." We know that the land of
Canaan to which God brought the children of Israel after their redemption
from Egypt was populated by many different tribes and peoples who had one
thing in common: they worshiped demons and they had practices of
consorting with demons in the religious realm under the guise of worship.
These demons were worshiped by all sorts of abominable practices, by all
sorts of perversions and immorality, even by human sacrifices. God was
bringing the nation Israel, who had received an authoritative revelation
from God, into the land where He knew they would be subject to influence
by these heathen religions, and God warned them concerning these
practices.
Then in verses 10 and 11 the various forms of this activity in the name
of religion are outlined: "There shall not be found among you anyone that
maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire. ." That refers
to the experience of offering children as human sacrifices to these
deities of the Canaanites. Were you to go to Byblos today you would see
the excavations of the ancient Canaanite worship, and the guide would
point out to you the stone platforms where these sacrifices of children
to their demonic deities were practiced. God forbade it. Along with human
sacrifice there were other things God forbade that were just as grievous
to Him. God said, "There shall not be found among you . one that useth
divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a
charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a
necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the
Lord." God speaks here of many different forms of contact or traffic with
demons practiced in the land to which Israel was going.
There were those who used divination, which was a process of foretelling
the future by magical means. They usually practiced some form of augury,
investigating the entrails of a bird or an animal to discover the future
or determine a course of action. If you have read Roman history, you are
familiar with the Roman Augurs who forecast and predicted the outcome of
Roman military movements by sacrificing animals and then examining the
entrails. This became the determinative movement in Roman military
conquests. They depended upon this form of traffic with demons. God said
that was forbidden.
Next, there was not to be found among them an observer of times. This has
to do with determining or directing the course of an individual's life or
determining his conduct by contact with the stars or studying astrology.
I need not remind you of how common and widespread this practice is
today. I saw a report recently of the unprecedented volume of mail that a
local newspaper received when inadvertently the daily horoscope was
omitted from the paper. People were unable to make any decisions during
the day! God forbade the Israelites to "observe times" for that was a
form of demonism.
The next thing that God referred to was the enchanter. The enchanter was
one under demonic control who brought another individual under demonic
control with his enchantments. This has to do with casting a spell and
perhaps comes closer to our ordinary concept of a witch than any of these
others. Another form of traffic with demons forbidden was the witch. The
word witch here refers to one who knows. Thus some individuals found it
impossible to make any decision until they had consulted an astrologer or
prognosticator. Then there was the charmer. The charmer was one who used
magic and worked miracles by demonic power. The wise men of Egypt had
this kind of power in that they could imitate by demonic activity the
miracles of God which Moses performed. Daniel encountered this same type
of demonic activity in the courts of the King of Babylon. He was
surrounded by the wise men of Babylon who, through their incantations and
prognostications under demonic control, were able to direct the course of
the empire as they guided Nebuchadnezzar. These charmers were another
form of trafficking with evil spirits.
God refers next to the consulter with familiar spirits. This was the
individual who was on personal terms with, and under control of, a demon.
An individual could not be brought under control apart from voluntary
submission. The demon did not have power to master and overrule the will
of an individual so that he was possessed apart from his consent.
Consulters voluntarily submitted themselves so that the spirits could
reveal future things to them and they, in turn, could become contacts
between an inquirer and demons. We refer to such consulters today as
spirit mediums.
Next there was the wizard. The wizard is the masculine of witch. The
wizard was the man who knew. This was not something which only the woman
could practice. The necromancer was one who gained his information from
departed dead ones. A demon was a contact between the living world and
the world of departed spirits to provide some knowledge of future things.
From Deuteronomy 18:10, 11 you see how widespread this practice was in
Israel and how many different forms it took. The purpose of all these
different forms of demonism was to gain information apart from the Word
of God to guide men in their actions or decisions. We perhaps are tempted
to think that this is something that was practiced only in a
superstitious age. But as we go through the Word of God we find that it
was as prevalent in New Testament times as it was in the Old Testament.
And in vast areas of the earth today it is the dominant form of religious
experience or practice among those who do not know Jesus Christ as a
personal Saviour.
Consider the illustration of this type of trafficking with demons in the
experience of Saul as it is recorded in 1 Samuel 28:1-6. To many, this
has been a puzzling passage of Scripture. Notice, first of all, the
background of this experience. Saul, the king in Israel, was being
attacked by the Philistines, his strongest adversaries. Saul depended
upon Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, for guidance and counsel. Samuel
had died, and Saul felt that he had no source of guidance in this
national crisis. Now Saul did have the Scriptures that had been given by
God through Moses and they were sufficient to guide Saul in his course of
conduct. But because he repudiated the revelation which God gave in His
Word, Saul sought some other guidance. He commanded in verse 7, "Seek me
a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of
her." He wanted a woman who was on familiar terms with some demon so that
he could gain knowledge by contacting one who was dead. Notice that the
Scripture does not say that such a practice is impossible. It says that
such a practice is forbidden, but it did not say it was impossible.
Saul knew that the Word of God forbade such activity because in verse 3
we read that Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits and the
wizards out of the land. In spite of what he knew, Saul sought out this
woman of Endor. She is not called a witch. The word literally translated
means she is the mistress of the demon. After Saul had granted her
immunity from punishment, she said, "Whom shall I bring up unto thee? and
he said, Bring me up Samuel." Now why would Saul want to contact the
godly prophet Samuel? Obviously it was that he might learn from this
prophet what God had for him in the future. "And when the woman saw
Samuel she cried with a loud voice." This reaction suggests to us that
the woman who had the familiar spirit was absolutely dumbfounded when
Samuel materialized. She expected the familiar spirit to appear and then
through the familiar spirit she hoped to make contact with Samuel.
When Samuel appeared she was amazed because she had no contact with
Samuel and he was not her familiar spirit. Saul inquired of her "what
form he is of?" When she described the one who appeared to her, Saul said
that it must be Samuel. Note that Saul did not see Samuel. The woman saw
Samuel, but Saul did not. Saul could not have contact with one who had
departed except through a demon and he was not under control of a demon.
Samuel appeared, not because he was summoned by demons, but because he
was sent by God to announce judgment upon Saul and announce the overthrow
of Saul's kingdom. This certainly does not set a pattern, but it does
show that one who had submitted herself to a demon could gain information
concerning future things through demonic activity.
In Acts 8:9 we find that the same practice was carried on in New
Testament times. Philip, the evangelist was ministering in Samaria. He
preached Christ and proclaimed Him as the Saviour from sin, the Deliverer
from Satan. There was in that city a man called Simon, who had used
sorcery. He had contact with a demon to perform magical works and to
reveal future events. He had bewitched the people of Samaria; that is, he
had impressed them with his knowledge of the future which he had gained
through demonic means, and as a result of his contact with demons he was
credited with having power from God. People said of Simon (v. 10), "This
man is the great power of God." They were not able to distinguish between
the magic performed by demonic power and miracles performed by divine
power. It is Satan's purpose to get men to believe that he is God and to
give him the worship that belongs to God. We are reminded that Satan's
original desire was to be like the most High, to receive the worship that
belongs to God. God demonstrates that He is God by the miracles that He
performs, and by the future that He reveals through prophecy. It is
significant that when Satan seeks to authenticate himself he does it by
causing those who are under control of his demons to work miracles and to
reveal the future. We find this in the case of Simon. Such was the
subtlety of Satan who controlled this man so as to convince the people in
Samaria that he was God.
The only deliverance from this demonic influence was the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. We read in Acts 8:12, "When they believed Philip . they were
baptized, both men and women, then Simon himself believed also, and when
he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the
miracles and signs which were done." The people of Samaria who had
listened to Simon were delivered from demonic influence by believing the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the sorcerer himself was delivered from
demonic influence and control the same way. The Gospel was authenticated
by the miracles which the Apostles produced. So God used Philip to give
an evidence to these who had trafficked with demons that He was God and
Satan was an imposter.
Satan's program has worked well from the time of the Old Testament down
to the present day. Men have been deluded as Satan has worked through
these different forms of demonism to keep men's minds darkened to the
truth. Many have been convinced that because Satan's demons can reveal
future events or contact the dead that he is actually God. We are told in
the Word of God that the closer we come to the end time, the greater
Satan's activity will be. John tells us in Revelation 12:12 that Satan
knowing that his time is short goeth forth furiously to deceive and to
destroy. We have been so little apprised of Satan's method and his
working through demonic activity we have not been prepared to meet him.
Only a short time ago a very widely-read book appeared in which the
author claims to be able to predict future events. She made a number of
predictions that did come true. These predictions can come only from one
of two possible sources: either from God, or from Satan through demonic
influence. God has made it very clear that with the completion of the New
Testament, He is not making further revelations and predictions. God has
closed the door to new revelations from God because revelation is
completed in Jesus Christ. That leaves only one alternative. These
predictions must come through demonic influence from Satan. Certain of
these predictions have been sufficiently startling to deceive even many
believers that she must come with divine authority. She and others like
her have become advisors of some people high in government. This is
demonic activity! It controls nations, it influences governments to
substitute for the authority and the Word of God the revelations that
come from demons.
Other forms of demonic activity prevail. They include astrology,
horoscopes, and influence of stars upon daily life. E. S. P.
(extrasensory perception) is considered by many as a phenomenon of the
natural mind. They attribute to the mind of men those qualities that
belong only to God, and fail to see demonic influence and activity in
this realm. It is another way by which Satan seeks to control the minds
of men. Many have experimented with a Ouija board. What a harmless and
innocuous thing a Ouija board is. With just a little practice you could
manipulate and get the answers that you want. When so used it is a
perfectly harmless thing, but when one surrenders the control of his
faculties and submits to influence outside of himself he is rendering
himself liable to demonic control. A demon could control even a child of
God who abandoned conscious control of his own faculties and submitted
himself to the movements of a board. In an innocuous way such as that
Satan could gain access to the mind to control the thinking or to direct
the course of action of an individual.
God and Satan are in a battle for the minds of men. It is the mind that
Satan wants, for if he can control the mind he eventually can control the
will. A battle goes on in the area of the mind as Satan seeks to subject
us to these influences whereby we set aside the authority of the Word of
God and seek something or someone else as a guide in our conduct. That is
why the Apostle Paul can speak in 1 Timothy 4:1 and say, "The Spirit
speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking
lies in hypocrisy." What Paul is saying is that just as soon as a man
rejects the infallibility, the authority and the integrity of the Word of
God and submits himself to the authority of men, he is rendering himself
liable to satanic deception and satanic control in his thinking. The
great tragedy today is that men feel qualified to sit in judgment upon
the Word of God,accept what pleases them and reject what displeases them,
little knowing that in this battle for minds Satan has gained a victory
and has rendered them subject to demonic control. This battle is being
waged today in the pulpit, where ministers of Satan have submitted
themselves to satanic influence and they mouth the doctrines that are
propagated by demons and are rejecting the Word of God. That is why the
Apostle Paul places so much emphasis upon the mind. He says in
Philippians 2:5: "Let this mind be in you" or "have the mind of Christ."
He says in Philippians 4:8: "Whatsoever things are true, . honest . just
.. pure . lovely . of good report, Think on these things." For as soon as
a man forsakes the mind of Christ he is liable to demonic deception.
Many years ago when I was in seminary a national convention of spirit
mediums was being held in the city of Dallas. At this convention mediums
were contacting their controls, demons with whom they had contact, to
bring messages to individuals. Six of us decided we would attend the
meeting, which was announced as being open to the public. We walked into
the darkened auditorium and quietly sat down in the rear to observe. The
convention was called to order and the chairman of the meeting introduced
different mediums who summoned their controls, the demons with whom they
were on familiar terms. One after another attempted to make contact and
failed, and sat down.
Each announced that something was interfering with his making contact.
There came a stir over the whole audience, for evidently they were not
used to anything like this. The chairman got up, asked that the lights be
turned on, and said there was some influence there that was preventing
them from having contact with their familiar spirits. He pointed to us
and said that that row of fellows back there was preventing them from
establishing contacts. Before they could go on, we were asked to leave.
We left. I would have liked to have known what happened after we left.
But since the convention kept on for the rest of the week, I presume
that, after we had gone, they were able to reestablish contact with the
demons and to deceive and delude men's minds by demonic deception. The
presence of the Spirit of God in the six believers prevented a
manifestation of Satanic power.
It may seem strange to talk about something we can't see, feel, touch
taste, smell. But you will not understand the nature of the warfare in
which you as a child of God are engaged unless you recognize that Satan
is warring to control your mind every moment of every day to deceive you
concerning the truth of God. The very moment that you relax your hold on
the authority of Scripture you are subject to satanic deception.
Do you remember what the Father said to the disciples on the Mount of
Transfiguration? They had seen a great miracle there; they had seen
Christ transformed before them. But Satan could empower men by demonic
power to work miracles. God said to those disciples, "This is my beloved
Son, hear ye him." There is no defense against satanic delusion and
deception other than submission to the Word of Christ and the authority
of the Person of Christ.
Pentecost, J. D. (1997). Your adversary, the Devil. Originally published:
Grand Rapids, MI : Zondervan, 1969. (173). Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel.
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