Spiritists, Mediums, and Such
- Moses reminds the Israelites not to emulate the Canaanite practice of child
sacrifices to pagan gods, performed in order to influence the course of future events.
- Deuteronomy 18:09-12
09 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.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass
through the fire, orthat useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these
abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
- These verses contain a list of occult magic practices, common in the religions of Canaan,
that were an abomination to God and forbidden by Him. Those among God's people in the
Old Testament who practiced such things were to be put to death (Leviticus 20:27).
Likewise, the New Testament declares that those who practice such things will not enter the kingdom
of God (Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 22:15
- Leviticus 20:01-07
01 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
02 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel,
or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be
put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
03 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because
he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
04 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of
his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:
05 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all
that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
06 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.
07 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.
- Leviticus 20:27 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.
- Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before,
as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of
God.
- Revelation 22:14-15
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters,
and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
- The list in Deuteronomy 18:11 (charmer, consulter with familiar spirits, a wizard, or a
necromancer) includes mediums, spiritists, or anyone who calls up the dead or consults with the world
of spirits (i.e., demons) in order to discover secrets, predict the future, or gain power. Communication
with the dead is actually a communication with demons.
- I Samuel 28:06-19
6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams,
nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may
go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a
familiar spirit at Endor.
8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him,
and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit,
and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut
off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare
for my life, to cause me to die?
10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment
happen to thee for this thing.
11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.
12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to
Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto
Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is
covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the
ground, and bowed himself.
15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered,
I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and
answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou
mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from
thee, and is become thine enemy?
17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom
out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon
Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to
morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand
of the Philistines.
- Saul sought a prophetic word from God in the midst of his trouble, but received none.
In despair he then turned to divination or a medium. God sent the spirit of Samuel to appear to Saul.
Note the following facts:
- Spiritism is condemned in scripture (Deut. 18:9-12; Ex. 22:18; Lev. 19:26,31).
Mediums do not really contact the dead, but usually communicate with deceiving spirits. The story in
I Samuel 28:06-19 gives no justification for attempting to make contact with the
dead.
- The woman was amazed and terrified when Samuel actually appeared. This implies
that she was expecting not Samuel but a demonic spirit. Clearly Samuel's appearance was not the
result of her witchcraft.
- The appearance of the prophet was brought about by an extraordinary act of God Himself,
in order to deliver God's final message of defeat and death to the king.
- Manasseh was another man who provoked God to anger with his dealings with familiar spirits and
wizards. During his long reign of fifty-five years, Manasseh plunged Judah into her darkest era of
idolatry. This wicked king had nothing but contempt for the God of his father, Hezekiah. He led God's people
into greater evil than the pagan nations that Joshua had destroyed.
- II Kings 21:1-6
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in
Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.
2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the
heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared
up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of
heaven, and served them.
4 And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put
my name.
5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.
6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments,
and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to
provoke him to anger.
Repentance is required
- Both Saul and Manasseh found that persisting in ungodly ways instead of following the
leading of the Spirit cuts us off from God's help. Calling upon Him will be useless unless we turn from
our ungodly ways.
- The basic meaning of repentance is "to turn around." It is a turning from evil ways and
a turning to Christ (John 14:1,6; Acts 8:22; 26:18; 1 Pet. 2:25).
- The decision to turn from sin and to salvation in Christ involves accepting Christ not only
as Savior from the penalty of sin, but also as Lord of one's life. Thus, repentance involves a change of lords
from the lordship of Satan (Eph. 2:2) to the Lordship of Christ and His Word
(Acts 26:18).
- Repentance is a free decision on the part of the sinner, made possible by the enabling
grace given to him as he hears and believes the gospel (Acts 11:21).
- The definition of saving faith as mere "trust" in Christ as Savior is wholly inadequate
in the light of Christ's demand for repentance. To define saving faith in a way which does not necessarily
involve a radical break with sin is to dangerously distort the Biblical view of redemption. Faith which
includes repentance is ever a condition for salvation (Mark 1:15; Luke 13:3,5; Acts 2:38; 3:19;
11:21).
- Repentance was a basic message in the preaching of Old Testament prophets
(Jer. 7:3; Ezek.18:30; Joel 2:12-14; Mal. 3:7), John the Baptist
(Mat. 3:2), Jesus Christ (Mat. 4:17; Luke 5:32), and New
Testament Christians (Acts 2:38; 8:22; 11:18; 2 Pet. 3:9). The preaching of repentance
must always accompany the gospel message (Luke 24:47).
- Old Testament Prophets preached Repentance
- Ezekial 18:30 "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according
to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselvesfrom all your transgressions; so iniquity
shall not be your ruin."
- Jeremiah 7:3 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your
ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place."
- Joel 2:12-14
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with
fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for
he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14 Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat
offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
- Mal 3:7 "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine
ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD
of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
- John the Baptist preached Repentance
- Matthew 3:1-2
1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Jesus preached Repentance
- Matthew 4:17 "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
- Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
- Luke 24:46-47
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise
from the dead the third day:
47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
- New Testament Christians preached Repentance
- Acts 2:38-39
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call.
- Acts 8:21-23
21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine
heart may be forgiven thee.
23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
- Acts 11:18 "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified
God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life."
- II Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is "longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance."
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