Once I was prescribed Celexa to help me through my weepy period of menopause. Looking back I wish I had just relied on God to get me through this emotional roller-coaster ride. Instead, the drug opened my mind up to the paranormal world with visions and “words.” In essense I become a channeler. Being a Christian, I thought God was using me in a special way by the guidance I thought I was receiving. Instead I was listening to the enemy.
Today it is easy to come across those who say they are receiving visions and words from the Lord on a daily basis. I was there once and it is very seducing, but it is usually deception.
Deception by divination will usually lead to pride and paranoid delusion. Because of the nature of the evil one, and the grace of God, warning signs will come. If unheeded, this road leads to destruction.
Coming back to biblical teachings involved throwing myself on the mercy of God for my pride and rebellion. I had to pray that all abilities not from God be completely removed. And they were!
Here is an interesting comment from Bob Dewaay:
Divination is forbidden not because it does not work, but because it does. It works to put people in touch with spiritual forces and secret knowledge. … The evil spirits who dispense this information intend to keep people from coming to God through Messiah. They also seek to deceive Christians into thinking that what has been provided through Christ is insufficient. They are very good at what they do.
Prescribed psychotropic drugs are not the only danger. This is only one way that a person can open themselves to deception. There are many ways. There is the impartation of false anointings, drugs, alcohol, eastern meditation, repetition of word, hypnosis, visualization (very occult) , and the seduction of today’s hypnotic music. The church is being bombarded with all these deceptions and spiritual influences and they must be rejected instead of being accepted.
Please also be warned that the terms paranormal and metaphysical both mean….occult.
Okay now for the feature article:
How should a Christian respond to evidence of paranormal activity?”
Answer: The word paranormal can be defined as “the occurrence, or perception of, an event without scientific explanation, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.” Paranormal activity is an encompassing term that includes not only ghosts and hauntings and demonic activity, but also includes other unexplainable phenomena such as unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and extrasensory perception (ESP), to name just a few. With the proliferation of movies and television shows that in one way or another sensationalize paranormal activity, it is clear that many are indeed fascinated with this realm. In fact, a 2007 low-budget movie titled Paranormal Activity went on to become one of the most profitable movies of all time. How then, should Christians respond when we read about supposed hauntings and other paranormal occurrences?
A common misconception is that disembodied spirits can remain on earth or perhaps come back to “haunt” or otherwise interact with us. However, nothing in the Bible supports this belief. Rather, “man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). But the Bible does make it clear that there are spirit beings—angels and demons—which operate in the heavenly realm. The angels serve God. They are ministering spirits who are sent by God “to serve those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). Demons, on the other hand, are fallen angels under the control of Satan, and they roam the earth looking to destroy God’s children (1 Peter 5:8). They are cunning and wise and keenly aware of our weaknesses and our propensity to desire that which will satisfy our fleshly desires. Worst of all, they can masquerade as “angels of light” or as “servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Regarding the immensity of Satan’s earthly “operation,” the apostle John reminds us that the “whole world” is under his control (1 John 5:19).
Now, some of the paranormal activity we read about today could very well be hoaxes perpetuated on a public that is all too eager to believe. In some cases, well-meaning people could be innocently mistaken as to what they think they might have seen or experienced. There is probably a logical explanation for much of what gets passed off as “paranormal activity.” However, if there is genuine evil spiritual activity occurring, it would have to be the work of demons. Either way, however, when Christians read or hear of such activity we should not be intrigued by it or drawn to it; rather we should use it as a solid reminder of the spiritual battle that is the Christian life and the one against whom we struggle. “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood,” but, rather it is against the “powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12 emphasis added).
Many people are no doubt intrigued by tales of ghosts and hauntings. Yet, if getting angry can give the devil a “foothold” into our lives (Ephesians 4:27), how much more so would a fascination with the “dark forces” of this world that he controls? Jesus Christ came to earth to destroy the devil’s work (1 John 3:8), and it took His death to accomplish it. Our response to paranormal activity, at least as it pertains to any sort of demonic activity, is to be reminded of the evil which ultimately led to our Savior’s great sacrifice. Beyond that, Christians should avoid any and all contact with the paranormal.
http://www.gotquestions.org/paranormal-activity.html
*note *
I selected the photo because this is what I saw in a dream when I denounced and rejected what I was receiving. Satan was exposed and he left and so did the oppression.
10 comments
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January 3, 2012 at 8:42 pm
paul
it seems discernit, promotes anti-revelatory philosophy. I agree that there are 2 spiritual sources – both at war with each other as Paul pointed out- but Paul didn’t discourage the possibility that God would reveal things to people, who desire Him and His Truth. Didn’t Jesus say, that if we ask God for anything, which would include revelation of His purposes for our world in our time, how His word in prophecy is being fulfilled, any spiritual gift He has to offer, etc, that He would grant it? That is, if we ask for bread, would He give us a stone?
Paul and Jesus emphasised, tho, discernment, and the gift of discerning of spirits and spiritual sources. What is sadly lacking, in modern Christendom, is especially the gift of the Holy Spirit manifesting the gift of discerning of spirits / spiritual sources. It has to be used in conjunction with principles laid out by Him in the Word of spiritual discernment as well. We are all imperfect in that we have not attained perfect manifestation of Christ every day, all day, etc, so we seek to purify our desires, in order that the enemy doesn’t use improper motives in us, to deceive.
But, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater OK?
January 4, 2012 at 2:45 am
A Christian Response to the Paranormal – spiritualbattlesblogs
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January 4, 2012 at 8:22 am
Kim
I seem to be dealing with a lot of coined phrases today…”throw out the baby with the bathwater” is one and it is not a biblical argument.
I agree with those who say that the canon is closed and that the office of the prophet is closed. I believe that the Holy Spirit reveals and speaks to us though the Bible and also leads and guides us. I believe in the still small voice, God, the Father does give good gifts to His children especially to those who ask in His will and not their own.
I think it is evident that we do not get everything we ask for.
Do you have a verse that can verify your statement ?
“Didn’t Jesus say, that if we ask God for anything, which would include revelation of His purposes for our world in our time,”
August 28, 2012 at 10:20 pm
BRIAN
PARANORMAL SIMPLY MEANS BEYOND THE NORM. ANYTHING OUTSIDE THE NORMAL..GODS WORD TELLS US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW,BUT IT DOES NOT TELL US ALL THERE IS TO KNOW.
August 29, 2012 at 8:05 am
Kim
Here is the definition from Dictionary,com
par·a·nor·mal /ˌpærəˈnɔrməl/ Show Spelled[par-uh-nawr-muhl] Show IPA
adjective
of or pertaining to the claimed occurrence of an event or perception without scientific explanation, as psychokinesis, extrasensory perception, or other purportedly supernatural phenomena.
August 29, 2012 at 8:19 am
Kim
oc·cult /əˈkʌlt, ˈɒkʌlt/ Show Spelled[uh-kuhlt, ok-uhlt] Show IPA
adjective
1. of or pertaining to magic, astrology, or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies.
2. beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding; mysterious.
3. secret; disclosed or communicated only to the initiated.
4. hidden from view.
5. (in early science)
a. not apparent on mere inspection but discoverable by experimentation.
b. of a nature not understood, as physical qualities.
c. dealing
August 29, 2012 at 8:47 am
Kim
Yes I agree that we do not know all things, and God tells us what we need to know. I like the verse 2 Timothy 3: 16-17 for further verification.
“All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The Greek word G1124 for scripture is defined in the concordance as the WRITTEN word.
1) a writing, thing written
2) the Scripture, used to denote either the book itself, or its contents
3) a certain portion or section of the Holy Scripture
Bible scholars agree that here it is mainly a reference to the OT since the NT was just being recorded and would later would be added and closed as the canon.
All through the epistles the church is warned of false teachers and false teachings which are to be held against the plumbline of scripture. Paul said the Bereans were noble fore examining all his words against the OT to see if what he was saying was true.
When my mind was opened up by the prescription drugs, the messages I began to receive sounded just like the “messages” people were receiving on the Elijah lIst. Problem is the failed prophecies. Not from God.
September 3, 2012 at 6:39 pm
granadacoder
How does this story of Samuel fit in? (verses below)
Notice in verse 14 that is WAS SAMUEL. Not a demon posing as Samuel.
and in Verse 15, God’s Word says clearly that it was Samuel who spoke.
1 Samuel 28:3
(3) Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land.
1 Samuel 28:8
(8) So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, “Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.”
1 Samuel 28:11-15
(11) The woman replied, “Who is it that I should bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up for me Samuel.”
(12) When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
(13) The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What have you seen?” The woman replied to Saul, “I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!”
(14) He said to her, “What about his appearance?” She said, “An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!”
Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down.
(15) Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul replied, “I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me — not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.”
September 4, 2012 at 10:43 am
Kim
This passage is being discussed in many forums/facebook etc. because of the many books coming out about contact with the dead or necromancy. I like what David Guzik writes in his commentary.
David Guzik says:
But we need to go further into scripture and read Saul’s epitaph in 1 Chronicles 10:13-14
“So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord which he did not keep; and also because he asked counsel of a medium, making inquiry of it, 14 and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse.
God killed Saul because he was not faithful to the Lord and acted in disobedience. He went and received counsel from a medium and was condemned for it.
.
September 5, 2012 at 2:37 pm
granadacoder
I wasn’t arguing whether it was sinful or not. Of course it was sinful.
//Samuel really came, but not because the medium called for him. Samuel appeared because God had a special purpose for it.//
Hmm. That’s a good theory. I think I like that one. See? When presented with information, I can be teachable and reasonable. And I didn’t shut down the comments on a thread.
Of course. It is just one man’s theory. The actual text is ambiguous as to whether the medium “made it happen” or whether is was simply divine timing.
Like a lot of things in this world, our knowledge is incomplete. (1 Cor 13:12). It always will be. Because Paul said so.