0836 Spiritual Warfare - Shades of Witchcraft

Pentecost (Greek), Shavu’ot, the Feast of Weeks, 2nd of the 3 major festivals with both historical (celebrates giving of the torah) and agricultural (first fruits harvested and brought to the temple) significance. Passover frees physically, but Shavu’ot frees spiritually from idolatry. It’s giving of torah not receiving of torah.

- First harvest

- Receiving the Guide

Witchcraft is the attempt to control person and make them do what you want by use of any spirit than the Holy Spirit. Female is witch, male is wizard.

It was forbidden Le 19:26-28,31; 20:6; De 18:9-14 and denounced Isa 8:19; Mal 3:5. It was practiced by the Egyptians Isa 19:3,11,12, by the magicians Ex 7:11,22; 8:7,18, by Balaam Nu 22:6; 23:23, by Jezebel 2Ki 9:22, by the Ninevites Na 3:4,5, by the Babylonians Isa 47:9-13; Eze 21:21,22; Da 2:2,10,27, by Belshazzar Da 5:7,15, by Simon the Sorcerer (Magus) Ac 8:9; 1, by Elymas (Bar-Jesus) Ac 13:8, by the girl at Philippi Ac 16:16, by false prophets Jer 14:14; 27:9; 29:8,9; Eze 13:6-9; 22:28; Mt 24:24. It was practiced by entrails Eze 21:21, by images 2Ki 23:24; Eze 21:21, by rods Ho 4:12. Saul consulted the Witch of Endor 1Sa 28:7-25. Books of witchcraft were destroyed Ac 19:19

1. WITCHCRAFT is work of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-20. Some translations say witchcraft, sorcery, or divination

Three ways this witchcraft manifests: (Operates in every aspect of society)

A. Manipulation (kids/women) Guilt is the tool / Trick

B. Intimidation (men) / Scare

C. Domination / Make

Witchcraft is religion of fallen humanity. “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,…” 1 Samuel 15:23. ROOF OF WITCHCRAFT IS REBELLION

2. WITCHCRAFT is spiritual force.

Three ways this works:

A. Witchcraft is the spiritual power that operates by spells and curses (Numbers 22:10-11, 17, like Balaam was open to God, other times to the devil). Saul’s rebellion is as witchcraft (flesh), but then he actually goes to a witch to consult the dead for him. Job 3:8

B. Divination is a spirt of python Acts 16:16 Greek mythology believed the Pythian serpent guarded the oracle of Delphi until Apollo slew it (and then took on the name Pythian. The word was later applied to diviners or soothsayers, inspired by Apollo.

C. Sorcery works by objects, charms, music and drugs.

The New Testament Greek word translated “sorcery” is pharmakeia, which is the source of our English word pharmacy. In Paul’s day, the word primarily meant “dealing in poison” or “drug use” and was applied to divination and spell-casting because sorcerers often used drugs along with their incantations and amulets to conjure occult power. Revelation 9:21 “drugs”

(In Hinduism, marijuana (ganga) has been used to worship the demon of death and destruction, for thousands of years. Bob Larson have confronted possessed people who’ve never practiced eastern religions but got Shiva and other Hindu demons, like Kali/Jezebel, by toking a joint. Chinese Taoism has long believed that inhaling marijuana is a way to communicate with spirits and tell fortunes. In pagan, Norse Odinism, pot has been used to invoke Freya (another form of Jezebel), a demon I often deal with when ministering to those of Scandinavian descent. Pot was important to Celtic Druids when practicing witchcraft. Tantric Buddhism employs pot as well as some Sikhism. And the pot today is roughly six times stronger than that smoked by the hippies on Haight street. 1/6 move on to harder drugs).

3. WITCHCRAFT within the church

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Galatians 3:1-3

Bewitched “evil eye” in Greek. It's aim - It obscured revelation of Jesus Christ crucified

A. All benefits come by the cross

B. Cross is the means of satan's total eternal defeat

C. Only source of power for living

Judaism 613 commandments, they keep 32 best of them

Why am I preaching?