Tree of Life
Greetings in the Lord!
I teach sometimes in our adult Sunday school class, and this past weekend I had another such opportunity. Our topic was: "Magic and Sorcery--Delightful or Dangerous? How Christians should understand the popular book genre of sorcery and witchcraft." The class mainly focused on the Harry Potter series, as that book series is currently the most dangerous for the spiritual life of a Christian. The big reason? Rowling uses the names of real demons, actual spells, charms, and incantations, and follows authentic practices of Satanism, Wicca, and various other pagan traditions in her book series to weave her storyline. By using these actual names and practices, she not only teaches the reader accurately about such elements, but each book becomes a portal for unclean and evil spirits to enter the "house" of the owner. A curse comes upon that household immediately, and once those spirits come in, they begin right away to exercise demonic influence over these unsuspecting people--and won't go away until the books are disposed of and they repent to the Lord! It doesn't mean that a Hollywood-type of horror scene will break out--although it can over time--but usually begins by oppressing the inhabitants physically, mentally, and/or spiritually through subtle but draining ways. And that, I'm afraid, is more than just an opinion, it is absolutely true. However, the biggest effect on households is a growing coolness and doubt to the outright rejection of Jesus and the Word of God. That is the work of every antichrist spirit! To pull people from putting their faith in Jesus. Oh, some may still go to church, but they will begin to prefer a sterile, legalistic religion instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. They begin to value goodness instead of godliness, and compromising "peace" instead of adhering to the truth of His Word. As much as prophetic church leaders are declaring 'a great harvest' in the end days, it comes as Christians stand firm in their faith and not let the wave of apostasy bowl them over. Their testimony in the middle of trials and persecution will draw people to put their faith in Jesus and accept Him as Savior, thereby gaining salvation!
Christians really shouldn't be so uninformed about this subject; in the book of Acts alone we find several occasions where the disciples confront pagans and sorcerers and demonstrate the Sovereign power of God over such evil. Those stories show us modern-day Christians that warring with the demonic realm is not a new thing, but rather, a pretty common issue in the world. And the Old Testament?--well, it deals non-stop with the issue of avoiding idolatry and false gods! So, where did Western Christians get so ignorant about these things? The minute we began to live like and love the world! The more we imitate the world and adopt its practices and conventional wisdom, the less we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and revere the wisdom of the Word of the Lord.
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or sorceress (spiritualist) or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord you God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13
That passage covers a lot of ground, and television shows as well! As many will say, "I don't do those things," yet as they learn to imitate and accept into their homes and this godless 'entertainment' and paraphernalia, they will be walking in agreement with these things. Clearly, since the Harry Potter book series is just a sorcerer's manual in storybook form, by having these you are in agreement with those like spirits. You open yourself and your household up to these things and their demonic influence.
I don't mind sounding like a radical or fundamentalist Christian by pointing out and teaching on these things. I liken my job to one who pulls out burning objects from a fire before they are consumed. What a joy it is to me when even one person will listen and believe because they know it is the Truth--and get rid of all the books and witchcraft entertainment in their lives! To them I say, "Truly, brother, sister, we will rejoice together in heaven for eternity." Does that sound like an extreme statement? It shouldn't!
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take of the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:12-17.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
I teach sometimes in our adult Sunday school class, and this past weekend I had another such opportunity. Our topic was: "Magic and Sorcery--Delightful or Dangerous? How Christians should understand the popular book genre of sorcery and witchcraft." The class mainly focused on the Harry Potter series, as that book series is currently the most dangerous for the spiritual life of a Christian. The big reason? Rowling uses the names of real demons, actual spells, charms, and incantations, and follows authentic practices of Satanism, Wicca, and various other pagan traditions in her book series to weave her storyline. By using these actual names and practices, she not only teaches the reader accurately about such elements, but each book becomes a portal for unclean and evil spirits to enter the "house" of the owner. A curse comes upon that household immediately, and once those spirits come in, they begin right away to exercise demonic influence over these unsuspecting people--and won't go away until the books are disposed of and they repent to the Lord! It doesn't mean that a Hollywood-type of horror scene will break out--although it can over time--but usually begins by oppressing the inhabitants physically, mentally, and/or spiritually through subtle but draining ways. And that, I'm afraid, is more than just an opinion, it is absolutely true. However, the biggest effect on households is a growing coolness and doubt to the outright rejection of Jesus and the Word of God. That is the work of every antichrist spirit! To pull people from putting their faith in Jesus. Oh, some may still go to church, but they will begin to prefer a sterile, legalistic religion instead of the power of the Holy Spirit. They begin to value goodness instead of godliness, and compromising "peace" instead of adhering to the truth of His Word. As much as prophetic church leaders are declaring 'a great harvest' in the end days, it comes as Christians stand firm in their faith and not let the wave of apostasy bowl them over. Their testimony in the middle of trials and persecution will draw people to put their faith in Jesus and accept Him as Savior, thereby gaining salvation!
Christians really shouldn't be so uninformed about this subject; in the book of Acts alone we find several occasions where the disciples confront pagans and sorcerers and demonstrate the Sovereign power of God over such evil. Those stories show us modern-day Christians that warring with the demonic realm is not a new thing, but rather, a pretty common issue in the world. And the Old Testament?--well, it deals non-stop with the issue of avoiding idolatry and false gods! So, where did Western Christians get so ignorant about these things? The minute we began to live like and love the world! The more we imitate the world and adopt its practices and conventional wisdom, the less we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and revere the wisdom of the Word of the Lord.
When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or sorceress (spiritualist) or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord you God. Deuteronomy 18:9-13
That passage covers a lot of ground, and television shows as well! As many will say, "I don't do those things," yet as they learn to imitate and accept into their homes and this godless 'entertainment' and paraphernalia, they will be walking in agreement with these things. Clearly, since the Harry Potter book series is just a sorcerer's manual in storybook form, by having these you are in agreement with those like spirits. You open yourself and your household up to these things and their demonic influence.
I don't mind sounding like a radical or fundamentalist Christian by pointing out and teaching on these things. I liken my job to one who pulls out burning objects from a fire before they are consumed. What a joy it is to me when even one person will listen and believe because they know it is the Truth--and get rid of all the books and witchcraft entertainment in their lives! To them I say, "Truly, brother, sister, we will rejoice together in heaven for eternity." Does that sound like an extreme statement? It shouldn't!
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
I, Jesus have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take of the free gift of the water of life. Revelation 22:12-17.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
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