(Scripture: 1 Samuel 28:3-25)
As you read through this passage of Scripture.
I’m sure you’ll agree that the story recorded here is, on the one hand, incredibly sad.
But on the other hand, it is a serious reminder of the dangers of this kind of paganism, which has existed in both ancient and modern times.
Why do people engage in practices such as sorcery, witchcraft, and channeling?
Why did Saul do this?
Because he had forsaken God and was depressed and full of anxiety.
Many people today, in times of pain and grief, also seek solace in communicating with their beloved loved ones who have died.
The witch of Hittor apparently did not expect Samuel to actually speak, let alone appear (v. 12).
This instance serves to disprove the notion that mediums really do have access to the dead, and to support the belief of many that the voices conveyed by mediums are in fact the voices of evil spirits masquerading as the voices of the dead.
Therefore, the fact that Samuel, and not a counterfeit evil spirit, appeared was a direct intervention from God.
That is why it was so shocking to the witch and Saul.
The Bible clearly teaches the following seven aspects of psychics and any form of sorcery, which gives us seven reasons to abstain from these behaviors.
Channeling is one of the traps used by Satan.
One thing we know for sure: it is of the devil and not of God.
Satan is most interested in clouding the minds of men-read 2 Corinthians 4:4.
This is the reason why there are so many false religions and heresies around the world today.
The devil uses them to blind people’s minds to the truth.
The devil doesn’t mind if people are zealous for religion, or show fanaticism for certain doctrines.
As long as they do not recognize the truth of God – so we need to be alert and careful that channeling is not only a method of Satan’s bondage, but is itself a form of Satan’s worship.
Anyone who engages in channeling or any form of sorcery is preferring Satan’s lies to God’s revelation-read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
For a person to seek a medium shows unbelief or backsliding in faith.
It is unlikely that any Christian who is serious about repenting and believing, and who values fellowship with God in his daily life, would seek a psychic.
The person who seeks a psychic is either an unbeliever or a believer who has turned away from the Lord – Saul was the latter as we saw in verse 6.
How sad it is when Christians, in the midst of bereavement or great sorrow, do not seek all the comforts of God, but instead seek the comfort of the god of this world, the devil himself – read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.
It is one of the signs of the end that the reasoning of the devil will continue to increase.
Perhaps the fact that there is an unprecedented number of such heresies today is in some ways an encouragement to us, for we know that the day of the Lord Jesus Christ’s return is near – I Timothy 4:1-2;
It shows that we are already living in the last days.
One thing is quite certain, and that is that although there is a great deal of falsehood in psychics, there is also a great deal of truth in them.
Those who turn to psychics do hear voices and see images, but they are totally deceived if they think that what they hear or see is really a dead relative.
That is just the devil’s way of knowing a lot of things and pretending to be the spirit of someone who has died and come to that person who has disobeyed God’s law and turned away from God.
The Bible refers to the practice of evil as a lustful thing.
Turn to Galatians 5:19-20;
It is certainly not a fruit of the Spirit – turn to Galatians 5:22-23.
Anyone who professes to be a Christian, and yet believes in and is involved in spiritualism, etc., must answer the following question: Have you crucified the flesh, with its evil passions and lusts? Turn to Galatians 5:24-25.
The practice of wickedness is an abomination to the Lord, and therefore His Word is very clear in strictly forbidding men to practice this evil.
How is it possible for anyone who understands God’s truth to seek advice from evil spirits when he knows that God’s Word so clearly warns us to beware of such snares?
Please read carefully the following passages: Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26, 31, 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:10-12; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 8:19-20; Acts 16:16-18, 19:19, and the other passages referred to in this lesson, which warn us not to get involved in any kind of sorcery.
Psychics are the enemies of the Christian faith.
Those who call themselves Christian psychic churches, or those who claim to be Christians, but who participate in and support evil practices such as psychics, are wolves in sheep’s clothing – read Matthew 7:15.
Those who practise evil spirits will certainly reject the word of God, and they are the enemies of the Christian faith.
Note: (1) Evil men will not accept the Bible as inspired by God and possessing His authority;
(2) Their views of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the church are unscriptural and in fact blasphemous;
(3) They do not recognize the redemptive power of Christ’s blood;
(4) They believe that man is saved by works;
(5) They deny the existence of evil spirits, demons, judgment, and hell, and they downplay man’s sin.
Psychic behavior can lead us into the abyss of disappointment, confusion, darkness, despair, and ultimate destruction.
It can cause eternal damage to us physically, mentally, morally and spiritually – read and compare Revelation 21:8 and 22:15.
If you have ever been involved in evil practices, such as mediumship, you must renounce them at once – II Corinthians 6:14-18!
If you know someone who is a medium or someone who is under the spell of such practices, pray for them immediately.
Remember to turn to 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.
Of course, the above reminder, which we offer with the utmost care and certainty, applies equally to any form of sorcery.
Years ago, Dr. A. T. Pierson gave the following warning
“Dabbling in this frightening realm of the spirit world may result in our being manipulated by some supernatural force of evil.
Not only God, but even evil spirits know how to use weapons – weapons that are beyond human ability and supernatural to us…The devil can use higher powers to dominate us;
To dare to enter this forbidden zone is to venture into totally unfamiliar territory and to suffer a corresponding danger, the degree of which will be directly proportional to the success of our experiment!
“Believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God or not.” (1 John 4:1).
How do we test it? Are they speaking in harmony with God’s Word (Isa 8:19-20)?
Do they admit that Jesus Christ personally came into the world (1 John 4:3)?
