Sermon video here
Introduction
–
So last week
we looked at an incredibly important aspect of how the evil one works, he
presents himself as an angel of light, as liberator, saviour, healer. I hope
you really took this on board. False apostles, false teachers, sleazy
politicians and more will present themselves in precisely the same way that the
devil does, as an angel of light. Con artists, shady businessmen, media
personalities, actors etc, etc…one of the funniest things you see in our world
today is people taking actors seriously when they make some kind of religious
or political statement. Don’t forget these people are owned entities with
agents managing their public presence and everything they do in front of a
camera is a performance. Taking them seriously as advocates is like following
the clowns and court jesters of the old days. This is true of many people we
see on T.V.. When a public figure says they believe in God, your immediate
thought should be which God? The one true God, or the god of this age? Our
world is filled with frauds.
But then, we
live in clown world today don’t we? We really do, so much of our society is
inverted, turned upside down, twisted by the false light of the false
light-bringer. There is so much evil in this world, there is so much nonsense
that people fall for, it is almost as if many people are under a spell. Have
you noticed that? It is like people are being manipulated by an unseen hand
that blinds them to how this world really is, as Paul tells us:
2
Corinthians 4:4 - “In their case the god of this world has blinded the
minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of
the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
We modern
people make a foolish mistake with the nature of this world when we assume it
is just physical or material, and that people are simply rational beings. 1) If
the world is only material, then there is no such thing as rationality, because
then our thoughts would be just random atoms colliding together. 2) People are
not primarily rational, they are emotional, spiritual and rational, and all of
these forces combine. 3) There is an unseen realm. The Spiritual realm is just
as real as the physical realm. In fact, it is more permanent 2 Corinthians 4:18
“…as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are
unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal.”
There are beings and people who can manipulate this Spiritual realm, although those people often don’t realize that it is them being manipulated. The devil is one of those beings, and he has great power. We need to be aware of his power because it is real, dangerous and at work in this world. This morning I want to talk about the Devil’s sorcery, I want to lay out the great power he has, and I will say this now, why we should not be afraid of it. Let’s begin with a simple point, magic, or sorcery is real.
1. Magic/Sorcery is Real – I am going to prove this point to you biblically and conclusively first, because we live in an age and era where the idea of magic being real is scoffed at by many. But what does the Bible say?
1.1 Let’s start in Joseph’s Egypt. The people of Egypt, and the people
of Canaan, just assumed that magic is real. Now Joseph never touched magic, his
amazing insight and dream interpretations were a gift from God. But he used the
idea that powerful people practiced magic to trick his brothers – “44
Then he commanded the steward of his house, “Fill the men's sacks with food, as
much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack, 2
and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with
his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. 3 As soon as the
morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. 4 They had gone
only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up,
follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you
repaid evil for good? 5 Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this
that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’”
1.1.1
I want to reiterate that the Bible never suggests or even implies that
Joseph used magic. I really want to emphasize this, because I have heard false
teachers try to say he did, to support their own wickedness.
1.1.1.1 In fact, I was quite shocked when I
heard someone say this, because Joseph is clearly just messing with his
brothers.
1.1.2
The reason I mention this example, is because Joseph’s trick worked
because all of the nations around him just assumed magic was real, observed it
to be real, and especially believed that powerful people made use of it. In
fact Egypt was led by a powerful magician priest cast, that had access to the
“gods”, i.e. demons.
1.1.2.1 Many Egyptians would have confused
Joseph’s gifts, with the pagan priests’ nonsense. But he had no need for pagan
rituals. He was gifted by God in unique and amazing ways.
1.2 Aaron’s Staff - Our next example is in Egypt as
well, there is this amazing encounter between Aaron and Moses and the Egyptian
magicians – “8 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 9 “When Pharaoh
says to you, ‘Prove yourselves by working a miracle,’ then you shall say to
Aaron, ‘Take your staff and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it may become a
serpent.’” 10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord
commanded. Aaron cast down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it
became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and
they, the magicians of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For
each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff
swallowed up their staffs. 13 Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would
not listen to them, as the Lord had said” (Exodus 7:8-13).
1.2.1
What is Pharaoh’s response to the incredible sign that God did through
Moses and Aaron? Exodus 7:11-12 – “11
Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they, the magicians
of Egypt, also did the same by their secret arts. 12 For each man cast down his
staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.”
1.2.2
“by their secret arts”? I thought this was supposed to be the stuff of
fairy-tales, and medieval legends?
1.3 But it isn’t the stuff of myth and
legend, it is the reality of the supernatural, that we like to keep out of
sight and out of mind. But this is a big deal in scripture. You have to realize
that people did not worship demons for no reason, they worshipped them, because
they offered power. Just like Lucifer offered Eve power if she listened to his
“divine secrets”.
1.3.1
2 Chronicles 33:5-6 – “5 And he built altars for all the host of
heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his sons as
an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and
omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much
evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.” The connection
between demon worship and power is made explicit when the devil offers Jesus
power, if he worships him. But it is also made explicit if you read the ancient
accounts of why people worshipped such false beings. It was because they
offered them access to the supernatural.
1.3.2
God banned such worship, because of its danger – Leviticus 17:7 - “So
they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they
whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.”
1.3.2.1 The KJV here says “devils”, but it’s
the same difference. These “goat horned” demons, are well known in ancient
imagery, and especially medieval imagery. In fact I think we see one in
Revelation 13.
1.3.3
These demons would require more and more of people, and the more your
society was given over to them, the more depraved the sacrifices became - Psalm
106:34-39 – “34 They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded
them, 35 but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did. 36 They
served their idols, which became a snare to them. 37 They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons; 38 they poured out innocent blood, the blood
of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and
the land was polluted with blood. 39 Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.” If you think it is inconceivable
that people would offer up their children for power think about this: abortion
is offering up your child for power, and some medicines are grown and tested in
aborted fetal cell cultures (you can look into this more yourself). So,
seeking such power in wickedness is not foreign to our modern culture at all. It’s
just done in a clinical way.
1.4 This power was useful - When God was judging Judah he said
this, Isaiah 3:1-3 – “3 For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away
from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all
support of water; 2 the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder, 3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the
counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.”
1.4.1
Notice how Isaiah refers to the “skillful magician and the expert
in charms”. There was an art to the use of magic, and some very
powerful people knew it.
1.4.2
But why is Israel needing to be cleansed of its magic users? Because it
was dancing with demons, quite literally, this is how some rituals worked, they
would dance around an idol asking for rain, or provision, as we saw with the
Prophets of Baal and Elijah.
1.4.3
By engaging in demon worship and magic rituals, Israel was given over to
demonic control and possession. In fact, this was part of their discipline in
the exile. God told them that if they wanted to worship demons, well he would
put them somewhere they would be surrounded by demons – and so he did, Babylon
– Deuteronomy 28:36-37 – “36 The Lord will bring you and your king whom
you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And
there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 And you shall become a
horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the Lord will lead
you away.”
1.5 It is very real - As you can see, the Bible’s teaching
on this being real is very clear – “12 Stand fast in your enchantments
and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps
you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror” (Isaiah 47:12).
And yes the New Testament also speaks to its reality –
1.5.1
Galatians 5:19-21 – “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident:
sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife,
jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,
drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
1.5.2
And Revelation 18:23 tells us about mystery Babylon – “and all
nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
1.6 So, if your worldview is based on the
Bible, then I think we have conclusively proven that sorcery, magic, is real,
and dangerous. Let’s establish a couple of other things.
2. Sorcerers can Traffic in Souls (Revelation 18:13) – Now Revelation
18:13 says that when mystery Babylon is destroyed, that this will cause a
breakdown in all international trade. Because Babylon is the network behind all
the trade. And look at one of the things they will no longer be able to trade
in: “…13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine
flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human
souls.” I used to just assumed that “human souls” here was just another
way of saying “human lives.”
2.1 But the Greek literally says “and
bodies and souls of men.” Now that is a little more interesting, and
fits with the KJV version better, “and slaves, and souls of men.”
But I think this passage is debatable, however, this one isn’t:
2.1.1
Ezekiel 13:17- 20 - “17 “And you, son of man, set your face against
the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy
against them 18 and say, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the women who sew magic
bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every
stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to my people
and keep your own souls alive? 19 You have profaned me among my people for
handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not
die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people,
who listen to lies. Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against your
magic bands with which you hunt the souls like birds, and I will tear them from
your arms, and I will let the souls whom you hunt go free, the souls like
birds.”
2.2 I can’t tell you exactly how this all
works, only that the Bible saying that this can happen means it is real, and
very dangerous.
2.2.1
But the reason I connect these two passages is because a commentary I
read noted that these Jewish women learnt this magic while in Babylon and were
practicing it there. Babylon was a powerful source of such things. So here is a
double connection to capturing in souls and Babylon.
3. Demon Possession – Then there is demon possession. As I
mentioned last week, and earlier, when Jesus came to Israel he had to confront
many demons that were afflicting his people. And incredible abilities and
sorcery can be connected to demon possession. For example –
3.1 Legion – Mark 5:5-6 – “5 They came to
the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had
stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with
an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him
anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and
chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces.
No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on
the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And
when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.”
3.1.1
This man was possessed by many demons. How this happened exactly is not
explained. But it is likely he was given over to idolatry, possibly sorcery,
and other wickedness, or his parents might have been.
3.1.2
However it happened, he was superhuman in strength, “…and no one
could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound
with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the
shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.”
3.1.3
Every so often you hear of paramedics or police dealing with such people,
and it is often explained away as the effects of drugs. But drugs in and off
themselves can’t make you consistently strong. They can increase your
adrenaline, making you stronger for a short time. But this takes a heavy toll
on your body. There are other explanations in certain contexts that our culture
avoids.
3.1.4
Plus, there is a connection between drugs and possession, taking such
substances or even too much alcohol can open you up to such problems. Revelation
18:23 tells us, “and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.”
3.1.4.1 The word for sorcery here is
“pharmakeia”, from which we get our word pharmacy or pharmacology, which just
means drugs. The reason the ancient Greek word for sorcery is related to our
words for drugs is because mind altering drugs played a massive role in
sorcery, and opening people up to negative spiritual influences. Drugs are
really dangerous.
3.1.4.2 I think our societies drug war has
been a complete failure, and there are better ways to fight this stuff. But the
idea of all of these drugs being legalized and sold freely is terrifying,
because it will unleash spiritual forces on our society that the ancient church
worked hard to eradicate, and which pagans have no defence against.
3.2 The Girl who shouted at Paul – Acts 16:17-18 - “16 As we
were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit
of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She
followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God,
who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many
days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I
command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out
that very hour.”
3.2.1
I have heard people testify to powerful experiences with fortune telling
of one kind or another. This does not make it good. The Bible explains why it
can be powerful, it is the work of supernatural and wicked beings. Hence it
should be avoided at all costs, in every way possible. Dabbling in a little
fortune telling is like dabbling in a little porn, or a little unprovoked violence.
Dumb.
3.3 Both of these people had special
abilities because they were possessed by demons. There are demons that make you
seem disabled, and there are demons that make you super-human and crazy.
4. Balaam’s Trick To Harm God’s People – I don’t think believers can be
possessed by demons, simply because Paul says those who believe are rescued
from the power of Satan, “18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn
from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may
receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith
in me.” And because one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. However,
demonic forces can affect believers if they are given a foothold. An
interesting example in the Old Testament shows us how, in the account of
Balaam.
4.1 Balaam, who is a weird prophet for
hire figure in Numbers, is asked by the King of Moab to curse the Israelites. “6
Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I
shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he
whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” (Numbers
22:6). But Balaam cannot curse the Israelites, because he can only speak the
words that God allows him to speak and he ends up blessing Israel 3 times, even
though his intention is to curse them. Balaam was a powerful sorcerer, who was
known for his curses and blessings.
4.1.1
This frustrates Moab’s plans to attack Israel. But then suddenly we see
this happen – Numbers 25:1-3 – “25 While Israel lived in Shittim, the
people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. 2 These invited the people to
the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.
3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was
kindled against Israel.” This put Israel into mortal danger, because
they were in enemy territory and God was now punishing them for whoredom. Midian
also did the same thing to Israel, indeed they were involved in this situation
– “16 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Harass the Midianites and
strike them down, 18 for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which
they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the
daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the
plague on account of Peor.” (Numbers 25:16-18).
4.1.2
How did this all happen? Well, as we read later, because Balaam
encouraged this strategy to bring down Israel – Numbers 31:16 “Behold,
these, on Balaam's advice, caused the people of Israel to act treacherously
against the Lord in the incident of Peor, and so the plague came among the
congregation of the Lord.” That sneaky sorcerer/false prophet. He knew
he could not turn God against Israel by a curse, because Israel was blessed, so
he opened up a door for idolatry and sexual immorality, putting Israel in
danger of harming itself.
4.1.3
Engaging in sins like this opens the door to real and serious harm, and
demonic influence, and this is not just taught here.
4.2 We read in Revelation 2:12-15 – “12 And
to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the
sharp two-edged sword. 13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is.
Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of
Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14
But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching
of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel,
so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”
4.2.1
We read also later in Revelation that Jezebel is doing the same thing.
This strategy is a simple one: trick the believers into practicing idolatry and
fornication and you can pull apart a family, or church.
4.2.2
This is obviously a favourite trick of sorcerers, and false prophet
types, because it is seen all throughout the Bible in the context of idolatry,
demonic behaviour, and sorcery.
4.2.3
The fact that our nation is completely given over to sexual immorality is
allowing demonic activity to run rampant, and sadly I think this is true in
much of the church.
4.3 But there are other ways the devil
can get a foothold, look at Ephesians 4:25-26 – “25 Therefore, having put
away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we
are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go
down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.”
4.3.1
By opening the door to unrepentant sin we can give the Devil a foothold
in our lives, in our homes, in our churches. Once he has his supernatural hooks
in your life, he can run rampant.
4.3.2
If you read this passage, you’ll see lying, bitterness, giving into old
sins, corrupt talk, all sorts of stuff allows him a foothold. Which means it
allows his demons a foothold, and his servants who engage in sorcery and
witchcraft.
4.3.3
Which leads us to our application, and how to fight such evil.
5.1 Notice who our real fight is against?
“12 For we
do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Demons and fallen angels of all kinds
are our most potent enemy. Don’t forget this. There is a cosmic war raging
around us.
5.2 To stand a chance we must wear the
armour of God. Now I know many people believe you should pray on the armour
every day, and this is good to do. But every aspect of the armour of God is an
aspect of how we should live our Christian lives to frustrate the Devil’s
schemes:
5.2.1
Fasten on the belt of truth – If you live in lies you cannot defeat evil, it will
consume you. Jesus is The Truth, his people must be people of truth.
5.2.2
Having put on the breastplate of righteousness – If we allow sin in our lives, we
give the Devil a foothold, as Paul told us before, as Balaam shows us. But
really, we need to recognize that true righteousness comes from being found in
Christ, and therefore we must lay hold of his righteousness by faith, and work
out the righteousness he gives us in faithfulness.
5.2.3 Ready with the gospel of peace – The gospel which breaks down the
kingdom of darkness and extends the kingdom of Jesus.
5.2.4 Holding the shield of faith – Trust God, ask him to work in your
life, trust him to protect and surround you with his guardian angels. Believe
him, because doubt can be consuming. We need to be people of faith.
5.2.5 Helmet of Salvation – Keep coming back to the fact that you
are rescued from Satan’s power, he can no longer accuse you, he has no hold of
you. Give him no opportunity.
5.2.6 Sword of the Spirit – Practice with the sword of the Spirit
regularly, knowing that Jesus defeated the Devil with scripture.
5.2.7
Prayer – And
pray, because prayer enables you to tap into divine power, that you otherwise
could not access. It unleashes blessings in your life, and enables you to
resist the evil one and his temptations.
5.3 Forgiveness disempowers the Devil (2
Corinthians 2:10-11). And also forgive – “10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive.
Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your
sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan;
for we are not ignorant of his designs.” Forgiveness, which disempowers
bitterness, is a powerful weapon against evil, because evil is trapped in
bitterness. You can unlock a lot of his grip on your life, by being quick to
forgive and slow to hold against people their sins.
5.4 Unlike in the movies and TV shows,
you cannot defeat the Devil and his servants with salt shelled shotguns and
silver bullets. But you can defeat him by being salt and light as Jesus has
taught us, so we can avoid his snares.
6. Conclusion – Today’s sermon was bit longer than
usual. But I have really only touched on this aspect of sorcery, demon
possession and the Devil’s power. The Bible says so much more, and many
Christians have written about it. The Devil’s spells are everywhere in our
society. Hollywood spellbinds people with lies, false teachers spellbind people
with lies. The media, academia spellbind people with lies. The Devil’s hand is
behind all of this and more. I hope I have helped you be a little more awake to
it today, because as evil rises in our world, we are going to need each other
more and more to oppose it, by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s
pray.
