Witchcraft and Demons in the New Testament...and Today!

In the book of Acts we read, "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION met us, which brought her masters much gain by SOOTHSAYING: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this she did many days. But Paul, being grieved, tamed and said to the spirit I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour" (Acts 16:16-18).

Notice! This woman could "prophesy," and give "occult" information, much like Jeane Dixon, Ruth Montgomery, and Edgar Cayce. She spoke some truth, as well. The demon in her confessed that Paul and his group were messengers sent from YEHOVAH God, bringing the way of salvation. Sometimes these artful demons even preach the truth! Nevertheless, the spirit of divination is wrong -- an ABOMINATION! And Paul finally felt moved to cast it out of the young woman.

In another account, some Jewish exorcists attempted to imitate the apostle Paul and cast out demons following his example. The story would be funny, if it were not so tragic.

Those who are seeking spiritual power by studying the books of Edgar Cayce, Ruth Montgomery, Jeane Dixon, and other practitioners of the occult, even if it be the so-called "Christian" occult, are in great danger! Any spiritual power which comes from any other source than the Spirit of YEHOVAH God is demoniacal and deadly in its final revelation.

The person who wrote to me on this subject stated, "Power is power, and one can learn HOW to use it by observing many practitioners." To that I say, balderdash and hogwash! There is evil power, as well as good power. Power itself is not "neutral." Power derived from an evil source is EVIL. Any power used to further the purposes of Evil, is inherently EVIL!

You cannot use the power of YEHOVAH God for evil purposes. Nor can the power of demons be truly used for good purposes, except as a ruse to deceive the naive, simple, and unwise.

To dabble, delve, and play around with the occult and witchcraft, may seem like a pathway to power to some, but it is the roadway to death and destruction, forever and ever.

Witchcraft is spiritual fornication with the demons of this world. It is the "depths of Satan" which YEHOVAH God warns about (Revelation 2:20-25). Many women get involved in this terrible deception, and lose their salvation like Jezebel, who considered herself a prophetess and seduced the servants of YEHOVAH God into spiritual fornication, eating at idolatrous festivals such as Christmas and Easter, and sinning against YEHOVAH.

Let's come completely out of these things!

Since we know from the Scriptures that demons do exist, and sometimes "possess" people, or "bother" them, what can and should YEHOVAH's people do about them?

As we should know, from studying the Word of YEHOVAH God, YEHOVAH the Creator has ALL POWER, and He has given ALL POWER into the hands of Yeshua the Messiah, who said, "ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. 28:18). He also gave authority to his servants and ministers, saying, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, CAST OUT DEMONS: freely ye have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8). And, he declared, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME they shall cast out demons" (Mark 16:17).

Not all, of course, would have this "authority" or "power." It is a gift of YEHOVAH God. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit" (I Cor. 12:4). "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit..." (I Cor. 12:8-9).

I believe in YEHOVAH's power, and His might, and His authority, and His love and compassion and caring. I know He cares for every living human being, and wants to see everyone free of demon influence, demon possession, and completely healed. I believe in His promises. I believe in His healing power. I also know that His promises are conditional, based on FAITH. As Yeshua said, "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matt. 9:29).

To have demons removed from the premises, or cast out, we must believe, and we must EXERCISE our faith. We must BELIEVE, as a matter of fact, and we must PERSEVERE and PERSIST and tenaciously HANG ON to YEHOVAH's Promises, and our faith -- ENDURING, fighting, never giving up, using our mind to FOCUS on what YEHOVAH God is doing and is going to do for us.

Yeshua the Messiah declared in plain words, "Have faith in God [marginal reading, "have the faith of God" -- YEHOVAH's very own faith]" (Mark 11:22). In other words, we need the very faith of YEHOVAH God, which is His Gift, one of the very attributes of YEHOVAH's own Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). That faith is the very faith of Messiah Yeshua himself abiding within us. As the apostle Paul himself said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

This faith, Paul said, comes from the Messiah himself. Paul wrote, "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law [and like filthy rags by comparison -- see Isaiah 1:18; 64:6], but that which is THROUGH THE FAITH OF CHRIST the righteousness which is of God by faith" (Philippians 3:8-9).

The power of this faith CONQUERS Satan the devil and ALL his host of demonic angels evil spirits, and their obsessive influences!

Yeshua goes on in Mark's account, describing this miracle-working FAITH! He declared, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:23-25).

YEHOVAH God works these miracles through the Holy Spirit! And He GIVES His Holy Spirit to those who repent of their sins, forsake their sins, depart from wickedness, and who OBEY His commandments (Acts 5:32). That Spirit is "the Spirit of POWER, and of love, and of a SOUND MIND" (II Timothy 1:6-7).

And when the evil spirit or spirits are cast out, and have left, and a person's mind and body have been cleansed -- a person's mind and body are swept clean -- that person must NEVER ALLOW themselves to fall back into their old habits of thinking, and dwelling on negative things, and demonic influences -- lest they once again become "infested" or "infected." They must RESIST the devil and his demons, and resist any and every "demonic attack" which Satan attempts, to "reclaim" his body and mind. Once cleansed, one must "CLEAN HOUSE" AND KEEP IT CLEAN, by continual and daily study of YEHOVAH God's Word, prayer, and filling their mind and life with positive and uplifting things.

As Paul wrote, "Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS" (Phil. 4:8). As Paul goes on, "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, DO: and [then] the God of peace shall be with You" (v. 9).

The apostle James says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL, and he will FLEE FROM YOU. DRAW NIGH TO GOD, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and PURIFY your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:7-8).

Peter also wrote: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST STEADFAST IN THE FAITH, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world" (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

If a person faithfully heeds this advice, and does the things I have said, I am persuaded fully that they will be completely healed, and can remain healed, and be no longer bothered with demons. But we must do our part. And YEHOVAH God will SURELY do His!

If, or when any demon tries to bother you, do as Jude said, saying, "The LORD God, YHVH (YEHOVAH) REBUKE YOU."' (Jude 9), and say to that demon, "in the name of Yeshua the Messiah (Yeshua Ha Moshiach], I rebuke you!"

Tell that spiritual entity, "In the name of YEHOVAH God the Father and Yeshua the Messiah, Begone, get out of here, and LEAVE ME ALONE!" "GET AWAY FROM ME, AND STAY AWAY FROM ME! So I order, direct, and command you in the name and by the authority of Yeshua the Messiah!"

With all the power and determination you can muster, calling on YEHOVAH God for help and inspiration, tell that evil spirit, "Get thee hence, Satan, and all his demons, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah, according to the Word of YEHOVAH GOD!"

Study the Scriptures concerning faith and healing. BUILD up your faith, by constant and concentrated Bible Study (Rom. 10:17; II Pet. 3:18), and by faithful prayer (Luke 18:1-8). Raise your hands to YEHOVAH God in heaven, calling on Him for the faith and spiritual strength you need, and for forgiveness of all your sins (Lamentations 3:40-41). As Paul said, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (I Tim.2:8). "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD" (Psalm 134:2; II Chron. 6:12-13, 29).

Indeed, as Paul said, "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against...wicked spirits in high places. Wherefore take unto you the WHOLE armor of God, that ye may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day" (Eph. 6:11-13, etc.).

We live in "evil" days. So we must be busy, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 6:16). We must do as Paul said, and "Fight the good fight of faith" (I Tim. 6:12). It is a fight -- a struggle -- a wrestling match. We must be like our forefather Jacob, who fought all night, wrestling with an angel, showing his perseverance and tenacity, so that the angel changed his name to "Israel," which means "Prevailer, Overcomer, Prince of God."

And, as Peter said, we must GROW in the things of YEHOVAH God, giving all diligence to add to our faith virtue (spiritual power), knowledge, self control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and the true love of YEHOVAH God (II Pet. 1:4-7). For, he said, "If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 8).

With the power of YEHOVAH God, we can overcome ANY spiritual adversary. YEHOVAH will not fail us nor forsake us. Indeed, "There be more with us than there are with them." When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by armies, and a great host camped against them, his servant, wakening in the morning and seeing the awesome sight, exclaimed, "Alas, my master! what shall we do?" And Elisha responded: "FEAR NOT: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them "(II Kings 6:16).

Satan and all his demons have only "puny" power AS COMPARED TO THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD! Satan and all his demonic hordes may be arrayed against us; but on our side is the CAPTAIN OF THE HOSTS OF THE LORD -- YESHUA HIMSELF -- AND YEHOVAH GOD THE FATHER, CREATOR AND RULER OF THE UNIVERSE! With us, fighting on our side, is the LORD God of Hosts, the Ruler of the entire far-flung Universe, and Yeshua the Messiah, the Captain of our salvation, who rose from the dead, who now sits at the right hand of the Father, as our High Priest in heaven, who himself on the battlefield of the wilderness of Judea, after forty days of fasting and praying, DEFEATED Satan the devil in pitched spiritual battle 2,000 years ago! (Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13).

Yeshua the Messiah totally vanquished Satan, the prince of demons, and qualified to replace him as ruler of the world, when he gave his life for us, on the tree, giving his life and shedding his blood to pay for and cover our sins.

So NOW HE RULES SUPREME, with the Father!

And Yeshua promised: "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these, shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ASK IN MY NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in MY NAME, I will DO it. If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments" (John 14:12-15).

These are YEHOVAH God's Words -- His instructions. If we seek His help, deliverance, and intervention, on our behalf, in fighting demons or any other adversary, then we must get on our knees before Him, and claim His promises, with our hands raised to heaven, and implore Him to rebuke the evil, and ask Him to completely remove the evil from our life, and then KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, completely and fully, all of them, and He will receive us, and bless us, and give complete and total healing.

It is, bottom line, a matter of our faith and dependence on YEHOVAH God. Like Abraham, our forefather, we must live by and exercise faith. "And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of' God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God; and being FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform" (Rom. 4: 19-21).

Faith is the "bottom line." Crying out to YEHOVAH God, even with the "faith born of desperation," can work miracles. I have seen it. I know it is true. It is, however, between each one of us and YEHOVAH God.

When a father brought a young demoniac to the Messiah, he said to him, in sheer desperation, "Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out and they could not."

Yeshua answered him, "O faithless generation, how long shall I bear with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me."

The account continues: "And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And oftimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but IF THOU CANST DO ANY THING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US, AND HELP US."

Do you see his lack of faith and real belief here? Do you sense the doubt and fear that the father had?

Yeshua responded, as the Moffatt translation has it, "'If you can! Anything can be done for one who believes."

The account continues: "At once the father of the boy cried out, 'I do believe; help my unbelief"' It was a beginning point. He admitted, confessed his weakness and unbelief. He cried out for help and mercy. It was all Yeshua needed. The narrative goes on:

"Now as Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, he checked the unclean spirit, 'Deaf and dumb spirit,' he said, 'leave him, I command you, and never enter him again!' And it did come out, after shrieking aloud and convulsing him violently. The child turned like a corpse, so that most people said, 'He is dead'; but, taking his hand, Jesus raised him and he got up.

"When he went indoors, his disciples asked him in private, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'Nothing can make this kind come out but prayer and fasting"' (Mark 9:17-29). One must be close to YEHOVAH God, through prayer, and even fasting, in order to do the works of YEHOVAH. This is not an "e-ticket ride" on a Disneyland children's roller coaster. Casting out spiritual entities is serious business!

The Modern Language Bible has this passage as follows: The father begged Jesus, "but if You can do anything, help us; take pity on us!" Jesus answered, "'If You can do anything?' Everything is possible for the person who believes!" The father at once exclaimed, "I believe. Help me because of my unbelief. " Then Jesus, seeing a mob collecting, said to the spirit, "Dumb and deaf spirit, I order you: Come out of him and never again enter into him." The story goes on, "Shrieking and throwing fit after fit, he came out. The boy looked like a corpse, so that many declared that he was dead; but Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him and he stood up.

"After He had gone indoors, His disciples asked Him privately, 'Why were we unable to cast it out?' He told them, 'This kind cannot be expelled except through prayer.'"

First, that we must believe. FAITH is absolutely required.

Second, that if we lack faith, we can CALL ON YEHOVAH GOD, for the very faith that we need, and He will give it to us!

Thirdly, indeed, ALL THINGS are possible through the power and intervention of YEHOVAH God, for those who have faith, and believe!

The apostle Paul put it very succinctly: He said, "I can do ALL THINGS through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil. 4:13). Also, he declared, "But my God shall supply ALL YOUR NEEDS, according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus" -- Moshiach Yeshua (Phil. 4:19).

For those who request prayer for healing, and prayer for eradication of demon influence and possession, we send out special "anointed" prayer cloths, with instructions on how to use them, following the example of the apostle Paul (Acts 19:11). A person should use the prayer cloth as it is needed, which sick, suffering a debilitating illness, or if they are being bothered by Satan or one or more of his demons.

There is indeed a whole "world" out there -- another "dimension" -- what may be called "a parallel universe." It is composed of spirit beings, and inhabited by angels. Sometimes that world and our physical, mundane world intersect -- collide, as it were -- and beings from that other dimension can influence affairs in our physical Universe.

This fact was revealed in the Scriptures from the very beginning. It is only the ignorance of mankind in our modern, faithless generation, that has led to universal doubt, unbelief, and ignorance of that other world. We have too many rocket scientists and not enough true Bible students. Too many nuclear physicists and not enough Torah researchers.

Nevertheless, YEHOVAH God has given us His Word. And He commands us to use it -- to learn about Him, this other dimension, and the purpose He plans for you, and the destiny of mankind. YEHOVAH says: "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15)

In the pages of this article, you have learned much new truth. What are you going to do with it? How are you going to use it? May YEHOVAH God help you to make wise decisions!