Satanic Curiosity

What do you think of when you hear “Halloween”? This week people will be celebrating Halloween by dressing up and acting like their favorite monsters and characters and watching their favorite horror movies. Traditionally we see many people dressed as witches and magical characters.

When I was in elementary school, two of the main themes for decorations were ghosts and witches. Neither of these things were positive. Both were creepy and wicked things to avoid. Witches were ugly hags corrupted by wicked hearts. The paradigm has dramatically shifted in our culture over the past twenty years. What was purely demonic has become acceptable and even good. Isaiah 5:20 (ESV) says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

What is the allure of witchcraft and sorcery? The draw is actually very basic and common among people: the desire to know what others do not and thus be empowered by that special knowledge. It’s the search for some secret information that will grant the power to manipulate a person, situation, or circumstance.

Bitter Witch

1 Samuel 15:23 says that rebellion is the sin of witchcraft. Interestingly, the word rebellion in Hebrew is meri which comes from the word marah, meaning bitter. Witchcraft is rooted in rebellion, and rebellion is rooted in bitterness. As Isaiah said, “Woe to those who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

Hebrews 12:15 ESV — See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.

Grace and witchcraft are opposite extremes. Grace is the power of God rooted in humble intimacy. Witchcraft is the power of rebellion rooted in bitterness. Who is the personification of rebellion? Satan. Knowledge is always founded in relationship, and the pursuit of knowledge will reinforce that relationship. The bitterness of unmet expectations lures us into casting off the grace of God (knowing Him) and taking things in our own hands (knowing Satan). Bitterness leads to rebellion leads to manipulation through demonic power instead of heavenly power. This is witchcraft.

Magic Arts & Busybodies

Acts 19:18-20 ESV — Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced MAGIC ARTS brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

This took place in Ephesus. Witchcraft undermines trust, and ultimately trust in the Word of God. There was confessing and divulging of witchcraft, followed by destruction of scrolls that today would equal around $13.2 million. Then the Word increased and prevailed mightily. This is an incredibly powerful testimony, but I want you to notice the words “magic arts”. Now turn to 1 Timothy 5.

1 Timothy 5:13,15 ESV — 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and BUSYBODIES, saying what they should not. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan.

“Magic arts” in Acts 19 and “busybodies” in 1 Timothy 5 are the same word. The Greek word periergos comes from peri (around) and ergon (work). It only appears twice in the Bible, and in both cases the context is Ephesus. The Ephesian culture was steeped in mysticism, sorcery, and the pursuit of “secret knowledge”. Though they burned their dark scrolls, their tendency towards ”secret knowledge” still manifested as being intrusive, meddlesome, manipulative, and going behind each others’ backs. A busybody is operating in the same spirit as those in the magic arts. Just as the Ephesians needed to reject the magic arts, they also needed to repent from being busybodies. Both “work around” God and His Word in pursuit of special knowledge to use as manipulative leverage.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 ESV — O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.

In the appropriate pursuit of truth, there is a clear, straightforward, illuminated path and there are godly boundaries. The inappropriate pursuit of knowledge takes us off the true path and outside the boundaries —working around the established way. Notice that 1 Timothy 6:21 says some “have swerved from the faith”, while 1 Timothy 5:15 identifies those participating in this kind of behavior as “strayed after Satan”. Satan is the source of the side knowledge and secrets. He likes to make it shine like forbidden fruit —“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). The Lord says, “Don’t touch that —it’s not good for you.” But then comes the master underminer, Satan. Just like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-7), he feeds us thoughts questioning God’s love and goodwill for us, and he looks for an opportunity to place a seed of bitterness towards God so that we release trust and embrace rebellion. We may think that we’ll find power and freedom by working around God’s will, but the truth is that we’re being led to swerve from the faith and stray after Satan —deeper and deeper into bondage.

When the good news of Jesus Christ came to the Greek culture, there began to be a mixture of truth and philosophy. This led to what was known as Gnosticism, the search for hidden knowledge. We see this also in our own culture, especially now in the prevalence of conspiracy theory. A great distrust has come that is rooted in bitterness. Now the door is wide open to questioning everything and highly valuing secret, taboo, forbidden knowledge. When we are not anchored in the Word, we begin to stray after Satan. Remember, witchcraft undermines trust, and ultimately trust in the Word of God. But when we confess and repent, the Word increases and prevails mightily in and through our lives.

Established in the Word

We recently began the Hebrew year of 5786. 8 is the Hebrew word “pei” which means mouth. It is the Word. 6 is the number of man and it is the character “vav” which is a nail or tent-peg. Isaiah 54:2 says, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.” In order to expand, stretch, and not hold back, we must strengthen our stakes. What does it mean to strengthen our stakes? Make sure we are firmly anchored so that our tent doesn’t blow away. “86” is a call to be firmly established and fixed in the Word of God so that we can expand the Kingdom. This Hebrew year it is very important that we are studying, devouring, and meditating on the Word of God. Don’t be distracted or detoured!

Let’s read through Psalm 119:103-118, but we’re going to exchange the words precepts, statutes, rules, law, and commandments for “WORD”:

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your WORD I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous WORD. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your WORD. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your WORD. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your WORD. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your WORD forever, to the end. I hate the double-minded, but I love your WORD. You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the WORD of my God. Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your WORD continually! You spurn all who go astray from your WORD, for their cunning is in vain.”

Revelation 19:10 says that the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy. All of the Old and New Testament is prophetic testimony of Jesus. John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelled among us as Jesus Christ. When we read Psalm 119 through faith in Jesus Christ, we understand that we are not saved by obeying rules. We are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Word, and through faith in Him, the scriptures come alive and direct our paths. The Word becomes the true source of understanding and knowledge. His Word is joy, hope, and life. His Word is a lamp to our feet and light to our path. When we live saturated by His Word, it causes Kingdom increase and prevails mightily. When we “work around” His word, we swerve from the faith and stray into a realm of darkness, double-mindedness, and vanity.

Bible teachers are a highly valuable part of the church. In Acts 6:4, the leaders of the church say that they must remain devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word. 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV) says, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” We need people who are devoted to the Word and the ministry of the Word in the local church. But each of us must take responsibility for our own personal lives and being established in the Word. Teachers proclaim the Way of the Word and point people to it. But each of us must choose to establish ourselves in the Way.

One of Wellspring’s teachers, Cory, had a dream recently that the members of the church were bringing meat and fruit and vegetables to our gathering. These are all nourishing ingredients to a meal. These diverse ingredients are found in the Word. Each of us must cultivate a life in the Word so that we can bring our produce together for a shared, healthy meal. Every ingredient is important! Come to the kitchen ready to participate!

Witchcraft undermines trust, and ultimately trust in the Word of God.

This week I want us to ask Jesus to reveal any bitterness or rebellion in our lives. Repent and invite Him to forgive and heal your heart. Invite Him to reveal where you have been working around Him instead of in alignment with Him. Trust Him. His way is better. Invite Him to reveal where you’ve been operating in manipulation and surrender completely to Him as Lord of your life. Together, let’s make a fresh commitment to cultivating a life full of His Word. Let’s reject even the slightest hint of witchcraft in our lives and believe for the Word of the Lord to increase continually and prevail mightily.

Seeking His face!
Matt