The Occultic Influence On The Body of Christ

     What do you think of when you hear the word "occult"? If you're like most people, you probably think of witchcraft, devil worship, or some kind of dark magic. Actually, the word occult is a rather broad term that covers a lot of practices that are unholy to our God. It comes from the Latin word occultus and means "hidden, or secret". The best definition I've found is that the occult is any person, group, or organization that tries to gain supernatural power, abilities, or knowledge apart from the Creator God.
     Now, that may seem as far away from Christianity as any practice could be. But I want you to know that the occult can be very subtle in the ways it intrudes into our lives. That means that Christians can be unaware about their unintentional involvement in the occult. It may not be hard to discern that activities like a Ouija Board, Tarot Cards, palm reading, or horoscopes may be flirting with the occult. And for many non-Christian people, it can be their form of spirituality. But I would wager that more than a handful of Christians have partaken in these activities at some point in their lives. "But that was a long time ago", they might think. "How can it affect me now?" Or, they dismiss it as harmless fun. They believe in Jesus and don't see it as being affiliated with the dark side.
     But here's the thing ... activities such as these are rooted in disobedience to God! You might think they are harmless, but in reality, they are an invitation for the kingdom of darkness to take up residence in you or your family line. They open doors to the demonic and give the devil legal rights to bring torment into your life.
     You might think is an over-exaggeration, but I personally know of a wonderful Christian woman who decided to have a Tarot card reading because she was at a new stage in her life, and wanted to know what might lie in her future. First, you must understand that anyone who decides to become a Tarot card "reader" receives an instruction booklet with possible interpretations of what any card might mean. I happened to be at a gathering of women when this reading was taking place. I immediately removed myself from the vicinity and began praying, separating myself from what I knew to be an unholy event.
     I don't really remember what other cards she received, nor did I listen to what the "reader" was conveying. But I couldn't ignore the hush that came over the room when she received the "Death Card". Now, of course, no one wants to receive that card, and the reader quickly interpreted it as the end of this stage of her life, and that it represented transformation and new beginnings. The woman ended her "session" excited about what lay in store for her in the coming days or months.
     Well, within that year, one of her daughters committed suicide, and the next year, her second daughter also took her own life. Now, I'm sure that there are more than a few who would say the Tarot Card reading had nothing to do with that. But because of my involvement in Inner Healing and Deliverance ministry, I am well aware of spiritual doors that can be opened.
     That's why I had to repent and renounce my own participation with Tarot card readings while in college. But as you will notice from the original image on the left, the Tarot card industry has decided to soften the image of the Death Card. But it does not change the fact that it is an open door, giving legal rights to the Enemy because you are in agreement by participating in the practice.
     Another example from my past: about a year or so ago, I ran across an old journal I had kept from a horoscope reading I had done in my late 20s. I remember going to this woman's house and providing her with the month, day, year, and actual time of my birth. She then spent an hour relaying where the planets were at the time of my birth and how that aligned with my personality and my destiny. The odd thing is that these few pages, hand-written on Big Chief tablet paper, had managed to travel with me through multiple moves over 40 years. As I read through the notes I took, I was astounded at how that reading had pretty much captured things about my personality. But it was disturbing to see how I also had notes that seemed to indicate that my future was ordained by the stars and the planets, and not my position as a daughter of the King. I took that journal to my husband and asked him to burn it. Well, it was quite interesting what happened next.... it would not burn! It was just paper and no matter how many times we applied a match to it, it would never light. Finally, my husband doused it in diesel fuel, and it finally caught fire, and please believe me ... it curled and coiled, just like a snake! That was enough to convince me that I had truly been participating in an unholy occult practice.
     But it is not just fortune-telling activities like these that are a threat to the Christian community. Satanism, Wicca, Witchcraft, Paganism, Astral Projection, violent occult video and computer games are heavy influences among our culture, especially the Millennial generation. They are looking for adventure and to be stimulated. These practices offer excitement, thrills, and distraction in a world where they are finding it difficult to know their place. But they are opening doors to demonic activity, and the Enemy is only too happy to enter in.
     And we cannot exclude some religions who have occultic overtones. Remember, "occult" means "hidden, or secret". Religions like Mormonism and Jehovah's Witnesses have their origins in the occult. Mormon founder, Joseph Smith, who was a Freemason, claimed supernatural power from a Seer Stone which he said guided him to the golden plates that helped him translate the Book of Mormon.

     Charles Taze Russell, the founder of Jehovah's Witnesses, studied the writings of Sir Isaac Newton, who was a member of another occult organization, the Rosecrucians, and both men held high regard for Egyptian gods and pyramids. (See Russell's tombstone. Does that look Christian?)
     Both religions, just like Freemasonry, put emphasis on secret rituals that elevate initiates to godhead status and include influence from false gods.  I know this may offend some of you, but I have had family members who were involved in these religions and I have seen the effects on them. Also, my niece was asked to be a bridesmaid at a Mormon wedding, but was not allowed into the Temple to witness the actual wedding ceremony because she was not a Mormon. Why would anything having to do with a wedding need to be kept in secret?
     Then there is the seemingly benign act of yoga. But do you know that the word yoga means "to be in union with; or to be yoked to"? And guess who you are in union with? The divine gods of Hinduism. Each of the yoga poses is a posture of submission to one of the 33 million Hindu gods. You can rationalize this practice by calling it "Christian yoga", but the origin of these poses is still about paying homage to false gods.
     In the end, it is important for those of us who profess faith in Jesus Christ alone to be vigilant about the abilities or knowledge we seek, and to know from whom supernatural power is coming from. Blood pacts; séances; astrology/horoscopes; spells or curses; New Age (books, objects, seminars); objects of worship/crystals/good luck charms; sexual spirits; various superstitions; martial arts (mysticism/devotion to sensei); Hare Krishna; transcendental meditation; church of Scientology; other non-christian religions or cults -- they are all non-Christian and unholy spiritual practices that need to be renounced.
     To "renounce" means to "break agreement with". Therefore, it is important that we acknowledge our sin and offense against God and ask for forgiveness. If you or someone you care about has been involved in any practice that is apart from God, then here is a prayer that you can speak over yourself/them:

Lord, I confess seeking the help from Satan that should only come from God. I confess occultism and false religions as sin. I repent and renounce for these sins and ask you to forgive me, in the Name of Jesus. I renounce Satan, his works and his demons, and count them my enemies. I close the door on occult practices, and I command any associated spirits to leave me now in the Mighty Name of Jesus!

Father, please forgive me for any indulgences in the occult, both for what I did myself, and any involvement by my family. I renounce it and cover myself with the blood of Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, I renounce and break loose myself and my family from all psychic powers, bondages, and bonds of mental and physical illness, upon me and my family line, as the result of parents and other ancestors.

I renounce, break, and loose myself from demonic subjection to any family members, ancestors, descendants, or any other human beings, living and dead, who have had spiritual influence over me. I ask You to forgive and bless them, especially with salvation.

I ask that You would forgive me for participating in occult practices and false religion and spiritual adultery. I forgive those who have cursed me. Please forgive me for cursing others. I break any curses and demonic soul ties including psychic and Catholic prayers. Lord, I ask forgiveness for keeping cursed objects and demon infestation in my possession and my home and property. I will clean out my house of any cursed objects. I will anoint my house with oil.

I renounce all fortune telling, all magic practices, and spiritism, cults and false teachings, and any form of Satan worship, in the Name of Jesus.

I break any and all curses and soul ties brought about by psychic heredity, occult contacts and religious cults.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, I break any and all demonic holds on my family line due to supernatural experiences apart from God and name them as the Holy Spirit leads.

Father, I thank You that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin and I go forth in the freedom that His blood paid for. It is in His Mighty and Powerful Name that I pray. Amen. 

John 18:20      Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.