Spiritism / Consulting the spirits of the dead

A warning from God's Word

Download as PDF

God's Word warns clearly and repeatedly against all forms of occult practices. This includes spiritism, fortune-telling, consulting the dead, horoscopes, tarot cards, ouija boards, and all forms of sorcery.

In our time, occult practices are being increasingly normalized. Horoscopes appear in newspapers and magazines, tarot cards are presented as an innocent pastime, and programmes about making contact with the deceased draw large audiences. But what does God Himself say about this in His Word?

In this Bible study we let God's Word speak. The warnings are clear and unambiguous: God forbids all these practices and calls them an abomination.

God's clear prohibition

In His Word God leaves no room for any misunderstanding: all forms of occultism are forbidden. In the Old Testament we find the most extensive listing of occult practices that God forbids.

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who tells fortunes, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord.

Note how extensive this list is. God names every form of occult involvement: divination, fortune-telling, sorcery, enchantments, consulting familiar spirits and consulting the dead. There is not a single exception. Everyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord.

Leviticus 19:31 Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

God says here that you defile yourself by becoming involved with these practices. It is not innocent. It is not ‘just a game’. It defiles your soul and brings you into contact with darkness. God concludes with: “I am the Lord your God” — as if to say: you have Me, why would you turn to the darkness?

Leviticus 20:6 The person that turns to those who are mediums and wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.

The punishment God names here is dreadful: He will set His face against that person. This means God turns Himself away from you. There is no heavier punishment imaginable than the living God turning Himself away from you.

The story of Saul and the medium (1 Samuel 28)

The best-known biblical example of someone consulting a medium is King Saul. His story serves as a serious warning for everyone who considers becoming involved with occult practices.

Saul found himself in a desperate situation. The Philistine army had gathered against Israel, and Saul was afraid. He sought God, but God did not answer him any more.

1 Samuel 28:6-7 When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord didn't answer him, by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek for me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her.”

Instead of humbling himself and repenting, Saul chooses to seek out a medium — while he himself had earlier banished mediums from the land! This shows how despair can drive people to the darkness if they do not trust in God.

Saul asks the woman to bring up Samuel. Samuel appears and proclaims Saul's downfall: the kingdom would be taken from him and given to David. The next day Saul and his sons would die in battle.

1 Chronicles 10:13 So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against the Lord, because of the word of the Lord, which he didn't keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire thereby.

God's Word makes it explicitly clear that consulting the medium was a direct cause of Saul's death. This is no innocent matter — it cost Saul his life and his kingdom.

Sorcery in the New Testament

Sorcery and occultism are also clearly condemned in the New Testament. It is not the case that these warnings apply only to the Old Testament. The early church was regularly confronted with occult practices.

Acts 8:9-11 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one.

Simon the sorcerer had all of Samaria in his grip through sorcery. But when Philip preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, the sorcery lost its power. Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. The power of the gospel is greater than every occult power!

Acts 19:18-19 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds. Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.

This is a powerful example! The believers in Ephesus did not do a half-hearted job. They brought their occult books together and burned them publicly. They did not keep them ‘just to be safe’, they did not sell them on — they destroyed them entirely. The value of these books was enormous (fifty thousand pieces of silver), but they knew that obedience to God was more important than any earthly wealth.

Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are... sorcery... I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God's Kingdom.

Paul places sorcery in the same list as adultery, sexual immorality, idolatry and drunkenness. It is a work of the flesh that excludes you from the Kingdom of God. This is an extremely serious warning!

The spiritual world

God's Word teaches us that an invisible spiritual world exists. There are angels who serve God, but there are also fallen angels (demons) who are under the leadership of Satan. Occult practices open the door to this demonic world.

Ephesians 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

There is a real spiritual battle going on. The powers of darkness are real. This is precisely why God so emphatically warns us not to become involved with occult matters: it opens doors to these demonic powers.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

This is crucial to understand. The devil does not present himself as something dark and frightening. He disguises himself as something good and beautiful. That is why many occult practices appear innocent or even ‘spiritual’ and ‘enlightening’. But behind the mask of light hides the father of lies.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Not every spiritual experience is from God. We must test everything by God's Word. If something is not in agreement with God's Word, then it is not from God — however ‘beautiful’ or ‘spiritual’ it may seem.

Deliverance through Jesus Christ

The good news is that Jesus Christ is mightier than any dark power! He came to destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is caught in occult bondage can be set free by Him!

Mark 16:17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons.

Jesus gives His followers authority over demons. In the name of Jesus, demons must give way. This is not a power that we have of ourselves, but it is the authority of Christ working through us.

Colossians 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;

What a glorious truth! God draws us out of darkness and places us in the Kingdom of His beloved Son. From darkness to light. From bondage to freedom!

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

The Holy Spirit who dwells in the believer is greater than the devil and all his demons together! We do not need to be afraid. In Christ we are more than conquerors.

James 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Here we find the secret: first submission to God, then resistance to the devil. The order is important. From our position in Christ, submitted to God, the devil has no choice but to flee!

What to do if you are burdened by this?

Perhaps you have practiced occult things in the past. Perhaps you have used a ouija board, read horoscopes, consulted a medium, or been involved in other forms of occultism. There is hope! Jesus Christ can and will set you free. These are the steps:

1. Confess your sins

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confess each occult involvement specifically to God. Name it by name. Speak out that it was sin and ask for forgiveness. God is faithful and righteous — He will forgive!

2. Destroy occult objects

Follow the example of the believers in Ephesus:

Acts 19:19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.

Destroy everything that has to do with occultism: books on sorcery, tarot cards, ouija boards, amulets, horoscope books, occult symbols, and everything connected with these practices. Do not keep it, do not sell it on — destroy it.

3. Seek prayer and deliverance

Seek contact with fellow Christians who can stand with you in prayer. Deliverance from occult bondage happens through the power of the name of Jesus Christ. Let others pray for you and pray yourself. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth!

4. Fill your life with God's Word

A delivered life must be filled. Read in God's Word daily. Pray regularly. Seek fellowship with other believers. Let God's Word renew your thoughts and fill your life with His truth and light.