EVIDENCE OF OCCULT OPPRESSION AND SUBJECTION. Part 2 of 3.
2. Psychoneuroses indicative of occult oppression and subjection. Continued.
Such neurotics are often overly conscious of their health and welfare, being alarmed at the slightest symptom and will generally contact their physician on the slightest pretext. Attending to themselves is their only real interest, and they expect others to follow suit. Their affliction provides them with an excuse for failing to meet their obligations or to attain their level of aspiration in business, marriage, religion, or life in general. Their life is characterized as "just one great bundle of problems and anxieties" as they journey from one person to another-doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, minister, parents, friends or strangers alike-seeking, always seeking, attention, reassurance, advice, or help.

Those who are oppressed or possessed with these spirits of self-pity, self-centeredness, and self-love (narcissism) are very difficult to bring to a point of liberation, due to the nature of the spirit causing this condition. The victims fear that admission of the real nature of their neurotic condition and deliverance from it will cause them to lose the attention and pity they feel they require to survive. These spirits, unlike many other types, have such a firm hold on their victims, and are so closely identified with their personalities, that these individuals willingly accept such an abnormal disposition as their own. Even after liberation, such persons usually require prayer support, and firm, but loving admonishment to practice standing alone, to face their responsibilities on their own, and to discipline themselves to regular periods of Bible study and prayer in order to develop a strong life of faith. A daily, biblical confession of what they have and are in Christ is necessary, together with a firm, steadfast resistance to the temptation to fall back into their previous bondage and dependence upon others.

Compulsive thoughts and behavior, as well as certain phobias and obsessions, are often present in such individuals. Compulsive lying, deception, infidelity, arson, or cleptomania (an irresistible desire to steal, not motivated by personal need) are some of the compulsive abnormalities. Others are obsessed with peculiar and strange ideas. One may, for example, be obsessed with the idea that he will contract some disease such as cancer or tuberculosis; another believes that he will die prematurely from the same organic trouble that seems "to run in the family," from which some of his relations have already died. Others become obsessed with the idea that they have committed the "unpardonable sin," or that they have failed God, their families, or their employers, thus living a tormented life of self-condemnation.

Those who are obsessed are ruled by some idea or thought (which often has no basis in fact) which finally becomes the dominant factor in their lives. Individuals may be obsessed with self-torturing jealousy, or the notion that someone is always watching or following them (the individual's eyes dart furtively here and there constantly), or as the housewife who imagines that her friends and neighbors are always talking about her.

Compulsions may be in the form of phobias, such as a fear of germs. This is seen in the neurotic behavior of the woman who felt compelled to disinfect all the doorknobs in her home daily, never touching one anywhere without wearing gloves to avoid contamination. Some persons are obsessed with a spirit of self-importance, suspicion, covetousness, or pride. Other compulsives cannot keep from repeating the same actions over and over, such as recounting the money which they have just counted because they feel they made a mistake the first time, or washing one's hands over and over, retracing one's steps, or repeating instructions again and again. Such compulsions and obsessions often indicate the presence and work of demonic spirits, who mercilessly vex and delude their victims.

In summary, the most common mental and emotional disturbances and abnormalities resulting from occult involvement are: mental illness; serious depression; anxieties and fear; thoughts of self-destruction; compulsive thoughts and behavior; obsessions; emotional instability and self-pity; profound feelings of inadequacy and failure; and enslavement to certain excessive appetites, passions, and habits.

B. Psychic Disturbances and Abnormalities.
This category consists of those forms of subjection and oppression that pertain particularly to the extrasensory functions of the mind or psyche (spirit).

1. Occult subjection.
Those who have had occult involvement of any kind, or whose family background contains occult connections, frequently become "psychic" themselves and discover that they have certain extrasensory abilities, psychic sensitivity, or intellectual powers and knowledge at times beyond their normal capacity. These so-called psychic "gifts" result from occult connections, and are under the control and influence of the powers of darkness. They should be repudiated immediately, without reservation, for the simple reason that they are under the condemnation of God.

The following characteristics indicate occult subjection and will ultimately issue in mental, spiritual, and/or physical deterioration and damage, unless one is liberated from their enslaving power by Christ. One may, of course, possess psychic or ESP powers to a greater or lesser degree than described here. And, while the characteristics which follow include the psychic powers and practices of such occult professionals or practitioners as fortune tellers, astrologers, spiritualist mediums and hypnotists, we apply them to anyone who has been involved in the occult in any way."

(1) Clairvoyance.
This term describes the psychic ability of some subjected individuals to see objects or events spontaneously and super normally (beyond the natural range of vision). It is the awareness or knowledge of what is taking place elsewhere. This so-called gift of "second sight" is a satanic counterfeit of the Biblical prophetic gift of the "seer," and the gift of the "word of knowledge" (I Corinthians 12). It enables the person to see things relating to the past, present, and sometimes the future (precognition). Clairaudience, the supernormal ability to hear voices and sounds not within the reach of the normal senses, may also be present in such individuals. Clairvoyant persons often have premonitions of death or misfortune concerning others before the event occurs. They hear spirit voices, or the alleged voice of a departed loved one or friend giving advice, warning, or assurance of some kind. Often they discern such things as the substance of a letter before opening it, or know who is calling before answering a ringing telephone; and they may be subject to dreams and visions of a psychic or bizarre nature.

'Psychic "gifts" and powers resulting from occult involvement are not to be confused with genuine gifts of the Holy Spirit, authentic visions, and other divine, supernatural phenomena, which do have a vital place in the life of the believer and the church (e.g., Mark 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 12; Acts 1:16-26).

(2) Precognition.
The power of precognition enables occultly subjected persons to have knowledge of, or to see, future events before they occur. Some who have become "psychic" through occult associations have a very pronounced ability to sense or foresee a future event. They often experience mysterious premonitions of impending events. For example, Jeane Dixon predicted President Kennedy's assassination; and Edgar Cayce predicted World Wars I and II, and the years they would begin and end, as well as the universal Depression of 1929. Many people have precognitive experiences, such as premonitions, visions, dreams, or mental "flashes." As a result of becoming psychically "sensitive" through their occult involvement, they can see, hear, or sense events which are yet future.

(3) Telepathy.
Persons who are psychic often exhibit the power to transfer thoughts from one mind to another, either by thought-sending or mind-reading. This is usually what people think of first when "ESP" is mentioned. After some form of occult participation, individuals may discover that they seem to know what another person is thinking; later on, they find out they were right. The ability to "tune in" on another's thoughts and read his mind is well attested to by many parapsychologists, and by such organizations as the American Society for Psychical Research.

Thus, when one dabbles in occultism, or seeks to heighten his so-called ESP powers through the practice of telepathy, he may find mental images, strong feelings, emotions, and thoughts from the minds of others floating into his own consciousness. Often he is not aware of what is taking place and interprets these impressions as mere coincidence.

But what may seem at first to be an interesting psychic phenomenon can quickly become a mental burden. If one is psychically sensitive in this way, he will be constantly subject to the infiltration of disturbing mental images and thoughts, from both the powers of darkness and the minds of others. Often he will experience the same problems and disturbances as the one to whom he is telepathically attuned.

Another dangerous possibility is that of becoming "psychically dependent" upon another through the practice of telepathy, hypnotism, or remote influence. "Remote (or unconscious) influence" is a form of telepathy, advocated by some, which attempts to influence the subconscious mind of one who is asleep or unconscious. For example, one may try to implant positive thoughts of love into the subconscious mind of a person who has grown cold or indifferent; one may try to implant corrective ideas into the subconscious mind of a person who might be offended or unreceptive if such advice were given openly; or one may try using suggestion to heal the one who is asleep.

However, the psychic dangers in such attempts to control and influence the thoughts and behavior of others are clear. The very same telepathic powers can and have been used for evil purposes. Those skilled in ESP are well aware of their power to influence others in this way, causing them to think or do as they wish.

No finite human being has the right, whatever his alleged motive, to invade the privacy of the subconscious mind of another individual without his consent! God alone has this prerogative and there is no Biblical basis whatever for this practice by Christians. Aside from the obvious dangers involved and the unauthorized intrusion into the mind of another without his permission, this is clearly an attempt to circumvent the Biblical method of solving one's problems; namely, the prayer of faith.

Evidently these individuals do not realize that, in their attempts to influence the subconscious minds of others by speaking to them while they are asleep, they are intruding upon the prerogatives of God. They may also unwittingly be establishing telepathic connections with their minds which may later have adverse effect. This is an occult practice, condemned in Scripture as charming and enchantment (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). It is little more than "mesmerism" of the subconscious, and should be repudiated by the Christian without hesitation as an abomination to God. Those who teach and practice remote influence, or who advocate its use by other Christians, should consider its insidious nature and its disharmony with Scripture, and should cease and repent of this occult activity.

(4) Divination.
This is the most common form of occultism. It refers to the ancient black art of fortunetelling, whether by the crystal ball, palm reading, cards, pendulum, ouija board, planchette, glass tumbler movement, tea leaves, handwriting analysis (graphology), horoscope, or any of the many other forms of divination. Fortune Telling differs from clairvoyance in that the clairvoyant sees or knows things spontaneously, while the fortuneteller divines by use of certain occult objects, such as cards, tea leaves, ouija board, crystal ball, etc ., or practices soothsaying by interpreting signs, omens, dreams, or other phenomena.

Millions of victims are drawn into the abominable web of occultism either by visits to fortune tellers or by participation in some form of occult practice, whether consciously, or unconsciously: playing with a ouija board, ESP, telepathy, using fortune telling cards, and so on. It must be emphasized that those who have participated in these forms of occult practice, even though it was done "in fun," have opened themselves to the same occult oppression and subjection as those who are seriously involved. The same dark powers exercise influence and control over all forms of occultism. A loaded revolver is as dangerous when one is playing a "game" of Russian roulette as it is in the hands of one attempting to commit suicide.

Persons who have experienced occult oppression or subjection warn of the dangers of fooling around with the psychic and occult, including ESP, telepathy, ouija boards, automatic writing, and table-tipping. Innocent or not, those who do so are inviting invisible (demonic) "playmates" to participate in the game or practice, and are in for a rude awakening psychically and spiritually, often with serious, permanent consequences.

(5) Psychometry.
This is the psychic ability to determine the facts about an object's owner from contact with the object. For example, simply by touching a missing person's picture, or some personal object belonging to him, a "sensitive" individual can give the particulars of the person, their present whereabouts, and whether the person is living or dead. Other psychometrics can diagnose diseases and other ailments by handling an object belonging to the afflicted person, by touching the patient's body, or by use of the pendulum. A certain pastor’s files contain testimonies of those who suffered oppression as a result of contact with such psychic healers. Deliverance from the powers of darkness was necessary.

(6) Radiesthesia.
Divining for such things as water, oil, and minerals, using a dowsing rod or pendulum, is an ancient occult practice known the world over, having its roots in heathenism. It is condemned in the Scriptures (Hosea 4:12; Deuteronomy 18:10) as inspired and controlled by "the spirit of fornication" (an unclean spirit). Martin Luther charged, and rightly so, that the practice violated the First Commandment.

One survey on water dowsing (or "water witching," as it is often called) stated there were an estimated 25,000 water dowsers in the United States alone. The actual number of nonprofessional dowsers is much higher. It is practiced by water engineers to locate water pipes, by plumbers to determine sewer lines, by well drillers to find water sources, by mining engineers to locate minerals or oil, and was used by the Marines in Vietnam to locate mines, tunnels, and booby-traps along jungle trails. Practical instruction in the use of the dowsing rod is available as part of military training at Camp Pendleton, California. Thousands of officers and enlisted men have been subjected to these dark powers (although participation is voluntary), and only time will tell the terrible psychic effect upon these men as a result of their occult involvement.

Dowsing for water is commonly done with a forked stick, such as a hazel or willow twig. Some dowsers use coat-hangers, wires, keys on a chain hanging from a Bible, or brass welding rods. Some also succeed using the pendulum (a small ball or pear shaped object, or a needle, key, or ring, etc ., hanging from a string or chain). The dowsing rod (or pendulum) is used to divine for gold, silver, oil, water, minerals, buried treasure, missing persons, and many other things. As the divining instrument is held over a map of the area in question, it reacts in a certain manner at the correct location. Of course, divining instruments are also used at the geographical sites themselves, in the general area where water, minerals, missing objects or persons, and oil are believed to be.

Radiesthesia (the use of a dowsing rod or pendulum) is frequently used in the diagnosis of illness and disease, to determine the sex of an unborn baby, to prescribe medicines, to aid in crime detection, and in any of the ways in which psychometry (above) may be used. Frequently, those who practice dowsing or who use the pendulum give evidence of psychic disturbances and other signs of occult subjection or oppression.

(7) Magic practices.
One subjected by occultism is often involved in magical practices such as hypnosis, mental suggestion, remote influence of others, magic charming, conjuring, healing animals and humans, casting spells, concocting and using magical remedies and cures, and countless other magical and superstitious practices. The source is the same whether one practices so-called "white" magic (invoking hidden powers for "good" ends), or "black" magic (invoking spirits for destructive or evil purposes).

"This proves beyond question that dowsing has nothing to do with so-called "magnetic" forces attracting the rods as some allege, since it is also effective when used over a map of the site. The source of its power is demonic.

It is incredible to think that, in this modern scientific age, millions are involved, or have been involved, in some way with ancient magic practices and rites, from the charming of warts and burns to the use of spells, magic herbs, and hex signs on houses and barns (which are still seen in some areas). Magic practices and beliefs are not limited to rural folk, who are often naturally superstitious, but are found in urban areas and large cities. These practices are not merely harmless superstitions, as time and again the adverse psychic, mental, spiritual, and physical effects are seen in the lives of the countless people involved. Simply stated, magic is man's sinful attempt to break through the bounds set by God and His Providence, as well as to overcome human resistance, for one's own selfish purposes.

One of the most subtle and potentially dangerous forms of magical practice is hypnosis, an ancient occult method of influence or control of the mind and actions of others. Largely through the efforts of the Viennese physician, Mesmer, and as a result of its adoption by psychiatrists, dentists, doctors, and psychologists, hypnotism has lost much of its distasteful association with witchcraft and the vaudeville stage, and has now acquired a cloak of respectability. The ancient "charmer" and "enchanter" (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) now, as often as not, has a Ph.D. degree!

Advocates often try to justify this ancient form of witchcraft by arguing that (1) hypnotherapy has many beneficial medical uses, and (2) the hypnotist cannot compel his subject to commit any criminal action or morally wrong act which the subjected individual would not do when awake. Both of these arguments are invalid.

In the first place, when hypnotism is used to treat many psychological, mental, moral, and emotional problems, its benefits are seldom permanent. For example, one under hypnosis may be told that he has been released from his deep-seated fears, or doubts, or the problem of alcoholism; but the effect of such suggestions seldom lasts, and must be repeated in time. The reason is that the cause of such conditions has not been removed. Only the effect has been treated.

Professional hypnotists and hypnotherapists admit that attempting to relieve symptoms through hypnosis is dangerous, if treatment focuses merely on symptoms and does not deal with the underlying causes. One doctor cites the case in which a patient, through hypnosis, was stopped from chain smoking, but became a compulsive eater as a result. She was then cured of her overeating, only to become an alcoholic!

Such examples are by no means the exception. They weaken the naive idea held by many that hypnotherapy is a magic "cure-all" which, in the hands of the medical technician or psychiatrist, can solve all our mental, emotional, social, and psychological problems. In fact, by removing the symptom without curing the cause, the hypnotherapist may weaken the subject's defenses against inner turmoil's and problems. Edited. Shared.
To be Continued.

God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

THE CAUSES FOR OPPRESSION.
Without exception, those who become involved in any form of occultism eventually suffer satanic oppression in some manner. This simple statement of fact can be readily validated both by Scripture and by experience.

1. Occult involvement is disobedience to God's Word and is an abomination to Him. All forms of fortunetelling, spiritism, magic practices, and involvement in false religious cults, are absolutely forbidden by Scripture. Practicing or participating in them are condemned by God. In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God warns: ... thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one ... that useth divination [fortuneteller], or an observer of times [soothsayer], or an enchanter [magician], or a witch [sorceress], or a charmer [hypnotist], or a consulter with familiar spirits [medium possessed with a spirit or "guide"], or a wizard [clairvoyant or psychic], or a necromancer [medium who consults the dead]. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD!

This passage sets forth the methods by which the heathen sought to unveil hidden knowledge, ascertain future events, uncover secret wisdom, and exercise supernatural powers. In contrast to the methods employed by the heathen nations for discovering the will of their gods and uncovering the hidden secrets of the spiritual realm, God declares in verses 15-22 that Israel would learn the things that she needed to know concerning the future and His will for her, not by discovery through the methods of divination and occult practices, but by revelation. The means of revelation, which would come unsought and at the sovereign discretion of the Lord, was to be through the word of His prophets (note verses 14-15).

Thus, Scripture forbids us to seek information or guidance from these unauthorized and unscriptural sources. The believer who needs wisdom and guidance is admonished to ask of God (James 1:5), for the secret things belong unto Him (Deuteronomy 29:29).

The modern-day fortune teller, medium, astrologer, clairvoyant, hypnotist, magician, ventriloquist, water dowser, occult and magic healer, sorcerer, conjurer, psychic, and such like, all had their ancient heathen counterpart in the necromancer, consulter of the spirits, wizard, charmer, magician, soothsayer, diviner, enchanter, sorcerer, sorceress, and so on.

Man has always been intrigued with the idea of uncovering hidden knowledge which belongs only to God. This was the cause of man's fall, Genesis 3! He desires to learn his fate, know the course of the future, or obtain supernatural guidance, favors, and powers from the realm of the spirits.

Satan has always accommodated such seekers with substitutes for truth, and counterfeits for genuine revelation. Thus he deceives the gullible, who believe that such information or help comes from God or the spirits of the departed (who actually are impersonated by demonic spirits).

These practices are all condemned by God without reservation. Carefully examine, for example, the following passages: Deuteronomy 18:9-14; Exodus 7:11-12; II Timothy 3:8; Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 19:26,31; 20:6,27; I Chronicles 10:13-14; II Kings 21:5-6; Isaiah 2:6; 8:19; Jeremiah 27:9-10; Zechariah 10:2; Malachi 3:5; Acts 8:9-24; 16:16-19; 19:19; Galatians 5:16-21; Revelation 21:8; 22:15.

Scripture clearly condemns all forms of occultism as sorcery and declares that " ... they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21), nor enter into God's presence (Revelation 22:14-15), but " ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). God not only forbade participation in all forms of occultism as spiritually defiling (Leviticus 19:31), but made such disobedience punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27), and sufficient grounds for rejection of that soul by God (Leviticus 20:6), for those who defiled themselves by consulting evil spirits were an abomination unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 18:9-12).

2. Occult involvement breaks the First Commandment and invokes God's curse. Thou shalt have no other gods before me ... for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third b and fourth generation ....-Exodus 20:3,5

The truth is, there are only two sources of hidden information, supernatural help, power, guidance, or healing: God or Satan. This fact is inescapable, whether people know it or not! One who visits a fortune teller is obviously not seeking help from God through Jesus Christ. If he were, he would pray directly to God, or seek help through a Christian friend or minister. The fortune teller certainly does not call upon God for the desired information, but divines by means of occult methods and demonic power, as is seen in the case of the girl in Acts 16 who had a "spirit of divination."

The powers of darkness control all forms of fortunetelling, including astrology, card reading, divining by tea leaves, the Ouija board, palmistry, the crystal ball, psychometry, divining rod, pendulum, or planchette, as well as through the exercise of such occult powers as ESP, telepathy, and so on.

This is also true of all forms of magic and magical rites (whether black or white magic). These include magic charming or conjuring, magic cures for humans or animals, casting spells, mental suggestion or remote influence (suggestions given to the subconscious mind of one person by another), blood pacts, enchantments, amulets, and magic or medical hypnosis.

The powers of darkness likewise influence and control the various forms and practices of spiritism: seances, communication with the dead (which are really demons impersonating the dead), and spiritualist meetings. Also included are psychic and spiritist phenomena such as automatic or spirit writing, table-lifting, levitation, floating trumpets, disembodied voices, telekinesis, apports, materializations, apparitions of the dead, and astral projections, as well as the mediumistic trance and every other occult practice.

Two sources or doors are open to the one who seeks guidance, hidden information, spiritual or supernatural aid, or miraculous healing. One may, through prayer in Jesus' Name, seek such help from God. But one may also enter from this world into the spiritual dimension through the door of occultism. Behind this door stands Satan and the powers of darkness who work through the media of fortune telling, magic, spiritism, and the false religious cults.

The Scriptures forbid man to seek contact with these sources, or to receive their help, for it is tantamount to calling upon another god! Satan, as a matter of fact, is called the "god of this world" (II Corinthians 4:4). If man does not call upon God for his needs, through the Name of Jesus Christ, but resorts to the occult, then obviously there is only one other source of supernatural power which can answer him. Consider the following:

. Did the fortune tellers pray in Jesus' Name for the hidden knowledge which they gave to you?

. When you inquired of the Ouija board, did you ask God, through Christ, for the information? Have you ever asked the Ouija board what is the "source" of its information? Some did ask and were startled when it replied, "the god of Hell," "Hell," "Satan," or "the devil"!

. When you allowed yourself to be hypnotized, to whom did you surrender your will-to God or to some unknown power operating through the person to whom you submitted? Did you know that demons have admitted that the source of power behind the hypnotist is Satan?

. By what power are persons healed when it is accomplished through Christian Science, Spiritualism, Concept Therapy, magic charming or ritual, or other occult means, instead of through prayer in Jesus' Name as the Scriptures require?

. What power causes tables to lift off the floor, objects to appear out of nowhere, furniture to move or float about the room, apparitions to appear, and voices to speak, alleging to be from the dead?

. What strange power causes the pencil to move in automatic or spirit writing, or the twig to bend in the hands of a water dowser? Is it of God? If so, then why is it not done in the Name of Christ? What then is its source?

. From what source do some persons have powers of extrasensory perception, telepathy, clairvoyance, and other psychic abilities?

. Why do some persons, after a visit to a fortune teller or involvement in some form of occultism, suddenly discover that they are psychic?

. How do some people know about an event before it occurs, hear strange spirit voices, see apparitions, read the thoughts of others, and so on? Do you know that such people invariably have had occult contacts, or that some form of occultism can be found in their family history? The source of their psychic powers and experiences is demonic, and results from opening the door to the powers of darkness through such occult involvement.

When a person calls upon these forbidden sources, Satan often accommodates him with hidden knowledge or help. But as a result of this open door, the enemy will move in and oppress him physically, mentally, psychically, or spiritually.

The powers of darkness always exact a heavy price for their services. For example, psychic disturbances often result after one receives information concerning his future. The healing of a burn by magic charming often results in more serious physical oppression later.

One couple's participation in a séance opened the door to divisive spirits that ruined their marriage. A man who attended Spiritualist meetings suffered severe melancholia and depression for many years. The same result followed the practice of table-tipping in another case. Commitment to a mental institution was Satan's reward for another who sought help from a fortune teller, unaware that the real source was Satan. And, involvement in astrology, along with healing through a Christian Science practitioner, resulted in chronic illness in another victim of Satan's deception. This individual also suffered spiritual and mental anguish.

Many other examples could be cited, some of which we will note later, clearly proving the insidious nature of occultism in all its forms. The "cloven hoof" will invariably be manifested sooner or later in the life of any individual who opens himself to the powers of darkness.

All forms of fortunetelling, magical practice, spiritism, and unscriptural cultism are an abomination to God. The seriousness of this offense can be seen in the case of King Saul who fell under God's curse, was rejected as ruler of Israel, and put to death by Divine decree because he attended a séance and sought help from a spiritualist medium!

So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit [a medium], to inquire of it; and inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. - 1 Chronicles 10:13-14.

This séance, held in disobedience to God's will, is recorded in I Samuel 28. Spiritualists often attempt to justify their practice of alleged communication with the dead by appealing to this passage in I Samuel as proof from Scripture that a king sought information from the realm of departed spirits through a medium. However, either they are unaware of, or they conveniently ignore, the passage just cited in I Chronicles 10:13-14, which condemned Saul's sin of seeking help by occult means from the discarnate spirit realm instead of enquiring from the Lord. Moreover, 1 Samuel 28:15-16 indicates that Samuel also disapproved of Saul's sin of disobedience in his seeking to communicate with the dead through a medium.

God's prohibitions against occultism are still in effect today. We have found in our experience dealing with many people concerning occult oppression that those who disobey God's commandments against this sin invariably fall under His curse. Eventually they will suffer some form of psychic, mental, physical, or spiritual oppression or enslavement, from which liberation will be needed.

Moreover, it is an established fact that those who have participated or had contacts in the occult have not only suffered oppression themselves, but often their children and descendants have fallen under the curse, for God declares, " ... I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation" (Exodus 20:5). Many times clairvoyance and other psychic powers appear as a result of occult involvement which took place two or three generations earlier.

For example, Edgar Cayce, whose grandfather was a water dowser, wrote of the psychic and clairvoyant experiences which he had as a youth, giving evidence of his early occult subjection. Strong mediums often develop as a result of what might be termed "psychic heredity." Personality and character defects, as a consequence of occult sins by the parents or grandparents, often appear two or three generations later in the form of morbid depression, violent temper, irresponsibility, immorality, chronic fear, hysteria, agnosticism and atheism, hate, persistent illness, unpredictable behavior, and many other abnormalities.

Thus, occult oppression or subjection is the result of disobedience to God's Word, particularly the violation of the First Commandment. The seriousness of this sin cannot be overemphasized. Anyone guilty of occult involvement in any form, personally or through their ancestry, regardless of when it occurred, should not delay to deal with this sin in the manner shown in our further studies to get deliverance from it. Edited. Shared.

God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.