THE OCCULT

1. THE OCCULT What it is and what it works Week 1: understand

2. DEFINITION: OCCULT Webster – “to shut off from view or exposure” occult practices such as magic and fortune-telling. • not revealed • not easily apprehended or understood • 3. hidden from view

3. THE OCCULT MENTALITY hidden knowledge that “the common people” do not have spiritually smug rebellion against God poopie thinking

4. Col 1:24-29 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

5. DIVINATION Webster – “the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge usually by the interpretation of omens or by the aid of supernatural powers” Dictionary of Bible Themes – “Attempts to discover the unknown or the future by supernatural means, involving communication with the spirit world. It is expressly forbidden by God and has disastrous consequences.”

6. DIVINATION • The occult practitioner will use a form or various forms of divination to gain knowledge of hidden things (truths and lies!) • Divination was a part of the belief system of the ancient world. See - Gen 41:24; Exo 7:11; Isa 31:1-2; 47:9; Jer 27:9; Eze 21:21; Dan 2:2; 5:7 • Ezekiel 21:21-22 For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver. 22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.

7. God reserves the right to reveal truth to anyone He wants on His own righteous terms. It is God’s right to reveal or conceal things as He sees fit! Deut 29:29 See also Pr 25:2 • KEY: Today we live in the church age (grace) and God has made His will for His people plain through His Word. There is no need to find other “hidden knowledge.” • Divination is strictly condemned in God’s Word!

8. What is the origin of all occult and diviner practices? It comes through rebellion against the authority and restrictions that God has placed over the lives of His creation and people. KEY VERSE: 1 Sam 15:23 The light of Word of God reveals all occult things for what they are. What was Satan’s motivation? Isaiah 14:12-15 How did Satan propagate his rebellion to mankind? Genesis 3:1-8

9. The law prohibits all occult religious pursuits. KEY: Occult pursuits (the pursuit of hidden knowledge thru mystery false religion or forms of divination) are rebellion against the revelation of God’s Word. Result: Occult pursuit will lead you away from God and His Word.