Ghosts or Demons?

With Halloween rapidly approaching, interest in the occult is soaring once again.

Typically during this time of the year, some folks decide that it's cool to attempt contact with the spiritual realm though Ouija boards, seances or other spiritual methods.

Attempting to contact the spiritual realm through the occult is a very dangerous thing to do. Not only will that bring a curse upon those who practice the occult, it will bring them into contact with demonic spirits that will gain a legal foothold in their lives to deceive, oppress and in some cases even possess them.

Some foolish people dabble in the occult in order to make contact with deceased friends, parents or relatives. Others attempt contact with the intention of conjuring ghosts that will bring scares and thrills.

However, in reality ghosts are nothing but demons that serve Satan. Their objective is to promote Satan's lies that lead folks away from the truth of God's revealed word in the Bible and toward religious and spiritual deception.

People who have attempted to contact the spiritual realm through the occult often report strange experiences such as feelings of deja vu, nightmares, hallucinations, strange flashing lights, voices and wild mood swings. This reveals that they've come into direct contact with demons.

But the occult isn't the only door-opener to Satan. Hallucinogenic drugs and eastern religious practices such as astral travel, Transcendental Meditation, Hatha yoga and Kundalini yoga can also bring folks into direct contact with demons.

Tragically, even some Christian churches now teach occult methodologies under the guise of spiritual gifts. Two of those methods are creative visualization and remote viewing that are promoted by some churches as new, more effective ways to communicate with God.

But the Bible teaches us that the only way we are permitted to communicate with God is through prayer. Any other method comes from Satan and leads directly to deceiving spirits. And even professing Christians will come into contact with demons if they attempt to contact God through occult techniques.

Where does the Bible specifically condemn occult practices? In the Mosaic Law recorded in the Old Testament. For example: "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must blameless before the Lord your God." (Deuteronomy 18:9-13)

The Mosaic Law is part of God's universal law that everyone is held accountable to. Therefore, anyone who has violated God's law by attempting contact with the spiritual realm will come under God's judgment unless they repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

So don't get involved with the occult. It may seem like the hip thing to do this time of the year. But spiritual deception, oppression and even possession--isn't hip--it's hideous.

And neither is eternal damnation, which is where the occult inevitably leads its adherents to.