Category: Witchcraft

7 Biblical Keys to Overcoming Witchcraft and Spiritual Attacks

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The following is the extended transcript of Marc Shields video, “7 Biblical Keys to Overcoming Witchcraft Attacks.” It explores seven biblical principles for standing firm in faith, drawing near to God, and responding to spiritual attacks through the truth of Scripture.

May this teaching encourage you in your walk with the Lord and help you grow in faith, wisdom, and peace. As Christians, we are called to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16, NKJV). Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) reminds us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” May we seek God’s wisdom, know His Word, and stand firm in faith rather than fear, remembering that ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV)

Many believers feel confused when facing spiritual opposition. The Bible teaches that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces. The good news is that God has not left us without understanding, protection, and authority in Christ. In this video, we look at 7 biblical keys that help believers stand firm, walk in freedom, and overcome every attack of the enemy.

Scripture tells us:

James 4:7 (NKJV): “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Victory does not come through fear, but through truth, alignment with God, and understanding His Word.

If you have ever wondered:

  • Can spiritual attacks affect Christians?
  • How should believers respond biblically?
  • What does Scripture teach about overcoming the enemy?
  • How do we walk in peace even when under pressure?

This teaching will help bring clarity and encouragement.

Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)

Our Victory Is in Christ

Colossians 2:14–15 (NKJV):

“Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

1. Draw Near to God

Many Christians today feel afraid of witchcraft. But the Bible doesn’t tell us to be afraid. It tells us exactly how to overcome it. And a witchcraft attack is often a sign that you’re coming into a victory. And the enemy is attacking you because he’s afraid of you. He remembers the promise that Jesus gave us. The gates of hell will not prevail against his church.

Today I want to show you seven clear biblical steps to overcoming any witchcraft attack so that you can come out victorious and step on to your promised land. We Christians, are constantly fighting a spiritual war. So the fact that you’re under attack is not a sign that the witchcraft is working. It just means you’re in a war.

So number one, draw near to God. First thing you do under witchcraft attack, is draw near to God.

Very difficult to draw near to God when you’re under witchcraft attack, because what they are using is a demonic altar which has been opened, witches and warlocks are levying demonic spirits against you so that you come into agreement with them. Spirits of frustration, anger, fear, worry, depression, and they’re all opposite to the spirits of God. And what they’re going to do is they’re going to try and pull you out of alignment with God and bring you away from him.

Why? Just like a wolf would try and separate a lamb from the sheep, the enemy wants to isolate you from God so that he can attack you and destroy you. So it’s really important when you’re feeling this heaviness from these attacks is actually draw close to God. And the first thing you can do is just start praying. Just open your mouth and start speaking to God what’s on your mind.

“Lord God, I’m feeling tired. Help me to overcome this.”

Open your mouth and declare his praises. Put worship music on. You might not feel close to God, but if you take the step of faith, the scripture says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.”

James 4:8 (NKJV):

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Put on the worship music, worship, pray out loud, and open your Bible. Read the scripture out loud. All this will draw you near to God. And that will draw God near to you.

Psalm 46:1–2 (NKJV):

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;”

The enemy doesn’t like to be in proximity to God. And the more you align yourself with God, the more closer you get to God, the more you’re going to be filled up with light and the less the enemy is going to want to be close to you and attack you.

2. Resist the Devil

Number two, resist the devil.

James 4:7 (NKJV):

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Witchcraft is not something we submit to. It’s something we resist. We actively resist it. The only way these spirits can land, is if they have an agreement.

What does that mean? They levy a spirit of tiredness and lethargy against you. Well, the automatic response is to come into agreement. “Oh, I feel so tired. Why am I so tired? I’ll go and have a little lay down. I’ll watch some TV. I will doom scroll. I will have a beer.” I’ll do anything to help me get out of this feeling. But what you’re doing is actually coming into agreement with the spirit itself.

Scripture says, “Resist the devil.” If a spirit of tiredness, of lethargy is levied against you, go for a run. If a spirit of sadness comes over you, watch comedy movies. If a spirit of confusion comes over you, declare the truth of God. Whatever the spirit is, come against it in the opposite spirit.

Ephesians 6:11–12 (NKJV):

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Any spirit that’s levied against you from witchcraft will be the opposite of the Holy Spirit, which is what? Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control.

Darkness cannot stay where the fruit of the Holy Spirit is.

3. Do Not Fear

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV):

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

The opposite to fear is trust in God. It’s faith in what God’s done in you. And so, I want to say to everyone watching this, God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and sound mind.

A lot of witchcraft is levied against the mind. You start thinking thoughts that you otherwise wouldn’t feel. You start feeling attractions to women or men that you shouldn’t feel. You start thinking frustrating things like life’s never going to work out well. All these are lies from the enemy.

When you’re feeling fearful, the source of that fear is not God. It’s a spirit that is attacking you. A spirit of fear. Do not come into agreement with it.

When I get woken up, sometimes by bad dreams or demonic spirits, I get up and I just imagine Psalm 23 that says he sets a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Psalm 23:5 (NKJV):

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

So you might feel demonic presence, but just sit down at the table with the Lord. Speak to your savior, enjoy his company, and then just go back to bed.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV):

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind. Declare that over yourself if you’re suffering with fear.

4. Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear

And number four, perfect love casts out all fear.

So a lot of witchcraft is levied through people. It’s people coming into agreement with spirits at an altar and they’re naming you at that altar. They’re creating sacrifices at an altar to supercharge spirits to attack you.

Now, when you find out who the people are, doing this to you, it can create a lot of anger, resentment, and bitterness towards these people. It’s exactly what the enemy wants for your heart to be like, full of these things! Because bitterness, resentment, and anger will give a place for those spirits to land. So, we need to be careful not to pray retaliatory prayers.

A lot of people point to the Psalms and say, “Well, David did this and Jeremiah did that.” Well, Jesus came and he says, “You have heard it said, hate your enemy and love your neighbor. But I say to you what? Pray for your enemy. Bless those who curse you.”

Matthew 5:43–44 (NKJV):

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

If you’re a Christian, you’re a follower of Jesus, we need to interpret everything in the scripture through the love of God. Why? Because perfect love casts out all fear.

When you align correctly with God, His love is able to flow through you. It just casts out all fear. There’s nowhere for the fear to land.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV):

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

5. Spirits Get Tired

It says in Matthew 12:43, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through dry places seeking rest.”

Whenever a spirit is without a home on this earth, and it’s just sent on assignment to attack you, it loses power from the moment it is released. And every time you’re under witchcraft attack, just remember there’s a time limit on this witchcraft attack.

We can speed up the time in the measure that we resist the devil using the rules of the spiritual realm. When you resist the devil, it actually flees. It doesn’t say resist the devil and he will leave you. It says resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Why? Because a lot of these demons are just one-dimensional. A spirit of fear, a spirit of anger, a spirit of frustration. Their whole personality is tied up in one mindset. And so in order for it to actually work on you, your mindset has to come into agreement with its mindset.

The moment you start resisting in the correct way, that spirit is going to tire. It doesn’t mean that it’s going to stop automatically, but over the coming days, it’s definitely going to get easier and easier, especially to the degree that you declare the truth of God, that you love your enemies.

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV):

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Just remember, consistency matters because they’re going to try and keep levying these spirits against you. You need to keep coming against it. Consistency. Don’t tire.

Scripture says we will reap what we sow if we do not tire. If we do not grow weary, we will get to a point where we win.

6. Remove Evil People

“You will know them by their fruit.”

Matthew 7:16 (NKJV):

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”

Witchcraft is always an agreement between spirits and a witchcraft practitioner. So, there’s always going to be a person involved. And often the reason that the witchcraft is working is because that person is actually in our midst…

I had a so-called friend of mine who was a warlock for seven years working against me. I’ve had other so-called friends working against me.

We as Christians often just want to get along. We want to love people. We don’t want to seem rude. But these evil people use this against us to destroy our lives.

If you’re feeling like you’re under witchcraft attack and it’s intense, it’s because someone in your vicinity is doing it against you. And they will use cursed food. They will use cursed gifts. They will use ideas so that you come into agreement with it. But they will be working to magnify the witchcraft against you.

So it’s very important to remove the wicked person from amongst you.

Scripture is very clear. If someone says they’re a believer but they are in habitual sin, we need to remove them from the church, but also it says don’t be unequally yolked with unbelievers. Don’t have long ongoing friendships with unbelievers.

It’s fine to have a friend that you go and visit now and again. Maybe you want to preach the gospel to them. Maybe there’s someone that you want to share with. But it’s not okay to have your ‘best friend’ as an unbeliever. Do not be unequally yolked with unbelievers. They’re going to have an influence on your spiritual walk, as you are not spiritually aligned.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV):

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?”

Scripture is very clear. Remove the evil person from among you. They’re not adding to your calling. They’ve nothing to do with your calling. Remove the evil person from among you.

7. Pray with Knowledge

So you need to understand the moving parts in any witchcraft attack. There’s going to be a practitioner. There is going to be an altar. There is going to be demonic spirits. You need to harness the power that you have by following the rules.

If you’ve been under witchcraft for a long time, it’s time to fast.

When the disciples could not cast out a demon from a little boy, they said, “Why can’t we do it?” And Jesus says, “This type only goes through prayer and fasting.”

When you’re under witchcraft attack, you’re dealing with spirits. And if you’re dealing with a coven of witches, you’re talking sacrifices multiplied amongst people. Some of these spirits that they have levied against you, they’re going to be big spirits. And so, you need to go deep with God.

You need to fast and you need to pray correctly. Pray out loud with the scripture.

“No weapon formed against me will prosper.”

Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV):

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me,” says the LORD.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV):

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“The same power that raised Christ Jesus from the resides in me.”

Romans 8:11 (NKJV):

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

And as you start reading and praying the scriptures out loud, the angels will back you up. Scripture says Psalm 103, the angels hearken to the voice of God.

Psalm 103:20 (NKJV):

“Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.”

You align your voice with the voice of God. The angels are going to gather. They’re going to fight that battle for you. They’re going to back you up, and it will all be over far sooner than you would have thought.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV):

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Standing Firm in Faith During Halloween

First and foremost, Halloween is a satanic holiday rooted in pagan traditions and associated with witchcraft, occult practices, and the celebration of darkness. As Christians, we must not be deceived into treating these things as harmless fun when God’s Word warns us to reject the works of darkness. We are called to stand apart from the ways of the world and remain faithful to God’s truth.

Ephesians 5:11 (NKJV) says:

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

We do not need to live in fear or become preoccupied with evil. Instead, we can draw closer to God, pray for our families, and let the character of Christ shine through us. Our faith rests in the light, authority, and victory of Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:4 (NKJV) reminds us:

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Let us respond with faith, discernment, and confidence in the Lord, holding fast to His truth.

I hope this helps you. God bless you, and we’ll see you on the next.

—————-

*** By Marc Ross Shields at Easter Island Ministries

FREE DOWNLOAD: Explore the Fruits of the Holy Spirit: Choosing the ‘Opposite’ chart for practical ways to reflect God’s character in everyday life.

Download your free A4 chart here’

Recommended Resource: Easter Island Ministries

Marc Ross Shields brings 17 years of personal experience in spiritual warfare, sharing insights that address an area often overlooked in churches. As Hosea 4:6 reminds us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

Youtube: Easter Island Ministries YouTube channel⁠

Marc’s Book ‘UNMASKED’ on Amazon:

🇺🇸 Unmasked: Witchcraft — How It Infiltrates, Operates and Is Defeated on Amazon US⁠

🇬🇧 Unmasked: Witchcraft — How It Infiltrates, Operates and Is Defeated⁠.

7 Truths About Halloween Every Christian Needs to Know

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Should Christians celebrate Halloween? Every year, this question stirs conversations among believers. Some say it’s harmless fun, just costumes and candy. Others sense something darker behind it. But what does the Bible say? In this post, “7 Truths About Halloween Every Christian Needs to Know,” I’ll share seven biblical reasons why followers of Jesus should stay away from this holiday and walk in the light instead of darkness.

The Bible’s Warning About Fellowship with Darkness

In 1 Corinthians 10:14–22, Paul warns believers to flee from idol worship. He reminds us that while idols themselves are nothing, demons hide behind them. When we participate in pagan practices, we are not just engaging in culture, we are having fellowship with demons.

Paul outlined four principles for Christians living in a pagan society:

  1. Meat in the market – Buy it without worrying about where it came from.
  2. Invitation to dinner – Eat freely unless someone tells you the food was offered to idols.
  3. Eating in temple restaurants – It’s fine unless it causes a weaker believer to stumble.
  4. Pagan temple parties – Do not attend, because they involve fellowship with demons.

So when we think about Halloween, which of these do you think it resembles? Is it a casual dinner or a pagan party? I believe it’s more like the latter. Here’s why.

1. The Origins of Halloween Are Pagan

Halloween’s roots go back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. People believed the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was thinnest on October 31. They wore costumes to ward off evil spirits, lit bonfires, and practiced rituals to communicate with the dead.

Even today, those in witchcraft and occult circles view Halloween as a sacred night. The Bible clearly instructs believers not to imitate the customs of those who practice sorcery or divination. God told His people in Leviticus 18:3, “Do not follow their practices.” Some things can be redeemed, others must be removed. Halloween falls into the latter.

2. Halloween Means More Than Candy to Those in Witchcraft

For many, Halloween is just about treats and costumes. But for those involved in witchcraft and Satanism, it’s one of the most spiritually charged nights of the year.

Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, once said he was glad that Christian parents let their kids “worship the devil at least one night a year.” While we don’t take his words as truth, they reveal how significant Halloween is for the dark side.

As Christians, we must recognize that what the world sees as entertainment, the enemy sees as opportunity. We can’t mix light with darkness.

3. Halloween Has Not Been Redeemed for God

Some Christians try to “redeem” Halloween by hosting alternative events. But let’s be honest, Halloween is darker today than ever before. The rise of witchcraft, horror films, and fascination with the demonic proves that culture isn’t being redeemed, it’s being hijacked.

The early church responded to pagan celebrations by creating All Saints’ Dayon November 1 to honor godly men and women. Yet the evening before, All Hallows’ Eve, eventually turned into what we know as Halloween. Instead of becoming more Christian, it became more demonic.

You can’t purify what was designed to glorify darkness. Sometimes, the most spiritual thing we can do is separate instead of repackage.

If you want to learn how to close every open door to the enemy and live fully free in Christ, read my book Make the Devil Homeless. It will help you take authority and keep the devil out of your life for good.

4. Celebrating Halloween Is Conforming to Culture

Many Christians celebrate Halloween out of fear of looking strange or missing out. But Scripture tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

When we join in the same celebrations as the world, especially ones rooted in darkness, we blur the line between holy and unholy. Daniel didn’t bow to Babylon’s idols to fit in. Neither should we.

The world promotes spirituality without Christ, supernatural experiences without truth, and darkness disguised as fun. We are called to be set apart, not strange, but different because of Jesus.

5. Halloween Promotes Darkness, Death, and Fear

Christianity celebrates life, light, and faith, not darkness, death, and fear. The Bible says in 1 John 4:18, “Perfect love casts out fear.”

Think about it. Halloween glorifies skulls, ghosts, and the grave. It celebrates the night rather than the light. The only death Christians celebrate is the death of Jesus, which defeated sin and death once and for all.

Jesus is the Light of the World, and He calls us to reflect His light. You can’t do that while participating in what glorifies fear and evil.

6. Halloween Is Fellowship with the Works of Darkness

Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:8–11, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

If you walk into any store in October, what do you see? Ghosts, witches, blood, horror, and fear. Nothing about it reflects light, faith, or purity. We don’t need to wait for a label saying “this is demonic” to know what is dark.

When you participate in Halloween, even “innocently,” you are still engaging with what Scripture calls unfruitful. Light cannot coexist with darkness.

7. Halloween Activities Don’t Honor the Lord

Finally, many of the activities tied to Halloween simply don’t honor God. Dressing up as demons, witches, or provocative characters grieves the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in 1 John 2:15–17, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.”

Halloween often involves drunkenness, drugs, and identity confusion. On this night, people pretend to be something they’re not, while the world is already drowning in confusion about identity. Why would we join that?

Satanists don’t celebrate Good Friday, so why should we celebrate their holiday? We don’t owe darkness a single day of our devotion.

What We Should Celebrate Instead

Instead of joining in with Halloween, let’s turn our focus to what truly matters as believers. This season is a perfect time to lift up the name of Jesus and celebrate what He has done for us.

  1. Celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. That’s where our victory over sin and darkness was won. Every day is Resurrection Sunday for those who walk in His light.
  2. Celebrate the light of God’s Word.His Word drives out darkness and gives direction when the world around us feels confused and lost.
  3. Celebrate faith over fear. Fear opens the door to torment, but faith opens the door to peace. When you trust the Holy Spirit, you live with confidence and courage.
  4. Celebrate purity instead of popularity. Holiness will never go out of style in heaven. Choosing what pleases God, even when it’s unpopular, brings real joy and freedom.
  5. Celebrate evangelism over entertainment. While others give out candy, give out hope. Use this time to share the gospel with someone who needs Jesus.

When the world grows darker, the light of Christ in us should shine even brighter. Don’t just avoid Halloween. Use this time to glorify Jesus and show that real joy is found in Him.

When you understand its origins, its meaning, and the spiritual influence behind it, it becomes clear that Halloween does not belong in the life of a believer.

We are called to walk in holiness and reflect Christ in everything we do. There is no fellowship between light and darkness. Instead of filling our homes with fear and shadows, let’s fill them with worship, prayer, and faith.

Light does not hide from darkness. It exposes it. Let the light of Jesus shine through your life.

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** By Vlad Savchuk / Photo by Vlad Chețan at Pexels

Horoscopes, Astrology And Zodiac Signs

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A 2022 poll by YouGov found that 27% of Americans and 37% of adults under 30 believe in astrology. In fact, 31% of those are Catholics and 22% are Protestants. However, this belief has only increased as social media and celebrities have increased its popularity. Many newspapers include daily horoscopes that advise on how to act or what to expect each day. To understand why this growing belief is concerning, we need to see how astrology is different from science.

Astrology vs Astronomy

Astrology often gets confused with astronomy, but the two are very different. Astronomy is a science focused on studying stars, planets, and space; it helps us understand God’s creation. Astrology, however, is not scientific. It’s a belief system that attempts to predict personal events or personality traits by interpreting celestial movements. 

Astrology revolves around the “zodiac,” a term from the Greek word “zodiakos,” meaning “circle of animals,” derived from “zoon,” which means animal. This term refers to constellations associated with animals along the zodiac’s path. This “zodiac belt” represented the course through which the sun, moon, and planets appear to move over the year, which would then have an influence on a person’s personality or destiny.

While this belief is growing in cultural popularity and may seem innocent on the surface, we as believers should be on the lookout. To understand why, it’s essential to see the origins of this belief system.

What Does the Bible Say About Astrology?

The Bible clearly warns against astrology. In Isaiah 47:13-14, God rebukes Babylon and its astrologers, telling them that their reliance on the stars will not protect them from judgment. We also see in Deuteronomy 18:10-12 that divination is seen as a detestable act to God. And similarly, we see in 2 Chronicles 33:1-6 that the worship of heavenly bodies is associated with evil.

Unlike astrology, which tries to use the stars for control or prediction of a person’s future or destiny, astronomy, as a science, simply studies the stars and appreciates them as the creation that God made.

Reasons Why People Use Astrology: 

  • Curiosity: Curiosity is a natural human trait; however, turning to the stars instead of to God for these answers places our trust in creation, not the Creator.
  • Fun: Astrology is often seen as an innocent act, but if the “prediction” is not from God, it becomes a deceptive tool that can draw people into occult practices.
  • Fascination with the occult: It offers a form of spirituality that doesn’t challenge us with concepts like sin, repentance, or God’s judgment. However, any belief that lacks this is hollow and false.
  • Avoidance of personal responsibility: As Dr. Bob Larson points out, astrology promotes a belief that fate is controlled by the stars rather than by God’s will and our choices. Christianity, in contrast, teaches that our lives are influenced by God’s sovereignty and our actions. Astrology can become a way to avoid accountability, leading many people to not take responsibility for their choices.
  • Power and control: Many turn to astrology to feel a sense of control over their lives. However, while having self-control is positive, true guidance and empowerment come from God, not the stars. Any power that claims to offer control while originating outside of God, will only lead us away from God’s purpose.

3 Reasons Why Horoscopes are Wrong

1. They divert trust from God.

Relying on astrology places trust in creation rather than in the Creator. This act goes against the first commandment which tells us to worship and trust in Him alone. By doing this we are diverting our trust from God.

2. They allow for loss of personal responsibility.

Horoscopes make people believe that their destiny is set out for them in the stars and therefore, they don’t have much say. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible states that there is a sovereign God, but we also have a role to play in the way our life turns out.

3. Fascination with the occult

Taking part in this can open individuals up to demonic influence because it is an act that is in contradiction to the Bible and can be a distraction from believing and placing your trust in God.

Final Thoughts

If you have dabbled with astrology and horoscopes, I would encourage you to close those doors to the enemy through repentance. Choose to refocus on the Lord through prayer, Scripture, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in regards to questions about your future and your destiny.

———————-

*** By Vladimir Savchuk / Photo by Mikhail Nilov at Pexels

11 Doors That Lead to Demons

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When I was young and curious, I decided it would be a good idea to go into the neighbor’s dog house. I didn’t see a dog around so I went inside. It turns out the dog was around the corner and when he sees me, he launches towards my leg and I end up getting bit. I learned a very powerful lesson that day–if you don’t want to get bitten, don’t go near the dog’s territory. 

The same thing can be said fin regards to demons. People like to believe that they can dabble in the occult or watch porn, or even smoke weed without any spiritual repercussions, but the truth is, if you step on the devil’s territory, he has every right to harass you, hurt you, and torment you. These are the most common doors that can lead to demons infiltrating your life. 

Common Open Doors

1. Generational Curses

Another way of saying it is demons that were inherited through the bloodline. For instance, if someone in the family did witchcraft and never repented and broke that off of their family, then those demons have been passed on generationally. 

The same is true when it comes to abuse or different forms of addictions.

2. An Unwanted Pregnancy 

If the child in the womb is hated, not desired, or rejected since birth by the parents or the family, then that gets transmitted to the child. This opens the door for a spirit of rejection to affect the child throughout their life. It also manifests through rebellion as the child grows up.

3. Growing Up in a Broken Home

When a child grows up in a broken home, it does not only create emotional and cognitive issues, but also spiritual ones. As the child is faced with uncertainty and pressures that they are not equipped to handle at such a young age, demons can use this instability to harass and torment the child/person. This environment is a facilitator for the spirit of anger and hatred to come in at a very young age. 

4. Involvement in the Occult

When you dabble into the occult, you are choosing to blatantly engage with the demonic. The occult ranges from astrology, witchcraft, tarot cards, black/white magic, ouija boards, horoscopes, talking to the dead etc. 

Even though our culture seems to have accepted, and even embraced these practices, Scripture has not changed, and continues to condemn it and the practice of it.

5. Taking Part in a False Religion

There are some believers that desire to learn about other religions saying that they want to win those people to the Lord. Now, this is a good thing to a certain point. There is a certain line that must be kept in order to refrain from opening the doors to demons, because what can end up happening is that a believer will begin to study the other religion so much that they become so open minded and accept all truths, that they start to deny what the Bible claims. That is where it gets dangerous and could lead to deception. 

6. Bringing Demonic Objects Into Your Life

The spiritual world is real, and spiritual power can flow through people, places, animals and objects. In fact, the Bible shows us that God used Moses’s rod, the waters of Jordan to heal, the saliva of Jesus to open the eyes of the blind and even the handkerchief of Paul. God can use any avenue to bring about healing. In the same way, the enemy can use objects to bring about his plans of destruction to your life. 

This includes occult books, things that have been ritually “cleansed”, charms, dreamcatchers, etc. By bringing these items into your home, you are opening your life and your home to the demonic.

7. Abuse

This is probably the most common open door in the West. Abuse causes deep inner wounds that give way for demons to cause further torment for that individual.

As unfair as this is, we must understand that the spiritual world works in accordance to spiritual laws. WHen an abuse happens, it automatically opens a door for a demon. 

8. Illicit Sexual Encounters

Sex is not just a physical act, it has spiritual repercussions. Because it is spiritual in nature, it affects the soul, the mind, and the emotions. 

An individual become one flesh, according to Scripture, with the partner they come together with (1 Cor. 6:16). Demons can be transferred from one person to another by partaking in sexual acts outside of marriage.

9. Abortion

When we commit an injustice towards others it brings a curse upon our life. The Bible is very clear in saying that murder is sin, and therefore brings about a curse on our lives (Matthew 5:21-22). 

10. Ungodly Entertainment

When we begin to fill up our time and out life with ungodly sources of entertainment, they could lead the way to an open door. Movies, T.V. shows, and music are all portals that satan can use to influence the minds of people. If you are not careful about what you watch and listen to, its influence will become stronger in your life. 

11. A Moment of Weakness

The devil looks for moments of weakness to try and enter into our lives. We’re not perfect people, and sometimes we can snap, act in a way that is not right, or watch something we shouldn’t have. When we don’t repent to God and to the person we hurt, and then change our behavior, then that’s where it could become an open door. This happens when the person chooses the sin instead of turning from it.

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*** By Vladimir Savchuk / Photo by Merve at Pexels

The Power of Short Prayers and 7 Prayers We Must Stop Praying

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“He said to her, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up [from the dead] for me [the spirit] whom I shall name to you.” But the woman said to him, “See here, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off (eliminated) those who are mediums and spiritists from the land.” – “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” – “No wonder! For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” ~ 1 Samuel 28:7-10; Matthew 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:13.

Praying to the dead is strictly forbidden in the Bible. Deuteronomy 18:11 tells us that anyone who “consults with the dead” is “detestable to the Lord.” The story of Saul consulting a medium to bring up the spirit of the dead Samuel resulted in his death “because he was unfaithful to the LORD; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance” (1 Samuel 28:1-25; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Clearly, God has declared that such things are not to be done.

Consider the characteristics of God. God is omnipresent—everywhere at once—and is capable of hearing every prayer in the world (Psalm 139:7-12). A human being, on the other hand, does not possess this attribute. Also, God is the only one with the power to answer prayer. God is omnipotent—all powerful (Revelation 19:6). Certainly, this is an attribute a human being—dead or alive—does not possess. Finally, God is omniscient—He knows everything (Psalm 147:4-5). Even before we pray, God knows our genuine needs and knows them better than we do. Not only does He know our needs, but He answers our prayers according to His perfect will.

So, in order for a dead person to receive prayers, the dead individual has to hear the prayer, possess the power to answer it, and know how to answer it in a way that is best for the individual praying. Only God hears and answers prayer because of His perfect essence and because of what some theologians call His “immanence.” Immanence is the quality of God that causes Him to be directly involved with the affairs of mankind (1 Timothy 6:14-15); this includes answering prayer.

Even after a person dies, God is still involved with that person and his destination. Hebrews 9:27 says so: “…Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” If a person dies in Christ, he goes to heaven to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-9, especially verse 8); if a person dies in his sin, he goes to hell, and eventually everyone in hell will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).

God has provided His Son, Jesus Christ, to be the mediator between man and God (1 Timothy 2:5). With Jesus Christ as our mediator, we can go through Jesus to God. Why would you want to risk the wrath of God?

7 Prayers You Must Stop Praying 

Not all prayers are the same. In fact, some prayers are not only unpleasing to God, but they can even border on witchcraft. Praying the wrong type of prayer can introduce problems in life rather than blessings. Here are the seven prayers that you should stop saying today.

1. Praying to Saints or Angels

The first type of prayer to stop is praying to saints or angels. The Bible clearly instructs Christians to pray directly to God through Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Timothy 2:5). Nowhere in Scripture are we told to pray through saints, angels, or Mary. These figures did not die for us, nor do they intercede for us at God’s right hand. We must use the direct access we have to God through Jesus.

2. Using Repetitive, Formulaic Prayers

Next, stop using ‘meaningless’ repetitive, formulaic prayers. Jesus warned against babbling like pagans who think they will be heard because of their many words (Matthew 6:7). Genuine prayer must come from the heart, not from mindless babbling. It’s about the sincerity of your heart, not the repetition of your words, even if it’s the same prayer, it must be meaningful, with a burden.

3. Praying for Harm or Curses on Others

Another prayer to avoid is praying for harm or curses on others. Romans 12:14 tells us to bless those who persecute us, not curse them. Using prayer to curse others is a form of witchcraft and is not aligned with Christian principles. Even when Jesus was on the cross, He did not curse His enemies. Instead, He prayed for them.

4. Praying with Manipulative Intentions

Another important reminder is to stop praying with manipulative intentions. James 4:3 warns us that prayers asked with wrong motives will not be answered. Prayer should not be used to manipulate situations or people for selfish gains. Instead, align your desires with God’s will, testing them through your delight in Him.

5. Invoking Spirit Guides or Using Occult Practices

Another prayer to avoid is prayers invoking spirit guides or engaging in occult practices. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 strictly prohibits practices like divination, sorcery, and interpreting omens. Mixing occult practices with prayer is dangerous and unbiblical.

6. Seeking Signs Instead of Trusting God’s Word

Another mistake is seeking signs or omens instead of trusting God’s Word. Jesus warned that a wicked generation seeks after signs (Matthew 12:39). While God can confirm signs through His Word, our faith should be based on His promises, not on supernatural signs.

7. Using Objects as Sources of Power

Avoid using objects as sources of power in prayer. Using things like crystals, rosaries, or any other form of objects to help you connect with God or pray is not biblical and should be avoided. However, the Bible does tell us one thing that helps us to strengthen our prayer. That is fasting (Acts 19:19). 

8. Praying for Material Wealth Without Seeking God’s Kingdom

Finally, stop praying for material wealth without seeking God’s Kingdom first. Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek God’s Kingdom and righteousness before anything else. Prioritizing wealth or fame over spiritual growth leads to misguided prayers. In the Kingdom, the King cares for His citizens. He will provide for us when we prioritize Him first. 

Five Short Prayers to Pray

In the Bible, we see that Jesus often prayed all night, Daniel prayed for three weeks, and Nehemiah and the Israelites prayed a lengthy confession and repentance prayer in Nehemiah chapter 9. Longer prayers are needed in our walk with the Lord and provide a lengthy set of benefits. They help us focus, deepen our relationship with God, allow us to pour out our hearts, develop persistence, and promote spiritual growth.

While I often encourage people to go further in their prayer time and to push to know the Lord more, I do want to acknowledge the power that a short and sincere prayer can have on your life.

Matthew 6:7 says, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” The heart of prayer lies in revelation, not repetition. While it’s not wrong to repeat the same prayer multiple times, because Jesus prayed the same prayer three times and so did Paul, the heart of prayer is not in repetition; it’s in revelation. In other words, a prayer’s impact lies in its heartfelt connection with God, not its length. A prayer’s value doesn’t depend on how long it is.

Here are 5 prayers that are powerful if you pray them with the sincerity of your heart 

1. Lord, Help Me (Matthew 15:25)

This prayer is for the deliverance of others. A mother worshiped Jesus and then she prayed a sincere, humble, but very short prayer, “Lord, help me!” That prayer was so powerful that Jesus delivered her daughter.

2. Have Mercy on Me (Mark 10:47)

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” This is a prayer for a miracle. In God’s mercy, you will find your miracle. We must understand that when God extends His mercy, the miracle is on its way.

3. Lord, Save Me (Matthew 14:30)

This prayer is a plea for intervention and rescue. When you’re overwhelmed by fear or when your life feels like it’s spinning out of control, cry out to the Lord and He will intervene.

4. Show Me Your Ways, Lord (Psalm 25:4)

This prayer is for guidance. When we don’t know which way to go, this short, sincere prayer can help us lean on God’s understanding rather than our own. Prayers that align with God’s will and His purpose recognize and receive His power.

5. Not My Will Be Done But Yours (Luke 22:42)

“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” This is a prayer of surrender, aligning your will with God’s will. The ultimate success of prayer is to surrender to God’s will, His plan, and His timing.

What Makes Short Prayers Powerful?

1. Faith
Short prayers require faith. It’s not the shortness of the prayer that guarantees the answer, but the faith in that short prayer. The Bible emphasizes that prayers made in faith will be heard and answered by God.

2. Humility
Short prayers require humility. They express the true condition of the heart without pretense. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

3. Urgency
Short prayers often arise in moments of great need or urgency, reflecting a deep dependence on God.

4. According to God’s Will
Powerful prayers align with God’s will and purpose, recognizing His sovereignty.

Remember that short prayers can be as dynamic and powerful as long ones because the heart of prayer is in its revelation, not in its repetition.

Final Thoughts

We need to be mindful of the prayers we offer to God. I encourage you to avoid prayers that are unbiblical, manipulative, or focused on material gain without spiritual growth. Instead, focus on prayers that align with God’s will, seek His Kingdom, and come from a sincere heart. 

God blesses things that are in line with God’s Word.

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***By Got Questions + Vladimir Savchuk at HungryGen / Photo by Faizi Ali at Pexels