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This message is from Garland Van Dyke at Bible Points!Matthews St. church of Christ1915 Matthews Street, Bay City, TX 77414
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Hello , The Sin of Sorcery
Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Isaiah 8:19. NLT.
1. Magic. Practices classified as magic include divination, astrology, incantations, alchemy, sorcery, spirit mediation, and necromancy. The term magic is also used colloquially in Western popular culture to refer to acts of conjuring and sleight of hand for entertainment. The purpose of magic is to acquire knowledge, power, love, or wealth; to heal or ward off illness or danger; to guarantee productivity or success in an endeavor; to cause harm to an enemy; to reveal information; to induce spiritual transformation; to trick, or to entertain. The effectiveness of magic is often determined by the condition and performance of the magician, who is thought to have access to unseen forces and special knowledge of the appropriate words and actions to manipulate those forces—Encyclopedia Brittanica.
2. Sorcery. A. Nouns.1. pharmakia (or —eia) (G5331) (Eng., "pharmacy," etc.) primarily signified "the use of medicine, drugs, spells"; then, "poisoning"; then, "sorcery," Gal_5:20, RV, "sorcery" (KJV, "witchcraft"), mentioned as one of "the works of the flesh." See also Rev_9:21; Rev_18:23. In the Sept., Exo_7:11, Exo_7:22; Exo_8:7, Exo_8:18; Isa_47:9, Isa_47:12. In "sorcery," the use of drugs, whether simple or potent, was generally accompanied by incantations and appeals to occult powers, with the provision of various charms, amulets, etc., professedly designed to keep the applicant or patient from the attention and power of demons, but actually to impress the applicant with the mysterious resources and powers of the sorcerer.2. magia (or —eia) (G3095), "the magic art," is used in the plural in Act_8:11, "sorceries (see SORCERER, No. 1).B. Verb.mageuo (G3096), akin to A, No. 2, "to practice magic," Act_8:9, "used sorcery," is used as in A, No. 2, of Simon Magnus.
From Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
3. Sin. God has no appreciation of sorcery. It's not a game, a harmless pastime, or entertainment. Many people in our nation are seduced by drugs thinking they are the way to a better, more fulfilling life. Drugs, magic and the desire to control what only God controls are sinful. Be careful how your young are raised!
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Revelation 22:14-15. NLT
Tip: Think before you take part in something sinful.
Prayer: We are a sinful nation, O LORD. Our sins are manifold. They are before You night and day. How may we be once again a blessed nation, LORD? To study Your ways, to know You, and to glorify You. You are our God, our redeemer! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Amen!
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