The Living Word: Ghosts… Spirits!
BY LEORA SCHMIDT
thelivingword@mail.com
French-Canadian Roger Morneau, in searching for spiritual meaning, became involved in Satan worship. Surrounded by powerful, rich, refined, influential people, he responded favourably to the electric atmosphere that drew him in. These suave worshippers allured him with promises of the great wealth and success that they enjoyed as Satan worshippers. After months of experiencing this warm and stimulating experience, he agreed to set a date to be initiated as an authentic Satan worshipper. A few days before this solemn ceremony a new worker was assigned to the workstation next to him. They immediately struck up a conversation. This man even studied his Bible as they ate lunch together. Having been turned away from the church and God years previously, Roger had developed much resistance. His hostility broke down when his fellow worker seemed to have reasonable, logical answers from the Bible. After work, Roger met at this new friend’s house and studied one Bible subject after another late into the night for several nights, soaking up Bible truth like a starving man. He felt compelled to find answers without delay before he committed himself to the devil, Satan.
He became convinced that God and the Bible were trustworthy. When he came to believe that Satan was the opponent of all good, whose end was annihilation, and that his own future would be secure for eternity as a follower of Jesus Christ, he rejected Satan worship, was baptized, and joined the church. He paid a price for his decision. For many months, frightening paranormal occurrences tormented him in his home. He realized that the devil was trying to intimidate him to force him to turn away from Jesus, but he prayed and read his Bible ever more fervently. He spent the remainder of his life sharing Jesus with all who would listen. He wrote his life’s story, as well as several other books recounting miracles of prayer. (A Trip into the Supernatural by Roger Morneau).
Friends, the Bible discloses that angels, both good and evil, walk the earth interacting with humans. Many times, holy angels have appeared to humans to assist and bless them, both in Bible times, and even today. On the other hand, the devil, changed from Lucifer, a holy angel, to a rebellious, evil angel, and one-third of his sympathizing angels were cast out of heaven. (see Revelation 12: 4, 7-9; Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:14-19). Henceforth, all that is holy has been counterfeited by the devil and his fallen angels. The fulltime work of demons is to allure, entrap, deceive and destroy the souls of men, women, and even children.
The Bible repeatedly states that the dead don’t know anything, and have no part in earth’s affairs. This means that the claim that ghosts are the dead re-appearing must be a lie. (see Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6; Psalm 115:17; Job 14:1, 2, 21). What then, or who, are ghosts? Those who actually appear to be the “ghosts” of former living humans are evil angels, demons masquerading as deceased humans. (e.g. 1 Samuel 28: 1; Chronicles 10:13). They are not connected to God. In fact, God calls it abomination, and expressly forbids all involvement with familiar spirits, wizards, witches, charmers, necromancers (alleged communication with the dead), etc. (see Leviticus 19:31; 2 Kings 23:24; Deuteronomy 18:9-12).
The clearest depiction of the devil’s schemes and plots is detailed in the gospels when Jesus was alive on earth. The devil relentlessly harassed Jesus’ in every possible way, especially as He healed and delivered people from Satan’s hold. Jesus didn’t change what he was doing; he kept on casting out unclean spirits and gave that deliverance power to His disciples. (e. g. Matthew 8:16; Mark 1:27; Acts 5:16).
We are now in a time of increased activity of the spirits of devils creating chaos, trying to drown out all moral values. Evil spirits are frantically trying to dupe the human race through the allurements of mystery and fascination with the forbidden unknown. Should we be afraid of Satan and evil spirits? Not at all. The Bible gives us a way to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1-3). Our only fear would be to choose to allow the potential, infernal hold of evil spirits on us, or opening up to any of Satan’s glamorous, inviting charms that deceptively allure his culprits on the path to hell.
So how will Jesus help us escape the grasp of evil spirits and ghosts?
First of all, the devil hates the name of Jesus, his arch-rival for dominion. Whisper Jesus’ name in prayer and evil spirits will flee. Remember, Satan is a defeated foe because of Jesus’ death on the cross! We are powerless, but Jesus is all powerful to deliver from evil.
Second, as our perfect example, Jesus resisted the most trying temptations when the devil came to him personally in the wilderness. Multiple times Satan presented alluring temptations, inviting Jesus to worship him, but each time Jesus replied “It is written,” quoting Scripture that defeated the devil’s schemes. (Matthew 4:4, 6, 7, 10). We can follow Jesus’ example by quoting God’s word when we are tempted.
Here is godly counsel and a promise of divine protection: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them“ (Psalm 34:7). Let’s choose eternal life in Jesus and shun all the devil’s deadly, deceptive wiles, including the lure of ghosts and evil spirits.