What really is the difference between a Prophet of God and A Psychic Medium?
Have you ever been prophesied over? Have you ever been to a medium?
A couple of weeks ago I was speaking with an acquaintance, and I was listening to her tell me of a relatives visit to a soothsayer. Now I must tell you right from the beginning that this is a person that I admire. Very good head on her shoulders; so I have to say this took me by surprise because she knows where I stand on my relationship with Christ, but then again unless you have really been taught about various things of the Bible, you may not be aware of what the Bible teaches concerning this subject. So if someone you know approaches this subject with you and you are child of God, cut them some slack.
I listened intently as she spoke, praying for wisdom on what to say or if I should say anything at all. The later is where I ended up. I acknowledge the conversation, but I did not condone what she was saying or tell her that was all a bunch of malarkey.Instead I have thought long and hard about this and have spoken with someone, with whom I am friends and also someone whose opinion I greatly value. Mrs. Virginia Hicks, if you have read my blogs you have heard me speak of her and you will also be aware of her absolute brilliance when it comes to dealing with real life issues. And no Virginia, I am not blowing smoke.
Alright now we are going to go to the Bible for some instruction...Acts 16: 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Okay now what do you all think about this? The spirit that was in the woman was of the devil. The devil is a tricky fellow! He is constantly creating havoc and not a good kind of havoc. I now see that this statement is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as a good kind of havoc. It would be more like a wolf dressed as a sheep.
You all, that have read my blog before, know that I am BIG on definitions...so lets see what the various dictionaries say about this word.
HAVOC
From Merriam Webster.com :
1havoc
: a situation in which there is much destruction or confusion
Full Definition of HAVOC
1: wide and general destruction : devastation
2: great confusion and disorder havoc
2 havoc
verb hav·ockedhav·ock·ing
And from Dictionary.com :
1.
great destruction or devastation; ruinous damage.
2.
to work havoc upon; devastate.
3.
to work havoc:
The fire havocked throughout the house.
4.
cry havoc, to warn of danger or disaster.
5.
play havoc with,
- to create confusion or disorder in The wind played havoc with the papers on the desk.
- to destroy; ruin: The bad weather played havoc with our vacation plans.
Alright what do you all think now? Do you now feel that perhaps a soothsayer is only creating havoc. Well that is their point, to create havoc.
When a person has a lot of trials going on in their lives, they may be inclined to head to a psychic, to find some direction and when all they have is havoc, they will probably head there again. However in doing so you will be going against what the Bible teaches on this subject. Now if you go to a spirit filled church, you may feel that there isn't any difference. Well there definitely is a great deal of difference.
A spirit filled prophet, is totally receiving their direction from the Holy Spirit.
A psychic is receiving their power from the devil.
Please don't feel that I am being to harsh. I am trying to tell you that if you play with fire (a psychic) you are going to get burned.
Lets put together some bible verses to show you exactly where the Bible does stand on this subject.
“‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.
“‘I will set my face against anyone who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute themselves by following them, and I will cut them off from their people.
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
From Acts Chapter 8
14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. 23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
24 Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”
25 After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
You should very carefully read these verses and understand that true prophesy comes from the Holy Spirit, which is a part of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
If you would like to discuss this further I am available to do so. And don't forget to speak life over yourself and your family and friends and co-workers. I will try to get into this subject in the near future.
