Experimenting with the Occult
 Giving Satan a Foothold

One of the chief aims of any military confrontation is not to give the enemy a foothold where he can freely attack you. The Apostle Paul states that this same this is true about the spiritual battle we are engaged in as Christians. In Ephesians 4:26-28 Paul writes, "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." (KJV) The New International Version translates verse 27 in this manner, "and do not give the devil a foothold." The context that Paul is talking about in these verses is in regard to dealing with anger. Paul warns that failing to deal with our anger in a Christ-like way gives Satan a "foothold" from which he can attack us. It gives him a spiritual advantage over us allowing him to effectively attack us and even infiltrate our lives.

This principal of "giving Satan a foothold" in our lives applies to many different areas of our lives. One of those areas where we can give Satan a very dangerous foothold in our lives is in the area of the occult. How many Christians are actively pursuing occult related activities and not even thinking twice about it. Multiple thousands of Christians are watching television shows and movies based on paranormal themes and activities. Many Christians are caught up in role playing games like "Dungeons and Dragons" and in hundreds of video games centered in incantations, wizards and warlock, spells and magic. Few of us realize when we casually read the daily horoscope that we are attempting to learn the future outside of God's venue. This is an extreme example but something as simply as getting hooked on reading fortune cookies is spiritually dangerous once we realize that it is based on Confucianism an off-shoot of Buddhism. Then again, a number of us have opened doorways to the occult by "innocently" experimenting with Ouija boards.

We may wonder why we suffer from recurring nightmares, struggle with addictions and bondages in our lives or even have frightening paranormal experiences that plague us. Perhaps its because we have "given Satan a foothold". We must take back what we have given away. We must put into effect what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12-17 and "put on the whole armor of God". For any action we have taken that we were aware was experimenting with the occult, we must repent and ask God for His forgiveness which He bestows freely through Christ Jesus. God wants to set you free today. He will deliver you from the "foothold" of the enemy. "Greater is He who is in you that he that is in the world". We must remember that, rely on it and believe it. Freedom from the occult is your today as you claim it through the name and shed blood of Jesus. Be set free . . . in the name of Jesus. Remember, that Jesus said, "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed." (John 8:36)