Video link: Can witchcraft influence believers?
Can Witchcraft Influence Believers?
Not everyone in the visible church has surrendered fully to Christ, and even genuine believers can be deceived if they fail to walk in the truth of God's Word.
Power without truth is dangerous.
1 John 4:1 – "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God."
I. Understanding Witchcraft Biblically
The Bible describes sorcery as seeking supernatural knowledge or power apart from God (Deuteronomy 18:9-11 “9"When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, "or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.”
Even in Galatians 5:19-21, witchcraft is condemned as the works of the flesh and that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
II. Can Evil Influence Enter the House of God?
Psalm 74:3 "The enemy has wrought every kind of evil in the sanctuary." -"The enemy has done great damage in Your holy place."
Even in Old Testament times, God's sanctuary experienced corruption because people brought sin into places dedicated to God.
Jeremiah 5:26 "Among My people wicked men are found."
III. Simon the Sorcerer: A Warning to the Church
Acts 8:9-24
Simon had practiced sorcery before hearing the gospel.
Yet Peter exposed that something was still deeply wrong in his heart.
What Simon's life teaches us
1. External participation does not guarantee inner transformation.
Simon joined the community of believers, but his motives had not changed.
God looks beyond religious activity and examines the heart.
2. He desired power more than God.
When he saw the apostles laying hands on believers, he immediately wanted that authority.
His desire was not to glorify Christ but to possess supernatural influence.
3. He believed spiritual power could be bought.
Peter rebuked him sharply because the gifts of God cannot be purchased.
4. His heart was not right before God.
Peter declared:
"Your heart is not right before God."
"You are full of bitterness."
"You are captive to sin."
God is more concerned with the condition of the heart than outward appearances.
5. Repentance was the answer.
Peter called Simon to repentance.
No one is beyond God's mercy if they genuinely turn to Him.
IV. God Promises Deliverance
Isaiah 42:22 “But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"”
No captivity is stronger than God's power.
Dr Lawi Mshana, +255712924234, Tanzania
