Overcome This World.

We need to overcome the world.

Faith is the victory, truly. Faith in Christ is the victory in overcoming the world.

This world will drag you down to great depths of despair. If you don't think so then I'm really surprised. There is not a person alive with sound, or mostly sound, mental faculties that can't agree that there are times in this world where we are knocked down to an emotional abyss where everything is dark, sad and very, very dreary. I don't know ONE single person who hasn't experienced some sense of despair in their life time. I'm not saying everyone has been brought to the point of wishing for death over life (not necessary suicidal) but just having the wish even momentarily for an end to whatever suffering it is they are going through. This world offers us plenty of opportunities for suffering in all sorts of ways. 

If I were to be a promoter of Earth and humanity upon Earth to- let us say, an alien race, trying to get them to want to help earth by coming to live here with us and bring their own technologies etc, what would I have to offer in way of promotion?

Yes, there are a lot of beautiful, amazing and wonderful things on Earth, but let's get down to the nitty gritty. Even those people who have everything money can buy, often lack things money can't buy. Even those people who have nothing, lack the things money can buy. People who have money often use (employ) those who don't and those employees are not always happy in their positions of subservience to the rich, rather they wish they had the riches and had servants of their own. Yet, there has to be a servant- there has to be those who are not living the life of ease so many dream of in this world we live in.  If we brought an alien down here and showed them the rich lifestyle and the most beautiful that Earth has to offer, they would not be able to help but see that not all the people on Earth are in that rich lifestyle- it'll be all around them every time one of the rich people has a not so rich person do something to accommodate the alien.

And if I were an alien race looking to possibly share my technologies with and maybe enjoy mingling of alien races for the sake of exploration and way of life- I would want a sample of all Earthlings and how they all live. I'd want an overall picture, not just the one presented at its best.

If I had to witness the enormous amount of suffering that takes place all over Earth, would I truly want to consider mingling with such an existence?

Yes, these fictious aliens are living in a world with no pain, heartache and suffering- these are my fictious aliens so I can have them that way if I want them that way, right?

The aliens don't die, they don't hurt, they don't have any diseases, or sickness at all. The aliens don't have any mental or emotional illness, but truly are a contented people that have never had to live with the ravages of sin. When they come here and witnesses all that sin has done to this world and us who live upon it, there is no way they would want to live here exposed to all the heartache, the pain, and the horrors of life upon planet Earth.

Do we need to OVERCOME this world? We most certainly do!  And how do we overcome this world? We live, by faith in the ONLY ONE who can help us because HE overcame this world and promises us that help. We overcome this world by living for the world to come, the promised world found only through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR, the SON OF GOD.

1Jn 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 

1Jn 5:3  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

May God help us live for HIM, for believing in HIM and all HE would have us believe. May we through HIS power live for HIM. We surrender our entire life to GOD to use according to HIS WILL, for HIS purposes. We believe and ask that HE help any unbelief that arises in us. We long for the return of our would be KING after His priestly ministry is completed in the Sanctuary in heaven. We long for our KING to lay aside the priestly garb and come for us to take us from this pit of sin into His heavenly home, and eventually bring us back to Earth as He destroys all that sin has done to the world and makes it new for us. This is our HOPE that we find only in the ONE who can save us from ourselves, from all that sin has brought to this world. Please, Father God, please keep us from evil. We believe in Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior, the Son of yours, God, and wipe away any unbelief we might harbor anywhere within us. Lead us in the way everlasting. Help us to love YOU and love all others as YOU would have us love. All through JESUS!

Amen.

STRIVE to Enter In At the Strait Gate

Forever before us is the gospel. The good news, and that good news is one of salvation. What is salvation? It is being saved from the life of hopelessness. It is a realization that something went terribly wrong in this world. It's the knowledge that things are not how they are supposed to be. It is recognizing that a flaw exists and because the flaw exists there must be a correction, a fixing of the flaw, a doing away with the flawed so the fixed can take its place. We need to recognize the need to be saved before we can be saved.

There are many people in the world that are resigned to their existence and the existence of others around them, and the existence of those to yet be born, and they believe this is just how it is and can be no different. 

History to them has proven time and time again a striving by mankind to improve how things are and they believe it will forever be a striving until hopefully one day, somehow things will fall into place and everyone will find a peaceful existence.

I personally recognize that this world as a whole is extremely messed up. There are not too many people (at least among the sane and logical) that would say this world is a perfect place, that all is right in our world.

From the gravest of grand scale tragedies, to the tiniest private heartbreak- there is no possible way that all is as it should be in our world.

Salvation offers the hope of that perfect existence, one which we can all share in should we choose.

I lay before you the Word of God and found in the Word of God is the knowledge of the truth, the hope of Salvation from this evil existence.

The way that is right must be the way offered by God to us all, and we must take heed to His way given to us through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

An entire way of life is outlined in the Word of God, and should we pick out only the bits and pieces that sound good to us we are in danger of being caught up in deception.  Too many claim the title of Christian and fall far short of recognizing what a true Christian life is. To be a Christ follower is to do just that, follow Christ and Christ's way. To follow Christ's way you have to know Christ's way, and once you know Christ's way if you veer from following His way, you can no longer truly lay claim to the title Christian. Daily sacrifice, daily recognition of our need of salvation, of repentant, of forgiveness, daily putting God first, others second and ourselves last. A Christian has a daily walk following Christ's way, not a weekly way, not a monthly way, not a yearly way- but a daily forever walk, a striving to enter the narrow way all through Christ.

Pro 16:25  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  

Mat 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 

Mat 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

Luk 13:24  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

Gal 6:10  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 

Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 

2Co 13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.

Psa 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

Psa 139:24  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Lam 3:40  Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD. 

Eze 18:27  Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 

Eze 18:28  Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 

1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 

1Co 11:29  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 

1Co 11:30  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 

1Co 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 

1Co 11:32  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 

Heb 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

Rev 2:5  Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 

Rev 3:2  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 

Rev 3:3  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. 

Dull of Hearing

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

When you have something you want to tell someone, something you consider important, and yet you know your target audience is not one to really listen to you, how does it make you feel?

Do you contemplate not talking at all, even though you really have something important to tell them? Do you preface your talk with exhortations to please, this time really listen? It's not easy trying to talk with someone who listens to you only superficially catching a few words here and there and then piecing together only part of what you've said thinking they understand it all. Watching eyes glaze over in that look which tells you their mind is elsewhere- is never pleasant. Watching the wheels turn in their brains, so to speak, you know they've already gone off thinking things on their own- maybe even things they now want to say, rather than continue to listen to you and what you're trying to convey.

There is every day conversation- bantering back and forth, talking about things that are in the long run non-consequential, and there is serious discussion on matters that might be life threatening. Also, let's not leave out the middle of the two, the conversations we have that are important to us but not life threatening.

When the person you talk to is dull of hearing, it's hard to speak to them, isn't it? And I don't mean dull in the sense of being deaf (though that makes it hard too.) I mean their ability to comprehend and really listen with the desire to understand you is dull, they just don't care enough to be attentive.

Isa 6:8  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 

Isa 6:9  And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 

Isa 6:10  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 

By going and preaching, prophesying as the Lord would have him, Isaiah knew in advance that the majority of people who would hear him speak would hear but not understand….they would see but not perceive. The listeners would have fat hearts, heavy ears, and closed eyes-  selfish hearts, no true comprehension, no desire to be enlightened.  IF they did have those things they would be converted from their lives of sin and ruin and be healed by God. Most people fall into the category of not wanting to hear, of stopping their ears and shutting their eyes, while their hearts are filled fat with their own lives not wanting anything to upset their way of believing, their way of living.

Just imagine for one single moment how significantly the Savior's three year ministry affected lives. Beliefs that had been in place for years and years, generation after generation, were challenged. The majority of those listeners of Jesus did not want their worlds changed, their beliefs altered, and they were among those yelling for Him to be crucified.

Today there is still a majority that would yell for His crucifixion rather than believe in His truths if He came and tried to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. He does come, and He does try, with the Holy Spirit in His place. And yet we know few will find the way.

God help us find the way.

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 

Jesus' words from Isaiah applied to Him and His offered healing.

May our eyes see, and our ears hear and may we understand with our hearts.

Mar 8:17  And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? 

Mar 8:18  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? 

PLEASE help us see, hear, understand and remember all that You would have us know, Lord!

Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 

PLEASE let our hearts NOT be slow, let us believe!

Lord we need the Holy Spirit! We need to buy of You - gold tried in the fire of faith. We need to be clothed with the white raiment of Your righteousness, we need the eye salve of comprehension, of understanding, of being able to see spiritually all You would have us see! Bless us, Lord, please, bless us and keep us in You and Your love and far from the evil that surrounds us on every side!

All in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!

Few Find the Way.

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom

I have a question, if the living (quick) and the dead (not living) will be judged at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ- who exactly is He judging? 

What do I mean? The living and the dead cover everybody who was ever lived from Adam to the baby born a moment before His return, right?

Let me rephrase the question- how can the Lord Jesus Christ judge the dead if… they… are… not… dead?

What do I mean?

The majority of people believe that death is just another way of living, don't they?

Raise your hand if you've been taught that when you die you are instantly living in the world of those who have died. You've either gone to heaven, or an place of torture, or you've gone to a waiting/working place until you can get to heaven.  In this place you've gone you can still witness all your loved ones till living in the flesh and some believe you can help those still living in the flesh.

Keep your hand raised if you believe in some sort of after death instant life- reincarnation, paradise, etc.

People have sought proof of this instant life after dying, and they say they have the proof from various people who have died and come back to life. Some of these people tell about the wondrous heaven they've encountered. Some talk about walking to a light. Some say they've seen themselves dead as they left their bodies and all this proves that they'll live again as soon as they die.

Let me ask my original question again in light of all we've just talked about.

Let me rephrase the question- how can the Lord Jesus Christ judge the dead if… they… are… not… dead?

If we are either only living in the flesh or living in the non-flesh form we're given immediately upon dying, then we are all alive in one form or another, aren't we?

And if we are told the Lord Jesus Christ will raise the dead upon His return, isn't that odd? What is He raising them from if they are all already raised? Seriously, what is He raising up?

And how could David still be among us in his grave having never received his reward, if he was brought into a new form of life right after he died?

1Th_4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first

Act 2:25  For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 

Act 2:26  Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 

Act 2:27  Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

Act 2:28  Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 

Act 2:29  Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 

Act 2:30  Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 

Act 2:31  He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 

Act 2:32  This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 

Act 2:33  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 

Act 2:34  For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 

Act 2:35  Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 

Abel all the way down to Samuel, David, the prophets… have NOT received the promise.

Heb 11:39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect

They- all those who died in Christ- would not be made perfect without all those who haven't died in Christ, but are Christ's.

Why does it all matter?

I was recently told that believing you go right to heaven upon death isn't such a big deal.

No, it isn't such a big deal if you want to believe that Jesus Christ died for no reason.

Seriously. Why would Jesus have had to come to earth in the flesh and suffer if people just automatically go on to live upon death already? If a system was already set up for people to live in heaven, why die?  Where is the significance of death if you just live? Where is the significance in Jesus dying if it only means as soon as He died He lived in a new form? We talk about believing that when Jesus died for some reason He didn't instantly live again like others, He stayed in His grave - why, how, if that's not how death works? Why did He tell His disciple Mary not to touch Him until He'd ascended to the Father? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if Jesus died and instantly took on His new form and went to heaven, instantly meeting God. That's not what happened though, He didn't go instantly in a new form like most believe everyone does, to a new spirit life. 

And why, please tell me why, Jesus would bring a person back to life from death if they've suffered through the worst of life-dying- and entered their new and much better life?

IT MAKES NO SENSE and IT DOES MATTER A LOT because, if we believe a lie we are DECEIVED.  If we choose deception over truth whose side are we really on?

Ignorance of the truth is one thing, coming face to face with the truth and turning from it is another.

Everything makes perfect sense if the dead truly are just that- dead (not living). If the breath of life given to them returns to God, and they sleep in the dust of the earth until Christ returns to raise them to life out of that dust, is makes perfect sense. Christ raising from the grave is so much more a miracle when we realize the dead aren't raised from the grave automatically, but only by a special dispensation. That is why it is remarkable when we read about the very few who have been raised from the dead.  That is why a body couldn't be found for Enoch, Elijah… Jesus, because they'd been raised from the dead- their entire body raised and then transformed, or simply taken while still alive. That is why so many remarkable men and women of God have not received that promise yet, they are still in the dust of the earth- or else we would read about how they have received their promised reward.

It's important, it really is, because Satan used it as his first lie to deceive Eve.

Gen 3:2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

Gen 3:3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

Gen 3:4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die

What would it matter if she died if it meant a better life for her?

Why was death something to fear, if it means a better life?

Death is an end to existence and that end is ONLY temporary until our Savior returns and wakes us up-  some to life and some to another death.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Dan 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 

Who exactly are sleeping in the dust of the earth that need waking up, if they are already and have already been awake this whole time- in a new form?

 Are we to allow ourselves to be deceived by the same lie that Satan told Eve which set us on a course of sin, or are we going to believe the truth, and recognize our need of a Savior for our salvation. Are we going to believe that eternal life is to be lived in Christ upon His return for all of His people- living and dead? Are we going to believe the we will receive the promise along with all the others that are Christ's, all of us together, or believe the lies of Satan.  Is our hope in Christ and salvation offered through Him or do we place our hope in Satan's lie and live for the lie he offers?

It matters.  Truth matters.

We must remember this--

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 

Great signs and wonders will be used to deceive people… and they will be so great that if God didn't intervene through the Holy Spirit- that even the very elect - those who are God's, would be deceived.

When you say you witness a loved one in spirit form - communicating with you - please know that a whole hoard of evil spirits can do many things to perpetuate deception.

2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Hold fast to truth, always seek truth! Do not believe in comfortable, soothing lies just because they've been handed down to you, and just because the majority believe the lies.

Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat_7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat

And…

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

God help us ALL.

All in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, NOW and FOREVER!!!!!!!

May we be truly Yours, Lord, truly Yours!

All glory, power, honor, praise, all thanksgiving unto you LORD, always!

Amen.

If you believe- Evil Spirits Exist

If you believe in Jesus Christ you believe- EVIL SPIRITS EXIST.

This is truth. A truth we love to ignore or regulate to a fictional context such as books, movies, and tv shows. We don't want to think of them as a REALITY. Just when do we suppose their reality was done away with? Some might say when people became enlightened. They might say when people stopped believing in witchcraft - witches and sorceries. When science came into fashion over superstition.  Yet, our SAVIOR believed and believes in evil spirits. The very Savior we claim to love knew the reality of evil spirits.  The Apostles knew that evil spirits were real as well- they dealt with them, casting them out of the people they were possessing. 

Now read the following--

Act 19:13  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

Act 19:14  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

Act 19:15  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

The evil spirit used the man's voice to speak and ANSWERED those trying to get it to release the man it was possessing.  The EVIL spirit ANSWERED!  The evil spirit told them it KNEW JESUS, it KNEW PAUL as forces that had the POWER of GOD to command it to obey.  The evil spirit did NOT know these pretenders who dared to use the name of Jesus, a name they did NOT believe in as their Savior.  This evil spirit using the man it possessed ATTACKED all of those pretenders- SEVEN sons of a CHIEF of the PRIESTS of the Jews. 

Act 19:16  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

One man against SEVEN men!  One man possessed by an EVIL SPIRIT. 

This all happened after Jesus died, was raised from the grave and went to heaven. This all happened while the apostles lived and were spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Act 19:17  And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

What had happened to the seven sons of the chief priests of the Jews was spread far and wide. People witnessed their attack, they witnessed their lying to the evil spirit who KNEW they weren't coming to it in the name of the SAVIOR, in the power of the Savior.  They also knew that the true witnesses of the Savior were able to cast out evil spirits. They realized the TRUTH of the WAY being spread by the Apostles, the Disciples of the Savior and they had to believe!

Act 19:18  And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Act 19:19  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Many of those who believed PRACTICED evil ways!  Read that!

They USED CURIOUS ARTS.

They USED BOOKS of these CURIOUS ARTS.

They USED VERY EXPENSIVE BOOKS of CURIOUS ARTS, things they knew were CONTRARY to the WAY Of the Savior Jesus Christ.

They BURNED these books publically revealing their commitment to the WAY, the TRUTH they were learning and believing. 

This is truth and today we discount this and believe that NOTHING we do matters at all. We tease the evil spirits, we live with them among us and we laugh and play and believe that it's all good.

I'm not saying any of us know where the evil spirits are, who they are possessing. It seems as if there isn't a way to know as there was back in the days of the Apostles. Some say they know, and maybe if I were confronted boldly by one inside someone I'd know, I just can't know that I would. I don't have the answers to this but I DO know that EVIL SPIRITS did NOT DISAPPEAR from the earth.

I know EVIL ways have not disappeared from the earth. 

Curious arts are still prevalent and used all the time- ALL THE TIME. And they are used by those who have NO idea they are using evil, and they wouldn't believe you if you told them they were. They see no EVIL, they see no harm in their curious arts.

We know this--

Deu 18:9  When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

Deu 18:10  There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:11  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

ABOMINATIONS-

Divining.

Observing times.

Enchanting.

Witchery.

Charmers.

Consulters with familiar (EVIL) spirits.

Wizards.

Necromancers.

We know this--

Dan 2:1  And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

Dan 2:2  Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Dan 2:3  And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

Dan 2:4  Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

Dan 2:5  The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

Dan 2:6  But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

Dan 2:7  They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

Dan 2:8  The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

Dan 2:9  But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

Dan 2:10  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

Dan 2:11  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Dan 2:12  For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Dan 2:13  And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Dan 2:14  Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

Dan 2:15  He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Dan 2:16  Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

Dan 2:17  Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

Dan 2:18  That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Dan 2:19  Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Dan 2:20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Dan 2:21  And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Dan 2:22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Dan 2:23  I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

Astrologers, soothsayers, magicians-  NONE of these are of GOD!

Daniel- a prophet of GOD, he alone had GOD on His side.

All these things we do today and think harmless, GOD FORGIVE US! PLEASE GOD FORGIVE US! 

With our minds we SERVE YOU, and YOU ALONE!

Bless us! Keep us in YOU! SAVE US FROM OURSELVES! KEEP US FROM EVIL! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

Let us look SOLELY to YOU for ALL THINGS, not to any person at all whatsoever, but YOU!

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ our LORD! Now and forever, AMEN.