Are the occult, mysticism, demonic possession, curses, or witchcraft real?

Personally I believe that witchcraft ( so called ) is akin to all other false religions , that's what they r , just other false religions . To me , if u r going to believe in witchcraft u may as well believe in hinduism . What's the difference ? We know that other religions r false , r they the work of the devil ? Or of man's imagination ? They r all the same to me , just false religions . There is only one God , the Holy One of Israel . Everythng and anything else is just false and comes from the same source , human imagination and sin , delusions and depravity . Nothing more .

Col 1:21-23 therefore stand and stay in belief to God, no matter what it appears as
The air I breath is alive and do not see normally. The Hills are alive, the trees and all life planted by God is really alive, in different ways and forms
Respect to God for reconciliation given through Son 2 Cor 5:17-20, and see verse 16, read it all from verse 1. verse 16, wen once (The Disciples) knew Jesus (Emmanuel) in the flesh, today no more.
seeing. this when he said to Thomas, "Thomas, you beleive because you have seen me and touched me as risen". How much more will others be, that do not see and have not touched me as risen, are blessed over all evil out there in this world to not be afraid or worry anymore.
Matthew 6, will worry add any moment to anyone's life here and now? Worry has never helped me, anyone else? Thank you Father for Son as Won for us to be new in love and mercy given us first

As real as the air I breath, and yet not seen easily un less Daddy, PaPa, Father reveals this to anyone. for to be wise as a serpent and remain harmless as doves. This present world, is not mine, and I see I asm not a part of this world, yet have joined in on it, and see not to anymore, not being good for my Soul., anyone else, Father knows best for me anyways

Yes. God's word says to avoid all that is of the occult, including putting a witch to death. Satan is real and he operates in the supernatural realm (as opposed to the spiritual). Sadly, too many believers do not know the difference between supernatural and spiritual. A recent survey revealed that 30% of Americans have some involvement in the occult, even if only out of curiosity. Much of Europe is deeply entrenched in the occult. Australia is little better.

When the gospel was preached in Ephesus, one of the consequences was that believers burned their occult books. Those books were worth a fortune at that time.

I was born while my father was overseas fighting the Korean war. My well meaning relatives had a seance and sought a "guardian angel" for me. I was also born with a hereditary bondage to the occult. I could not state this more strongly: avoid it like the plague.

No witch could summon a prophet of God from the dead, she summoned a demon.

I understand, thank you I agree
Been around and have got in past caught up in things also. walked away and see to not go back there at all, ever again. Thanks I did gain a lot of awareness from that mistake made back then at age 14 then, 68 now

I have had to deal with witchcraft from my sister who is a wiccan it is real and sometimes very powerful but God is more powerful and if you deal with the occult just know that you have the authority of Christ in you they have no real power over you

This women that I like to watch her youtube channel mentioned that a former brother in Christ who was into the occult stuff before being saved ended up going back into another form of witchcraft.The twinflames thing.And that he still believes that he is a Christian!.
The reason she gave to why a lot of these people who have come from witchcraft/occult end up coming back is because they're addicted
to the rush.They like the feeling that comes with doing witchcraft and getting lies from these spirits that masquerade it as the truth.
It's easier for them to live in sin then to live a Godly life.

That makes sense to me cause I've seen this first hand of family members doing witchcraft.They will get scared but end up getting into it deeper because of the rush.
Back when I was an unbeliever my father had me do some type of ritual.I did what he told me too cause I was drugged and didn't believe in it.This spirit entered me and I fell to the floor and had no control over my body and I was saying things like "I liked this feeling",even though it was the worst feeling in the world.The spirit that entered me was saying those things and moving me around uncontrollably.
You know what that spirit was?The kundalini spirit.The same spirit you see some pastors waving their hand at people and they fall over uncontrollably all over the floor.
Never ever ever ever dip your toes into those type of things.And those spirits will never leave unless you truly repent.A lot of Christian never truly repent.

Yes, I have a lot experience in this, but I don't care to talk about any of it. My only advice is avoid it.

It helps to remember that witchcraft is also a work of the flesh. It is fundamentally about control. A lot of people, including Christians, like to control others. Some like the power it gives.

Before I was saved, I had the power to stare at people in front of me and they would turn around. I thought it hilarious. Somehow, I knew it was wrong. I did not keep it up. Eventually I was delivered of an occult spirit that I had from birth.

Apparently, we the people, all of us get obsessed with things, that have happened or are happening. We try to leave them and somehow, really do not. That spirit leaves for a short while, goes and finds seven others and comes back to take one over again, Finds your house cleaned up, not yet cleansed by God, and enters with those others to have more deeper control than before
God by through Son cleansed the deck, it is done, in Acts, God tells
Peter, kill and eat? Peter states, he can't kill anything unclean! God replies to Peter do not call anything unclean, that God has cleansed
Paul in Romans 14 states, he knows and is convinced that all things are clean of itself.
Since by God all things are cleansed, clean in risen Son as proof to me.
How, then are we the people to respond to evil? Ask Father, and become wise Matthew 10:16-20. No more fear 1 John 4:17-19
A plain "GET OUT" from God through you and the demons will flee. Yet there is the reality of the flesh still, those of the flesh that have chose self, do not fear as demons do.
So, what to do there too? Love God's way, continue in God's love and overcome in love as Jesus did as risen as proof to men anyways, Learn the Art of fighting without fighting

We, all I see know, truth over error(s) we each attach to and have attached to, going to one another for help, and not God himself only. Go to Father in Spirit and Truth from within you and do as led. I might be "GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I know I have, trusting God as good to teach us each. personally and be new as all I see are called to be new in love and mercy too, thank you

Yes, there is a high to each person in experiencing things, not good for their Souls. Only Father and risen Son can free anyone. It takes, to me at least, going to Father in their own prayer closet and telling Father, Daddy, PaPa all everything good or bad happening to them.
Then, one might begin to see new in love and mercy from God too, thank you
God cleansed everything in Son for us the people to be new as born again new in God's spirit and truth, (John 4:23-24) Only the willing to die survive, their souls saved by God whether die here or not are saved by God, Wow, thank you God
In Acts we see, I think it was Simon, that tried to do as he saw the disciples do and say get out to a demon in another person. The demon came out and said Jesus I know, Paul I know, yet who are you and thrashed Simon. If I got that name correct
So, now do you all know, it is not you, it is God through you and God leads, not you anymore, will you give that up to God too willingly, please and be freed, thank you

I think this is a great thread to address the nuance of when someone even a believer says,
"I study the Occult." They could mean, "I study to be a practitioner of the occult,"
Or "I study to be familiar with those that practice the occult." (Which is more like what I think the believer should do)

I handed out tracts at an Elizabeth Claire Prophet meeting once and felt a real oppressive darkness form that dissipated like nothing by recalling the hymn "I know Whom I Have Believed". To me the raising of the shield of faith works exactly as described in Ephesians chapter 6.

Interesting, it is motive that clears or condemns when the judgement day comes
Agreed, be Matthew 10:16-20

Thanks Wilson411, for your question.

First of all, it is important to note that the opposite of this sort of thing that you mention (the occult and so on) is being saved by Jesus. Those who are saved by Jesus are described with the parable word "clean" in the Bible. Jesus said about the believers, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. " That parable word "clean" is talking about not having the stain or penalty of sin attached to their person. They have been forgiven their sins and so are clean of the stain of it, of the eternal consequences of it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "

The Bible uses the parable language of an "unclean spirit" to describe those who are unsaved. Are your saved? The Bible would describe you as clean. Are you unsaved? The Bible would describe you as unclean, still having the penalty of sin attached to your person. People often read about an unclean spirit or a devil in the Bible and forget that this is simply language describing anyone who is not saved. Babylon, for example was described: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. " This is describing people who might not be foaming at the mouth and whose head might not be twisting around and around as they crawl like a spider across the ceiling. So, it is important to note that Bible terms may not be talking about what many people assume they are. Having an unclean spirit is Bible lingo for being unsaved.

There are various manifestations of the spiritual world on either the good (from God) or the bad side ( from Satan) but Jesus has bound Satan, so Satan cannot stop a person from being saved if God opens that person up to Jesus and the good news. Of course, there is a battle or conflict between the two realms. Satan tries to convince believers to not believe, for example. We read, "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. " Nevertheless, if God opens the spiritual ears of a person to believe and to trust him, Satan cannoth stop that from happening.

Thanks Wilson411, for your question.

First of all, it is important to note that the opposite of this sort of thing that you mention (the occult and so on) is being saved by Jesus. Those who are saved by Jesus are described with the parable word "clean" in the Bible. Jesus said about the believers, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. " That parable word "clean" is talking about not having the stain or penalty of sin attached to their person. They have been forgiven their sins and so are clean of the stain of it, of the eternal consequences of it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "

The Bible uses the parable language of an "unclean spirit" to describe those who are unsaved. Are your saved? The Bible would describe you as clean. Are you unsaved? The Bible would describe you as unclean, still having the penalty of sin attached to your person. People often read about an unclean spirit or a devil in the Bible and forget that this is simply language describing anyone who is not saved. Babylon, for example was described: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. " This is describing people who might not be foaming at the mouth and whose head might not be twisting around and around as they crawl like a spider across the ceiling. So, it is important to note that Bible terms may not be talking about what many people assume they are. Having an unclean spirit is Bible lingo for being unsaved.

There are various manifestations of the spiritual world on either the good (from God) or the bad side ( from Satan) but Jesus has bound Satan, so Satan cannot stop a person from being saved if God opens that person up to Jesus and the good news. Of course, there is a battle or conflict between the two realms. Satan tries to convince believers to not believe, for example. We read, "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. " Nevertheless, if God opens the spiritual ears of a person to believe and to trust him, Satan cannoth stop that from happening.

Watched the great grand daughter of a great prophet telling the story how her and a few others (ministers, missionaries) were telling stories of "thanks" that have been happening to them since they last spoke. So it was her turn and she shared and right after the lord said to her "never share that story again. It does not behoove me " that part there I can so relate to. Well she said she wanted to tell everyone thank you and now go home because she wanted to go look up what "behoove" means. Yeah so many times the lord will be saying something and.. oh pfft I have to go look it up .. no clue what that word means haha.

The lord told her those stories do not give Him glory but the enemy. Now sharing how someone was possessed and then set free duh praise GOD. The question does make one wonder huh. Well flip that coin over some do not believe in this stuff nor hell fire yet they do Yeshua/Jesus?

I remember as my Ford 150 was airborne.. see I tried to pass on a hill and yeah didn't see the car in the other lane so.. I can still see it.. JUST before that I told me 2 kids 3 and 6 to come into the front. So as the truck was airborne my first thought was.. JESUS save my babies. Yeah they had no seat belts yet were perfectly fine praise GOD. Brandon about 3 was crying because his potato chips were crushed. Mom and Dad.. well we'd been better.

So do I really truly believe. To debate back and forth for me proves nothing other then I know His word. So when trouble comes.. I always quote and remind my Father of what He has spoken.. and the enemy always flees.

As the male witch said the preacher.. what can your God do. The only thing God did was tell the preacher "don't pet me to some stupid test".

Yes I have had more encounters than I want to admit and have next to no willingness to talk about them in an open forum like this.

The knowledge about the specifics of occult things is not needed to talk about the gospel - just talk about what you know about Jesus and study scripture. Discernment will grow in your spirit doing this and this growth will help keep you safe. Like Gedeon said 'Avoid it like the plague' No need to fear it - just avoid it.

Straight to my questions

What is the difference between supernatural and spiritual. I've been at this a long time but I'm still 'teachable'.

True that the folks of Ephesus burned their books. It is a good / necessary thing that we rid our homes of any thing that may be an open door for demonic activity. This ought to be done in prayer and in depth.

"I was also born with a hereditary bondage to the occult."
Would you expand on this some? I had an uncle that was a Church of GOD pastor that fell into the spiritualist movement some time in the 60's. He was almost dead probably due to judgement but he survived and later became a Baprist pastor for many decades until his passing at 80+yars old.