Using Witchcraft and Spiritism  -  F.E. Pasche

"There shall not be found among you a witch or a charmer or a consulter with familiar spirits." Deut. 18:10-11.

Using witchcraft means to “use God’s name or Word without His command and to promise to perform supernatural things, such as conjuring, fortune-telling, consulting the dead, and similar satanic arts.” Witchcraft, or “curious arts,” as it is also called in the Scriptures, therefore is a heathenish art, practised by those who cannot or will not pray to God as their dear Father. No, they resort to secret arts and the power of darkness when natural means do not accomplish what they desire. The world is full of witch­ craft. It is practised, or at least resorted to, even by many of those who call themselves Christians. But using witchcraft in any form is employing the devil’s help, and this is a sin against God and, if done under cover of His sacred name, is taking that name in vain to adorn the sin of doing the devil service.

Christians, true children of God, who have renounced the devil and all his works, withdraw from such iniquity. They know that “all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.”

When King Saul had fallen away from the living God, he stole to the witch of Endor. And in our enlightened age men and women still throng about mediums, clairvoyants, and fortune­ tellers. Spiritism is rampant in our modern large cities. Spiritism is a special branch of witchcraft. It objects to this name, however, and presents itself to the public as modern science and full-fledged truth, yea, as religion and a religious society; and it has millions of members. Spiritism claims to be able to associate with the spirits of the dead. Spiritists contend that departed spirits can speak to the living, help them in many ways, and teach them higher knowledge. But the truth is, that whatever we cannot find out by searching the Scriptures and by natural means is not for us to know, and we should not try to ascertain it, least of all by con­ sulting the devil, our arch-enemy.

Prayer.

O Father of all mercies, defend Thy Church against all the gates of hell, against all the raging and raving of Satan, and let it stand firm and immovable upon the foundation rock on which it is built. Look down from heaven and behold and visit Thy vine and vineyard which Thy right hand hath planted, and the branch which Thou madest strong for Thyself, that it may send out its boughs and that its branches may become large; hedge it round about with Thy shield. Be Thou the Defense of Thy sheep that no man may pluck us out of Thy hand. Amen.

Three Baptisms –

DAILY READINGS of Biblical Truth - by J. Ogles

Three Baptisms – 

    

T

HEN cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.     (Matt 3:13-17)

 

            From the primitive age of Creation, the Lord has directed the sure and certain progression of His redemptive plan of salvation. Having known His elect from before the foundation of the world, there can be no annulment of that plan. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.    (Eph 1:4-5)

 

            At the early dawn of life in the Garden eastward at Eden, man was created in the image of God, but just as a shadow resembles the frame of its object, man was weak and frail to obey the only commandment God had given him. Instead of partaking of the Tree of Life (representing the Lord Jesus Christ), he partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil of which God had commanded him not to partake. Once sin entered the heart of man, it grew and took possession there. The first man born of woman, Cain, was a murderer – the second man born of woman, Abel, was a prophet of God. That division of good and evil prevails to this day among the sons and daughters of men. Those who are under the redemptive blood of Christ are righteous by virtue of the imputed righteousness of Christ – not by their own works. By the first man, Adam, came sin and death; by the second man, Jesus Christ, came life eternal.

 

The First Baptism – Global

            As the heart of man grew more and more evil, GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  (Gen 6:5)  God determined to destroy the old world through the baptism of the Global Deluge – the first baptism was that of all of Creation during which God saved eight souls of Noah’s family to repopulate the new creation. This global baptism was the First Baptism. It was global. But God winnows down the grain in His redemptive plan separating the chaff from the grain continually. As the baptizer said: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.  (Matt 3:11-12)

 

The Second Baptism – National

            The Lord God chose from the generations of man a nation to set apart as an example of His personal favor and protection – Israel. These He would baptize as a peculiar people set aside as His chosen as an example to all others. But the favor was national and not individual. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.  (Heb 11:29) The same Almighty Hand of God that saved the Children of Israel in this second baptism is the same that destroyed the mighty army of Pharaoh. The seal that sets true Israel apart from all nations is the trust in that promise of a Redeemer made to Abraham, and not the racial aspect of the physical bloodline. That seal remains today. 

 

The Third Baptism – Individual

            13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  (Matt 3:13-17) The fulness of the Triune God was present at this further culmination of God’s redemptive plan: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This baptism of the Son of God set the Lord’s standard for us all to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in the individual and covenantal baptism of faith of which His baptism was the example.

 Swearing by God’s Name (Pasche, F.E.)

"Let your communication be, Tea, yea; Hay, nay; for what­ soever is more than these cometh of evil." Matthew 5:37.

The Lord says in the Third Book of Moses: “Ye shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God.” From these words we see that swearing is forbidden.

Does that mean that all swearing is forbidden? No, that is not the meaning of that passage. It certainly is not wrong to call upon God. If it is an important case and the glory of God and the wel­ fare of our neighbor render it necessary, it cannot be wrong thus to call upon God. We have a direct command to swear thus. In the last book of Moses, Deut. 6,13, we read: “Thou shalt fear the Lord, thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.” If we swear to the truth of a statement of ours before the proper authori­ ties, let it be done to the glory of God and to the welfare of our fellow-men.

The question, then, arises: What manner of swearing is for­ bidden? The answer is: All false, blasphemous, frivolous swear­ ing and all oaths in uncertain things. False swearing, or perjury, invokes the vengeance of God. When one swears to do an evil deed,

it is a blasphemous oath. It is frivolous swearing when the im­ portance of an oath is not considered, or when an oath is unneces­ sary. It is frivolous and thoughtless if people frequently say, “ God knows,” “By God,” or call upon the dear name of Jesus in vain. This is swearing, calling upon God as witness to the truth of our statement.

Let us watch our tongue and ever be on our guard. Parents should never allow their children to use such expressions, and they should be very careful not to give them a bad example. Also this is frivolous and therefore forbidden swearing, when one utters an oath in uncertain things. No one should swear to anything of which he is not absolutely certain. No one should swear to do something the nature of which he does not as yet know, or to keep secret things which he will not know until some time in the future. The grave nature of such an oath may be seen from the case of King Herod. Let us always bear in mind the sacredness of an oath, considering the greatness of God’s name.

Prayer.

O Thou just and gracious God and Father, I humbly and sorrowfully confess that I have not only been conceived and born in sin, but that I have also frequently transgressed Thy holy Ten Commandments in thought, word, and deed, thereby fully deserv­ ing both temporal and eternal punishment. But since Thy beloved Son, my dear Savior Jesus Christ, has fully atoned for all my sins, original and actual, by fulfilling the commandments which I have transgressed and by shedding His holy, precious blood, I pray Thee to be gracious unto me for His sake. And give me new strength to amend my life. Let me not swear lightly, but simply say yes or no when I mean that, and no more, lest I take Thy holy name in vain. Amen.

 Daily Readings in Life of Christ - J.R. Miller (1890)

February 16. Baptism

"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" Luke 3:16

Baptism with water is right. It is one of God's appointments, and He would require nothing that is useless. Some people think that there is no necessity for being baptized; but they make themselves wiser than Christ in saying this of that which He commanded to be done. Baptism has a meaning, and must never be despised. It teaches by picture, showing us, first, that we are unclean and need washing, and then depicting the deep work of grace by which the heart is cleansed.

We should not lightly esteem a rite which has such solemn divine sanction. But while baptism with water is proper and should not be omitted — it cannot wash away sin nor save our souls. We must not think that because we have been baptized, that we are necessarily Christians. There must be a change within us. We must be converted, "born again." And no amount of washing with water will produce this change. Christ must baptize us with the Holy Spirit.

There is danger that many are satisfied with the baptismal water, and do not look for the regenerating grace. It is the peril of all forms of service, that people trust in them and do not realize their need of Christ. A few drops of water on the brow — make no impression on the life; and it is only when the baptism symbolized by water is received by faith — that real blessing comes upon the one who is baptized.

When Jesus was being baptized, "and as he was praying, Heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him." Like blessing descends from Heaven upon everyone receiving the symbol — who also by prayer seeks the heavenly baptism. The same is true of the Lord's Supper and other divine ordinances. When the ordinance is received in faith and with prayer, God gives the grace of which the emblem is but the image.