Who Is Really Behind the Occult?

Shield Yourself!

Even though wicked spirits have superhuman powers, we can, with God's help, 'take our stand against them' and come off victorious. (1 Peter 5:9) In order to get that help, however, we need to learn God's requirements and act on them. Concerning the Christians in his day, the apostle Paul wrote: "We . . . have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the accurate knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him." -Colossians 1:9, 10.

Those who gained that "accurate knowledge" included a number of people in the city of Ephesus who practiced occult arts. Note how a knowledge of the truth affected them. The Bible states: "Quite a number of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them up before everybody." The books, incidentally, were worth "fifty thousand pieces of silver," which was no small amount! (Acts 19:17-19) This courageous example was recorded for our benefit. -2 Timothy 3:16.

Next time: Principles That Protect

Awake! 2011