Church Spirits pt.7 | The Spirit of Saul pt.3

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Spiritual Mixture

In our current age, a confusing blend of beliefs has become commonplace, even among those who profess faith. This spiritual "gumbo" mixes Christian practices with elements of the occult, new age philosophies, and other deceptive traditions. People may engage in yoga, burn sage, or carry charms without understanding the doors they are opening. This mixture can lead to spiritual oppression, manifesting as unrest, fear, and strange occurrences in one's life, because any power not from the Holy Spirit has a demonic source. [05:34]

They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. (Deuteronomy 32:17 ESV)

Reflection: What are the "ingredients" in your own spiritual life? Can you identify any practices, habits, or items you own that might originate from a source other than a pure devotion to Christ?

Day 2: Rebellion as the Root of Witchcraft

A fundamental truth of Scripture reveals that rebellion is not merely disobedience; it is equated with the sin of witchcraft. This is because the heart of rebellion seeks to dethrone God's authority and establish its own rule. It is an attempt to control one's own destiny and manipulate circumstances outside of God's prescribed order. This stubborn resistance to divine instruction opens a door to darker spiritual influences. [14:48]

And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” (1 Samuel 15:22-23a ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you most tempted to negotiate with God's clear instructions or to do things your own way? What would full obedience in that area look like this week?

Day 3: The Desire to Control Through Illegitimate Power

Witchcraft, at its core, is the attempt to control people or situations to make them conform to your will by using any spirit other than the Holy Spirit. This is the driving force behind many occult practices—a desire for power and influence without submitting to God's timing and methods. It is a shortcut, a way to bypass the process of prayer, faith, and holiness that God has ordained for His children. [17:36]

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 ESV)

Reflection: When you feel a situation is out of your control, what is your first impulse? Do you seek to manipulate the outcome, or do you bring it to God in prayer, trusting His sovereignty?

Day 4: The Progression from Rebellion to Desperation

A heart that persists in rebellion against God will eventually find itself in a place of spiritual desolation. When God seems silent and circumstances become fearful, the rebellious heart is tempted to seek answers from any available source. This desperation can lead to consulting familiar spirits, psychics, or other forbidden practices, abandoning the true source of light for the false promises of darkness. [38:20]

And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” (1 Samuel 28:6-7a ESV)

Reflection: In a moment of desperation or unanswered prayer, where are you most likely to turn for answers? How can you build a habit of waiting on God, even when His timing doesn't match your own?

Day 5: The Superiority of Legitimate Power in the Holy Spirit

The good news is that every power and ability the enemy counterfeits is available in its pure, legitimate, and superior form through the Holy Spirit. Followers of Christ have no need to tap into illegitimate, demonic power because they have access to the ultimate power source. The Holy Spirit provides true wisdom, genuine healing, and real authority, all without the devastating spiritual consequences of witchcraft. [56:44]

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8 ESV)

Reflection: What is one area where you have been relying on your own strength or a worldly solution that you can consciously surrender to the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit today?

Sermon Summary

A clear warning unfolds about a spiritual mixture infecting church and culture. Cultural shifts in rock and hip hop introduced occult symbols and practices into everyday life, and mainstream outlets now normalize yoga, sage, charms, and new-age jewelry. Scripture frames the danger: Hebrews 6 describes how tasting divine power brings accountability, and Saul’s story shows a pattern—initial anointing followed by doing “one’s own thing,” rebellion, and then a slide into spirit-led witchcraft. Rebellion appears as the pivot point; resisting God’s instructions and seeking shortcuts or control opens the door to demonic influence.

Witchcraft receives a practical definition: any attempt to control people or situations by a spirit other than the Holy Spirit. The practice shows up as charms, divination, mediums, psychics, love spells, and channeling in entertainment and performance. These methods work on a level because demonic power produces real effects, but the power remains illegitimate and corrosive. Deuteronomy and other Scripture condemn adopting the abominable practices of surrounding nations, and modern examples—Hollywood channeling spirits, retail occult merchandising, online psychics, and love potions—illustrate how that ancient warning plays out today.

A strong contrast appears between illegitimate power and the Holy Spirit’s authority. Legitimate power arrives through holiness and submission; it heals, delivers, and produces fruit without deception. Personal stories in the account show deliverance and restoration when people renounce occult ties, repent of rebellion, and receive the Holy Spirit. Practical counsel stresses cutting ties with charms, avoiding occult shortcuts, ending sexual rebellion that leads to desperate measures, and choosing Scripture-based discernment over online spiritual DIY solutions. The underlying claim remains stark: genuine supernatural help comes from God’s Spirit, not from manipulating spirits, and choosing the true door into the supernatural matters for both blessing and protection.

Key Takeaways

1. Rebellion is the gateway to witchcraft Rebellion begins as small refusals to obey God’s voice and grows into a posture that seeks power outside God. That obstinate heart treats obedience as optional and turns to substitutes that promise control. Spiritually, rebellion aligns a person with forces that mimic power but demand compromise. This pattern shows why repentance and renewed submission cut off the root that witchcraft exploits. [12:12]
2. Witchcraft seeks illegitimate spiritual control Witchcraft aims to bend people and circumstances by any spirit other than the Holy Spirit, using charms, divination, or mediums. Its appeal lies in immediacy and control, especially when God’s ways seem slow or costly. Because demonic power can produce effects, it deceives by delivering apparent success at the cost of bondage. Recognizing control-seeking motives exposes where illegitimate power gains a foothold. [17:19]
3. Legitimate power comes from the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit provides authority that heals, delivers, and transforms without tricks or moral compromise. That power requires holiness, repentance, and submission rather than shortcuts or occult aids. Choosing the Spirit’s work removes the need to chase counterfeit sources of strength. Trusting God’s method protects from the cost of counterfeit power. [51:33]
4. Signs and miracles increase spiritual responsibility Experiencing signs, wonders, or prophetic power establishes an expectation of truthfulness and obedience that brings greater accountability. Those who taste God’s gift but return to old ways risk hardening into rebellion that Scripture warns cannot easily be renewed. Authority and blessing demand stewardship: the more manifest the grace, the higher the call to righteous living. Responding with humility preserves the very things that brought blessing. [07:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Reflection on last week
[00:41] - Burning occult items invitation
[01:13] - Spiritual “gumbo”: mixed beliefs
[02:03] - Cultural mixing in churches
[03:02] - Hip hop and occult entry
[05:15] - New-age practices in culture
[07:46] - Hebrews 6: accountability after blessing
[09:22] - Saul’s fall and pattern
[12:12] - Rebellion as the root
[17:19] - Defining witchcraft clearly
[24:06] - Witch doctors and origins
[31:45] - Rebellion progressing to witchcraft
[37:05] - Saul seeks a familiar spirit
[51:33] - Holy Spirit vs illegitimate power
[56:44] - Deliverance and restoration story
[58:47] - Warnings about modern compromises

Bible Study Guide

Based on the sermon summary and transcript provided, here is a Bible study discussion guide.

Bible Reading
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV)
And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (ESV)
“When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you.”

Observation questions

According to 1 Samuel 15:22-23, what does God value more than religious rituals? What two things does God compare rebellion and stubbornness to?
In the Deuteronomy 18 passage, what is the primary reason God gives for driving the nations out of the land? What specific practices does God label as "abominable"?
What pattern from Saul's life was described, starting with an initial anointing and ending in witchcraft? [09:41]
What simple, practical definition was given for witchcraft? [17:19]

Interpretation questions

Why is rebellion considered such a serious gateway that it is compared to divination? How does a heart of rebellion make a person vulnerable to seeking illegitimate spiritual power?
The Deuteronomy passage warns against adopting the practices of other nations. What modern cultural practices mentioned (e.g., yoga, sage, charms, psychics [05:15]) might fall under this same biblical category of "abominable practices" and why?
The transcript states that demonic power can produce real effects. [25:04] If something "works," why does the source of that power still matter from a biblical perspective?
How does seeking control over people or situations through a spirit other than the Holy Spirit fundamentally conflict with a life of faith and submission to God?

Application questions

Rebellion often starts with small refusals to obey God's voice. [12:12] Is there any area of your life right now where you are doing your "own thing" instead of obeying what you know God has said? What does that look like practically?
Witchcraft is defined as any attempt to control people or situations by a spirit other than the Holy Spirit. [17:19] Beyond the obvious, where might this desire for control manifest in more subtle ways in your relationships, work, or family? How can you identify and repent of this?
The counsel was to cut ties with any objects or practices connected to the occult. [00:41] Is there anything in your home, on your person, or in your habits (charms, jewelry, media, rituals) that you need to remove after today's discussion? What is a step you can take this week?
People often turn to illegitimate shortcuts like psychics or love spells when they become desperate. [39:20] When you feel desperate about a situation (relationships, finances, health), what is your first impulse? How can you build a habit of turning to prayer and the Holy Spirit instead of seeking a quick, manipulative solution?
The contrast was made between illegitimate power and the Holy Spirit's authority, which requires holiness and submission. [51:33] & [57:03] What does choosing the "legitimate" power of the Holy Spirit require you to surrender? Is there an area of your life where you resist holiness because it feels too costly?
Experiencing God's power brings greater accountability. [07:46] How does knowing this change the way you respond to the miracles, answered prayers, and spiritual experiences God has allowed in your life?

Sermon Clips

40s

#TasteTheGlory

“So I want you to understand that when we get into the glory, like we get ready to talk about and preach about in a few weeks, we get into the signs, wonders, and miracles. You're at a church where you become responsible after you've tasted, after you've seen, and some of y'all taste it like this. Keep on tasting. It's okay because it's good. But when you've tasted go back to five. When you've tasted and know it's the power of God, if you should fall away, it's gonna be impossible. Look at verse six.”

37s

#WitchcraftIsControl

“Here's a simple definition of witchcraft. Derek Prince I heard it from him first, but it makes sense. Witchcraft is the attempt to control y'all can put that part on the screen if you if you have. Witchcraft is the attempt to control people or a situation and make them do what you want by the use of any spirit other than the holy spirit. This is why people resort to witchcraft.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Kingdom Church of Houston TX This sermon · AI assistant

What is the biblical definition of witchcraft?

How does rebellion lead to witchcraft?

What responsibility follows tasting God's power?

Church Spirits pt.7 | The Spirit of Saul pt.3 | Pastor Rondy Long