Psychic friend

[RaymondG]

That's irrelevant - the issue is that the Bible says that what he is experiencing is demonic in nature, hence my concern.

I have experienced the Holy Spirit, emotional and psychological healing. But that is as I say irrelevant.

You said he believes in Physics and is one, in his mind. Is it the word psychics that offends you? If he used the word Prophets....would you feel better about it?

What is he doing that is demonic in your eyes?

I asked about your experience to gauge your work in the spiritual world that supports your judgement of this friends experience.

 

[Senkaku]

Ask them to call upon Jesus, I heard different testimonies from ex psychics, there will be some kind of reaction. their spirit guides might start acting funny when that happens, that should be a clue to them that something is wrong.

 

[JoeP222w]

How do you witness to this kind of person?

Same as anyone else: you speak of God being the holy, perfect and righteous Creator. How God set the perfect standard that we are incapable of keeping, show our need for the Savior Jesus Christ, through repentance and faith in Him alone, by faith alone, by His grace alone, that we can have eternal life only through Him, not by any other means. That those who reject the truth of Jesus Christ are under the wrath of God, and if they continue to reject Jesus Christ until the day they die, God will grant them justice and cast them into eternal Hell. But for now God is granting them grace and He commands them to turn from their sin and trust in Jesus Christ.

The gospel does not change based upon the kind of sin a person is involved in. The gospel is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Their spiritual experiences are as real as mine.

Experiences are not the foundation of truth. Truth is found only in God and His inerrant word of the Bible.

What's the best way to witness to someone like this, without risking a good friendship?

Are you more concerned with losing a friend or loving them and pointing them to the truth of God?

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

[RaymondG]

Same as anyone else: you speak of God being the holy, perfect and righteous Creator. How God set the perfect standard that we are incapable of keeping, show our need for the Savior Jesus Christ, through repentance and faith in Him alone, by faith alone, by His grace alone, that we can have eternal life only through Him, not by any other means. That those who reject the truth of Jesus Christ are under the wrath of God, and if they continue to reject Jesus Christ until the day they die, God will grant them justice and cast them into eternal Hell. But for now God is granting them grace and He commands them to turn from their sin and trust in Jesus Christ.

The gospel does not change based upon the kind of sin a person is involved in. The gospel is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.



Experiences are not the foundation of truth. Truth is found only in God and His inerrant word of the Bible.



Are you more concerned with losing a friend or loving them and pointing them to the truth of God?

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Hi, What part of the OP convinced you of wrong doing on the part of the friend being mentioned..... Was it the use of the word Psychic?

 

[Norbert L]

Hi

You are absolutely right, he doesn't see himself as a victim, but as someone with a gift. I meant that as in the light of what the Bible says

On a side note, now I'm reminded of a Christian I met who previously was big on psychic stuff, horoscopes etc... to the point he could still within 5 minutes of meeting a person, figure out their astrological sign. He viewed this talent much like the apostle Paul viewed himself previously being a Pharisee.

The only other piece of advice I would give is the approach of sharing an intellectual book or video on the subject with him. Using an academic explanation of the topic would offer him a diplomatic escape from the issue, being that it allows for having reasonable debate and alternative ideas. I would recommend looking at some the information Dr. Michael Heiser has this subject. This may be of interest or not.

http://drmsh.com/peeranormal-podcast-episode-1-introducing-the-show/

 

[DW1980]

You said he believes in Physics and is one, in his mind. Is it the word psychics that offends you? If he used the word Prophets....would you feel better about it?

What is he doing that is demonic in your eyes?

I asked about your experience to gauge your work in the spiritual world that supports your judgement of this friends experience.

I see, to me there is a clear distinction between a prophet (and I do believe in the prophetic ministry today) who hears from God, and a psychic/medium who hears from demonic spirits.

 

[RaymondG]

I see, to me there is a clear distinction between a prophet (and I do believe in the prophetic ministry today) who hears from God, and a psychic/medium who hears from demonic spirits.

It is clear that you dont want an objective opinion and that you want everyone to answer believing your word that he is wrong and need to be fixed and you are right. I think you have come to the right place...and I am in the wrong.....so I take my leave...

 

[Archivist]

I have a friend who claims to have psychic abilities. She doesn't charge people for readings, she is not a medium, she does not contact dead people. But she stopped me one day and told me that I needed to get to a doctor immediately; she sensed that something was wrong with me and she held her hand on her heart as she said this. I can't thank her enough for telling me that; when I saw the doctor the next day I was told that I had contracted a virus that affected my heart. The doctor had an ambulance take me from his office directly to the hospital (my condition was so bad that he wouldn't let me drive). I was at less than 20% heart function and spent a week in intensive care. I had been feeling very tired and weak but didn't realize that I was in such bad shape. I don't consult psychics for paid readings, but in this case my psychic friend saved my life. We remain good friends to this day.

 

[lastofall]

[for me anyway] we are to witness with words to a receptive ear, otherwise our witness should be the example of living the Gospel.

 

[Yarddog]

Hi

I wasn't sure whether to post this in advice, or theology, but as I guess I am looking for advice I went with this - apologies if it's wrong.

I have a friend who not only believes in psychics, but claims to be one. What's interesting is that there are a lot of stories, and I don't believe this is made up. And that worries me. I know that "real" psychic activity doesn't come from God.

How do you witness to this kind of person? Their spiritual experiences are as real as mine. So where someone says they have talked with dead relatives, and someone who they didn't know, but after research discovered that the person existed and that the details were right, I can't just say "that's not true".

Has anyone had any experience of this kind of thing? What's the best way to witness to someone like this, without risking a good friendship?

Thanks

I have a brother who used to have a psychic hot line. I could go into many other things that he believes, as well, but there isn't enough space for that I think that all you can do is love them and point out that God is never wrong so when they get things wrong you can point out that the spirit they commune with is not of God.

He isn't a bad guy and I've seen him give his last dollar to someone in need so I recognize that good exists within him though he is messing with demonic spirits out of ignorance. I pray for him and be honest when we speak but there isn't much else that I can do.

God has taught me that Satan doesn't have to get man to believe in Satan in order to separate him from God. Satan just has to get man to believe in himself.

God bless

 

[JacksBratt]

Hi

Thanks for this, I certainly have been doing this. I have been praying for him, I think if he can hear spirits, then he should be able to hear the Holy Spirit too right? So I've been asking Jesus to speak to him.

Where I am at a loss is how to discuss this with him. I want to be kind and respectful to him - after all, he's a victim here. But I have no idea how to do that. I can't just invalidate his experience (I couldn't as he has "evidence" based on experience).

Are there any good books on this? I have looked at Amazon but it looks like a lot of wacky stuff, or testimonies, nothing based on apologetics or evangelism as far as I can see.

I think they meant "Pray for yourself if your going to be around them". This is serious. You need the full armor of God when dealing with anything that is demonic, and this is demonic.

As soon as you think you are smart enough to do it... you are already defeated.

If this person is as close as you say.. they should already know that you are a Christian. So... tell them the truth... that this is not of God...that you cannot hang out with them due to this. Tell them about the biblical warnings...

The biggest danger of this is to believe that it's just some hobby and not really anything to worry about.

 

[Deadworm]

DW, Raymond has asked you the right questions and you really need to take his questions more seriously.

DW: "I have a friend who not only believes in psychics, but claims to be one. What's interesting is that there are a lot of stories, and I don't believe this is made up. And that worries me. I know that "real" psychic activity doesn't come from God."

Shame on you for ignoring the question of whether your friend believes in Christ as his Savior, as if his spiritual gifts make that issue irrelevant.

DW: "How do you witness to this kind of person? Their spiritual experiences are as real as mine. So where someone says they have talked with dead relatives, and someone who they didn't know, but after research discovered that the person existed and that the details were right, I can't just say "that's not true".

Maybe your friend needs to serve as your mentor and disciple you in the spiritual gifts. How do you know your friend is not validly exercising "the gift of prophecy" and "the world of knowledge? You have conveniently failed to tell us whether your friend serves as a trance medium. So you give us no meaningful basis to judge him, let alone to take sides on this issue. A study in the 1970s found that 50% of Americans have experienced faith-assuring contact with their loved ones within a year after their passing and such postmortem contacts are common for born again Christians, whose grief the Holy Spirit simply wants to ease. These Christians are not practicing mediumship; so why do you presume to sit in judgment on their experiences? When I fell in love with the Lord through my Spirit baptism, I was given "the word of knowledge." One aspect of this was a series of clairvoyant premonitions of the imminent deaths of friends and people I encountered. These premonitions were never wrong and my first such premonition even prompted me to argue with my best friend Dallas to heed my warning against his planned hunting trip. Dallas ignored my warning and, as a result, was killed when his gun accidentally discharged. At other times my "words of Knowledge" have led to spiritually edifying godly choices.

 

[Blade]

I agree with allot of what Oscarr said. Know who you are. Whos you are. I had a best friend that came over and wanted to show me something. That he said.. works on everyone. I said.. it will not work on me. So he did the test lol.. he was shocked that..it would not work on me. It was not me it was Christ in me. Whats in YOU is greater then the lies your friend is hearing.

God has given gifts to all. Some have turned into the wrong station. Some dont know they did. God never takes that gift away. The more you are around him.. the more his so called "gift" will stop working. When I was young me and my friend worked together. One day some elderly woman came in.. saying she was a psychic. So my friend let her read her hand. The woman told her all about her past and past boyfriends. Now my friend.. hmm well she believed in Jesus..but was more into the world. Now I let this woman read my hand. Let me say this. NEVER EVER EVER EVER do that. Doing this gives the enemy the RIGHT to come in and do things in your life. I OPEN that door. And.. being ignorent or stupid what ever. Means nothing to the enemy. Any time you question. Go back and read GEN Adam and Eve. They knew NOTHING about what they gave up.. just NEVER do things like that.

I was young and didnt know any better. Now with me.. wow she never got one thing right. One can be saved...but not walking on the right path, walking in HIS will but our own. We are free.. Anyway.. pray about it.. ask the Father when you are around him.. to give you the right words. Dont worry about it. The JESUS in you will shine.. he will see what always works for you will not work for Him. Make sure you are prayed up before you see him. Being prayed up ALWAYS is better. KNOW that what is IN YOU..for some reason unknown to him.. he will want it. I was standing out side of the Collage (EastW Univ). They were playing some movie out side. This girl wakes up and says "your a Christian arent you?" I said.. yes how did you know? She said.. there was just something about you. Again.. its NEVER YOU/ME..its HIM.

Don't doubt dont worry. Have FAITH KNOW your Father will move in that person life. Trust me.. you dont have to always say something.. its the sweet sweet Holy Spirit that draws people to the Father. Just tell the Father.. HERE I AM..send me

 

[Open Heart]

I know that "real" psychic activity doesn't come from God.

Real psychic ability is simply a natural God given talent, no different from genius, or the ability to shoot hoops like Michael Jordon. This talent is given to saints and sinners alike. It is a neutral tool that can be used for both good and evil. It is related to intuition, except stronger.

 

[DW_in_AR]

It's too bad the Randi Foundation Million Dollar Challenge was shut down. Your psychic friend could have made a lot of money.

How do you witness to this kind of person? Their spiritual experiences are as real as mine. So where someone says they have talked with dead relatives, and someone who they didn't know, but after research discovered that the person existed and that the details were right, I can't just say "that's not true".

That's exactly what you can (and probably should) say, if only to yourself. Your friend is suffering delusions, and drawing you in to them. Or they are simply lying. They aren't having chats with ghosts. Countless people have claimed they chat with ghosts, not one has ever been able to prove it.

 

[jssceckert]

Hi

I wasn't sure whether to post this in advice, or theology, but as I guess I am looking for advice I went with this - apologies if it's wrong.

I have a friend who not only believes in psychics, but claims to be one. What's interesting is that there are a lot of stories, and I don't believe this is made up. And that worries me. I know that "real" psychic activity doesn't come from God.

How do you witness to this kind of person? Their spiritual experiences are as real as mine. So where someone says they have talked with dead relatives, and someone who they didn't know, but after research discovered that the person existed and that the details were right, I can't just say "that's not true".

Has anyone had any experience of this kind of thing? What's the best way to witness to someone like this, without risking a good friendship?

Thanks

Yes, the psychics. The Bible says, "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun." In other words, for sure we know it couldn't be Samuel, because when we die, we "know nothing."

I spoke to two mediums in my lifetime. One said I might have one child but I wold have two children that were not mine. The second said the same thing. The readings were done far apart by two different people. However, so far in my life they have been correct. The first medium was impressed by my life and even helped me more because he thought I was important. The second medium was scared of me and did not want to read my hand. I believe she felt the power of God and was afraid of cursing me. When I was young I prayed to God asking him to allow me to have children when I was older around 30. God has revealed to me that he wants me to adopt and that I will ave one child.

I believe the reason these people have these abilities is because they are reading me. I believe they can pick up on the spiritual realm but what theya re seeing and hearing is not always acurate because the dead know nothing and so they are not hearing the dead they are hearing something else. Mediums are hearing demons and evil spirits. Spirits lie and manipulate. Witches pretending to be mediums can curse us because they are evil and chose to follow other Gods and their ways. These are some things I ave read and been told by elders.

 

[jssceckert]

Demons know all about a person's past, because they observe them. Also, they can tell you all about a dead relative, and even impersonate that person. for the same reason. We have demons all around us who observe everything we do, and they report back to the devil, who accuses us before God when we do something wrong. But Jesus is a defence lawyer in heaven, and so the devil doesn't get anywhere.

But if you asked a psychic what is going to happen in the future, they will give vague answers, because demons don't know the future. This is why a fortune teller is quite vague when someone asks for an indication of their future. It is the same with horoscopes. They are written in very general terms, not specific, because the demons behind them don't know the future for anyone. Only God knows what the future for anyone is going to be, because He is planning it.

Even though a psychic's experience is similar to your own, it just shows that a counterfeit can be so close to the real thing that it is difficult to tell them apart. Sometimes the supernatural gift of discerning of spirits is needed. But the aim of Holy Ghost manifestations is to strengthen a believer's faith in Christ and to enhance his experience with God and his life. A psychic will draw attention to himself and will draw a person away from faith in Christ and holy living. New Age psychic is all about improving the person in themselves instead of bringing them closer to God for the Holy Spirit to bring the changes.

What I suggest you do is to cover yourself with the blood of Jesus before you come into contact with him. Bind every spirit that is not of God so they cannot influence you in any way; assert that you are a child of God and that the devil cannot come anywhere near you. Then enjoy your friendship, and he will enjoy yours and he will be strangely silent about the psychic part of him, because it will not work in your presence and will not be able to speak through him because you have bound and silenced the demon behind it. The demon will be frustrated as heck, because it will will be imprisoned in chains while you are with your friend, and your friend will relate to you as the person he is and not as a psychic. The Jesus in you is greater than the demon in him, and the demon knows it and will not even attempt to do anything to you. We don't need to be afraid of demons or psychics because we have authority over them. Pray that any curses you receive from demonised people, will be turned into blessings from God. What Graham Cooke says that when he gets a demonic curse put on him, he writes it down and reverse engineers it to make it word the exact opposite, turning into a prophecy from the Lord. Often when a witch puts a curse on him, he says, "Is that all you've got? I've heard better. You're not a very good witch, are you?" That derails them. Isn't that amazing, or what?

 

[jssceckert]

A lady in the bible predicted Sauls death. it was vague but she consulted a spirit and the spirit said he would die the next day and he did......so i gues they do knw the future somewhat...

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

A lady in the bible predicted Sauls death. it was vague but she consulted a spirit and the spirit said he would die the next day and he did......so i gues they do knw the future somewhat...

This is a very interesting point. I found a good article about it here:
Did the Spirit of Samuel Communicate to Saul at En Dor?
You are quite probably correct in that what was brought up in the guise of Samuel was not Samuel but a demon masquerading as him. The article quite clearly states that God would not have approved of bringing someone back from the dead, in fact, no one can come back from the dead. Also, the prophecy did not turn out exactly as it was said, because Saul was not killed by his enemies, he committed suicide, which makes the prophecy false. This is the interesting thing about a counterfeit prophecy: It can be nearly true but not quite. This is why we have to thoroughly test prophecy, because it has to be true in every detail as it is given. A false prophecy may have 90 percent of correct detail but it is that missing or incorrect 10 percent that makes it false. This is why we need to be very careful about prophecies that state a definite time for fulfilment. You will find that the closest that Old Testament prophecies come to a time of them coming to pass is "in the last days". I can't quite remember this, but there was a prophecy given during the captivity of the Jews that 70 years in the future, the Jews will return to their land. Was it Daniel who calculated at the end of the 70 years that the time had come and he started praying that it would come to pass? Maybe someone could put me right about that. However, I digress, but all this is quite interesting and worth discussing.

 

[joshua 1 9]

I know that "real" psychic activity doesn't come from God.

Then "real" psychic comes from the devil or demons. If you want to know the future that God has for you then talk to a man of God. If you want to know the future that the devil has for you then talk to a psychic. Lots of people are happy to represent the devil in this day and age. With God many are called but few are chosen. Zechariah 13:9 " I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God." To serve God you have to be pure and clean, holy and sanctified.