Grace Notes By Sadell Bradley: WEDNESDAY'S WORD - WITCHCRAFT - Sadell Bradley

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - WITCHCRAFT - Sadell Bradley - 10/14/15 New Life Covenant Cincinnati

This time of year many turn their thoughts toward Halloween - witches, costumes and candy, without any understanding of the holiday or what it represents. It's not my intent to go into that on this blog. If you're interested in learning about Halloween check out this video from Pastor Jackie Jackson. Like other churches, we offer an alternative...not sure that's the best either. But I want to go in another direction with this blog. Witchcraft is the practice of magic, especially black magic; the use of spells and the summoning of spirits for their assistance or authority. Magic is the power to influence the course of events by using mysterious supernatural forces. I was traumatized when I first saw the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz and those monkeys! sent to thwart Dorothy and her friends from saving the citizens of Oz and her safe return to Kansas.

I determined then that witches were definitely to be avoided! I didn't realize that in a certain way, I was one of them. 1 Samuel 15 tells of king Saul's disobedience to God's command to attack Israel's enemy the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belonged to them. (vs.3) He was to put to death their men, women, children, infants and all of their livestock. Saul attacked

them, but spared their king, Agag, and kept the best of the livestock, but everything that was despised and weak, he destroyed. (vs. 8-9) God told the prophet Samuel that He regretted making Saul king because he didn't follow His instructions fully. (vs.10) Saul even had the nerve to greet Samuel with glee declaring, "I have carried out the Lord's instructions." (vs. 13) But partial obedience is disobedience to God - something I've often done. Saul gave excuses, was in denial, and blamed his soldiers saying, "But I did obey the Lord..." (vs. 20) he even 'worshiped' and gave a good offering! Isn't that what we do to cover it up?

But Samuel replied,"What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king." 1 Sam 15:22-23

Rebellion is an act of open or violent resistance to an established authority, government or ruler's control or instructions. That Latin root means to declare war against the authority. The number of times we've tried to use our own powers to influence the course events cannot be numbered. Nor can the number of times we've partially obeyed or tried to stall out God's commands. Not to mention trying to cover up our disobedience with good works and 'worship.' We're ready to protest Halloween...but are we ready to put to death our own rebellion, opposition and resistance to God's commands?

New Life Covenant Cincinnati