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Likewise, the Word can speak through an absence. If you are engaging in something or plan to, but there is an absence of positive energy, a sense of voidness, that is likely a sign that God is saying "No." If you ignore that lack of inner affirmation, you may later find that such was wiser than what you esteemed your common sense.
These receptions of the Word need to be tested by at least four elements. These elements are: the Bible, the Tradition of the churches, personal and communal experience, and reason. A true Word will never violate the essence of either one of the above. A true Word will agree with them together.
Recall, means of a true message are not necessarily the means to seek godly, divine revelation. A dark spirit does not mind giving exact information to pull you into openness to spiritual forces that entice sometimes by their very accuracy.
Stay away from anything of the occult, or dark arts, and stay away from any form of witchcraft. Do not differentiate between white witches or black witches. If you have the Voice of God, and you trust the Guidance and Care of God, you do not need the art of a witch or warlock.
Recently, I came upon a page of the occult while researching on-line. My spirit was repulsed with a fearful sensation to move from that page as soon as possible. I could not hurry enough to close the page. I have seen, heard, and experienced enough by this point in my life to run as fast as possible from any form of the occult.
Ironically, the opposite repulse is generally true of persons under dark-spiritual possession: the person is repulsed by holy objects, sacred words, the name of Jesus, and clerics of faith. Hate of what is holy is a sure sign of the presence of evil; repulsion of the sight of evil is a sure sign of the presence of the Spirit of Holiness.
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Again, the effectiveness of such, as in contacting the dead, does not in any means protect you from an opening to the forces of spiritual darkness. Listen to this from the prologue of John:
1In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God [Christ was with God], and the Word was God [They were One]. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made [The Word is the creative agent of the universe]. 4In him was life, and the life was the light of men [all persons]. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it [or, cannot comprehend it].
*John 1.1-5 (NLT)
There is an antagonism between two agencies in the world. These are so opposed that, first, they are termed by the opposites "light" and "darkness," and, the nature of the light is such that darkness wishes to overcome or comprehend it [thus, in some sense be equal to it], but cannot.
So, align with the light, and avoid anything resembling darkness in a spiritual sense, even if it is dressed up with glowing promises and sparkling guarantees. The darkness, even under the guise of helping, is never of the holy Spirit; thus, such, even in more apparently benign forms, is devoid of sacredness.
We can say, with the Jewish and Christian tradition, that the divine Word has personal quality, is not merely abstract. Such is personal, extending into consciousness the Mind of God, the Being of Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
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