Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook (47 page)

Paranormal
means “beyond the norm, or supernatural.”
¹¹
Below are some different types of allegedly supernatural phenomena:

—
Apports
—the supernatural power to transfer objects through closed rooms and sealed containers

—
Clairaudience
—the supernatural power to hear something beyond the senses

—
Clairvoyance
—the supernatural power to see something not present

—
ESP/extrasensory perception
—the supernatural power to perceive something beyond the senses

—
Kirlian effect
—the supernatural power to see colored auras revealing information about the people they surround

—
Levitation
—the supernatural power to lift objects or people so they appear to float

—
Mental telepathy
—the supernatural power to communicate from one mind to another without the use of senses

—
Precognition
—the supernatural power to know something before it occurs

—
Psychic surgery
—the supernatural power to perform surgery using only the mind

—
Psychometry
—the supernatural power to identify facts about an object or a person through contact with personal items

—
Telekinesis
—the supernatural power to move physical objects using the mind, such as playing a musical instrument without using the hands

“Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come? No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death”

(E
CCLESIASTES
8:7-8).

Q:
Many psychics say their power comes from God. If a prophecy comes true, doesn’t that prove the fortune-teller possesses God’s power?

A:
The true test of genuine prophets from God is that their predictions must be 100 percent accurate. If
any
of their prophecies do not come true, neither the so-called “prophet” nor the power is from God (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).

Q:
Can a person be possessed by Satan?

A:
Yes. Judas was possessed and used by Satan to betray Jesus. Satan literally entered into Judas. John 13:27 says, “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. ‘What you are about to do, do quickly,’ Jesus told him.”

Q:
Can Christians be demon possessed?

A:
No. The Bible never presents even one believer as being possessed by a demon. Christians can be oppressed, but not possessed. They have been bought by the blood of the Lamb; therefore, their bodies are not their own—they belong to Christ. First Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Q:
Does Satan have the power to affect a person’s actions?

A:
Yes. Satan can influence a person’s heart to do evil. Satan prompted Judas to betray Jesus. John 13:2 says, “The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.”

Q:
Should I be afraid of the occult?

A:
No. There is no reason to fear the occult as long as you avoid involvement and rely on the indwelling power of Jesus Christ to overcome evil. Remember, 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

God’s powerful truth can light your way out of the pit of darkness and deception and put you on the path to recovery, where answers are found in God alone. The Road to Transformation will bring you to Christlike maturity, and God may then use you to pull others up from the pit.

—
Renounce
any involvement with the occult (Acts 19:18).

—
Remove
all objects related to the occult (Acts 19:19).

—
Recognize
your enemy as Satan (1 Peter 5:8).

—
Rely
on your authority in Christ over evil (1 John 4:4).

—
Refuse
fascination with the occult (Deuteronomy 18:10-14).

—
Reside
in close fellowship with believers (2 Corinthians 6:14).

—
Reap
the benefit of earnest prayer (James 5:16).

—
Realize
the truth of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

—
Read
Scripture for wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 2:1-6).

—
Remain
clothed in the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).

The person drawn into the occult is like the addict drawn into drugs: Both are dependent on a destructive, potentially deadly mirage.

—JH

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

Jeremiah 10:2

Leviticus 19:31

Exodus 20:4-5

Ezekiel 13:20

Micah 5:12

Isaiah 8:19

1 Timothy 4:1

1 Corinthians 10:20-21

Revelation 21:8

For additional guidance on this topic, see also
Anger, Codependency, Crisis Intervention, Critical Spirit, Cults, Depression, Evil and Suffering…Why?, Fear, Forgiveness, Guilt, Hope, Identity, Lying, Manipulation, Rejection, Salvation, Self-worth, Suicide Prevention, Verbal and Emotional Abuse, Victimization
.

I
f a little bit is good, then a lot must be better! In truth, that’s not always the case—especially when overeating results in negative consequences, such as the ditch of overindulgence or compulsive eating. Reasons may vary, but oftentimes an emotional or spiritual void is trying to be satisfied with temporary filler instead of permanent fulfillment.

“A man is a slave to whatever has mastered him”

(2 P
ETER
2:19).

— Compulsive eating is a seemingly irresistible impulse to eat.
¹

— Compulsive eating is uncontrolled eating based on satisfying emotional hunger rather than physical hunger.

— This repeated act is an addiction that can result in physical disorders.

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control”

(P
ROVERBS
25:28).

— Gluttony is excessive eating and drinking.
²

— Gluttony typically results in obesity, a condition characterized by excessive body fat that is 20 percent or more above recommended weight.
³

— In Scripture,
gluttony
refers to a loss of control and a yielding to fleshly desires instead of yielding to God.

“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags”

(P
ROVERBS
23:20-21).

—
Bingeing
is a period of unrestrained indulgence to eating, drinking, shopping.
⁴

— Repeated bingeing can become an addictive behavioral pattern. Proverbs 25:16 says, “If you find honey, eat just enough—too much of it, and you will vomit.”

Some people have been motivated to “get serious” by thinking of their overeating as a lack of submission to God. They admit that their primary focus has been letting food be their god, and not letting God be their God.

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things”

(P
HILIPPIANS
3:19).

— cycles of excessive eating and severe dieting

— chronic neck and joint pain

— high blood pressure

— diabetes

— kidney disorder

— heart disease

— limited range of motion and activity

— shortness of breath after mild exertion

— anorexia/bulimia

— gall bladder problems

Note: If you are experiencing any of these physical problems, consult your health care professional.

— low self-esteem

— anxiety

— shame

— irritability

— depression

— passivity

— guilt

— powerlessness

— anger

— hopelessness

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple”

(1 C
ORINTHIANS
3:16-17).

We are wise to ask the Lord to help us see ourselves accurately. Then if the Lord impresses upon our hearts the need to change, we will see and recognize the need.

“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it”

(P
ROVERBS
27:12).

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about food?