Break Every Chain

Part 6: Breaking the Chains of Witchcraft

May 5, 2024

"He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces." (Psalm 107:14, New King James Version)

"Do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you." (Deuteronomy 18:10–12, New Living Translation)

But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?" (Acts 19:15, NLT)

"Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered." (Acts 19:16, NLT)

Truth #1: There is a real spiritual world.

"We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12, NLT)

Truth #2: We don't have to live in fear!

"You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world." (1 John 4:4, NLT)

How Do We Break The Chains Of Witchcraft?

The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. (Acts 19:17, NLT)

1. Fear God—more than any evil spirit.

"No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel." (Numbers 23:23, NLT)

"Now that you belong to Christ, . . . . God's promise to Abraham belongs to you." (Galatians 3:29, NLT)

2. Renounce your evil practices.

Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. (Acts 19:18, NLT)

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." (James 5:16, NLT)

3. Get rid of any evil material.

A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. (Acts 19:19, NLT)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." (Psalm 139:23–24, NLT)

4. Tell your story.

So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. (Acts 19:20, NLT)

"They overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die." (Revelation 12:11, New English Translation)

"Christ has rescued us from the curse.… When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing." (Galatians 3:13, NLT)

‍