Scriptural Answer About "Ghosts"

[hisgrace]

thanks Botz, the reason i was asking a family member lost their mother a few years ago and in their greif they would talk to their mother they thought. I told them she was with the lord, she was a christian, so i began to study the word about these thing to try to council them. I just could never seem to grasp what a familiar spirit was, i wondered if it was a spirit that could take the form and likeness of a family member. hisgrace

[Botz]

Hi HisGrace.

I think it is also possible that a spirit can take the form of a departed loved one but I don't think this is what a familiar spirit is...more like a deceiving spirit...although it is conceivable that one demonic spirit can manifest in a number of ways and be called a deceiving spirit,familiar spirit,or a spirit of infirmity,or deaf and dumb spirit according to the manifestation . It is certainly true that there are different types of spirits that require more drastic application to remove them from peoples lives...

Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

If we take a look at the appearance of angels to the sons of men we see that often for all intents and purposes they can look like another human being...

Personally I have wondered if angels leave aside their heavenly glory when they appear amongst men except for certain specific appearances where they can be Huge and Mighty and Powerful...rather in the way the L-rd laid aside His glory to dwell amongst us...but that is another subject.

Genesis 18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

Gen 18:2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

Hebrews 13:2 Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it.

A wicked angel/demonic spirit will disguise his intent and use any means to lure a susceptible person away from the gospel away from truth and ultimately into the darkness of eternal damnation. Tragedy,death and grief can often humble a person so that they are open to things that they might have been closed to for years...this can work both ways. I know many people who have found the L-rd in the midst of these hard times...equally Satan has provided his own brand of comfort through Mediums,spiritism and other occultic practises even tagging the name Christian and Church to them...hence 'Christian Spiritualist Church' etc.

No angel from the L-rd tempts man or deceives him into believing a loved one is speaking to him either directly or through a Medium...this sort of deception only comes from the enemy of our souls.

An angel or a demon will act according to their nature...and our safe-guard is that if they do appear we can tell from their words whether they are of G-d...the same goes for false teachers.

Galations 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any "good news" other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.

Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any "good news" other than that which you received, let him be cursed.

'Hi this is your departed Mum'...is another gospel and not from the L-rd!

Nowadays I think you will find many preachers claiming to have heard from an angel...now I believe in certain cases this is true...but in many others it is deception because it gets the hearers guard down and they believe the word of the preacher on the basis of the authority of a so-called angel...and in this instance they can be blinded and eagerly receive subtle lies as they do not discern the words being spoken.

We don't have to major on these things...but we should be well-informed and aware of the pitfalls..especially considering the days we live in....and to be able to minister the truth to those in need or in error such as your family member.

[hisgrace]

botz thank you for the insight i agree. Alot of christians dont want to discuss these topics im thankful you all do especially in the time we are living.