“…Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth? (Gal. 3:1). 

I am sure you have heard about the Florida school board who settled with three families for $600,000 dollars over the death of their children.  It is very sad. I grieve with them. But these teenagers were not shot by some madman, nor were they the victims of domestic terrorism. They died because of hypnotism. 

North Port High School Principal George Kenney was practicing hypnosis on students who were struggling with grades, anxieties due to tests and their athletic performance. He may have hypnotized over 70 students. His actions introduced an element into their lives for which they were not prepared-demonic activity.

Hypnosis causes a trance (an altered state of consciousness) in which the hypnotist can make suggestions to the subconscious of the person being hypnotized. Back in the 18th century occultist Franz Anton Mesmer from whose name we get the word word mesmerize—was a man who practised the occult in the name of alternative medicine. In fact, the above passage uses the word bewitched which means to mesmerize by magic arts, to fascinate, charm and take away the power of resistance. This stuff is demonic and you should stay away from it and warn your family and friends about it.

The hypnotic spirit of antichrist that has been attempting to lure people away from Christ for two millennia and hypnotize them to oppose the gospel (1 John 4:1-3) by all means possible. The real cure of the gospel message about Jesus Christ is seen as that dangerous by the Devil because it breaks the spell of the devil. That is why the Bible warns believers to be careful.

With the Christians at Galatia, Satan used teaching, yes teaching. It is called the teaching of demons (1 Tim. 4:1). Satan is actually speaking hypnotically through some teachers because they have abandoned the scripture for the philosophies of the world and apostate religion. The Galatians were hypnotized by legalism the idea that says you can get to heaven by doing good things. Instead of what the Bible teaches that human beings are sinners and only believing in Christ and what he did on the cross as the sole means to go to heaven. They gave up their liberty for the false security of doing religious things rooted in self righteousness instead of learning how to be empowered to live for Jesus by the Holy Spirit to obey God and love Jesus in any and all circumstances. They ended up hypnotized by a false gospel, an erroneous view of Christ and a different spirit (2 Cor. 11:3-4).

Many people don’t realize that some of the most popular “preachers” today could very well be the duped agents of Satan in deceiving millions (2 Tim. 3:13) because they do not preach the raw truth of the Gospel (Gal 2:14). Some of these so called ministers endorse “prayer practices” that are actually a form of hypnosis and they are dangerous. As far as I am concerned they need to be rebuked continually and repeatedly so they will repent.

Satan can hypnotize and introduce his thoughts as well through other means. You would never guess most of the time who is under his spell. You see them at work, at church even at home. He can use entertainment and media of all kinds. He has been using the Harry Potter saga, Twilight trilogy, movies about the Ouija Board even Annabelle the demon possessed doll.  As idiotic as some of these horror movies are they may introduce spiritual darkness into the thinking of unsaved people and Satan can even assault lukewarm Christians and have them spinning in circles.

Lately, the fascination with the occult, demon possession, vampires, humans changing into animals and zombies are all part of Satan’s last day strategy just to enslave the thoughts of people. The thoughts of sinful men in the media are communicated unknowingly to the mind and spirit of those who open themselves to them. Christians should think twice about going to movies, what they see on the internet, cable or satellite television. “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord.” (Prov. 15:26).

The devil can do this as well through drugs and alcohol. Sorcery (pharmakeia) is the abuse of drugs that can cause an altered state of consciousness (Gal. 5:23, Rev. 18:23). Alcoholism alters the personality and its no wonder people used to call it spirits. It is my belief that if enough alcohol is consumed not only does it create addiction but opens the persons spirit to demonic influence. The Bible overwhelmingly takes a negative tone concerning alcohol (Prov 20:1).

Satan, of course, can use our own weaknesses against us if we are not careful. He loves when we defeat ourselves before he can even get to us. If we get fixated upon worldly things and allow a carnal mind it will detract from the life and peace of the Spirit God wants us to have and brings death (Rom. 8:5-6). No Christian can be demonized or possessed by Satan. that is false doctrine.  But a believer in Jesus can leave their mind open to his hypnotic suggestions. But we should throw down thoughts against God (2 Cor. 10:3-6). Like Martin Luther said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” We need to put on the helmet of salvation to protect our thoughts and give us mental toughness during trials (Eph. 6:17).

Satan wants us to distract people from Christ and place their focus on self or circumstances. He wants to traumatize people, take away their sleep, steal their health or introduce addiction through sex, drugs, worldly entertainment and alcohol. He wants to hypnotize you with, “…craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions.” (1 John 2:16NLT). He wants you to be at peace with him and the world’s way of doing things. Did you not know there is a war going on? (Eph. 6:10-12). Have you forgotten? Are you going run away from the sounds of war (Psa. 78:9)? You cannot turn the evil days of battle on and off. Like it or not you are in a fight for your soul and the souls of your family and friends. Satan is fighting hard in these last days and it seems more and more Christians and their leaders are asleep at their posts, some are even changing sides joining Satan’s campaign (Gal. 1:6). It’s time to wake up!!! “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Rom. 13:12).

It is part of Satan’s plan to attack the mind’s of people and enslave them to his power. Satan wants to breakdown your resistance. He wants you to focus on financial hardship and sickness, personal attacks on your reputation, troubles at work and home all to make suggestions that God is lying to you, holding back from you. The Enemy wants you to be hypnotized with thoughts that God does not love you or he will not help you. The devil and his agents want you full of anger, fear, anxiety, self-pity, discouragement and loneliness. Satan wants you to ruin your testimony for Christ and keep you from helping others!

You can fight back and stand your ground against Satan and he will run away terrified (James 4:7). You must get your focus off your problems and on the wonderful love and strength of your Savior Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:1-3)! The victory has been ours since the days Christ washed away all our sins. God’s promises of victory in the scripture is to the one who believes in Jesus and they have already overcome the world (1 John 5:5). Christ who lives in us is greater than Satan and his emissaries in this world (1 John 4:4). Now we can go in Christ’s authority and reprimand Satan in the name of Jesus Christ and tell him you will not be hypnotized by his lies.

©2015 Rev. Stephen S. Gibney