PART I WITCHCRAFT the THIEF OF LIBERTY By Gale W. Maiden The Lord recently opened our eyes to a greater depth of understanding concerning witchcraft. Witchcraft is so much more than person(s) with a pointed star ridden hat, a painted green face and a broom stick chanting accolades to mother earth. This Halloween concept I believe is a satanic diversion disguising the real truth about witchcraft. Witchcraft is the diabolical enemy of Christ crucified. Christ’s death on the cross forever has liberated believers from the power of sin leading to death. Witchcraft persistently attempts to deny our liberty and in an infinite number of ways demands that we must work for our liberty. Witchcraft has its life in promoting dead works…works not emanating from a faith relationship with God. In light of this understanding I believe that in order to discern a spirit of witchcraft we must first be reminded of the totality of our gift of freedom through faith in Christ crucified.   BEWITCHED OR CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST? The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Galatians reveals the above truth when he writes the following: You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you (maligned you and fascinated you with false representations), before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed (evidenced; evidently set forth) {as} crucified? (Galatians 3:1, NAS) What constitutes witchcraft or the realm of the bewitched? It is clear from this verse of scripture that bewitchment has its identity only through a portrayal or evidence of Jesus the Christ crucified. What does witchcraft have to do with Jesus the Christ crucified? The primary goal of witchcraft is to do detriment to the freedom rendering power of the cross. Witchcraft speaks against the liberty freely given through faith. Witchcraft has its root in dead works. Dead works emanate not from communication with God but from one’s own desires. Instead of receiving the gift of justification or freedom granted in Christ crucified witchcraft says essentially that we are not free and must work to achieve perfection.   HISTORY OF GALATIAN CHURCH This Galatia church was a product of the Apostle Paul’s first of three major missionary journeys. This journey is scribed in the Book of Acts 13:1-15:35. These passages of scripture noted provide a witness to the presence of witchcraft in Galatia at the time of this missionary journey. Note that Simon Bar-Jesus attempted to bewitch Sergius Paulus by turning him away from the word of faith. Rule of thumb from my experience: Witchcraft is only discerned and righteously dealt with when faith is in manifestation. And when they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for thus his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. (Acts 13:6-8, NAS) Also Acts 13:32-39 tells us that the people of Galatia heard the message of Christ crucified, buried and resurrected. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him (Jesus the crucified) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39, NAS) The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:1 that Jesus the Christ had been publicly evidenced as crucified. It was during Paul’s first missionary journey to the region of Galatia that proof of the freedom rendering power of Christ’s crucifixion was attested to with miracles and signs.   THE APOSTLE PAUL’S CHARGE TO BELIEVERS Near the end of Paul’s epistle to the Galatians he reiterated his adamant stance on the power of Christ crucified to overcome all that is in the world. Crucified means one is dead. Paul describes the liberty of the cross as being dead to all that the world systems would offer. “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14, NAS) P.S. (Profoundly Simple) My heart beats excitedly as I ponder the implications of discerning the truth concerning witchcraft. In the next few articles I will continue to convince believers of the true profound liberty in Christ crucified a revelation essential to exposing witchcraft. How free are we? Are we free from sin? Are we now resurrected and totally free from the birth pangs of death? These questions must be answered correctly if we are to enjoy our freedom by which we may set those captive to witchcraft free. I also will reveal possible sources of witchcraft which may not yet be distinguishable therefore are stealing our God given liberties in Christ crucified. Are there voices around us who are whispering bondage into our spirit? To whom are we listening?