The Church can become numb to the reality of hell’s power to imitate works of God in an attempt to deceive God’s people. Hell can also do signs and wonders, but only to a point. The devil will use everything at his disposal to deceive us, even using the power of magic and sorcery to deceive the Church. Magic and sorcery are not like someone pulling a rabbit out of a hat. It is serious business and should be considered as such.

In the last election cycle, we learned that covens of witches gathered across America to cast spells on the candidates they did not want to take office. At times, the workers of darkness can seem more serious and attuned to spiritual issues than many within the Church.

When the Lord began to instruct Moses on how the plagues against Egypt would unfold, He wanted Moses to know that the supernatural events would so dramatically display His power that “I will make you seem like God to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1).

The first sign displayed was Aaron throwing down his staff, and it became a snake. “Then Pharaoh called in his wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic” (Exodus 7:11).

The second sign was turning the Nile river into blood, “But again the magicians of Egypt used their magic, and they, too, turned water into blood” (vs. 22

The third sign was releasing the invasion of frogs into every nook and cranny of Egypt, “But the magicians were able to do the same thing with their magic” (8:7).

At the fourth sign was the invasion of gnats, but at this sign, the magicians failed to perform. “Pharaoh’s magicians tried to do the same thing with their secret arts, but this time they failed. And the gnats covered everyone, people and animals alike” (8:18).  There were more signs to come, but the magicians and sorcerers had nothing to offer to influence the outcome of what was transpiring.

The Lord could have stopped Pharaoh with just the command of His voice, but something needed to take place. The Lord was using the plagues to test the faith of Moses and Aaron. These signs were used to prepare Moses and Aaron, and the people of Israel, to place their trust in God as He led them out of slavery in Egypt..

There is so much taking place in this world that the Church needs to discern so we can move forward with God and not be hindered by the plans of darkness. We need to take seriously what those who are weak in their faith have dismissed out of hand, even assigning labels of dismissal to those who understand what is happening at a deeper spiritual level.

The apostle Paul demonstrated God’s power in Acts 16 when a slave girl possessed by a demon was able to predict the future. Her influence was displayed over several days until Paul took action, “This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And instantly it left her” (vs. 18).

Because of the victory of Jesus Christ, we walk in a greater display of God’s power – a resurrected power. The power of God displayed through His Church is uniquely tailored by the Lord to confront the magicians and sorcerers who are still in existence today, attempting to influence outcomes of our lives. The wise among us will remember this and live accordingly.