What does the term, "Familiar Spirit", per the Bible, mean to you?

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   Missing Linkposted 10 years ago

   What does the term, "Familiar Spirit", per the Bible, mean to you?
   
   It seems the Bible takes a negative attitude towards familiar spirits warning that they are dangerous, deceptive, etc.  I tend to agree.   What do you think?  What are some examples of familiar spirits?  What are some activities that can get you in trouble with a familiar spirit? 
   
   Thanks!

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   Ericdierkerposted 10 years ago

   It is a very strange term. The old testament uses it directly. In modern parlance "familiar" really means "close like family" But the old testament is more direct that it is some kind of Voodoo. Simon was such a guy. So would be the non-scriptural "wise men" of Magi. I think if we look closely we see that "Luke the Physician" must of had some alchemy in his history. Apparently Saul - before being Paul -- had some stuff.
   What a fantastic question. Science if thought of as opposed to faith would be this "familiar Spirit" as would be any secular philosophy and certainly Psychiatry. It seems that anything close to Yoga and transcendental meditation would fall to this term.
   This weeks Gospel reading for most Catholics gets real strange and I like it. It tells us to hate family. Well it is Jesus telling us to reject the world, but taken literally it is just down right crazy. It literally reads from Luke 14: 26 "If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple"
   In that Christ was not known for teaching hate --- We must assume he is speaking somewhat of this "familiar Spirits" And again we must note this is attributed to Luke the Physician who certainly was not an eye witness but an erstwhile  historian at what we think was Paul's request.
   
   So with all that, Said I can answer your question. "the world"!! It is like a dichotomy we have to love in this world, each other, no danged matter what. But we have to reject the world no danged matter what. Familiar Spirits are like Gurus of Alchemy and so is a nagging wife and car payments or an abusive man.
   
   I beg my people to just lay down that "familiar Spirit" for at least a few minutes a day and empty that heart of the "familiar Spirit" and fill it back up with love. I spent almost a whole week once studying the concept of an empty or half empty cup. (I know that is weird but hey I have a degree in philosophy and preach - to that is weird as well) I even emptied the cup and stared. No matter what I did the cup was never empty. Sometimes it was filled with life giving air and sometimes with life giving water -- but never empty.
   
   I beg my people further to engage the world, love a homeless and hug that "familiar Spirit" that needs it more than I.

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Eric,  Like you,  do not think Jesus meant to hate your family literally---I think what he meant is to reject the  world ---so we agree on this aspect.  Thanks for your interest\ing feedback and sorry everyone it has taken me so long respond.

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   thomasczechposted 10 years ago

   The term "familiar Spirit" means for example, if a person is dealing with Lust, and that person speaks to another person dealing with that then the spirits of lust can convince both to engage in that area with one another.
   Familiar spirits in people will try to persuade people to give in. The spirits will convince the people that it is OK to act on whatever sin they are struggling with.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      that is not a scriptural definition , it is a modern false definition.  scripturally it involves necromancy.

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      Steel Engineerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      This is definitely something that happens. The term celaFOE is using is a Hebrew word, 'owb, Strong's 178. It is a kind of spirit that either IS a spirit of the dead, or is used to pose as the dead. IN modern English, familiar spirit is as you say.

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Celefoe, I think it has more to do with "dead to God" (as Glynch aludes) It is that spirit portion in us that is not perfectly pure in heart to God. I only know folks like that - that are not perfect. I suppose demonic possession of a portion of us.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      eric-- you may think that but that does  not make it  scripturally correct.    It definately refers to speaking to the dead-- necromancy   see my comment below  strong 178-OT

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for taking the time to answer the question!

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   glynch1posted 10 years ago

   What the term "means to me" is irrelevant; what matters is what it meant to the original audience. According to one authority, a "familiar spirit" is a "divining demon present in the physical body of the conjurer" (Merrill Unger, Unger's Bible Dictionary, 344). The demon is "familiar" in that in it was on intimate terms with and might be readily summoned by the one possessing it (344).
   
   "Hating" one's family has nothng to do with this current subject. The term "hate" is a Hebraism that means that a true disciple's love for his family must come in second place to his love for God; it obviously does not mean that he should literally hate his father and mother.

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for answering!

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   Steel Engineerposted 10 years ago

   In the Kingdom of Satan, demons are assigned to particular individuals. They follow them, and learn their weaknesses, strengths, history, and things about them the person does not even realize.
   This spirit is "familiar" with that person. Ex-Satanist and former psychic fortune teller John Ramirez has a testimony about how he used the familiar spirits of his clients to tell them their lives.
   See this hub on how these work:
   http://manfrommodesto.hubpages.com/hub/ … rticipants

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      that is not the meaning of a "familiar spirit" according to scripture.   those spirits may be fmiliar to the person but a "familiar spirit" is refererring to necromancy, communicating with the dead.  Speaking to or for the dead.

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      Steel Engineerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lex … &t=KJV
      It may be a little more complex than that. However, it seems you are closer than I was. Peace.

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks much for participating and taking the time!

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   celafoeposted 10 years ago

   what it means to me is not of any value.  the only meaning with value is what does it mean in scripture.  This is that answer.
   
   For scriptural definitions we cannot go to a dictionary, we must go to scripture and the meaning of the original language words used.
   The specific term "familiar spirits" does not appear in the new testament.   It appears three times in the old testament.
   The word used for "familiar spirit" in the 3 instances it appears is always the same word.
   
   OT:178   'owb (obe); from the same as OT:1 (apparently through the idea of prattling a father's name); properly, a mumble, i.e. a water skin (from its hollow sound); hence a necromancer (ventriloquist, as from a jar):
   KJV - bottle, familiar spirit.
   
   So for  a familiar spirit to be present  witchcraft must be involved, including necromancy, as in communicating with a dead  persons spirit.  Under old testament law anyone doing this was to be killed.   Of course in the new we "KILL" them by converting them to Christianity, when possible , which in effect kills that evil spirit or we rebuke them and stay away from them     .   Which also means a psychic, a medium, a taro card reader, or what ever name they go by, all types of witchcraft are to be avoided.    And if we are ministering Christianity , then these spirits must be removed (cast out).    Of course the good thing is they must respond and leave by the command in the name of Jesus, if the person commanding has the right to use that Name  --  In other words-- is a Christian baptized in the Holy Spirit.  and the person with the spirit agrees to them leaving.
   Or as scriptures tell,  leave them alone or they return with many more evil spirits.
   
   Interestingly the note says as a ventriloquist, as if maybe ventriloquism came by way of mediums as a way of pretending to be the dead person speaking?
   
   Also interestingly in the new testament, there is no list of demonic spirits, the closest to a list is when they were called legion because they were many.   but that's another subject.
   The most interesting thing to me is that in order for there to be a "familiar spirit" the person with that spirit MUST be possessed by it  (be under the control of it).   So contrary to what some demon chasers teach it is not possible for a Christian to have a "familiar spirit" and where they are present the person must be delivered from them prior to or during conversion.
   
   one other note"  The reason why scripture tells us we must "discern spirits) is because many that call themselves "prophets" these days are not and are actually operating in witchcraft.    This is true in most "churches of men".

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I do not get where you get this all or nothing concept. And this notion of Christians being perfect is outside any understanding that I know of. But then again it seems you think you are a perfect Christian.  That's cool. Confess no error my friend.

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      celafoeposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      eric-- there you go again false accusations.   I am not perfect and certainly never professed to be but I do understand the bible and believe it.  When proven to be in error I repent .  Can you say the same?

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      Ericdierkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I do not use proof for spiritual matters. I love to debate and argue but it is irrelevant to me. My beliefs have never and will never be based on proof. Interpretation of the bible should not be dictated by teachers and preachers like you and me.

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Celafoe, a Ouija Board, depending on how it is used, could fall within the jurisdiction of familiar spirits don't you think?  I'm choosing your response as best answer.  Thanks so much!  Thanks much everybody!!

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   The Examiner-1posted 10 years ago

   What "familiar spirit" means to me is simple to me. Someone who is, or has become, aware or familiar with their own spirit.

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      Missing Linkposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks TE!

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