Unveiling the Shadows: Witchcraft’s Silent Infiltration into God’s House

rickandcjmoyer
Oct 28
5 min read

For pastors, leaders, and ordinary believers who sense something is wrong but don’t know what to say.

Have you ever walked into a meeting and felt a heaviness nobody explains? Or listened as someone

whispered a story about strange encounters and felt the room rush to judgement instead of care? If that’s you — thank you for noticing. Your unease matters. It’s not paranoia. The Bible calls believers to careful spiritual discernment (1 John 4:1), and the enemy often works quietly — inside places that should be safest: our churches.

This isn’t about fear-mongering. It’s a pastoral wake-up call. Witchcraft — the Bible’s name for occult practices, sorcery, and spiritual manipulation — is not a myth we can safely ignore. Deuteronomy 18:10–12 flatly warns against it, and Scripture shows what happens when God’s people flirt with the occult: leaders fall, communities fracture, and the vulnerable are left exposed.

Below are simple, Biblical truths and practical next steps — offered in humility and love — to help leaders and churches face what’s been hiding in the shadows.

What Scripture Shows Us

The Bible doesn’t treat sorcery as folklore. It names it, condemns it, and shows its real consequences:

Saul and the medium at Endor (1 Samuel 28) — a leader so desperate he opened a door to deception. Desperation led to catastrophic counsel.
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9–24) — influence, spectacle, and a transactional heart toward God’s gifts were exposed and rebuked.
Jezebel’s influence (2 Kings) and prophetic deception condemned in Ezekiel — patterns of manipulation, idolatry, and soul-hunting that profane God’s house.

Paul, John, and the prophets repeatedly tell us: test spirits, reject counterfeit piety, and guard the sheep. When Scripture shouts a warning, we ignore it at our peril.

Real voices, real lessons

I won’t reinvent the wheel — men and women who’ve walked hard roads have given wise counsel:

Nelson Schuman reminds us that occult influence rarely looks like a Halloween cliché. It often comes wrapped in Scripture and impressive performance. Watch fruit, not just form.
John Ramirez speaks from the perspective of someone who knew the enemy’s methods from inside: compromise and a “spirit of accommodation” are gateways for darkness.
Pastor Dave Bryan, Dan Duval, Kay Tolman, and John Eckhardt all underscore the need for careful pastoral oversight, practical deliverance tools, and compassionate care for survivors.

What these voices agree on is simple: discernment must be paired with pastoral care. Confrontation without compassion will only reproduce harm.

Signs to watch for (gentle, observable markers)

If you see multiple of these patterns, pray and act wisely — but don’t panic:

An ongoing pattern of division, slander, or secret-keeping that leaves people isolated
Counterfeit spiritual experiences (performative manifestations that lead to control, not freedom).
Leaders who hoard power, punish questions, or create fear.
Objects, vows, or practices introduced that subtly tie people to an external pattern of control
People repeatedly harmed when they ask questions or seek help.

If you’ve seen these signs, document what you observed, protect the vulnerable, and bring the concern to trusted leaders. You noticed something. That’s courage. Now let’s act with biblical clarity and real compassion.

Practical next steps for leaders and churches

Test and discern — pray, consult Scripture, and invite godly counselors before moving forward. (1 John 4:1; Proverbs 11:14)
Protect the vulnerable — make safety the first priority. Listen without rushing to explanations.
Equip a small, vetted response team — a few trained, humble people who can investigate, pray, and create safety plans.
Teach the congregation about spiritual authority and how to test spirits (Hebrews 5:14). Education reduces fear and increases wise action.
Pursue restoration, not punishment — where possible, shepherd toward repentance and restoration; where necessary, remove dangerous leaders. Matthew 18 provides the framework for dealing with sin among believers.

A short pastoral encouragement

If you’re a pastor reading this and feeling exposed or embarrassed — remember: God equips the humble. We don’t lead by pretending everything is fine; we lead by admitting our limits, gathering wise counsel, and putting the safety of the flock first. If you’re a survivor whose voice was dismissed — your testimony matters. The church must listen.

A prayer

Father, we bring our fear and our confusion to You. Give shepherds wisdom, give the vulnerable shelter, and expose deceit without breeding shame. Teach us to walk in your authority — to heal the sick, cast out darkness, and restore the broken

. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

—Pastor CJ

Heavenly Father,In the mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords—we come before Your throne of grace and truth. You are the God of Light, and nothing hidden can remain concealed before You. Your Word declares in Luke 12:2: “Nothing is concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”

Today, we ask You to expose, dismantle, and destroy every work of witchcraft operating in Your Church—every false altar, every curse, every manipulation, every counterfeit anointing, and every demonic assignment that seeks to divide, deceive, or destroy the Body of Christ.

Father, we repent for any open doors—through fear, compromise, silence, or pride—that allowed the enemy access to Your house. We plead the Blood of Jesus over our leaders, our congregations, our families, and our ministries. We reject every alliance with darkness, knowingly or unknowingly made.

In the authority of Luke 10:19, we bind and break every spirit of control, divination, sorcery, Jezebel, python, and witchcraft working in our midst. We command these unclean spirits to go—cast out and sent to the pit or wherever Jesus Christ commands, never to return.

We Declare

Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.”

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we dismantle every demonic network that has infiltrated Your Church. We destroy every invisible chain binding leaders, members, and families to confusion, oppression, sickness, fear, or poverty. We declare restoration over all that witchcraft has broken, stolen, or defiled.

In Jesus’ name, we now decree:

Health shall be restored (Psalm 103:3).
Friendships and godly unity shall flourish again (John 13:35).
Connection to the Father shall deepen through intimacy and truth (Ephesians 1:17-18).
Finances shall align with heaven’s order and abundance (Philippians 4:19).
Families shall be healed and reconnected (Malachi 4:6).

We reclaim our pulpits, our worship, our intercession, and our fellowship for the glory of God alone. We declare this house—this body—is holy ground. No unclean spirit has authority here. We seal this decree with the blood of the Lamb and the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Father, expose what must be exposed, heal what must be healed, and restore what must be restored according to your perfect will.. Let Your Bride arise pure and radiant, without spot or wrinkle, prepared for Your return (Ephesians 5:27).

We seal this prayer in the matchless name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, King of Glory, Lord of Hosts, and our soon-coming Bridegroom.

Amen.