Bible Discussion Thread

What is a familiar spirit?

Lisa. My first question is why do you want to know this.

I was listening to a sermon and didn't hear the beginning of it. They were talking about unfamiliar spirits and I want to know what they are and why are they unfamiliar. This is in no way to glorify the devil. I am a Christian.

Lisa. First this is in the category of discerning of spirits which is the God

Given ability to know what's operating and what to do about it. It is not

Natural ability it is spiritual knowledge and not a guessing game. A familiar

Spirit is one that knew what someone was like when they were living in the bible

The which of endor by a devil spirit brought up the likeness of Samuel the prophet.

This was a familiar spirit and the reason why the enemy did this was because

God was not talking to Saul the king because he was spiritually corrupt to Saul

Went to a witch, for information tells you how far out He was. Another example

My wife had a friend who's father died and sometime later she saw him in her

House sitting in a rocking chair, it put a ton of fear in her. God is not the author

Of fear first clue and what was the purpose of doing that. Most people even

Christian's don't believe this field and what's been taught is pretty much off

The wall. Just remember the wisdom from above James 3:17.

Lisa. For clarification first you said familiar spirits then unfamiliar which

One is it.?

I meant to say familiar spirit.

Lisa. Answered I day ago.

Hi Lisa. I'm sorry, I've never heard of 'unfamiliar spirits'. Of 'familiar spirits': these actually speak about those who engage in sorcery or necromancy. These devilish practises are very real & those who call up evil spirits wholly immerse themselves in that spirit world. So, when 'familiar' is used in this instance, the Bible translators have taken the word from Latin, which is 'familiaris'. And this word has several applications, & in this case, denoting 'a servant or household slave'. Then when we see 'familiar spirits' used many times in the Old Testament, it should give us an image of a sorcerer/necromancer who gives his/her authority over the spirits that he regularly identifies with (thus becoming a familiar spirit). These spirits then are subject to his/her commands.

But my guess is that 'unfamiliar spirits' are the opposite to what I've described here, but I don't believe that there are any references to them in the Bible and so I wouldn't know what the preacher you heard, was referring to. The only Spirit we know & to Whom we are subject, is the Holy Spirit of God and He is not subject to us, rather He ministers to us in the Love & Power of God, which those 'familiar spirits' are never able to do.