Day 3: Counterfeit vs. Authentic Power
Reading: Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Occult Practices
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
The Prophet
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
Reading: Acts 8:9-13
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Devotional:
Simon the Sorcerer was famous, respected, even feared—but his power was counterfeit. It impressed people but led them away from God and toward himself. Authentic spiritual power always points to Jesus, never to the vessel. We live in a world full of spiritual counterfeits—things that look appealing but leave us empty, like wax fruit that disappoints when bitten. The test is simple: Does it lead you closer to God or further away? Does it glorify Jesus or elevate self? When we don't know God's Word, we become vulnerable to deception. Commit to becoming a person of the Book. Let Scripture be your filter for discerning truth from counterfeit. Real power isn't about control or personal gain—it's about humble service that magnifies Christ alone.
Occult Practices
9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.
The Prophet
14 The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the Lord your God has not permitted you to do so.
Reading: Acts 8:9-13
Simon the Sorcerer
9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.
Devotional:
Simon the Sorcerer was famous, respected, even feared—but his power was counterfeit. It impressed people but led them away from God and toward himself. Authentic spiritual power always points to Jesus, never to the vessel. We live in a world full of spiritual counterfeits—things that look appealing but leave us empty, like wax fruit that disappoints when bitten. The test is simple: Does it lead you closer to God or further away? Does it glorify Jesus or elevate self? When we don't know God's Word, we become vulnerable to deception. Commit to becoming a person of the Book. Let Scripture be your filter for discerning truth from counterfeit. Real power isn't about control or personal gain—it's about humble service that magnifies Christ alone.
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