Originally published in the Theology Thursday Newsletter, Aug 21, 2025 (Issue 4): Are psychics operating with the gift of prophecy?
Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 19:31
All the way back in Leviticus, God draws a line in the sand. While the nations around Israel were consulting mediums, spiritists, and diviners to interpret dreams, predict the future, or connect with spirits and the dead, God’s people were called to be different.
Holiness meant loyalty, which meant trusting the Lord’s Word, His prophets, and His presence, instead of chasing secret knowledge through the occult.
And this warning didn’t expire. Deuteronomy doubles down (Deuteronomy 18:9–14), and the New Testament continues this idea. Seeking spiritual power or hidden insight outside of God isn’t just a bad idea, but it’s rebellion that leads to spiritual bondage.
Church history shows that this conviction has been carried forward. Early church leaders like Tertullian and Augustine wrote extensively against divination and sorcery, recognizing them as counterfeit powers that rival the authority of Christ.
For centuries, the church identified these practices as not neutral “entertainment,” but as real spiritual dangers that are deceptive and compromise one's allegiance to Jesus.
The biblical thread is clear: from Israel to the early church, the call for the Christian is the same. Believers are to walk by the Spirit, not be entangled by the occult.
Acts 8:9–24 (Simon the Sorcerer): Simon used magic to amaze people, but when he saw others people filled with God’s Spirit, he tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter rebuked him, showing that God’s power is not for manipulation or personal gain.
Acts 16:16–18 (The Slave Girl with a Spirit of Divination): A girl earned money for her owners by fortune-telling. Paul cast the spirit out in Jesus’ name, demonstrating that Christ’s authority triumphs over occult powers.
If you look up the Greek of “ divination” mentioned in Act 16:16, it translates to, “a fortuneteller, one possessed (enthused) by python, a spirit that communicated through the Delphic oracles.” [1]
Acts 19:18–20 (New Ephesus Believers Burn Occult Books): When many came to faith in Jesus, they confessed their occult practices and publicly burned their magic books. This showed a complete renunciation of hidden, demonic power for the truth of the gospel.
So, let’s get to the main question at hand...
Are psychics operating with the gift of prophecy?
Definition
Prophecy—When Holy Spirit ministers divine revelation through proclaiming God’s word, His will, guidance, or instruction toward past, present, or future events. This is a gift given by Holy Spirit to believers for the strengthening of the church (1 Cor. 12:10).
The short answer: No.
Prophecy is a gift empowered by the Holy Spirit. Psychics are drawing from a completely different source. Or if we want to be accurate, they are possessed by a spirit not of God.
As believers, we’re called to walk by the Spirit, not dabble in or be influenced by the occult. Our allegiance belongs to Christ. Chasing supernatural knowledge outside of God’s revelation isn’t harmless curiosity; it’s rebellion.
God has given His people the gift of prophecy through the Holy Spirit, empowering us to hear His voice, speak His truth, and encourage, correct, and build up others according to His will. And outside of the revelatory gifts operating, He speaks to us directly through His word and His Spirit! We don’t need to seek insight anywhere else.
“Contending for a supernatural move of God while sustaining theological integrity can feel convoluted, but it is a worthy cause.”
Consider This: Prayerfully work through these questions.
Where are you tempted to seek knowledge, guidance, or power outside of God, even in ways that seem harmless?
How do you discern the difference between God’s Spirit and other spiritual influences in your life?
Are there areas where you need to confess, repent, and turn away from practices or curiosities that drew you away from God’s guidance?
Jenny Randle is an academic theologian and author who has been serving in vocational ministry since 2008. She holds a Master's in Biblical and Theological Foundations and is ordained by an internationally ecclesiastical credentialing organization. She is the President of the Holy Spirit Ministry Center.
Join the Inner Circle at our training center!
This is our space to connect, discuss questions from Theology Thursday, and pray for one another. Step beyond the noise to engage in meaningful and intentional community with others who are grounded in truth and guided by God’s Spirit.
It’s free to join. Create your account. All past students can sign-up using their previous membership information. If you have never registered for a class or course, sign-up for free today and be apart of the Inner Circle and our discipleship community.
