Interacting with the “dead” is demonic

God fills the whole universe. If there is one spirit we are to speak with, it is the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth and life, and all wisdom, understanding and counsel. As followers of Jesus, we are forbidden from interacting with spirits of the dead as this only leads to spiritual deception and oppression. The Bible makes it clear that the living is separated from dead. Those who have died are waiting for God’s final judgement and no longer play a part in anything on earth. When we talk to, consult or pray for the “dead”, we are in reality, interacting with demons.

(See Chinese versions: 简体中文 > 与「死者」相交是属魔鬼 | 繁體中文 > 與「死者」相交是屬魔鬼)

Ephesians 4:10 NIV He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)


Isaiah 11:2 ESV And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 NLT  … the dead know nothing… They no longer play a part in anything here on earth.

Associating with the dead brings spiritual death

Jesus came to set us free from spiritual death – and to also destroy Satan, “the god of this world”, who has the power of death. The Bible explicitly tells us not to choose death and evil. Many do not realise that when we interact with the dead “who no longer play a part in anything on earth”, we have unwittingly subjected ourselves to demonic influences.

Deuteronomy 30:15 ESV  “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil… 

Hebrews 2:14-15 ESV  … he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Ways we interact with the “dead”

Here are a few examples of how we unknowingly follow Satan and choose ways of death.

1. Talking or praying to the dead

In times of need, we must be careful who we consult or turn to. When we talk to deceased relatives or go to mediums, psychics or anyone who consults the dead for answers, we are actually turning our backs on God. We become spiritually defiled by such “detestable practices” and open ourselves to demonic influence.

Psalm 121:1-2 ESV  I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Leviticus 19:31 NLT  “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.

2 Kings 23:24 NLT  Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice…

2. Ancestor worship or dead hero worship

We are to worship God alone. Whenever anyone honours a dead person, he or she is effectively bowing their hearts down to the deceased. Many become “participants with demons” as they set up altars, burn incense, offer gifts and sacrifices or take part in ritualistic ceremonies for the dead. Some people display large portraits or statues of deceased relatives, royalty or war heroes in reverence of the dead. This is paramount to idolatry.

Ezekiel 6:4 ESV  Your altars will be demolished and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols.

1 Corinthians 10:20 ESV  … what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

3. Touching the dead

Dead bodies are considered spiritually unclean and we are to be careful not to touch corpses, even those of our parents. There are proper ways to handle dead bodies and we should pray to cleanse ourselves if we have unknowingly gone against God’s warnings.

Numbers 19:11 ESV “Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days.

Leviticus 21:11 ESV  He shall not go in to any dead bodies nor make himself unclean, even for his father or for his mother.

4. Praying for the dead

As much as we like to hope for a second chance, physical death ends all hope for those who did not repent and turn to Christ before they died. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our salvation. Anyone who does not have the Holy Spirit will die for eternity. Praying for the dead as if they were still alive or as if they had a second chance shows a lack of acceptance or knowledge of this truth.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV  … the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Hebrews 9:27 NIV  … people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

Ephesians 1:13 ESV  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

5. Festivals or temples of spirits of the dead 

Many cultures believe that “ghosts” or spirits of the dead can bring them power or special messages. Hence, they seek to be on good terms with them. Such “good terms” clearly invites evil spirits to operate in our lives. Pagan religions and festivals that celebrate their relationships with the dead include:

• All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day (Catholic | November)
• Chuseok (Korean mysticism | September/October)
• Day of the Dead (Mexican mysticism | November)
• Gai Jatra (Nepalese mysticism | August/September)
• Halloween (Pagan mysticism | October) *
• Hungry Ghost Festival (Buddhism | July/August)
• Obon (Japanese Buddhism | August)
• Pchum Ben (Cambodian mysticism | September/October)
• Pitri Paksha (Hinduism | September)

* Halloween is said to have been influenced by the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where the “ghosts of the dead” returned to earth. An article in the Telegraph UK says that during Samhain, “Places were set at the dinner table to appease and welcome the spirits. Gaels would also offer food and drink, and light bonfires to ward off the evil spirits. Many dressed up as souls of the dead, or Aos Si, and were understood to be protecting themselves from the spirits by impersonating them.”

6. Calling up spirits of the dead

The dictionary defines the word, familiar, in the spiritual context as “a demon supposedly attending and obeying a witch.” It also describes “one who is well acquainted with something or one who frequents a place.” The Bible forbids us from consulting familiar spirits. Familiar spirits are well acquainted with people and places and will deceive many people into thinking that the dead have returned by impersonating them. We know that this, of course, is not true.

Deuteronomy 18:10-11 ASV  There shall not be found with thee any … consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Familiar spirits are “channelled” through ouija boards, trances, seances, psychics, seers, mediums, witches, witch doctors, and fortune tellers with baby ghosts. When we consult a spiritist, we are in essence, submitting ourselves to their counterfeit power, signs and wonders, and only bring curses to ourselves. We see one incidence in the Bible where King Saul consulted a medium and was condemned to die after he chose demonic powers over God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9 NLT  This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ESV  So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he … consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death…

Repenting for interactions with the “dead”

1. Repent for turning to the dead in the past

Jesus Christ came to give us life through the Spirit of life. We should repent for worshipping, talking to or consulting the dead in the past, so that we can break free from the curses. As believers, we can depend fully on God Almighty Himself. Let us not turn to false solutions from Satan.

Romans 8:2 ESV For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

2. Break ties with the dead, mediums and familiar spirits

When we formed relationships with mediums or other spiritists in the past, we became slaves to Satan by listening to their counterfeit prophecies over us. Such words often have some lingering power in our lives because people tend to remember what was said deep in their hearts. We must declare in Jesus’ name that we break ties with the spiritists, the places they operated in, and the words they spoke to us. If we were ever given any charms or tokens, these must be destroyed and thrown away. There is no harmony between Christ and the devil, and we must choose only one side.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 NLT  Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? …

Next, command all related spirits to leave in Jesus’ name and go to the pit of fire, never to return. Ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify the names of the spirits that need to be expelled, He will help us cleanse our bodies, which is His temple.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV  Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?

As a general rule of thumb, if any spirit, whether in the form of a person, angel or even Jesus, appears before us, we are to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” and not readily believe anything. We do this simply by asking them to confess with their own mouths that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. If they are not able to do that, command them to leave in Jesus’ name immediately. 

1 John 4:1-3 ESV  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already 

3. Ask to be cleansed and for our relationship with God to be restored

Finally, let’s return back to God wholeheartedly. We can ask Him to cleanse us of our defilement and restore our relationship with Him to sound spiritual health.

Leviticus 19:31 ISV  “You are to consult neither mediums nor familiar spirits. You are never to seek them—you’ll just be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Testimony 1

“Years ago, I became a loyal follower of a famous medium. I followed everything he told me and even introduced my friends to him, which I now regret.

Later, I found out that he worshipped a “baby ghost” where a child had been sacrificed for his power. I quit seeing him right away. However, all the things he told me became “locked” in my mind and I found no peace.

At that time, I thought I was helping myself and didn’t know I was coming under demon oppression. For example, I had terrible nightmares for several nights after each consultation.

One day, I repented to God and prayed to renounce all the evil spirits I had ever worshipped and consulted in the past. I felt as if a huge weight was lifted off me.

I realise now that I struggled with the lingering demonic presence for a few years, even after becoming a Christian, because of my lack of personal faith in Jesus. Through this experience, I have learned how to trust fully in God.”

Testimony 2

“My family practices ancestor worship. When my oldest brother died in his 20s, I was still a young girl. My mother brought me and my siblings to the crematorium where his ashes were kept to pay respects to our elder brother. We brought some fruit and flowers. I am the next born in the family so my mother instructed me to go and place joss sticks in front of his urn.

I found the whole environment very unsettling and I felt a little afraid. Because my mother told me to go, I obeyed. But the minute I placed the joss sticks in front of his picture, I heard laughter in my mind and some darkness came over my eyes. Suddenly everything looked gloomy. Since that time, I had not been able to sleep well and I often hear someone walking around my bed at night.

My brother used to be a martial arts student and he invited different spirits into his body to give him strength to fight. He also used to invite prostitutes home. Since his death, no one has wanted to sleep in his room. My room is next to his.

After I became a Christian, I tried to ask my church pastor for help. He referred me to a prayer ministry that arranged for two prayer ministers to visit me at my home. 

Led by the Holy Spirit, one of them immediately identified my brother’s empty room as being a “bed of demons”. When I told them about what happened to me on my visit to my brother’s urn, they explained that when I made that “offering” of incense to my brother’s dead spirit, the spirits that he invited into his body had jumped into me! I am so glad they were able to explain to me what had happened. 

They taught me how to pray to renounce what I did and command those spirits to leave me and to cleanse the family flat of the spirits he had invited in. It had been seven years that I suffered from the torment that those dark spirits brought into my home and I am finally able to enjoy peaceful sleep. The flat also looks brighter and feels so much more peaceful and restful. Thank you Jesus.”

Testimony 3

“I was telling my friends at my home group that I had been feeling heavy and unwell since I attended an uncle’s funeral two weeks before. One of them ask if it was a Taoist funeral and I said yes. She explained that Taoist funerals call up spirits from hell to take the dead person away and are demonic in nature. She offered to lead me in a prayer to repent before God for going to the funeral.

I was offended by the suggestion because it is important for our family to honour our elders. We are Chinese and Chinese show loyalty and show respect to our elders. I felt that she was condemning me for doing something honourable. I did not believe the heaviness I felt had anything to do with the funeral. My wife saw my reaction and encouraged me to pray anyway since the heaviness was weighing me down quite a lot. My extended family was not around and they didn’t need to know.

As I prayed to repent to God of going to the funeral, my friend led me to cast out spirits from the funeral home, the monks, and the demons that were invited to take my uncle away in Jesus’ name. I was shocked to see four black shadowy figures leave from the corner of my eye. Immediately, I felt relieved and my vision became clearer. The heaviness lifted. My first question afterward was, “How do I say no the next time I am invited to another Taoist funeral?” I am no longer an unbeliever.”

May this sharing be a blessing to you as you seek to love God with all your heart and renounce all associations with the dead.