Which WITCH is Which?

WILL WORSHIP The Root of All Witchcraft ✦ “Which WITCH is Which?” A Teaching by Pastor John Shane Vaughn First Harvest Ministries International HisComingKingdom.com | TheTruthTv.tv INTRODUCTION Beloved of Yahweh, we make a dreadful mistake when we read in Exodus 22:18 — “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live” — and we picture black cats, broomsticks, cauldrons, and Halloween costumes. We think of spells and potions and crystal balls. But I submit to you today that we have MISSED the very essence of what witchcraft IS. Because of this lack of under- standing we are surrounded by Witchcraft in the assembly of Yahweh. While refusing to celebrate Halloween because of Witchcraft, we entertain it among us, unaware. That unaware- ness will be removed from your eyes today. From the moment that you finish this booklet, all Witchcraft will be exposed be- fore your discerning eyes. Once you see it, you are command- ed in Torah to never allow it to live, exist or assemble among you, you are to kill Witchcraft. We have externalized it. We have costumed it. We have made it about rituals and incantations. We have hidden it behind an old hag on a broom so we dare not identify it with our beautiful selves. And in doing so, we have MISSED the very existential ROOT — the spiritual DNA — the HEART of what Yahweh was actually forbidding. Know this well, Yahweh cares less about the hag on the broom than he does the beautiful among us who she hides in. What if I told you that witchcraft is not primarily about po- tions and spells? What if I told you that sorcery is not primari- ly about rituals and incantations? What if I told you that the ROOT of all witchcraft — the very ESSENCE of what Yahweh hates — is one simple thing: THE EXALTATION OF SELF-WILL OVER YAHWEH’S WILL. Witchcraft is WILL-CRAFT. Sorcery is WISH-CRAFT. The witch attempts to BEND REALITY to conform to HER will. The sorcerer attempts to MANIPULATE CREATION according to HIS desires. Persih the thought that sorcery no longer exist, what do you think transgenderism is? An illusion mean to bend reality. A presentation of a lie presented as truth and the spell is evident in those who accept this bended reality as truth by the mutiplied masses. There is a vast difference in the witches among us and the overcoming Son of Yahweh? The one key indentifying trait is always “Not MY will... but THY WILL be done.” That is the dividing line between the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light. Not as mere words spoken but realities daily lived. PART I: THE HEBREW What Is Witchcraft? Let’s begin with the Hebrew word itself. Exodus 22:18 שַכְמֵּׁיַחְת אֹל הָפהֶּ “Mekashephah lo techayeh” “You shall not allow a sorceress to live.” The word translated “witch” or “sorceress” is שַכְמֵּׁהָפ (mekashephah), from the root )kashaph( ףַׁשָּכ — pronounced kaw-SHAF. According to Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary (#H3784): Kashaph — “properly, to whisper a spell; to enchant; to practice magic.” But let’s go DEEPER. Let’s dig into the ROOT. The Ancient Pictographic Hebrew In ancient Hebrew, every letter was originally a PICTURE — a pictograph that carried meaning. The word )kashaph( ףַׁשָּכ is composed of three letters: 1. כ (KAPH) — The picture of an OPEN PALM. It carries the meanings of: “Bend” and “curve,” “To tame or subdue,” and most importantly: “As one who has been BENT to anoth- er’s will.” Did you catch that? The very FIRST letter of “witchcraft” carries the meaning of BENDING SOMEONE OR SOME- THING TO YOUR WILL. 2. ש (SHIN) — The pic- ture of TWO FRONT TEETH. It carries the meanings of: “Sharp” — the cutting edge of teeth; “Press” — the function of teeth when chewing; “Destroy” — what teeth do to food. This speaks of FORCE, PRESSURE, and DESTRUCTION. 3. פ (PEY) — The picture of a MOUTH. It car- ries the meanings of: “Speak” — the function of the mouth; “Blow” — breath proceeding from the mouth; “Edge” — the lips at the edge of the mouth. This speaks of WORDS, DECLARA- TIONS, and SPOKEN COMMANDS. Put It Together: The Pictographic Definition When you combine these three pictographs, you get a stun- ning revelation: KAPH + SHIN + PEY = “To BEND reality through FORCEFUL WORDS” “To use SPOKEN DECLARATIONS to PRESS and SUBDUE something to YOUR WILL” “The MOUTH that DESTROYS in order to BEND things to the speaker’s desire” Do you see it now? The witch — the mekashephah — is one who uses the pow- er of WORDS and DECLARATIONS to FORCE reality to BEND to HER will. She SPEAKS. She DECLARES. She COMMANDS. Not in alignment with Yahweh’s will — but in opposition to it. She whispers her spell — her WORDS — and expects cre- ation to BEND. Gesenius Adds Another Layer The renowned Hebrew scholar Gesenius, in his Hebrew Lexicon, notes that kashaph in its original usage meant: “To pray, to offer prayers or worship — but in Hebrew, its usage is restricted only to the worship of idols.” This is extraordinary! The sorcerer is not just casting spells — the sorcerer is PRAYING TO A FALSE SOURCE to accomplish what Yah- weh has not ordained. The witch is engaged in WORSHIP — but worship of SELF, worship of DEMONS, worship of anything that will bend reality to HER desires. This is will-worship in its purest form. WITCHCRAFT PRAYERS: The Revelation Most Miss Now hear this carefully, because this changes EVERY- THING: Witchcraft is simply PRAYERS called SPELLS. It is all WORSHIP. Think about it: The witch PRAYS — but she calls it a “spell.” The witch WORSHIPS — but she worships the ge- neric god or godess, one that she’s created that cares about her own will more than a sovereign eternal plan. The witch PETITIONS a spiritual power — but for HER purposes, not Yahweh’s. The witch makes DECLARATIONS — but decla- rations designed to BEND reality to HER desires. What is a spell? It is a PRAYER directed at the wrong source for the wrong purpose. What is an incantation? It is WORSHIP offered to anything that will give the worshiper what SHE wants. The difference between a prayer and a spell is not the FORM — it is the HEART. The prayer says: “Father, THY will be done. Align MY de- sires with YOUR purposes.” The spell says: “Powers of the universe, bend reality to MY will. Give me what I want.” Both are worship. Both are petition. Both are spiritual dec- larations. But one SUBMITS to Yahweh. The other DE- MANDS from the universe, god or godess or anyone out there that will obey mankinds demands and prophesies. One aligns with the Creator. The other attempts to MANIP- ULATE creation. This is why Yahweh hates witchcraft — because it is WORSHIP pointed in the wrong direction. It is not that the witch doesn’t believe in spiritual power or god or godess. It is not that the witch doesn’t pray. It is not that the witch doesn’t worship. The witch believes, prays, and worships — but all of it is aimed at SELF-WILL rather than YAHWEH’S WILL. And THAT is the abomination. PART II: THE FIVE “I WILL” STATEMENTS The Birth of Witchcraft Now let us go back to the very ORIGIN of this rebellion — the moment when will-worship was first manifested in the created order. Isaiah 14:12-14 “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morn- ing! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart: ‘I WILL ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of Elohim, I WILL sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north, I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds, I WILL be like the Most High.’” Five times — FIVE TIMES — the adversary declares “I WILL.” This is the heart of evil laid bare. This is the spiritual DNA of all rebellion. This is the ROOT from which every act of sorcery, witchcraft, and manipulation springs. Allow me to show you the present day manifestation of that. Will you be at Passover? “I Will” pray about it Will you be at Sabbath? “I Will” think about it Will you give your tithe” “I Will” see if I am able Will you be at Tabernacles? “I Will” try to work it out The Leaders called for prayer, will you be there? “I WILL” try It is time to Dance on Mt Sion with the Congregation, will yo be joining us? “ I WOULD” if that was my nature. What Was Lucifer’s Sin? It was not that he committed some external act. It was not that he performed some ritual. It was not that he cast some spell. His sin was WILL-WORSHIP. He exalted HIS WILL above Yahweh’s will. He declared HIS intentions over Yahweh’s intentions. He sought to BEND the heavenly order to conform to HIS desires. Ezekiel 28:17 “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” His heart was LIFTED UP — exalted — puffed up with SELF. And what did that self-exaltation produce? “I WILL... I WILL... I WILL... I WILL... I WILL...” This, beloved, is the ORIGINAL WITCHCRAFT. Before there was a spell cast on earth, there was a declara- tion of self-will in heaven. Before there was a potion brewed in a cauldron, there was a heart that said, “I will be like the Most High.” Witchcraft is not primarily about rituals — it is about the exaltation of SELF-WILL. PART III: ADAM’S FALL The Continuation of Will-Worship The serpent brought this same spirit into the Garden. Genesis 3:4-5 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For Elohim doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” What was the temptation? “Ye shall be as gods.” The same lie. The same spirit. The same will-worship. “You don’t have to accept what Yahweh has said. You don’t have to submit to what Yahweh has ordained. You can DE- TERMINE your own reality. You can CHOOSE your own destiny. You can BE YOUR OWN GOD.” And when Eve took that fruit, what was she doing? She was attempting to ALTER REALITY according to her own desire. She was attempting to CHANGE HER ES- SENCE from creature to god, from clay to potter, from sub- mitted to sorcerer. She was practicing the very thing that kashaph describes: Bending creation to her will rather than submitting to Yahweh’s will. She became the first human witch — not because she cast a spell, but because she exalted her will above the com- mand of Yahweh. PART IV: PAUL’S WARNING The Greek “Will Worship” Now we come to a stunning confirmation from the Apostle Paul himself. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul uses a Greek word that is translated in the King James Version as the very title of this teaching: WILL WORSHIP Colossians 2:20-23 “Wherefore if ye be dead with Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in WILL WORSHIP, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” The Greek: Ethelothreskia The phrase “will worship” is translated from the Greek word ἐθελοθρησκεία (ethelothreskia) — Strong’s G1479. This compound word is made up of two parts: ETHELO (ἐθέλω) — “to will, to wish, to desire, to be in- clined” THRESKEIA (θρησκεία) — “worship, religion, religious observance” Combined, it means: “Self-imposed worship” or “Worship of one’s own choosing” Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines it as: “Worship which one devises and prescribes for himself, con- trary to the contents and nature of the faith which ought to be directed to Messiah... said of the misdirected zeal and practic- es of ascetics.” Do you see what Paul is exposing? Will worship is religion that originates from HUMAN WILL rather than DIVINE COMMAND. It is worship that says: “I will worship Yahweh MY way. I will add these rules that SEEM wise to me. I will create religious observances from MY own understanding.” It has a “shew of wisdom” — it LOOKS spiritual. It AP- PEARS holy. It SEEMS righteous. But it originates from SELF-WILL rather than YAHWEH’S WILL. Paul says it is worthless — “not in any honour to the satis- fying of the flesh.” Will worship cannot conquer the flesh because it IS the flesh — the flesh dressed up in religious clothing. Here we see the Hebrew KASHAPH and the Greek ETHELOTHRESKIA bearing witness to the same truth: The root of all spiritual rebellion is the exaltation of SELF-WILL over YAHWEH’S WILL. PART V: THE CONTRAST “Thy Will Be Done” Now let us turn from darkness to LIGHT. Let us see the OPPOSITE of will-worship. Let us behold the heart of the OVERCOMING SON. Matthew 26:39 — In the Garden of Gethsemane “And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless NOT MY WILL, but THINE, be done.” Do you see the contrast? Lucifer said: “I WILL... I WILL... I WILL... I WILL... I WILL...” Yahshua said: “NOT MY WILL... but THINE be done.” Five declarations of SELF-WILL from the adversary. One declaration of SURRENDER from the Son. And that ONE declaration of surrender accomplished what five declarations of self-will could NEVER achieve: Redemp- tion. Salvation. Reconciliation. Victory. The defeat of the adversary himself. The Lord’s Prayer — The Pattern for Overcomers Matthew 6:9-10 “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE in earth, as it is in heaven.” This is the prayer Yahshua taught His disciples. Not “MY will be done.” Not “Let ME determine the outcome.” Not “Bend reality to MY desires.” “THY WILL BE DONE.” This is the antithesis of witchcraft. This is the destruc- tion of sorcery. This is the annihilation of will-worship. When you pray “Thy will be done” — you are renounc- ing the spirit of witchcraft. There was a mother in our congregation who moved to Headquarters with full knowledge of our commitment to the 7th day Sabbath. Nothing comes before the Sabbath day in our congregation. Little by little this sister began to attend her sons sporting events in lieu of attending the Sabbath. When I approached the subject with these parishoners I was quickly told that “I WILL” attend my childrens sporting events. “I WILL” not be told what to do with my time. It was then that I knew which spirit I was dealing with and needless to say we had to ensure that THE WITCH did not continue to live among us. PART VI: WHY THE WITCH MUST NOT LIVE Now we return to our original text with new understanding: Exodus 22:18 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch [mekashephah] to live.” Why such a severe judgment? Because the witch — the practitioner of kashaph — rep- resents the ULTIMATE REBELLION against Yahweh’s sovereignty. The witch says: “I will ALTER what Yahweh has made.” “I will CHANGE what Yahweh has decreed.” “I will MANIPU- LATE outcomes according to MY desires.” “MY WILL super- sedes Yahweh’s will.” This is the very reason, no matter how much you love a person, when they have chosen the path of Witchcraft they are not allowed in the camp of Israel. This is why the abomina- tion of homosexuality and transgernderism is so dangeous in our day it litter alters what Yahweh has created and bends that creation into a false illusion. This is not merely a violation of a command. This is an as- sault on Yahweh’s THRONE. This is a declaration of WAR against Yahweh’s SOVEREIGNTY. This is the spirit of LUCIFER manifested in human flesh. And Yahweh says: “It shall not LIVE.” Not because Yahweh is cruel. Not because Yahweh is vin- dictive. But because WILL-WORSHIP is the ROOT of every evil. If you allow the spirit of “I WILL” to live, it will SPREAD. If you tolerate the mindset of self-sovereignty, it will COR- RUPT. If you permit the heart that says “MY will over YAH- WEH’s will” — it will DESTROY. PART VII: THE APPLICATION Where Is Will-Worship in Your Life? Every Overcomer must face this hard question: Where are you practicing witchcraft in your own life? Please don’t look around the room, I am speaking to you! Where are you practicing witchcraft in your own life? I am prayerful that you can honestly answer - Nowhere! If you have the win of WISH-CRAFT or WILL-CRAFT in your life, you will never be satisfied with the place you find yourself in, with the will of Yahweh for your life today if it doesn’t look like what you had wished for! This sin that must not life among us is not found with cauldrons and spells — but with SELF-WILL. If you truly wish to examine yourself always begin with how you respond to the set authority figures in your life. Nor- mally, you have to look no further than there to see that spirit hiding. Your response to authority, true biblically mandated authority will always reveal the hidden witch. When Yahweh says NO, do you keep pushing? When Yahweh closes a door, do you try to pry it open? When Yah- weh’s will conflicts with YOUR will, which one wins? When circumstances don’t go YOUR way, do you manipulate to change them? When Yahweh is silent, do you seek other voic- es? Every time you exalt YOUR will over Yahweh’s will — you are practicing the spirit of witchcraft. The spirit of “I WILL” is alive and well: • “I WILL have that relationship — even though Yahweh has not ordained it.” • “I WILL get that promotion — even if I have to com- promise to get it.” • “I WILL make this happen — even though every door is closed.” • “I WILL change this person — even though Yahweh is working on a different timeline.” • “I WILL have MY way — regardless of what the Spirit is saying.” This is KASHAPH. This is WILL-CRAFT. This is WITCHCRAFT. PART VIII: THE CURE Absolute Surrender The cure for will-worship is not behavior modification. The cure is not religious ritual. The cure is not trying harder. The cure is DEATH. Kill the Witch Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Messiah: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Messiah liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of Elohim, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” The “I” must be CRUCIFIED. The “I WILL” must DIE. The self-sovereign heart must be EXECUTED. And in its place? “Not I, but Messiah liveth in me.” Luke 22:42 “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: never- theless NOT MY WILL, but THINE, be done.” This was not a one-time prayer. This was not a Gethsemane moment only. This must be the PATTERN of the overcom- ing life. Every day: “Not my will.” Every decision: “Not my will.” Every desire: “Not my will.” Every circumstance: “Not my will.” “BUT THINE BE DONE.” CONCLUSION: Two Kingdoms — Two Prayers Beloved, there are only two kingdoms in the spiritual realm. The Kingdom of Darkness operates on one principle: “I WILL.” The Kingdom of Light operates on one principle: “THY WILL be done.” Every witch, every sorcerer, every practitioner of the dark arts — they are all operating on the same principle that Luci- fer declared in Isaiah 14: “I WILL.” And every overcoming son, every true disciple, every sur- rendered servant of Yahweh — they are all operating on the same principle that Yahshua declared in Gethsemane: “THY WILL be done.” Which kingdom are you operating in? Which prayer is the pattern of your life? James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to Elohim. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” SUBMIT — that is the opposite of “I WILL.” SURRENDER — that is the death of witchcraft. “THY WILL BE DONE” — that is the prayer that breaks every curse, defeats every spell, destroys every work of the enemy, and aligns your life with the purposes of the Almighty. ✦ ✦ ✦ May the spirit of “I WILL” die in us today. May the prayer of “THY WILL” rise from our lips forever. Not my will — but THINE be done. Amen. © Pastor John Shane Vaughn — First Harvest Ministries International HisComingKingdom.com | TheTruthTv.tv