Every spirit shall bow
📖 James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
What we will learn today is that God has the ultimate power above every power and all powers are subject to him.
📖 Matthew 28:18 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
📖 Colossians 2:10 (KJV) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
📖 Colossians 2:15 (KJV) And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
📌 So let’s talk about powers and sorcery and how this all works.
✅ Intro: A Spiritually Sensitive People
🔎 Māori are a spiritually sensitive people aware of realms beyond the physical.
1. Makutu
Definition: Witchcraft, sorcery, or casting spells (especially to harm).
Often feared, associated with curses and death.
Used in negative contexts — makutu is seen as a violation of tapu (sacredness).
Example: “She was afflicted by a makutu.”
2. Matakite
Definition: Seer, visionary, or prophetic insight — the ability to foresee events.
Not always negative — some matakite were respected spiritual figures.
Comparable to a prophet or someone with second sight.
Example: “He had the gift of matakite — a knowing before it happened.”
3. Tohunga
Definition: Expert or priest — can be good or evil depending on the type.
Tohunga makutu refers to a specialist in harmful magic or curses.
Tohunga ahurewa refers to a sacred priest or spiritual leader in a tapu role.
Example: “A tohunga makutu might be called upon to curse an enemy.”
4. Rūhā and Wairua Kē
Rūhā: Old or worn-out spirit, sometimes tied to ancestral spirits with mixed influence.
Wairua kē: “Other” spirits — not from God. These can be deceptive or misguiding.
Example: “Some follow wairua kē instead of the Wairua Tapu (Holy Spirit).”
💭 It’s a great thing that Maori people are aware of the Celestial realm as many tribal type people understand but being in a terrestrial realm they actually cannot see nor truly understand the spiritual realm, because there is no real manual on how the spiritual realm works, but the only well documented manuscripts on Celestial things is the Bible itself, it gives a lot of information to understand what we should and shouldn’t do regarding the celestial realm.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:40 (KJV) There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
💭 And so I believe there are super natural powers to some extent that we can access because of the celestial realm (spiritual realm) and Maori people may have tapped into some of it but what was interesting was speaking with some locals of Wairoa Hawke’s Bay which explained that when the colonization happened a lot of Maori’s lost their abilities to see or heal and curse due to Maori’s changing because of Christianity, and I say Amen to that, but its nothing new as there is a similar story where the Bible…..
1️⃣ Book Burning Revival
📖 Acts 19:11-20 (KJV) And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
📌 So we see here when the apostle Paul was in Ephesus the people started changing from witch craft to God fearing people, and the same thing will happen to the Maori people because the Holy Spirit will dominate all powers that will oppose it, and all spirits will bow to God almighty.
2️⃣ A Spirit of Divination
📖 Acts 16:16-24 (KJV) And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
📌 I heard when a lot of Maori people had these powers and same thing happened they lost all their powers to christianity, thats true and that will continue to happen because all powers are subject to God Almighty, which leads me to my next point.
3️⃣ The Legion of Demons
📖 Mark 5:1-20 (KJV) And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.
A man was possessed by a legion of demons so strong people chained him.
The demons begged Jesus for mercy they knew His authority.
With one word, Jesus sent them into pigs and they ran off a cliff.
“Even thousands of demons tremble when Jesus speaks. His word has no equal.”
📖 James 2:19 (KJV) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
📌 Jesus is king of kings and Lord of lords.
4️⃣ The Magicians
📖 Exodus 7:11-13 (KJV) Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
📌 So Sorcerers are Magicians same thing, and they too could copy some the miracles so this goes to show that there are real Magicians out there sourcing their power from the celestial realm as stated here, but notice again Gods people win here because there powers are superior.
Also I want to note that their powers were limited because they copied a few more miracles but as soon as Aaron and Moses got to the miracle where they were creating life, the Magicians had to confess that “This is the finger of God” They couldn’t create life from matter, But God did, like he made mankind from the dust of the earth so God made lice.
📖 Exodus 8:16-19 (KJV) And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 17 And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 18 And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
📌 So again we are seeing time after time where God is putting all in their places, “Witchcraft has limits. Divination hits a wall. But God’s power breaks every barrier.”
5️⃣ The Imitator Confronted
📖 Acts 8:9-11 (KJV) But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: 10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. 11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
📌 This would be your most common type of sorcery you see today are those that are bewitching people (making out they have powers) when they actually don’t have powers, we call these imitators, they see and heard of such powers and try to imitate them.
📖 Acts 8:12-13 (KJV) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
When Philip preached Christ, people turned to the true power of the gospel and were baptized, and the people were more intrigued with Christianity rather than him Simon had to see for himself what all this christianity is about, and he decided to believe too. After this Simon wanted the power of the Holy Spirit which he thought he could pay for it.
📖 Acts 8:18-19 (KJV) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
📌 Silly Simon wanting powers for the wrong reason and got a rebuke from Peter, see a lot of people are fixated on having abilities for the wrong reasons, some want to be cool, have a purpose but they doing it all the wrong ways, God has a structure in place and people ought to follow, God isn’t a free for all, and he’s not the God of confusion, thats why God gave us his manuscripts to read,
📖 1 Peter 1:22-25 (KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
📌 The power of the Bible is that it will live beyond all creation, all will submit to the creator in the end away, secondly the Holy Spirit has infinite power meaning that it controls all power, and so it doesn’t impress us christians when we see sorcery or witchcraft because our power will annihilate any at any time.
6️⃣ A Warning Call
📖 Leviticus 19:31 (KJV) Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
God acknowledges these spiritual practitioners exist (familiar spirits, wizards).
He forbids seeking them because it leads to defilement, spiritual uncleanness.
📌 If your doubling in powers that isn’t of the Holy Spirit, then the only other spirits are fallen angels. The Holy Spirit is one and the word of God has the instructions for how to go about it, if any other powers are outside of the Bible, then your with the lesser powers the fallen angels, which will lead to your own hurt as those spirits only care about your demise.
📖 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
📖 Revelation 12:9 (KJV) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
📌 Don’t fall these lesser powers, they will promise you everything yet you will lose it all and your free gift of eternal life.
Many Māori feel the spiritual call deeply but we must discern the source.
Cultural and ancestral spirits may appear to hold wisdom or guidance, but they cannot give what only the Holy Spirit gives: salvation, freedom, peace, and power with purity.
📖 1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
📖 2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV) Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
