1 Sam 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
Acts 16:16 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.
(The following are excerpts from an article by Pastor Michael A. Cox of Calvary Baptist Church of Inola, OK., entitled “New Age Channeling: An Overview”)
Channeling, which is also called spiritualism or spiritism, is communication with a so-called intelligent being who promotes spiritual teachings and philosophical discussions. “Channeling is a modern name for what the Bible calls mediumship, spiritism, [or familiar spirits]. A channeler is a mystic who becomes a channel, or receptive agent, for intelligent communications coming from the spirit world.” (Bible.org) Channeling may occur under hypnosis and includes the processes of imagination, intuition, claims of inspiration, and premonition. It is seen as the single most important and definitive aspect of the New Age movement. The majority of those who channel profess being the vocal conduit of a spiritual entity to which they have access. The channeler is temporarily inhabited by the entity and functions as the entity’s mouthpiece.
The use of the body and, in particular, the voice of the channeler is the unique feature distinguishing channeling from spiritism, which is communication with human or extra-human intelligences through scrying (gazing into mirrors, crystals, lamps, cauldrons, etc.), visions, and dreams. Channeling also differs from ordinary mediumship, which is the practice of communicating with the spirits of the dead on behalf of their living relatives. Mediums operate through clairvoyance (seeing the departed souls in the afterlife) and through rappings, movement of objects, automatic writing (writing directed by a spirit), and other phenomena.
“One difference this author has observed is that the spiritualist movement focused on seances (dim lights, formal invocations, etc.) and supernatural manifestations — table lifting, “direct voice” phenomena, ectoplasm, materialized writing or faces, etc. By contrast, today’s channelers do everything under bright lights, usually on stage, and the only visible event is when an alien personality takes them over. The channelers usually don’t exhibit the powers or physical phenomena, such as levitation, that were present in spiritualism.” (Eric Pement, “Don’t touch that dial”)
Usually only one entity is channeled on a regular basis and the message is commonly a lecture or sermon. While not all the entities in contact with mediums and spiritists are males, New Age author Raymond Buckland says that all the entities channeled thus far have manifested themselves as males.
The most common label for one acting as mouthpiece for an entity is channeler. They are also frequently referred to as channels and spiritualists. Other terms used include medium, wizard, witch, prophet, sensitive, and contactee. However, these terms are technically incorrect if the entity is using the host as a voice conduit.
Generally speaking, most sources are thought to be deceased human beings who have either completed the cycle of incarnations or are waiting between reincarnations. These people are said to be developing in higher realities and, from their exalted perspective, are able to help and advise those who lack spiritual understanding. However, some channelers claim that their source comes from another planet or dimension and is not human.
Sources have a myriad of names, but are often called familiar spirits, highly evolved entities, spiritual masters, communicating guides, angels, the collective unconscious of humankind, inner voices, the Christ, aliens, extraterrestrials, controls, bodyguards, doorkeepers, enlightened beings or bodhisattvas, discarnate entities, teachers, spirit associates, and the higher power of the universe. Whether human or nonhuman, most are regarded as still evolving in cosmic perspective. They work through selected human hosts by temporarily assuming control of them, during which the host submits to a trance-like state.
“Most modern channelers learn the art through the practice of Eastern meditation. This mildly altered state of consciousness enables the channeler to psychically perceive spirit messages. These manifest themselves as a “thought voice,” which is perceived in the stillness of the medium’s mind. Experienced mediums can enter into a trance state whereby the spirit entity takes direct control over the medium’s voice, speaking through it in an accent quite distinct from the medium’s normal mode of speech.” (Bible.org)
There are two types of channeling: spontaneous and induced. Both are adequately described by their names. Induced channeling is achieved through meditation, prayer, self-hypnosis, fasting, chanting, dancing, sleep deprivation, breathing techniques, smoking herbs, taking hallucinogenic drugs, or yoga.
There are three styles of channeling: the deep, fullbody, incarnational trance; the light trance, wherein the channel is at least partially conscious; and voluntary possession. [Another name for ‘channeling’ is “Trance Channeling”.]
The goal of channeling is to facilitate the transformation of the channeler’s clients. The primary message is threefold: the universe is multidimensional, mankind creates his own reality, and love conquers all.
“Modern channeling centers around certain themes: (1) we are all God(s), (2) there is no death, (3) reality is a product of the mind, (4) prosperity is our right and “we can have it all,” and (5) we must preserve the earth from nuclear or ecological catastrophe. This last point is especially prevalent among UFO contactees, who communicate telepathically with various “space brothers” (their term).” (Eric Pement, “Don’t touch that dial”)
While channeling claims both divine revelation and inspiration, it is clearly only a counterfeit and presents great danger to Christianity. Attempts to explain channeling have resulted in three propositions: mental dysfunction, intentional fraud, and demonic activity. These propositions suggest that channeling is the product of unstable minds, unethical conduct, or ungodly spirits.
The motivations for contacting a spirit are generally disillusionment with man’s worldview, a curiosity about the supernatural, disenchantment with organized religion, and a desire to know about life after death.
People often channel to reverse feelings of low self-esteem, powerlessness, and guilt. Through messages emphasizing the creative potential of humans, the existence of more than the material world, and the assertion that each person is a god worthy of self-love and respect, people develop the belief that they are powerful beings with nothing to feel guilty about. These messages cater to an innate desire for redemption. Additionally, channeling springs from an aspiration to make the earth a better place to live by encouraging the collective well-being. The most popular reasons, however, for the popularity of channeling are an insatiable yearning for prophecy, healing, divination, advice, and proof of the continuity of life after death.
Judy Zebra Knight (born Judith Darlene Hampton on March 16, 1946), usually known as JZ Knight, is an American mystic teacher and author, and is 
known for claiming to be channel of a spiritual entity named Ramtha. Knight grew up in poverty and was unable to go to college. After graduating from high school, she dropped out of business school. She later worked at the cable television industry, and due to her work moved to Tacoma, Washington, where a psychic told her the ‘Enlightened One’ would appear to her in the future. Ramtha allegedly appeared to her for the first time in 1977, in her kitchen.
Knight appeared on The Merv Griffin Show in 1985 and later wrote the autobiographical A State of Mind in 1987. Time called her “probably the most celebrated of all current channelers”. Knight is currently a cult leader and the president of JZK, Inc and Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment
, located near the town of Yelm, Washington, and the name of Ramtha is copyrighted under JZ Knight. She also won a court case which affirmed that she is the sole legal channeler of the entity Ramtha.
According to Knight, Ramtha was a Lemurian warrior who fought the Atlanteans over 35,000 years ago. A central theme of Ramtha’s teachings involves the internalization of divinity (God is in Us, You are God, Behold God).
During the channeling of Ramtha, JZ Knight behaves a bit differently and speaks in a deeper and stern voice. When Knight says she is channeling Ramtha she speaks mostly in English in what sounds like an accent from the Indian Raj.
(Wikipedia)
Those who channel maintain that direct revelation and inspiration from a deity have not ceased. When responding to this claim, emphasize that the primary function of the Bible is to reveal the character, identity, and redemptive plan of the one true God. Revelation climaxes in the incarnation and return (not reincarnation) of Jesus Christ. Explain that Jude 3 affirms that the genuine faith has been delivered once and for all.
Channelers also assert that Jesus was merely a channel or body God used, and that He now exists on the other side with his soul mate, Mary Magdalene. They believe He was the great master, a messenger, and a high teacher, but not the thoroughly human and entirely divine son of God.
Lev 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
Lev 20:6 And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
Deut 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Lev 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
People who practice channeling do so out of a belief that contact with spirits is beneficial. The Bible affirms that demons (evil spirits) are real and that evil spirits can inhabit a person. The possessed host may tell fortunes, but his information will be a dangerous mixture of truth and error when under the influence of spirits.
The New Testament teaches that the gods of heathen idolatry are actually demons, not helpful souls roaming the afterlife (1 Cor. 10:19-20). It is important to realize that departed Christians are in Christ’s presence, neither hovering about nor available for comment (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23). Unbelievers are confined in a place of great suffering, and are likewise unavailable for communication with the living (Luke 16:19-31).
Satan masquerades as an angel of light and intentionally deceives whomever he can (see 2 Cor. 11:14). In the last days more people will believe these falsehoods. Forms of godliness that deny the power of God will appear and practices such as divination and channeling will become commonplace (2 Tim. 3:1-5).
1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
