Listen to this articleWell. The most direct answer is Yes, they can.
How?
What is witchcraft?
Witches are people who are under demonic covenants. They have given themselves to willing work with demons in order to gain spiritual power. A traditional healer who heals people is still practising witchcraft, just as much as a witch who goes out at night dancing on graves. It is the same type of power, except the traditional healer has better knowledge and ability to manipulate and operate in the spirit realm.
Once we realise that at the back of these, it is just demons working through them, the question becomes easy.
Can a demon cause a born again believer to be sick. Can a demon kill a born again believer. Can a demon cause a born again believer to lose wealth etc?
If the answer to these questions is yes. Then it will mean witches can do these things since they are merely agents of demons and their power comes from demons working through them. So, let’s first look at how Satan can attack Believers.
1. Satan can cause a believer sickness in the body when allowed by God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-8 New English Translation (NET Bible)
7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant.
8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.
1 Corinthians 5:5 New English Translation (NET Bible)
5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
2. Satan can hinder the plans of the Believer.
1 Thessalonians 2:18 New International Version (NIV)
18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.
3. Satan can cause the believer to get into physical problems, suffering and even death by God’s permission.
Revelation 2:10 New International Version (NIV)
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
This earth belong’s to man and both God and Satan being spirits require man’s authority and submission to operate here. So God will work through people and Satan will work through people. The spiritual people who use the power and Spirt of God to do the supernatural are called prophets, apostles etc. And those who use the spirits of Satan to operate in the supernatural are called witches and sorcerers.
So let me summarise the circumstances under which Satan can use his witchcraft against you.
1. If God has permitted it for the sake of building your faith.
2. If the believer does not understand his own authority in Christ Jesus because of lack of proper teaching of the word.
Let me explain Number 2.
Jesus gave us authority over devils.
Luke 10:19 New International Version (NIV)
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Imagine this authority as a gun in a child’s hand. If the child does not know how to use that gun, he can be attacked by someone.
Secondly. A christian is not considered to have overcome the power of the enemy, by avoiding suffering. A christian can actually suffer at the hands of the enemy, and get killed and be considered to have overcome the enemy as long as his faith remains in tact.
Example…
Luke 21:16-18 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
Revelation 2:10 New International Version (NIV)
10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Anyways, so the matter has so many dimensions to it, and I have only scratched the surface.
Take a look at the following related articles:
Thanks for making it clear to me. I’ve just been a born again Christian, I’m learning as I read the Bible on a daily basis.