Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortunetelling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, 'I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.' And he came out that very hour. - Acts 16:16-8.

Psychics apparently are looking into the future and seeing the money. They are seeing all the money they can scam from people who may be tempted to use their services. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed a complaint in federal court accusing Miss Cleo, and her backers of scamming as much as $360 million from those calling her psychic hotline. The FTC in the past 18 months has received over 2,000 complaints about Miss Cleo (This was in 2002). Miss Cleo offers a toll free number to callers to her service, but then are told to call another number which costs $4.99 a minute after the first three minutes. One of the problems with deception comes in when customers are told there will be no charges while they are on hold, however, they are still charged. The average charge encountered by those calling Miss Cleo is $60.00.

Let's be clear about one thing, and that is that any power that psychics may have is demonic. Have you ever heard of a psychic acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord, and as the One from which their knowledge comes? The apostle John tells us,"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God (1 John 4:2-3a)."

Another way to determine whether a spirit is of God, is to see whether it is in agreement with the Word of God. If there is a conflict, you know it is not of God. Isaiah makes it very clear when he says, "And when they say to you, 'Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,' should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:19-20)."

For those who decided to seek out psychics, we can see one sad result from their decision was the loss of money. But beyond the loss of money, receiving false ungodly advice, and acting upon that advice is far more damaging. If we really want help in our lives, guidance in our lives, and wisdom for our lives; then, let us do as Isaiah suggests, and seek the One who can truly give it to us. "To the law and to the testimony!"