Witchcraft and black magic are very real and present a clear danger, according to many faith leaders. Now, evangelist Billy Graham, who is 98, says we must “pray for those who have been deceived into thinking that Satan is their friend — for he is not.”

Graham, known for leading thousands of people to Christ at his crusades and events for many decades, answered a question about the supernatural world through his syndicated newspaper column, “My Answer.”

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“Do people really believe in witchcraft?” a reader asked.

Graham’s answer: Yes.

“The Bible repeatedly warns us against doing anything that might open the door to their influence over us,” Graham wrote in the column, which can be found on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website.

This witchcraft influence comes from the devil, according to Graham. “The Bible is very clear … Occult practices of any kind are directly opposed to God and His will for our lives.”

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Even practices that seem “amusing or harmless” open the door to Satan and his demons, Graham warned. He shared the Bible passage James 4:7-8: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and he will come near to you.”

Physical challenges. The faith-based words and guidance of Billy Graham still carry great weight as he progresses in age. Graham lives in North Carolina; his son, Franklin Graham, is president and CEO of the evangelistic association his father founded.

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“Some have asked about an update on my father Billy Graham,” the younger Graham wrote in a Facebook post recently. “He’s now approaching his 99th birthday in November, and while he is doing well, he does have the physical challenges that come with his age.”

Billy Graham enjoys visits from his sister, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and other family members.

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“His pastor, Dr. Don Wilton from Spartanburg, South Carolina, continues to visit weekly, which means so much,” Franklin Graham wrote. The regular visit “has been a tradition of prayer and encouragement for more than 20 years. We are so grateful to Pastor Wilton.”