1 Samuel 28
Samuel • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:04
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· 295 viewsWhere does your hope come from?
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Good Morning & Welcome - Church
Good Morning & Welcome - Church
Rejoice That Church is not Quarantined
Pray for Those Affected
Ways to Give
Worship Together!
Intro
Intro
Perhaps you saw the video ABC posted on Wed
When the world seems full of darkness, brokenness, and fear where do you turn for help? So often we are guilty of looking for hope in all the wrong places, today as we go to your word in 1 Sam 28 we want to see what
Prayer
Today we come to you exhausted, battered, broken, fearful and in need of hope!
Message
Message
1 Sam 28 = Looking For God In All The Wrong Places
The Day of Grace has it limits…
If you refuse the light of Gods truth you will be given over to spiritual delusion…
1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
David - 27 & 29…
1 Sam 28.3-6 First Section
1 Sam 28.3-6 First Section
3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.
Samuel Dead…
Prophet - died - chp 19 = Saul lay naked before him… ch25 = died… ch28
Saul = put out - mediums & necromancers …
9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
11 or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead,
12 for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God,
14 for these nations, which you are about to dispossess, listen to fortune-tellers and to diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do this.
Divination = Psychics / Mediums / Tarot Cards / Astrological sign / witchcraft… new agism = abominations
Saul - had put out…
4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
While alive Samuel meant little… NOW!!
do you treat the Word of God lightly when things are good and run to it only in affliction?
Dejavu = Philistines & Israel - no David… But wait theres more!!
6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
So what would you do? Can you really blame God?
The State You Are In
The State You Feel You Are In
The State You Want To Avoid
1 Sam 28:7-10 Second Section
1 Sam 28:7-10 Second Section
7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”
If God will not head my call perhaps another will!
With friends like these...
what kind of friend are you?
what kind of friends are you keeping?
8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.”
9 The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?”
Why the need for disguise? Why the going after dark? Why her response?
Do not be deceived God knows your sin!
Do you have more fear of Man than God!?
10 But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.”
This is a promise he cannot keep...
As the LORD lives there will be a reckoning!
God will not be mocked = Saul = FOOL - scoffing, mocking, deception, …
1 Sam 28.11-19 Third Section
1 Sam 28.11-19 Third Section
11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.”
12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”
13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”
16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy?
17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day.
19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
Scholarly debate over what is happening here…
Samuel or Satan
Samuel… a god
out of the earth
an old man wrapped in a robe
Saul knew… it was Samuel?
Samuel… why have you brought me up?
Lord is enemy?
would God allow for something he hates to be used in this way?
is satan not capable of making himself appear as something else?
is satan unable to quote God’s word for his own purposes as well?
tomorrow you will be with me!?
I don’t know if Samuel or Spirit - BUT - ...
When you stop looking to God as your hope this is what you are left with!
In this OR any other time of disaster where does your hope come from!?
Has COVID shaken your faith? … Has it caused you to seek help and hope elsewhere?
To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
If your hope is not in Christ then your life shall end as Sauls...
Listen closely now… Where is Saul finding HIS Hope?
1 Sam 28.20-25 Fourth & Final Section
1 Sam 28.20-25 Fourth & Final Section
20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me.
22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.”
23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it,
25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Saul has no hope!!
Without Jesus I have no hope…
Without Jesus YOU have no hope
What do you think this should have driven Saul to do?
He should have repented / mourned his sin / He should have run to GOD!!
Isaiah tells us that there is a day that is right for weeping and morning that there is a day that is right for us to lament our failure to serve and worship God.
12 In that day the Lord God of hosts called for weeping and mourning, for baldness and wearing sackcloth;
13 and behold, joy and gladness, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
This was Saul’s response!!
He simple rose from his grief not to fall before God but to fall in battle...
He rose from his grief not with a soft and repentant heart but instead with a hard and bitter one...
What will be yours? What will be your response to God during this time of grief?
will you see this as just one more reason to turn your back on God
will you choose to see this as “proof” that God does not exist or care
will you allow God to speak to you today
will you see this as a time of God’s loving provocation to the world He wants to save
will you respond to the loving call of God on your life today
2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
My friend, God calls to you today!
You want to know how a good God can allow something like COVID to happen? Let me ask you, how can a good God be so patient and kind to mankind when we are so wicked.
How can he be so patient and kind to you and to me? Do you or I deserve to live any more then those who have died from this pandemic, and yet here we are...
The God who would not spare his own righteous Son the death on the cross with all the wrath and weight of sin poured out on him who knew no sin, that he might become sin to bring us life, freedom, and forgiveness...
This is the same God who waits eagerly to receive you, who died to know you, who wants to forgive you, today!
This God would stop at nothing so that you, YOU might come to know Him and not perish but have everlasting life.
What would it have taken for Saul to be saved? What will it take for you?
5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.
The Day of Grace has it limits…
the end of your life
to those under the cross
to the one who accepts salvation
It is not too late for you!!
If you refuse the light of Gods truth you will be given over to spiritual delusion…
do not be deceived by your own flesh
do not be deceived by friends / family / society
do not be deceived by satan the accuser
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Stop looking for hope in all the wrong places rather place your hope in the LORD!
Close
Close
Prayer
Good morning everyone! I am so glad you could join us today. If the FB feed should go down service will continue on our website www.alleganbiblechurch.com/live . Please feel free to post a selfie of you and your family listening today, it would be great to see you. I love and miss you and can’t wait until we can worship in person again!
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