Spooky season is upon us...

One of the spookiest stories in the Bible can be found in 1 Samuel 28. King Saul is being threatened by enemies, and the prophet Samuel is dead. Saul cannot hear from God, and in a desperate move, he finds a medium (someone who talks to the dead) and asks them to conjure Samuel, so Saul can speak with him.

Saul never had a relationship with the Lord for himself; he always relied on someone else’s relationship with the Lord to get him through. Samuel tells Saul that he is in this spot because of his disobedience to the Lord and that tomorrow the Philistines will defeat the army of Israel and that Saul and his sons will be dead!

Using mediums and practicing necromancy (calling on the dead) isn’t considered sin, because it’s a hoax or fake or a joke. It is sin and rejected by God, because it promotes relying on supernatural guidance from a source that is not God.

These worldly practices are man’s attempt to gain one thing — KNOWLEDGE. That’s the enemy’s play, he tricks us into thinking we are getting knowledge, like in Genesis 3.

What if you participate or have participated in something like that?

IT OPENS DOORS...

1. to demonic influences...

– Participating in pagan practices like mediums, sorcery, and fortune-telling opens the doors to demonic influences...

– FEAR - 1 Samuel 28:5 — he became frantic with fear.

– MANIPULATION - 1 Samuel 28:8 — Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary robes...

2. to lies and deception...

– Taking part in these things cause you to be subjected to lies and deception.

– 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

– John 8:44: Jesus describes the devil as “a liar and the father of lies.” Engaging with mediums and sorcery aligns one with the forces of deception, opening the door to spiritual lies and falsehoods.

3. to destruction and spiritual death...

– Engaging in these practices can lead to destruction and spiritual death.

– 1 Chronicles 10:13-14: King Saul’s decision to consult a medium led to his downfall: “So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord.”

What do you do if you've opened those doors?

MAKE IT RIGHT!

– 1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us...

– Romans 3:22 — We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus

Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

CLOSE THE DOOR!

– Matthew 18:18 (NKJV) — ...whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

SPEAK THE WORD!

– Philippians 2:10-11 — (10) ...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow — in heaven and on earth and under the earth — (11) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord...

– 2 Timothy 1:7 — God did not give us a spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind.

– Colossians 2:15 — He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to shame, by triumphing over them...

– Romans 8:37 — ...in all these things we are more than conquerors thru Him who loved us.

– 2 Corinthians 10:5 — We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

LIVE BY THE SPIRIT!

– Galatians 5:16 — ...let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

– Romans 8:2 — ...because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

– Galatians 5:22-23 — ...the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!