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Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - 1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world
Escritura del día - 1 Juan 4,1
Amados, no creáis a todo espíritu, sino probad los espíritus si son de Dios; porque muchos falsos profetas han salido por el mundo.
Bibelstelle des Tages - 1 Johannes 4,1
Geliebte, glaubet nicht jedem Geist, sondern prüfet die Geister, ob sie von Gott sind! Denn es sind viele falsche Propheten hinausgegangen in die Welt.
Consult a Psychic Instead of God?
The thirteenth chapter of the book of 1 Samuel gives the account of the beginning of the times that Saul dismissed God's word. Readers learn that the first consequence of king Saul's disobedience was God's decision not to establish the kingdom of Israel under his reign (1 Samuel 13:13). This is significant, because Saul was inching himself toward one day deciding to consult a psychic, who was also known as a witch in those days.
The Final Disobedience of King Saul
In the fifteenth chapter of 1 Samuel we read about the final disobedience of king Saul. He refused to carry out the righteous judgment of God who had commanded him to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that their king had (1 Samuel 15:2-3, 7-11). This was yet another grave "mistake" made by the king, which later led to his decision to consult a psychic (the witch of Endor). By the Spirit of God, Samuel said to king Saul, "...Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king" (KJV, 1 Samuel 22-23).
This, however, was not the end of the consequences of Saul's disobedience. Probably, the saddest consequence was God's silence in response to which Saul decided to consult a psychic in order to know his future. We read, "And when Saul saw the the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit (demonic guide), that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor" (1 Samuel 28:5-7).
Saul's Decision to Consult a Psychic
It might be said that Saul was in a panic and that he had given up on ever hearing from the Lord again. What else could he have done but consult a psychic? Saul just did not get it--or he did not want to get it, like so many people today. They persist in stubborn disobedience to God, not realizing or not wanting to realize that to do so is as the sin of witchcraft in the eyes of the Lord. They keep doing what landed them in trouble in the first place.
Why would Saul expect God to continue speaking to him when he did not bother to obey the words of the Lord? His disobedience is what had provoked a cut in communication with God. Instead of remembering that, he continues in disobedience by deciding to consult a psychic (witch). Once a person has already disobeyed God and is found enduring the consequences, whatever they might be, he or she only makes matters worse by continuing to disobey. Saul would have done better to endure the fear of the Philistines and the misery that it is to be cut off from communication with God rather than to consult a psychic.
We are reminded that God rejected Saul as king. We don't read that Saul had committed an unpardonable sin, causing him to be rejected from being saved. Sometimes disobedience to God brings life long consequences that are irreversible. Saul could not repent and have the kingdom restored to him. However, unless the unpardonable sin has been committed, that does not mean that disobedience has to lead to being eternally lost.
Disobedience to God always leads to trouble, but in the midst of that trouble, a person should never ever resort to more disobedience to get out of the trouble. King David disobeyed God. Israel as a nation disobeyed God; and scriptures paint a picture of what appears to be a period of silence from God. We read, "My soul is vexed; but thou, O Lord, how long? Return, O Lord, deliver my soul. Oh save me for thy mercies' sake" (Psalm of king David 6:3). We do not read that David, once in trouble for his disobedience, ever decided to consult a psychic. We also read, "Return, O Lord, how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants" (Psalm 90:13).
There are many who find themselves in trouble and great distress, because they have "alienated" the Spirit of God whose voice they continually disobeyed. What are they to do now? They are to do as king David and so many others in scripture and in real life have done. And, what did these people do? They repented sincerely. They believed in the mercy of the Lord. They ceased to disobey him. They worshiped God, and would not cease to call on him. The wait might be long, and the trouble might endure, but things will only be made so much worse by deciding to consult a psychic, which is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).
"Let Israel (all of God's people) hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is MERCY, and with him is plenteous redemption" (Psalm 130:7).
Related Reading:
Can Psychics Tell the Future Through Spirits of Divination?
What Is the Unpardonable Sin?
What Is Involvement With the Occult?
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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