Long gone are the days when of your mind. You can get all the spiritism, (the belief that the dead reading you want right in can communicate with the living) your living room with shows like, was confined to the periphery of “ Hunters”, “ our society. If you consider the cops”, and a fairly new show on number of “life after death” shows A&E called “: Children on T.V and the top grossing horror of the Paranormal.” The show is flicks in recent years, you’ll pick up hosted by a psychic investigator on the fact that the paranormal is named Chip Coffey. In it, they bring becoming the new normal in our together children who reportedly society. have psychic abilities and pair them ! up with an adult psychic medium. We’ve gone from movies like This is done with the stated Poltergeist and Ghost to some purpose of "showing them how to eerily unnerving movies like, harness their abilities and, “Insidious”, “The Conjuring”, and ultimately, that “they're not alone “Paranormal Activity”; all of them in this world.” purporting that communication ! with the dead is inevitable. I realize there’s the possibility that ! you personally might have had a You don’t even have to go to the private reading session with a theaters anymore to get scared out psychic or had unwanted experiences with spirit guides, They (the Israelites) however, are , or the like. If this is true, starting to get envious of other please read on. You will need to nations and demand of God that He hear this. give them a king, (so they can be ! like everyone else). God reluctantly In light of this growing trend, what gives them what they want and are we as bible believing Christians assigns them their first king, a man and followers of Jesus Christ to do? named Saul. I think most Christians know that ! the bible doesn’t mince words Saul is described as a very about our involvement in - impressive and handsome man. like practices, (it is a definite no-no Internally however, his heart is in a for followers of Jesus Christ). But constant state of disobedience and what I think hasn’t been addressed rebellion towards God. His yet is the, “Why?” stubbornness eventually gets to a ! point where God has to reject Him My intention here is to pull back as king, and a prophet named the veil of the paranormal Samuel is sent to deliver the painful phenomena and show you from the message. Instead of repenting and scriptures what’s really happening turning back to God, Saul slips into when people expose themselves to a downward spiral of lunacy. He the world of and mediums. becomes so troubled that he spends To do so, I’m going point you to an the bulk of his time pursuing and Old Testament account where a harassing the replacement king handpicked king made the fatal God has selected to take his spot, a error of seeking answers from a young man named David. woman we know as, “The Witch of ! Endor.” While Saul occupies his time trying ! to protect his kingship from God, - an enemy nation (Philistines) !1 SAMUEL 28:3 20 gather on his border preparing to The account is in 1 Samuel 28:3-20. attack the Israelites. That’s where ! we pick up the story. Here’s what’s happened thus far. ! God has rescued the Israelites from 400 years of slavery in Egypt and A MIDNIGHT settled them in a new land. He’s !VISIT given them laws to govern their ! land and instructions on how to 1 SAMUEL 28:3-8, “Now (by this seek Him. point in the story, the prophet…) Samuel was dead, and all Israel had Later on in verse 9, we’re told it was mourned for him and buried him in actually the prophet Samuel’s godly his own town of Ramah. Saul had counsel that led Saul to make that expelled the mediums and spiritists decision. It’s certain he would have from the land. 4 The Philistines reminded Saul about passages like (enemy nation) assembled and Deuteronomy 18:9-12 where it says, came and set up camp at Shunem, “When you enter the land the while Saul gathered all Israel and LORD your God is giving you, do set up camp at Gilboa. 5 When Saul not learn to imitate the detestable saw the Philistine army, he was ways of the nations there. 10 Let no afraid; terror filled his heart. 6 He one be found among you who inquired of the LORD, but the sacrifices their son or daughter in LORD did not answer him by the fire, who practices divination or dreams or Urim or prophets. 7 Saul sorcery, interprets omens, engages then said to his attendants, “Find in witchcraft, 11 or casts and me a woman who is a medium, so I conjures spells, or who is a medium may go and inquire of her.” “There or spiritists or who consults the is one in Endor,” they said. 8 So dead. 12 Anyone who does these Saul disguised himself, putting on things is detestable to the LORD; other clothes, and at night he and because of these same detestable two men went to the woman. practices the LORD your God will “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, drive out those nations before you.” “and bring up for me the one I ! name.” By the way, that’s an instruction ! that still holds true for you and I One of the disappointing aspects of today. In the New Testament, in Saul’s life is his constant wavering Galatians 5:19-21, those same between dependence on God and activities are referred to as, “acts of outright disobedience. A clear the sinful nature.” example of this is in the latter part ! of verse 3 where it says he expelled One of the reasons people will often all the mediums and spiritists from give for consulting a psychic is that the land, but by verse 8, he they are simply curious. Here’s the assembles a search committee to go deal, there is no such thing as looking for one he can seek counsel innocent curiosity when it comes to from. Which brings up the occult-like practices. It is almost question, why did he expel them in always tied in with disobedience. the first place? ! ! Saul’s visit to this medium in question wasn’t simply an act of curiosity; this man wanted answers in living room of a psychic. A because God wasn’t giving him the psychic who claims to have good answers he wanted; forgetting the news from a dead relative, or knows fact that it was his disobedience the intimate details of the that invited God’s silence in the universe’s plan for their future. first place. You know what the bible calls it ! when you go seeking counsel in Something else that raises some red those places? It calls it futility. flags in this account is the fact that FOOLISHNESS! God assures us verse 8 says he disguised himself that whoever consults these and went to seek the psychic- mediums will have their wisdom woman at night. Wait a minute, turned to nonsense. (Isaiah wasn’t he king? Didn’t he have the 44:24-26). rights to go see whomever he ! wanted? And even if he was trying to save face, wasn’t it easier if he !BEHIND THE VEIL simply asked his men to bring her ! 1 SAMUEL 28:8-14 to him? ! ! There’s a lot more evil to this The truth is that his downward deception than what meets the eye. spiral into sin and rebellion came Turn back to verse 8 and watch about because he got tired of what happens next. “So Saul waiting on God. We’re told in verse disguised himself, putting on other 6 that he’d tried all he could to seek clothes, and at night he and two prophetic answers on the outcome men went to the woman. “Consult a of the battle with the Philistines. spirit for me,” he said, “and bring God hadn’t sent any new prophets up for me the one I name.” 9 But to give him any new insight. He the woman said to him, “Surely you hadn’t had any special dreams of know what Saul has done. He has revelations, and a process of cut off the mediums and spiritists determining God’s will called, from the land. Why have you set a “Urim” wasn’t giving any answers trap for my life to bring about my either. Finally, he decides, “You death?”10 Saul swore to her by the know what? FORGET THIS! I’M LORD, “As surely as the LORD GOING TO FIND MY OWN lives, you will not be punished for ANSWERS.” this.” 11 Then the woman asked, ! “Whom shall I bring up for you?” It’s an interesting thought because “Bring up Samuel,” he said. 12 it’s the same line of thinking many When the woman saw Samuel, she often go through before they end up cried out at the top of her voice and Secondly, when Saul asks her what said to Saul, “Why have you the spirit looks like, note the deceived me? You are Saul!” 13 The description. She says in verse 14, king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. “he looks like an old man wearing a What do you see?” The woman said, robe.” If you’ve ever read or studied “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up the biblical imagery of heaven and out of the earth.” 14 “What does he the saints residing there, you’ll look like?” he asked. “An old man instantly sense there is something wearing a robe is coming up,” she wrong with this picture. In the book said. Then Saul knew it was of Revelation and other Biblical Samuel, and he bowed down and accounts of heaven, the saints there prostrated himself with his face to are always described as vibrant, the ground.” filled with the joy of God Himself, ! dressed in glorious white, and After sneaking out in the middle of singing a new song. But according the night to find a medium, he to verse 15, this spirit that shows up eventually makes contact the witch is sort of haggard, maybe even of Endor. His interaction with this exhausted? He’s old, he’s got on a woman gives us an inside look into robe, and he complains a lot. First the deception of Satan during these words out of his mouth are, “why séance sessions. Though a few have you disturbed me…?” Not psychics are often playing deceptive quite our picture of the redeemed, mind games with people who is it? consult them, a good number of ! them actually make real contact There’s no reason for us to believe with real spirits; except these that the activities of humans on spirits are not who you think they earth interrupt the daily lifestyle of are. the saints of heaven. Hence, we’re ! forced to conclude that this spirit is After Saul tells her whom to bring NOT who he claims to be, but is in up, notice in verse 11 that this witch fact impersonating WHOM we’re actually sees a real spirit in her supposed to think he is. house, and immediately there are ! two deceptions involved. Firstly, But there’s something else that she find out that Saul is not really gives me reason for concern in this who she thinks he is, (and even she account. It’s the fact that when Saul seems shocked that this “spirit” bows in the spirit’s presence at the actually showed up). end of verse 14, the spirit doesn’t ! reject Saul’s act of reverence. If you go back to the scriptures and watch human interaction with heavenly Samuel actually went into a period angelic beings, they immediately of mourning for him and God point out that they are not to be Himself had to help him snap out of bowed to. In the book of it. This spirit in the home of the Revelation 22:9 when the apostle witch however is not so caring. John mistakenly prostrates before ! an angel, the angel responds by Read its response in verse 15, saying, “…Do not do it! I am a “Samuel (the spirit) said to Saul, fellow servant with you and with “Why have you disturbed me by your brothers the prophets and of bringing me up?” “I am in great all who keep the words of this book. distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines Worship God!” But this spirit are fighting against me, and God doesn’t do that. The only angelic has departed from me. He no being(s) who seeks out human longer answers me, either by worship is Satan, (and his fallen prophets or by dreams. So I have angels). called on you to tell me what to do.” ! 16 Samuel (the spirit) said, “Why Okay. We’re getting closer to the do you consult me, now that the true picture of what happens during LORD has departed from you and physic meetings. become your enemy? 17 The LORD ! has done what he predicted through The third and last piece of this me. The LORD has torn the puzzle is the message the spirit kingdom out of your hands and gives. Though there are accounts in given it to one of your neighbors— the bible where God has very strong to David. 18 Because you did not judgments passed out on His obey the LORD or carry out his people, there is something fierce wrath against the Amalekites, particularly dark and prideful to the LORD has done this to you this prediction Saul receives from today. 19 The LORD will deliver this spirit. This spirit sounds like both Israel and you into the hands it’s gloating, perhaps even taking of the Philistines, and tomorrow delight in the fact that Saul’s life is you and your sons will be with me. about to end. The LORD will also give the army of ! Israel into the hands of the If you read earlier chapters Philistines.” however, you’ll note that the real ! prophet Samuel, though he hated This is not one happy spirit; it’s out Saul’s rebellion, genuinely cared for for blood. Even if you reject my his well being. Earlier in chapter 16 conclusion and maintain that this when God first rejects Saul as king, spirit was in fact the real Samuel, the message he gives builds a solid flesh-and-blood enemies, but case for why you should absolutely against evil rulers and authorities of not dabble with psychic mediums. the unseen world, against mighty It was a message of doom and powers in this dark world, and gloom! And it only cost him $49.95 against evil spirits in the heavenly per minute! places.” And then elsewhere, he ! writes, “for we are not ignorant of If you haven’t gotten the point by the devil’s schemes” (2 Corinthians now, let me spell it out plainly. 2:11). When Psychics claim to make ! contact with a dead relative and Here’s what I’m getting at with they start interacting with a spirit that. If Satan has a worldwide in your presence, they are in organizational structure in place, actuality communicating with a then there is also a worldwide demonic spirit impersonating communication line in place. Hence whomever you are wrongly trying it’s not too hard to correspond to re-establish contact with. accurate information through ! demons internationally and locally Some people might hear that and about a specific individual’s life to balk, thinking, “Well, how come his or her extended family member. they knew so much intimate detail ! about my life and my family?” Whether these psychics are aware Here’s the deal, Satan and his of what they’re doing is not always demons do not spend their days known. Some could very well be running around haunting houses aware that their source is demonic and hiding in closets scaring little spirits, and others might have kids. They have an organizational become so accustomed to hearing structure set in place from which spirits that they have embraced the they currently manage the affairs of sense of power it gives them. Either this world and daily attempt to lure way, the goal is for you to steer people further away from God. clear of any dabbling in occult ! related practices. Have you ever wondered why it is ! the scriptures refer to Satan as, “the prince of this world”? (John 14:30). THE The apostle Paul, who was shown a CONSEQUENCE vision of the spiritual realm writes !OF DABBLING about Satan’s ongoing activity on ! earth in Ephesians 6:12, he says, (1 SAMUEL 28:20) “For we are not fighting against ! The reason why is ultimately psychics is that in giving you because the scriptures says so. But accurate information about your in addition to that is the fact that past, it stirs your curiosity for more dabbling with mediums doesn’t and drives you to look for more come without consequences. Look answers, which in turn eventually at what happened to Saul after this leads you down a path you never spirit spoke to him. Verse 20, intended to get on. “Immediately Saul fell full length ! on the ground, filled with fear With all of that said, allow me to because of Samuel’s words. His directly address those of you who strength was gone, for he had eaten have recently lost a loved one or nothing all that day and all that know someone who has. I night.” understand the heartache and pain ! that comes with having to say your That fear that began that evening last goodbyes to a loved one, and I would eventually carry over into the understand your need for closure battle with the Philistines at the especially in cases where things end of the book and would result in were left unsaid before the actual his death and the death of his two passing. sons. But notice the immediate ! impact it had on him, he was filled But the way to get closure in those with terror, he had a loss of instances is not by re-establishing appetite, and his strength was gone. contact through a psychic medium. That is a strong symbolic picture of Aside of the fact that you might be what eventually happens in the life interacting with a fraud or even of an individual who consults worse, a demon; you’re already mediums for answers to life’s emotionally compromised. questions. Your walls slowly come ! tumbling down and you become Allow me to explain even further by weaker and weaker in resisting reading you a quote from Christian demonic advances in your life. author, Ron Rhodes, in his book, ! “The truth behind Ghosts, One of Satan’s greatest tactics is mediums, & Psychics Phenomena” subtlety because if he were to show He writes, “Many religious himself as he truly is, then it would observers have noted that people be easy to reject him. But as the who seek contact with the dead scriptures say, “…for Satan himself really want to believe. They are so masquerades as an angel of desirous of making contact with light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14). The dead loved one, whom they demonic deception in consulting grievously miss, that they become emotionally invested in the success miles and not feeling the slightest of their session with a psychic bit faint.” medium. Even if the psychic ! medium gets some facts wrong, That is God’s game plan for those they are still emotionally who hope and wait on the Lord. committed to (and desperately Amen? If you have dabbled with the hoping for) some genuine contact occult and desire freedom, with dead loved ones.” understand that apart from saving ! faith in Jesus Christ, you will only Might I suggest a more biblical sink deeper and deeper into this approach to getting the answers to dark world. The good news is that those difficult life questions that Christ Himself longs to know you. you might otherwise go seeking in Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess the arms of a psychic? It’s the with your mouth that Jesus is Lord words of the prophet Isaiah who and believe in your heart that God says in Isaiah 40:30-31, “Even raised him from the dead, you will youths grow tired and weary, and be saved.” young men stumble and fall…” In ! other words, yes you will have days If God has so stirred your heart and when heaven seems silent and God you long for that relationship with isn’t spelling out the details of His Jesus Christ, begin by confessing game plan for our lives and loved your sins to God trusting that He is ones. But he goes on to say in verse faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9). 31, “but those who hope in and wait When you’re done, tell Him you on the LORD will renew their believe He died for your sins, rose strength.” Note that it doesn’t say again from the dead, and is seated by waiting on the Lord, you’ll get in power at the right hand of God. the answer you want right away. It Then ask Him to come into your life says, as you wait and trust and hope and be your Lord and savior. in the Lord, God Himself will give ! you the strength you need to make When you’re done, WELCOME TO it through that painful season. And GOD’S FAMILY. when He’s done bring you through that season, your life will change so dramatically that it will feel like you are ”…soaring on wings of eagles; it will feel like you are running but not growing weary, and walking for