ONLY SEEK THE LORD!

 Colossians 2:8

“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather from Christ.”

Reading: 1 Samuel 28

Today we will look at the 5 W’s and 1 H as we dig deeper into many different Scriptures. Please grab your journal/notebook and make notes as you read the following Scripture references.  Let’s pray before we begin today’s devotional:

Lord,

We love You and thank You for Your everlasting love. Only with You do we have our eternal life. As we read the Scripture today we ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and hearts to understand Your will for our lives. Help us to be like the Behrens in Acts 17:11b where it is written, ”They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” Lord, help us as we search for truth in Your Scriptures.

In the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior we pray.

Amen!

WHO is mentioned?

           1. Samuel is dead (1 Samuel 25:1)

           2. God is not speaking to Saul. (1 Samuel 28:6)

           3. Saul is afraid and needs direction, so he turns to Satan against his own

               rules. (1 Samuel 28:3)

           4.The Witch of Endor is a person involved in the occult witchcraft (the root of

                all  rebellion. Read 1 Samuel 15 and Deuteronomy 18:9-13)

WHAT does Scripture say about witches, mediums and spiritist?

             1. Deuteronomy 7:26

             2. Leviticus 19:26b and 31

             3. 1 Tim. 4:1-5

             4. 1 Corinthians 10:21

WHERE should we turn for help and peace?

               1. Isaiah 8:19-20

               2. Ezekiel 13:20-23

WHEN are we tempted to turn from God to other resources for help?

              1. If we are depending on someone else to pray instead of our

                   own personal relationship with the Lord. (Saul relied on

                   Samuel’s relationship with God instead of his own) 2 John 1:9

              2.During times of doubt (Matt. 21:21-22), fear (Ps. 34:4),

                 anxiety  (1 Peter 5:7-9), anger (James1 :19-27),

                 boredom (Heb.6:11-12) and  depression (Psalm 143:7-12).

                                 

WHY shouldn’t we participate in the occult?

          1. God calls all of His followers to be set apart from what the world believes

               and follows. Leviticus 20:6-7

          2.The First Commandment of the Ten Commandments: “Thou shall have no

              other gods before Me.” Exodus 20: 3

HOW can we have Spiritual Discernment?

          1. Our first priority must be to read the Word of God.

              (Psalm 119:125,Proverbs 5:1-2, Proverbs 8:6-12 NLT)

          2. Recognize the Caution Flags to the occult: Manipulation,

               Domination and Intimidation

               (Remember, God never manipulates, God never dominates and

                 God never intimidates)  

APPLICATION:

The consequences for Saul’s actions in seeking the medium for guidance cost him his life.  1 Chronicles 10:13

We need to be aware of this warning from the Lord and be set apart from the occult.

What forms of the occult are available today? Psychics, mystics, horoscopes, Ouija boards, Tarot cards, witchcraft, WICCA, New Age, crystals, Palm readers and more.

Where do you go when you need help?

We must only turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for our true source of help.

Are you set apart for the Lord with what you read, watch, do and say?

Be encouraged, today is a new day to learn and grow with Jesus Christ.

Joshua 24:15b

“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”