Can You Talk to the Dead?
Dr. Marty Baker
Stevens Creek Community Church
Church of God
Augusta, GA
1 Samuel 28:1-25
March 3, 2002
Introduction: Movie Trailer from "Dragonfly".
Do you believe that you can talk to someone who has crossed over to the other side? A Washington Post Weekly article stated that 40% of Americans say that they have made contact with the dead. Many people have said that they have felt the presence of someone who has crossed over. They have heard a voice; felt a light touch; and have seen visual images of their lost loved one.
Linda Georgian, in her book Communicating With the Dead, says that she has been talking with dead people since she was a child. I guess she has a sixth sense.
sound track from The Sixth Sense: "I see dead people").
This is similar to John Edward’s story. Many of you know him through the Sci-Fi Channel’s hit "Crossing Over with John Edward." (Play clip from introduction of the television show). As you know, John Edward claims that he has the ability to reunite people in the physical world with loved ones that have crossed over.
What do you think about this? John Edward is not the first one to claim that he had the power to connect with a person that has crossed over. We see it all the time. How about Miss Cleo, Sylvia Browne or the late Jeane Dixon? Can people really talk to the dead?
What do you think?
I will begin with a story in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. The central figure of chapter 28 is a man named Saul. He was chosen by God to be the first King in the country of Israel. During his reign, Saul enjoyed the blessings of God up until he failed to carry out God’s directives concerning the Amalekites. Instead of destroying all of the Amalekites and their possessions, Saul allowed Agag to live and looted the best sheep, cattle, fatted calves and lambs. When he was caught by the prophet Samuel, he lied about what he had done. This action displeased the Lord and eventually resulted in the kingdom being taken away from Saul.
The prophet Samuel pronounced this judgment on Saul and refused to see him the rest of his life.
1 Samuel 15:35
Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.
From this time forward, Saul’s life was marked by fear, jealousy, and rage. He wades through periods of depression and paranoia. Years later, Saul finds himself in conflict with his enemies, the Philistines. By this time the Prophet Samuel was dead and Saul was desperate for a word from God. Let’s pick up the story in 1 Samuel 28:3-7.
1 Samuel 28:3-5
3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
4 The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa.
5 When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.
Saul realized that he was preparing to face his greatest enemy without God’s blessing on his life. Saul had some regrets, but never truly turned from his wicked lifestyle. Saul was desperate. What do people do when they are desperate? They pray.
1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Saul prayed, but his sins became a barrier that kept God from answering. If you look closely at this verse, you will see a regression of faith on Saul’s behalf.
First of all, Saul tried to talk to God one-on-one through prayer. This is an acceptable practice, but God did not answer Saul because his heart was not right with the Lord.
Secondly, after he could not hear God, he lowered his standards a little and sought some form of dream revelation.
This dream revelation may have been similar to a drug-induced trance, in which the dreamer sought to see the future. This practice would not have been good. Drugs cloud our minds from hearing God’s voice.
Thirdly, Saul consulted the Urim.
The Urim was a stone that was sometimes used along with another stone called the Thummin. They were basically fortune telling stones. They may have been flat disks with ’yes’ and ’no’ sides. When both agreed the answer was clear. When they disagreed, further guidance was sought. The Urim and Thummin were to Saul like tarot cards or ouiga boards are to people today.
If Saul had only sought forgiveness of his sins, God would have spoken to him. He failed to humble himself before the Lord and fell further into sin.
Saul’s uneasiness progresses from fear to terror to sheer panic. Saul feels that he has no other option except to try some unconventional ways to get God’s attention.
1 Samuel 28:7
Saul then said to his attendants, "Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her." "There is one in Endor," they said.
A medium is a fortuneteller with demonic power that enables him to mimic a personality or a create a familiar situation. It appears that they have insight or powers. The Bible often refers to medium as "familiar spirits."
Over the years the media has worked hard to make witchcraft a normal part of life. Consider the shows: I Dream of Jeanie, Bewitched, Sabrina, and Charmed. Do you know the name of Sabrina’s grandmother? Endora. Could it be that even Hollywood reads the Bible at times?
Saul knew the scriptures taught against this behavior. He knew the words of Deuteronomy 8:10-12.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft,
11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.
12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.
Saul knew that it was wrong, but chose to do it any way.
1 Samuel 28:8;11
8 So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. "Consult a spirit for me," he said, "and bring up for me the one I name."
11 Then the woman asked, "Whom shall I bring up for you?" "Bring up Samuel," he said.
When the woman sees Samuel, she shrieks. She not only recognizes Samuel, she now recognizes that the one asking her to conjure up Samuel is none other than Saul himself.
Needless to say, Samuel is not happy to be there.
1 Samuel 28:15
Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."
Saul begins justifying his actions by telling Samuel how distressed he is. It is as though Saul is saying, "I just had to call you, Samuel. You have to tell me what to do. I know its against the rules, Samuel, but this is an emergency." Isn’t it interesting how Saul justifies breaking the rules because he is in a difficult situation?
Samuel is not impressed. He does not tell Saul what to do. In fact, he rebukes Saul for asking him to speak for God. Saul is on his own. But, since Saul has gone to the effort of having him conjured up, Samuel tells Saul what will happen to him and why.
Samuel says it as bluntly as it can be said, "Tomorrow, you and your sons will be with me." The next day, the prophecy comes true and Saul is fatally wounded and eventually falls on his own sword.
What lessons can we learn from this story? I’ll cover those in just a minute, but before I we go there let me answer the question: Can we talk to the dead? My answer is "Yes!" I believe that it is possible to talk to the dead because if it were not possible God would not have been specific in His warning against it.
Everything that is possible is not profitable. The CIA spent $20 millions from 1972 - 1994 on Psychics stationed at the Fort Meade, Maryland base. They concluded that their psychics were correct less than 25 % of the time.
Lessons Learned from Saul’s Psychic Experience
1. Remove any barrier than hinders your relationship with God.
Saul’s barrier was unconfessed sin. His sin blocked God’s ability to communicate with him.
Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
2. Refuse to allow demonic powers to influence your life.
The New Testament says it very clearly:
Ephesians 4:27
....and do not give the devil a foothold.
We open the door to evil influences when we expose ourselves to tarot cards, horoscopes, palm reading, seances, and communication with psychics. This is not something to play around with. When you allow this, you are opening the door to dangerous forces. It may be out of fun or curiosity, but God’s word says that it should be avoided.
The information may be helpful at first, and before you realize it you find yourself using the psychics as a counselor to listen to your problems.
3. Seek a deeper relationship with God and you will find what you’ve been looking for.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
How Does God Speak?
God speaks through a small inner voice.
God speaks through the Bible.
God speaks through other people.
God speaks through circumstances.
God speaks through common sense.
What To Do:
1. Give God an opportunity to communicate with you.
2. Be open to receive what God has for you.
3. When God’s direction comes, take action.
4. Be committed to following through with God’s desires.
Closing Prayer
