Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / 5/31/26 Sunday School - Pastor Charlie Branch - Meadows Baptist Church

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5/31/26 Sunday School - Pastor Charlie Branch - Meadows Baptist Church · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

0:13
Amen. Good morning everybody. Good to
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see you in the house of the Lord today.
0:16
Appreciate you being here um for Sunday
0:19
school this morning and uh thank the
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Lord for another beautiful day he's
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given us and allowing us to be here. And
0:25
Lord is good. We'll give everybody a
0:27
minute to get in here and get my
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announcements pulled up this morning. A
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few things I'll make mention of, then
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we'll get right to our prayer request
0:36
time this morning.
0:41
But I trust you've had a good week this
0:43
week. Hope you've come praying for the
0:44
service today and praying that God would
0:47
help us and meet with us. And uh we need
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his help. That's one thing I'm sure of.
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And we can't do it without him. and uh
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get this up here in just a second.
1:05
I like using the online calendar cuz
1:07
half the stuff that I've wrote and
1:09
mine's wrong. So, [snorts]
1:16
all right.
1:18
did want to let you know um we we took
1:21
up the offering there for the Tabernacle
1:23
Children's Home and uh in all of our
1:25
mail there last week, they've sent us a
1:27
a plan, a little schematic of what it
1:31
looks like. And so I'm going to have
1:32
that out front. You can go by and look
1:34
at that. Um but they're they've got
1:36
their goal, how much money they're
1:38
wanting to raise, kind of what the
1:40
building looks like, what the plan is,
1:42
and so you can go by and check that out.
1:44
And um I'm sure there's a there's a code
1:48
there's a QR code on here um you can
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scan uh to get a message from their
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pastor, brother Doug Benton, and the
1:55
children's home director as well. You
1:57
can watch a video on that. And so let's
2:00
continue to pray about that and pray
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that God would continue to bless the
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money that comes in for that. But I'll
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have that out in the foyer um for you um
2:08
there at after Sunday school this
2:11
morning. But announcements, by way of
2:13
announcements, do remember a Youth
2:15
Sunday has been postponed for the time
2:16
being. I'll let you know when we get
2:18
that rescheduled. Um, and uh, I was
2:22
going to tell them this last week, but
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I'll tell them this morning. You young
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people, there's ever anything you want
2:27
to do to serve God, you just know it
2:29
ain't got to be on Youth Sunday. Um, you
2:31
can serve God anytime you want to, and
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we'll give you a job. There's plenty of
2:35
things to do. Somebody say amen right
2:36
there. Um, but do remember that they're
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going to be kicking off uh junior camps
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next week uh the 8th uh through the
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11th. So remember that. Be much in
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prayer about that. I will don't forget
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this uh ladies and men's fellowships are
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this week and
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see who we got this week.
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All right,
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brother Chris has got it this week. So
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all right, is he in here? Is he outside?
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I'm sure he knows that, but I'll remind
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him anyway. So, anyway, looking forward
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to it. Be a great time uh this week. Of
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course, tomorrow night will be ladies
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fellowship and then men's will be on
3:19
Thursday. And so, remember that this
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week be praying about that and be
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handing out our Bible school
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invitations. And we should be getting
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some more of those here just directly,
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shouldn't we? So, that'll be Are they
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here already? Are we
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okay? All right. Um, we'll have some
3:36
more directly, all right, to hand out. I
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think there is some still some out
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there. So, um, if you want to hand some
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of those out, be inviting folk to our
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Bible school and, uh, have those of you
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that are here, make sure your children,
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grandchildren, all that are already
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registered. Make sure if they haven't
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done that, go ahead and register for
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that. Um, as that'll be coming up as
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well. That'll be the 14th through the
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17th. And uh we'll have another meeting
4:00
about that on next Sunday just to kind
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of give you some uh final notes about
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that. So remember that if you would
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please. And then uh the father's day
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outing on the 20th. Um I had a lot of
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response out of that um what we did last
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time. We're kind of going to do the same
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thing. I don't know if we're going to go
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to the same place, but um we are going
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to try to have a little nicer meal and
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things of that nature um that day. And
4:23
so if you want to go to that, please let
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me know. It'll be on the 20th and I'll
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let you know the location. We may do the
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same thing we did last time. Um but if
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not, we'll do we'll we'll do that
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activity somewhere else. So anyway, on
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the 20th, so if you're interested in
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that, let me know about that. And then
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the 21st will be homecoming and Father's
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Day. And so that'll be here before we
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know it. And we'll have a meal after
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morning service that day and then no
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evening service on that night. So
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remember that if you would please. And
4:57
then power two youth camp coming up
5:00
there the 6th through the 9th. Do
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remember that. If you've not registered
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for that, you need to let Miss Brookke
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know about that. They're traveling this
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week. Um but do just send them a text,
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let her know about that. She can get you
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registered for that for your team and uh
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be praying about that as it gets closer.
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All right. All right. Let's get to our
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uh prayer requests this morning.
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And does anybody have a spoken request
5:25
of prayer and update like to make
5:27
mention of this morning?
5:29
Yes, sir.
5:38
>> Amen.
5:39
>> Praise the Lord for that.
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Let's continue to remember brother Mike
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in prayer. Miss Carolyn as well.
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Remember them. Someone else. Yes, ma'am.
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>> All right, let's remember this someone
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else.
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>> Amen. Let's remember Miss Haley in
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prayer.
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Blackwood. I remembered it. Just
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kidding. I didn't. It's wrote right
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here. Amen.
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Amen. Let's remember that
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could be any time. Amen. Someone else.
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Yes, sir.
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Amen. Amen. Let's continue to remember
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uh brother Todd, Miss Maryl in prayer.
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Someone else.
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>> Amen.
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continue to remember them that family in
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prayer.
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God's able, ain't he?
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>> Amen. If y'all would please remember uh
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my wife's pastor, brother Jamie, his
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wife, Miss Angie, she had a fall this
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past week and uh I guess she broke a
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vertebrae in her back and
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a couple places in her foot. They
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thought she'd broke her hip. Um, but uh
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she's not well at all. Bad, very bad
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shape. So, if y'all would please
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remember Miss Angie, Miss Angie Milsaps
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is her name.
7:33
Someone else.
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>> Amen. Let's remember that.
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Let's remember that this morning.
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[clears throat]
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Someone else.
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[snorts]
8:01
Amen. Let's remember all those
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traveling. Got a lot of folk out
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traveling today. Vacation, things of
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that nature. Let's pray for them. And uh
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let's pray uh for our young people. Pray
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for them. Pray God will help them. And I
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got a summer full of stuff for them. And
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thankful for that. thankful um for them
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being willing to go and the adults that
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want to work with them. So remember that
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uh this summer be praying about that and
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be praying as well for our missionaries
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and coming up on missions conference
8:29
will be here before you know it. And I
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just pray God will continue to bless and
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as the Lord leads one. I would love to
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take on all three of those missionaries
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we'll have in that week. We'll just see
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how God leads us and what happens coming
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up to that. But do continue to remember
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member uh the children's home and uh
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I'll have this out there in the forer
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and don't let me forget to do that Abby
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if you would please and I'll have this
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out there in the for you for you to look
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at that and uh I don't know why it's
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just been a heavy burden on my heart for
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them over the last several weeks. Ain't
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really many days goes by that I don't
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think about it. And uh let's remember
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that. You know I I think you know I'll
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say this that ain't just me that's
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scriptural. [clears throat] Um James
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said this. He said uh um if any among
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you seem to be religious and rileth not
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his tongue. He said but deceiveth
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himself this man's religion is in vain.
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James 1:26. But in verse 27 he says
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this. He says pure religion and
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undefiled before God and the fathers is
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to visit the fatherless and the widows
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and their affliction and to keep himself
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unspotted from the world. and uh the
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purest of religion visiting the
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fatherless and the widows and uh that's
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a big deal for the Bible to say that
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that's under inspiration the spirit of
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God and so let's let's do indeed pray
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about that and pray that God would bless
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uh in those areas. Let's pray for those
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be here in Sunday morning. We'll have
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more than double what we've got here for
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Sunday school. Let's pray God to deal
9:58
with their heart. Amen. And uh to show
10:01
them there's a need to be faithful. We
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do this for a reason and come and pray.
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It ain't just so y'all can come hear me
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talk for another 30 or 45 minutes. Um
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it's so we can come and learn the word
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of God. And so let's pray. God will
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bless that. And help me pray as well as
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we have help step up. I really want to
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break this down. And um I it's been a
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burden of my heart here of late
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specifically um that we really need to
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break this up and have classes, but I
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need teachers. And so um just pray God
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will provide that. All right. Pray that
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God will work meet that need. And I've
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got a desire for a young married
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couple's college class um that I want to
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teach for a period of time. And then I'd
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love to have a berean class uh as well.
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And just just different things that
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visions that I know and God wants all
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this. This ain't just me. This is stuff
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that he wants done as well. I mean he um
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you got to break up and have groups cuz
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you know if we're always all in this
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setting, we'll miss one another. This
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building is big and people that sit over
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here will never talk to those that sit
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over here. And uh sometimes I know
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that's not the case always, but um I
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want to break this thing up and get a
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little more intimate setting. So you
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help me pray about that and God will
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just provide the needs for that and uh
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we'll do that as the Lord leads us. But
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let's remember I I haven't said much
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about it here in recent days, but our
11:20
verse for this year and let's continue
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to remember that and keep that in mind.
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required in stewards that a man be found
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faithful. And uh that's the that's the
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only thing that we're going to be judged
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by. You realize that it ain't got it
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ain't got nothing to do with the
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quantity of our works, but it has
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everything to do with the quality of
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what we do um for Jesus, our motive, and
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the reason that we do. And we may not
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have as many souls saved as the church
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down the road, but you know what? We're
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not to look at them,
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>> right?
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>> Amen. We're not to judge ourselves by
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them. We're to do what we're called to
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do and stay faithful and obedient to
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what God has commanded us to do. Amen.
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And so, let's remember that. Let's
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remember those that'll be here lost
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today. Pray that God will deal with
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their heart and save them by his grace.
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So, is there any other requests of
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prayer before we pray?
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All right. Let's all that can and will
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come gather in the altar and pray and
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ask the Lord to help us. Do remember the
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lost each time that you pray and our
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missionaries. pray for each of them and
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uh some needs that I've been seeing here
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of late. I'll make mention of uh certain
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uh mission organizations and I'll bring
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that to your attention in the coming
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weeks. Different things that we can do
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to be a blessing. And uh so we're going
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to God's reached into us. We ought to be
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reaching out to others. Amen. And so
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let's pray that God would help us today
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uh as we've met to worship. I love each
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and every one of you. Thank you so much
12:41
for being here. And I pray that God
12:43
blesses you this morning.
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Father, thank you for this day, for your
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grace and mercy towards us, for your
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kindness, allowing us to be here. God,
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we know, Father, Lord, that we do not
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deserve to be here today. And God, if we
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one were to account iniquities, Lord,
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today we know that none of us could
13:05
stand. But God, we're thankful that by
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your grace and Lord, through uh the
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forgiveness, Lord, that's offered in
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faith, Lord, we are cleansed this
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morning. And God, I pray Lord, if there
13:14
be any sin, Father, in our midst today,
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I pray, Lord, that it would be laid upon
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this altar, God, I trust, Father, that
13:21
Lord, each soul, Father, would have
13:23
nothing between themselves and you
13:24
today, God, that there would be clear uh
13:27
connection, clear communication uh
13:29
between them and you today, God. I ask
13:31
you, Lord, that all your will would be
13:33
accomplished. I pray, Lord, as it is
13:35
revealed to each heart, I pray they
13:37
would be obedient and submissive to do
13:40
what you've asked them to do. And God,
13:42
we pray for the many needs in our
13:43
sanctuary today. Lord, there were many
13:46
requests of prayer that were not
13:47
mentioned, many families that are
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hurting, God, that have heavy burdens,
13:51
Father, that maybe they feel like they
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cannot share, Father, in a public
13:55
setting. God, I pray, Lord, that you
13:57
would be with them and help them uh in
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this day. Lord, we know, God, that
14:01
you're able to give strength and help
14:03
and and Lord, I'm looking forward to
14:05
what you have for us today in the Sunday
14:07
school hour and as well in the preaching
14:09
hour. God, I just pray that you would
14:11
speak to us, God, and just uh God, I
14:14
just pray you'd have your way in every
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heart and life today and get glory unto
14:18
yourself. God, we pray for those that'll
14:20
be here lost today that you'd deal with
14:21
their heart and draw them to a place of
14:23
conviction and repentance, God, so that
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they might be saved and forgiven of
14:27
their sin. Lord, we know, Lord, that
14:29
you're not slack concerning your
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promise, Lord, as some men would count
14:33
slackness, but you're longsuffering. To
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us, we're not willing that any should
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perish. And God, I know, Father, there's
14:38
no sinner, Lord, that you did not die to
14:41
save. And we're thankful that your
14:43
sacrifice this morning, Lord, is enough
14:45
to save every sinner and any sinner that
14:47
would call upon you, Lord. And God, I'm
14:49
thankful, Father, Lord, that I myself,
14:51
Lord, that Paul, Apostle Paul said he
14:53
was the chief of sinners. And Lord, I
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know that I feel that way this morning.
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But God, you have been so good, Lord,
14:59
and you saved me by your grace. And you
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gave me new life. And Lord, you've been
15:03
long-suffering with me since I've been
15:05
saved. Lord, I know that you didn't get
15:07
much when you saved me. But Lord, I'm
15:09
thankful, Father, that you entrusted me
15:11
with all the riches of heaven and of the
15:13
gospel. And Lord, I thank you for
15:15
counting me faithful and put me in the
15:17
ministry. And God, I pray, Father, for
15:19
maybe that young man or young lady here
15:21
this morning, God, that you're dealing
15:23
with their heart about the ministry,
15:25
God, I pray, Lord, that they would be
15:27
submissive to the will of God for their
15:28
life. And God, do whatever you call them
15:31
to do, Father, and just be obedient,
15:33
God. We know Lord that these days on
15:35
this earth are short and our life is
15:37
fleeting and but a vapor. But God, would
15:39
you help us Lord to do what you've asked
15:41
us to do Lord with the time that you've
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allotted for us. God, I thank you,
15:45
Father, for being so kind to us today.
15:48
And please bless this church. God, I
15:50
thank you for each one of them. Lord,
15:51
for the ones that been so faithful to
15:53
come to Sunday school, Lord, since we
15:56
was able to start that back, God, I
15:57
know, Lord, that they've received a
15:59
blessing because I've received a
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blessing. Father, just allowing you to
16:03
teach me, Father, through the word of
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God. And Lord, I pray that you would
16:06
continue to bless them for their
16:08
faithfulness to you and to the house of
16:09
God. And Lord, I ask you, God, today,
16:11
Father, you would help us do all the
16:13
will of God and get all glory to
16:15
yourself. Lord, we love you. Thank you
16:17
so much for loving us. Have your way
16:19
today. We ask it all in Jesus name.
16:22
>> Amen.
16:30
All right.
17:31
All right. If you have a Bible, if you
17:33
would turn with me to the book of 1st
17:34
Samuel.
17:36
1st Samuel 28.
17:44
been sort of jumping around in our
17:47
preaching and our study. I'd love to get
17:49
back in a series, but just had a lot of
17:53
uh response out of the type of teaching
17:56
preaching I've been doing here of late
17:59
and I don't really feel led to stop it.
18:00
So, I'm going to follow it as long as
18:02
the Lord lets me
18:05
and uh just kind of keep giving you some
18:07
introductions here. these two-part
18:11
lesson and sermon or sermon and lesson,
18:14
whatever you want to call it. We're just
18:15
trying to do what God tells us to. But I
18:18
want to deal in this text this morning,
18:20
1st Samuel 28. If you're a Bible
18:22
student, you're probably familiar with
18:24
this chapter. And uh I hope that you
18:27
are, hope all of us should be. Um but
18:30
this is a very interesting
18:33
uh circumstance situation uh in the
18:37
history of Israel. Of course, this has
18:38
to do uh with King Saul. And if you know
18:42
your Bible, his demise is going to
18:44
transpire just less than four chapters
18:47
later. Saul is going to die and really
18:51
is going to commit suicide there. Uh in
18:54
the text, and this is leading up to
18:57
those days, we know that um the presence
19:00
of the Lord has departed from Saul and
19:03
God is no longer speaking to him. And in
19:06
this text, we're going to look at just a
19:08
couple of things concerning that. Um,
19:10
but this passage refers to the instance
19:13
uh of Saul and the witch at indoor. How
19:16
many of you's heard of the witch at
19:18
indoor? Um, Saul in this text is got to
19:21
his wit's end. And like many people in
19:24
the world do in this day and time, when
19:26
they get to their wits end, they go to
19:28
try to doing things they know they got
19:29
no business doing. And uh so we're going
19:32
to look in this text concerning of this
19:35
subject here. Um I I don't know if you
19:39
want to call it the familiar spirits or
19:41
what, but we're just going to examine
19:42
this chapter for just a little while.
19:44
Kind of give you an overview. We'll be
19:46
in chapter 29 uh in the worship hour
19:50
today. And so let's look here in chapter
19:52
28. And uh we'll kindly preface the
19:55
chapter. I'm not going to read the whole
19:57
chapter. Um, but I'll preface it with
19:59
the first three verses. The Bible says
20:02
in 1st Samuel 28 and verse one, "And it
20:05
came to pass in those days that the
20:07
Philistines gathered their armies
20:08
together for warfare to fight with
20:12
Israel. And Akish said unto David, know
20:15
thou assuredly that thou shalt go out
20:18
with me to battle thou and thy men." And
20:21
David said to Akish, "Surely thou shalt
20:23
know what thy servant can do." And Akish
20:25
said to David, "Therefore will I make
20:27
thee keeper of mine head forever." Now
20:31
Samuel was dead, and all Israel had
20:33
lamented him and buried him in Rama,
20:36
even in his own city. And Saul had put
20:38
away those that had familiar spirits and
20:41
the wizards out of the land. Father, I
20:45
ask you for just a minute that you would
20:46
help us this morning. And God, you know
20:49
what's on my heart to share. Lord, I
20:51
believe you've put it there. And so God,
20:52
I ask you that you would help me. And uh
20:54
Lord, I pray that you would hide the
20:56
ignorance of my youth and allow me to
20:58
speak with the tongue of the learn this
21:00
morning. Get glory to yourself. And
21:02
we'll thank you for it because we ask it
21:04
in Jesus' name. Amen. This text here in
21:08
chapter 28 is really a I guess you would
21:10
say it's a crossroads, but there's three
21:13
individuals that I want you to note in
21:15
this text that are mentioned. For first,
21:17
there is David that is mentioned in
21:20
verses one and two. We will be talking
21:22
about him in the sermon today. But in
21:24
verse number three, there's two
21:25
individuals that are mentioned. In verse
21:28
three, the Bible says, "Now Samuel was
21:30
dead." And so I don't want you to miss
21:32
that because Samuel is is dead in the
21:35
text, but this is not the last time that
21:37
Samuel is going to peer appear in this
21:40
chapter and has much to do with this
21:42
witch at Endor. But we notice also in
21:45
verse three, the Bible says, "And Saul
21:47
had put away those that had familiar
21:49
spirits uh and the wizards out of the
21:52
land." Now, in by the instruction of the
21:55
Old Testament Mosaic law, according to
21:58
Leviticus 19 and verse number 31, there
22:01
was to be no relationship or no
22:03
fellowship with people that dealt with
22:06
the spirit realm, wizards, witches, um
22:09
whatever you want to call them.
22:10
Leviticus 20 and verse number 27.
22:13
further says that if you find one,
22:16
they're to be put to death. The Mosaic
22:18
law did not tolerate this kind of
22:20
behavior. And I want to say this to you
22:22
today, you parents, grandparents, you
22:24
need to watch your children in this day
22:26
and time because they're being opened up
22:28
to all types of this kind of uh
22:30
psychological, spiritual uh warfare by
22:34
these people who do not proclaim to be
22:36
this. There are some that still do. If
22:39
you go up north, you talk to
22:40
missionaries that are in the northern
22:42
part of especially the northeastern part
22:45
of the United States, you'll discover
22:47
that this is still a huge thing up
22:49
there. Witches and and all of that
22:52
sorcery types of things. But the Bible
22:55
blatantly condemns that. Condemns it in
22:57
the Old Testament, condemns it in the
22:59
New Testament. And the reason why I want
23:01
to bring these three people to your
23:03
attention in this text is because it's
23:06
highlighted to us that David is has made
23:09
a league with the king of Gath in the
23:12
text verses 1 and two. And so David is
23:15
out of the will of God. Verse number
23:17
three, um Samuel is dead. Samuel is the
23:20
one that anointed Saul king. He is the
23:22
one who anointed David king. And we're
23:24
going to find in this chapter that Saul
23:26
is still out of the will of God. And so
23:29
God's both of his men. Saul was the man,
23:32
the king from the past who had now lost
23:34
the touch of God, had lost the presence
23:36
of God. He is now at his wits end trying
23:40
to get an answer because the Philistines
23:42
are coming against him according to
23:44
verse number four. And not only that,
23:47
but David, the man, the Bible says,
23:49
after God's own heart is leaked up with
23:53
the Philistines.
23:55
And so what we find is is these two men
23:58
that are completely and totally out of
23:59
the will of God. We're going to look at
24:02
David later, but let's look at Saul this
24:04
morning and see what the Bible has to
24:06
say to us about him. Now the Philistines
24:09
according to verse number four have
24:11
gathered themselves together in verse
24:13
four. They says they came and pitched in
24:16
Shunum and Saul gathered all Israel
24:18
together and they pitched in Gilboa. And
24:21
I think it interests me about the life
24:23
of Saul that Saul spent his entire
24:27
period as king fighting the Philistines.
24:29
But he was never able to offer any
24:32
victory. He was never able to defeat the
24:34
Philistines. Matter of fact, it was the
24:36
Philistines that brought him to his
24:39
death in verse number 31 or chapter 31
24:42
of 1 Samuel. And the Bible says in verse
24:44
5, "When Saul saw the host of the
24:47
Philistines, he was afraid and his heart
24:50
greatly trembled." To summarize what
24:52
happens in the next few verses to get us
24:54
up to speed, Saul in the text, he
24:56
inquires of the Lord. The Bible says in
24:59
verse 6, "The Lord answered him not,
25:01
neither by dreams, nor by urum, nor by
25:04
prophets." And so Saul has expended
25:06
every method that was in the Old
25:08
Testament for getting a hold of God in
25:11
the text. He has went to the prophets.
25:13
He has went to the Levites. It's that
25:15
urum there represents the garment of the
25:17
priest. It was there placed upon the
25:19
front of his garment. You can read about
25:21
that uh over in the book of Leviticus
25:24
and or Exodus. And it tells us there
25:27
what that urum represents. And so dreams
25:30
have not not brought him any revelation
25:32
from God. The Urum, the Levites, the
25:35
prophets, uh the priesthood, the
25:37
prophets, there's been no revelation
25:39
from the precepts to him. And the Bible
25:41
says in verse 7, "Then said Saul unto
25:43
his servants, seek me a woman that hath
25:46
a familiar spirit, that I may go to her
25:48
and inquire of her." And his servant
25:51
said to him, "Behold, there is a woman
25:52
that hath a familiar spirit at Endor."
25:55
So Saul makes this journey here, leaving
25:58
the place there where he was encamped uh
26:00
in Shunam there or encamped by Gilboa in
26:04
the text and he makes the journey to
26:06
indoor where this woman that hath a
26:08
familiar spirit is. And I want to say
26:11
this to you on the outset of this text.
26:13
What you're going to discover is is a
26:15
supernatural event takes place. Now,
26:18
there's two different schools of thought
26:20
on this text. There's some people that
26:22
say that what happens in this text that
26:24
where it said that it is Samuel, it's
26:27
not really Samuel, but it's just a demon
26:30
portraying himself as Samuel. But the
26:32
Bible says it was Samuel. And so, I
26:35
personally go with the school of thought
26:36
that it is Samuel that's speaking in
26:39
this text. But nevertheless, whatever
26:41
happens, this woman with the familiar
26:44
spirit is able to bring Samuel back from
26:47
the dead to speak.
26:49
And so whether or not you believe it was
26:51
a demon or whether it was Samuel, the
26:53
truth is this woman was able to bring
26:55
somebody back to speak to Saul in this
26:58
text. Now, what I personally believe in
27:01
this text is this, that it is really
27:04
Samuel and that this woman has
27:06
absolutely nothing to do with this
27:08
event. That's what I believe personally.
27:10
I'm going to pro try to prove that from
27:12
the text. You say, why is that
27:14
necessary? Well, I want to describe to
27:16
you the difference, all right, between
27:18
the power of God and the power of that
27:21
spirit realm. When you look through the
27:23
word of God, when we think about the
27:25
most prevalent instance that comes to my
27:27
mind is when Elijah is on Mount Carmel
27:29
with those prophets of Baal and they're
27:32
crying, they're cutting themselves all
27:34
the day long. They've got the altar.
27:35
They've got the wood. They've got the
27:37
sacrifice. And they're crying out,
27:39
praying that Baal would come down and
27:42
receive the sacrifice. But all day long,
27:44
nothing happens. And so out of that,
27:47
what happens? Elijah then prays. And God
27:50
immediately brings fire down from heaven
27:52
and takes the sacrifice, the altar, the
27:55
water, and the rocks and receives it
27:57
all. And regardless of what you see in
28:00
scripture, yes, there are instances
28:02
where uh the the spirit realm, the evil
28:04
spirit realm, the prince of the power of
28:06
the air manifest himself on the face of
28:09
the earth. But what you find every time
28:11
is that the power of God triumphs over
28:14
that.
28:14
>> Right. Right.
28:15
>> And in this text, what we discover is
28:18
that when Samuel is brought back to
28:21
being here in this text, I believe God
28:24
has gotten Saul's attention in this
28:26
text. So much so that he allows him to
28:29
think that this wicked indor has brought
28:32
Samuel back. I don't believe that at
28:34
all. I believe God brought Samuel back
28:37
in this text. And I'll tell you why.
28:38
Notice the verse. The Bible says in
28:41
verse eight, what's that first phrase?
28:43
And Saul disguised himself. All right.
28:46
So Saul has put on some reign and of
28:48
course he's king. He has the kingly
28:50
garments, all of that. But in this text,
28:52
he disguised himself more than likely
28:55
probably as a servant. just says that he
28:57
put on other raignment. He went two men
28:59
with him and the Bible says they came to
29:02
the woman by night. He makes his request
29:04
unto her in verse number eight. And then
29:06
notice verse number nine. Saul has
29:08
disguised himself. But notice verse
29:10
number nine. He is successful in
29:12
deceiving this woman. Look what the
29:14
Bible said. And the woman said unto him,
29:16
Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath
29:18
done. Notice that. Thou knowest what
29:21
Saul had done. how he hath cut off those
29:24
that have familiar spirits and the
29:25
wizards out of the land. Wherefore then
29:28
layst thou a snare from my life to cause
29:30
me to die. If this woman had such great
29:33
power in the spirit world, she would
29:35
have been able to know that this was
29:36
Saul.
29:37
>> You're right.
29:37
>> Amen. She would have been able to
29:40
perceive that this really was Saul when
29:42
he appeared unto her in the text. But
29:45
notice what happens here. The Bible says
29:47
in verse 10, Saul swear to her at by the
29:50
Lord, saying, "As the Lord liveth, there
29:52
shall no punishment happen to thee for
29:54
this thing." Then notice verse 11, it
29:57
goes further than even this. There's a
29:59
lot I could say here, but I want to move
30:00
on. I got a point I want to make and
30:01
we'll be done. Then said the woman,
30:03
"Whom shall I bring up unto thee?" And
30:06
he said, "Bring me up Samuel." So he
30:09
tells her Samuel in this text, but she
30:12
doesn't know who this Samuel is. All
30:15
right? She he he says a name, but she
30:18
does not know that it's the prophet
30:19
Samuel because notice what happens in
30:22
the next verse. And when the woman saw
30:24
Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and
30:26
the woman spake to Saul saying, "Why
30:28
hast thou deceived me?" Notice that. For
30:30
thou art Saul. You know how she knew
30:35
that he was Saul? You know how she found
30:37
that out? Was when God allowed Samuel to
30:40
appear to her.
30:40
>> You're right. What happens in this text
30:43
is is her power gets overrote. You're
30:45
>> right.
30:45
>> Amen. And she gets a scare like she
30:48
ain't used to. You see these these
30:50
women, they they are they they did have
30:52
power to some extent. But you realize
30:54
most of their operation was a ruse.
30:57
>> You're right.
30:57
>> Everything they did was founded upon
31:00
deception. And so when something really
31:02
happened, you know what? She was
31:03
surprised.
31:04
>> Amen. She wasn't expecting to see
31:07
anything. But Samuel appears in this
31:09
text. Notice what the Bible said. And
31:11
the king said unto her, "Be not afraid,
31:13
for what sawest thou?" And the woman
31:15
said unto Saul, "I saw God's ascending
31:18
out of the earth." That backs up the
31:21
idea that paradise is in the heart of
31:23
the earth. Amen. Until the day that
31:25
Jesus Christ came and he led captivity
31:27
captive, not what I'm talking about. But
31:29
notice what he says in verse 14. And he
31:32
said unto her, "What form is he up?" And
31:34
she said, "An old man cometh up, and he
31:36
is covered with a mantle." And Saul
31:38
perceived that it was Samuel and he
31:40
stooped with his face to the ground and
31:42
bowed himself. So in this text, what you
31:45
discover is is this woman is seeing a
31:48
man in this vision. She don't even know
31:50
who he is. She doesn't know who Saul.
31:53
She didn't know who Saul was. And she
31:55
also didn't know who Samuel was.
31:57
>> See, God was the one orchestrating this
31:59
thing.
32:00
>> God's going to give her a wakeup call,
32:02
but he's also going to give Saul a
32:03
wakeup call in this text. Notice what
32:06
the Bible says. He stooped with his face
32:08
to the ground and bowed himself. And
32:10
this is the reason. All right. This is
32:12
the reason why I believe it's Samuel.
32:14
You don't have to believe that, but I
32:16
believe it's Samuel because of verse 15.
32:18
What's them first three words say?
32:21
>> And Samuel said. Now, do we believe this
32:23
Bible's inspired?
32:26
>> Amen. So, I personally believe that this
32:29
is Samuel in the text. Now, there is a
32:32
few things that happen in this verse. He
32:34
he he speaks to Saul. Why is thou
32:37
disquited me to bring me up? Saul
32:39
answered. I'm sore distressed. He tells
32:41
him the story. Hey, God's not answering
32:43
me. He's not listening when I call unto
32:45
him. Um hasn't worked. The prophets
32:48
haven't had an answer. There's no answer
32:50
at the priest's house. And he says, "God
32:53
is departed from me." Of course, we know
32:55
the Bible says that the spirit of the
32:57
Lord departed from Saul. And then what
32:58
did it say? An evil spirit from the Lord
33:01
troubled him. And so Saul is still
33:03
dealing with that evil spirit. He has no
33:06
answer. He's trying to get instruction
33:08
about how he is to deal with the
33:10
Philistines. But remember who is
33:12
rightfully king at this time. David is.
33:16
Saul's not king. He's fighting a battle
33:20
that he's not even supposed to be
33:21
fighting.
33:23
David is supposed to be king. If Saul
33:26
had done what Saul should have done, he
33:27
would have stepped down when God took
33:29
the spirit of God off of him. And when
33:31
Samuel looked at him and said, "The
33:33
kingdom is rent from your hand and is
33:35
given to David." If Saul had done what
33:37
he should have, he would have turned it
33:38
over to David. And then maybe then God
33:41
could have brought a repentance, brought
33:43
another opportunity for restoration in
33:46
his life. And so we know that Saul is
33:48
out of the will of God. And he mentions
33:50
in verse 16, Samuel says, "Look what the
33:53
Bible says. Wherefore then dust thou ask
33:55
of me, seeing the Lord is departed from
33:58
thee, and is become thine enemy. The
34:02
presence of God had departed from Saul
34:05
in this text. He no longer had the
34:07
influence that God had endued of him.
34:09
And you understand it's it's still the
34:11
same way in this day and time. Just
34:13
because kings and and princes and
34:15
presidents do not acknowledge the power
34:18
of God and setting them in the places
34:20
that they are, God sets up and takes
34:22
down who he will.
34:24
>> He's in perfect control of all of that.
34:26
Okay? He's not lost his grip on this
34:28
world. He's not lost his grip on this
34:31
country. It's because we have chosen to
34:33
walk away from him. He is always in
34:35
control. And he reminds Saul in this
34:38
text, yes, the presence of the Lord has
34:40
departed from you. But he also reminds
34:42
him that the power of God had been
34:44
deputed to another in verse 17. Look
34:46
what he says. And the Lord hath done to
34:49
him as he spake by me. For the Lord hath
34:51
rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and
34:53
give it to thy neighbor, even to David.
34:55
So Samuel has come up again to tell Saul
34:59
one more time what he had been telling
35:00
him the whole time that he was alive.
35:02
Now he's telling him as he is dead here
35:05
speaking to him from the spirit realm
35:08
that his power had been deputed or been
35:10
given to another. And it's all because
35:13
of his disobedience. In verse 18, look
35:15
what he says. Because they obeyed not
35:17
the voice of the Lord, nor executed his
35:19
fierce wrath upon Amalecch, therefore
35:21
hath the Lord done this thing unto thee
35:24
this day. Now, I need to make a simple
35:25
application to this this morning. If you
35:28
refuse to do what God has told you to
35:31
do, God will take that burden from you
35:33
and place it on somebody else. That's
35:35
>> right.
35:36
>> If God has led you to do something, all
35:39
right, there's going to be people that
35:41
will die and go to hell. There's going
35:42
to be people that never get right with
35:44
God because you refuse to do what you
35:46
were supposed to do. But God does not
35:48
have to use you.
35:49
>> You're right.
35:50
>> He can take somebody else and fill your
35:52
shoes. It's It's not a problem with him.
35:55
Okay? And he will do that. He's going to
35:57
have his will done one way or another.
35:59
Amen. And so in this text, he reminds
36:02
him of his disobedience, of course,
36:04
because when he went to the Amalachites
36:06
there and and the text, the Bible says
36:08
that when they he Samuel told him to
36:10
destroy all, but Samuel, the people
36:13
brought back some of the goodliest of
36:14
the the sheep. He said to offer
36:16
sacrifices unto the Lord. And what is
36:18
it? He suffered King Aag to live. He
36:21
allowed him to live. When Samuel told
36:23
him, you're to kill all, to take all, to
36:25
destroy all, and go and Samuel's
36:27
reminded him here, you are disobedient
36:30
to God. And so, you have now lost the
36:33
presence of God. And this is where it
36:36
begins to get deeper. You say, "What do
36:38
you mean?" Well, see, all of this is
36:40
stuff that Saul already knew.
36:43
>> Saul already knew that the kingdom had
36:45
been written out of his his hand. Saul
36:46
already knew that David was the next in
36:49
line. saw already knew that it was
36:51
because of his disobedience. But in
36:53
verse 19, he did not know what was going
36:55
to happen here. Look what the Bible
36:56
says. Moreover, the Lord will also
36:59
deliver with thee, deliver Israel with
37:01
thee into the hand of the Philistines.
37:04
So there is a defeat that's revealed.
37:06
Notice this. Not only there's a defeat
37:08
that's revealed, look what he says. And
37:10
tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons, what's
37:12
he say? Be with me. Be with me. Now what
37:16
does that mean? All right. means they're
37:18
going to die. Amen. Means they're going
37:21
to die. Now, what is this speaking of?
37:24
Well, Samuel is prophesying of his death
37:27
while he himself is dead.
37:30
You think about this. God allowed Saul
37:33
to get to this woman
37:35
that he thought could do something for
37:38
him, but God brought brought Samuel back
37:40
to remind Saul again, "When you don't
37:42
listen to me, there's consequences."
37:45
>> You're right. Because what was what was
37:48
by the Mosaic law? What have we already
37:49
said? What was what were they supposed
37:50
to do with these people? They're
37:53
supposed to kill them, weren't they?
37:55
Who's going to die in the text?
37:57
Saul's going to die. The woman's going
38:00
to live. Notice the text. Tomorrow shalt
38:03
thou and thy sons be with me. The Lord
38:06
also shall deliver the host of Israel
38:08
into the hand of the Philistines.
38:12
So doubly he says it, he begins the
38:14
verse, the Lord will deliver Israel with
38:16
thee into the hand of the Philistines.
38:17
The end of the verse, the Lord shall
38:18
deliver the host of Israel into the hand
38:21
of Philistines. Sealed, doubly sealed,
38:24
Israel is going to be turned over to the
38:26
enemy because of Saul's negligence. Now,
38:32
a lot of things I could say about this.
38:33
We're going to say some of it in the
38:34
message this morning, but here's what I
38:36
believe. I or actually I'm not going to
38:38
say I'm dogmatic on this, but I als I
38:41
wonder this morning. I wonder if Saul
38:43
had not went and sought this witch. I
38:46
wonder if things would have been
38:47
different.
38:49
You see, Saul had wrought victory over
38:52
the Philistines at times. It was never
38:54
permanent,
38:55
>> but there was victory for periods. But
38:58
in this text, God says to Samuel, and
39:00
Samuel says to Saul, "You're done."
39:05
You know what? There is a line
39:07
>> right
39:08
>> in our li in my life and your life that
39:10
if we cross in disobedience to God he
39:12
will pull the plug.
39:14
>> I'm not saying he'll take you eternal
39:16
life but he's not going to allow his
39:18
children to stumble around in sin.
39:20
>> And uh you know I I people what really
39:23
divides this text is that statement in
39:25
verse 19. Notice it there in the text.
39:28
He says, "Tomorrow shalt thou and thy
39:29
sons be with me." Now I believe
39:31
Jonathan's in heaven. Saul I don't know
39:34
about. But if this text, if it really is
39:37
Samuel speaking here, if he's going to
39:40
be with Samuel, I believe Saul was saved
39:46
that you'll be with me. It's what he
39:47
says in the text. I mean, you could
39:50
argue, well, hell, you know, paradise is
39:52
in the heart of the earth. I I get all
39:54
of that, but the principle is the same.
39:55
You understand? His life ended
39:57
prematurely because of his decision.
40:00
Notice verse 20. Then Saul fell
40:02
straightway all along on the earth and
40:04
was so afraid because of the words of
40:06
Samuel. There was no strength in him,
40:08
for he had eaten no bread all the day
40:11
nor all the night. If you remember in in
40:13
Saul's life, this wasn't the first time
40:15
that Saul did this. Saul back several
40:17
chapters, I think it's about chapter 14,
40:20
15 of 1 Samuel, he puts out a a a
40:23
command to all his army and says, "Look,
40:25
none of y'all's going to eat or drink
40:26
anything until all the Philistines are
40:29
destroyed." And what happens, Jonathan,
40:31
he didn't he wasn't there when the
40:32
command was given. And so he goes and he
40:34
gets a little bit of that honey and
40:36
takes out of it. And and there's a whole
40:38
curse that falls on him because of what
40:39
Saul said. Saul has done nothing but
40:42
continually bring strife on him and his
40:44
family from the beginning of his
40:46
kingship.
40:47
>> Because he was so concerned about
40:49
himself,
40:51
>> so selfentered. Now he's going to die.
40:54
But not only him, look who else is dying
40:56
in the text.
40:57
>> Thy sons.
41:01
Notice this. I don't know if I can find
41:02
it, but I'm going to try to find it
41:04
here. 1st Samuel
41:08
[sighs]
41:08
1st Samuel 14, I believe it is.
41:13
Yes, 1st Samuel 14. Thank you, Lord. 1st
41:16
Samuel 14:43.
41:19
Jonathan has taken of that honey. Verse
41:22
43. Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me
41:24
what thou has done." The lot had fallen
41:26
on Jonathan in verse 41 and 42. In verse
41:29
43, Jonathan told him and said, "I did
41:31
but taste a little honey with the end of
41:33
the rod that was in mine hand, and lo, I
41:35
must die." Verse 44. And Saul answered,
41:38
"God do so and more also." Notice this.
41:41
For thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
41:45
Saul made this up. Okay? Saul made this
41:48
vow. All right? And it's much like the
41:50
story of Jeffa in the book of Judges.
41:53
Y'all ever remember Jeff Gifa? Jeffa
41:55
makes a vow. He says, "The first thing
41:57
that comes into my house, I'm going to
41:58
offer it to the Lord." And what was the
42:00
first thing that walked into his house
42:02
was his daughter. And you know what he
42:04
did? She submitted to that and allowed
42:07
herself to be the sacrifice because of
42:09
her father's foolish vow. Saul made a
42:12
foolish vow. And because of that,
42:13
Jonathan was going to have to die in
42:15
this text. And you know what? Jonathan
42:17
didn't die right there. But it wasn't
42:19
but just a little while later in this
42:20
text, he dies with his daddy. Didn't
42:23
mean to get off on all that, but I think
42:25
you get what I'm trying to say. Death
42:27
comes because of our foolish decisions.
42:29
Amen. Notice this. Not only we see here,
42:34
um, death was prophesied, but notice
42:35
what the Bible says. Verse 21. And the
42:38
woman came unto Saul, and saw that he
42:40
was sore troubled, and said unto him,
42:42
Behold, thine handmade hath obeyed thy
42:44
voice, and I put my life in my hand, and
42:46
hearkened unto thy words, which thou
42:49
spakest unto me. Now therefore, I pray
42:51
thee, hearken thou also unto the voice
42:54
of thine handmade, and let me set a
42:56
morsel of bread before thee, and eat,
42:57
that thou mayest have strength when thou
43:00
goest on thy way." So, not only now has
43:02
he sought a a vision by this woman, but
43:05
now he's going to sit down and she's
43:07
offering him fellowship. She's supposed
43:09
to be dead.
43:10
>> You're right.
43:11
>> Done. What happens in the text? The
43:13
Bible says Saul refused. But ultimately,
43:16
the Bible says in verse 23, look what
43:18
the Bible says. His servants together
43:20
with the woman compelled him, and he
43:23
hearkened under their voice. So he rose
43:25
from the earth and sat upon the bed. And
43:27
the woman had a fat calf in the house,
43:29
and she hasted and killed it, and took
43:31
flour, and kneaded it, and did bake
43:32
unleven bread thereof. And she brought
43:34
it before Saul before his servants, and
43:36
they did eat. Then they rose up, and
43:38
went away that night. Now, you say,
43:43
"What's the what's the punchline of
43:45
this?" All right, I'll be honest with
43:46
you. I wasn't really sure, but I I'm
43:48
pretty sure about it now. You realize
43:50
this is probably the last meal that Saul
43:52
ever ate.
43:54
He ate in the wicked indoors house,
43:59
the place God never told him to be. But
44:01
God had to come there and give him a
44:04
message of death because it was the last
44:06
place he would sit down long enough to
44:07
have a meal.
44:08
>> Right?
44:09
>> God come and prophesied his death,
44:12
prophesied the departure of the king,
44:14
prophesied of the fact, reminded him
44:16
that David was going to be the one that
44:19
would reign after him. I mean, even
44:20
after this, he goes and has a meal with
44:23
this woman in the text. And this woman's
44:25
going to walk away alive, but Saul's
44:28
going to die the next day. So, I said
44:32
all that to say this.
44:34
David and Saul, chapter 28, 29, 30, and
44:38
31, even on into first, 2 Samuel,
44:42
they're just in a mess. David's in a
44:44
mess. Saul's in a mess. And you know
44:47
what they're doing? One's walking around
44:49
the other. We know why David was
44:51
running. He was afraid.
44:53
But here's the problem. All right? You
44:55
know who was suffering?
44:57
Who was suffering? Because of these two
44:59
men, all the nation of Israel,
45:02
>> right?
45:03
>> They're wondering who's in charge. It
45:05
looks like Saul's in charge.
45:07
We seen David over there with the king
45:10
of Gath.
45:12
Going to give you the punchline of the
45:13
sermon this morning, but there'll be
45:14
some people that will hear it later. You
45:16
know who you know who where Gath is? You
45:18
know where Gath was? You ever remember a
45:21
guy by the name Goliath?
45:24
Goliath of
45:27
David makes a league with Akish. Akish
45:31
is the king [snorts]
45:32
of Gath.
45:35
David just less than 15 chapters from
45:39
defeating Goliath of Gath. He's living
45:42
in Gath.
45:44
You know, we think a lot of times we we
45:46
man, we get shout and we'll think, man,
45:49
God gives victory over the giant.
45:52
Praise God for it. He does. But you know
45:54
what? David himself because of fear. You
45:57
know what got him there? He was afraid
45:59
Saul was going to take his life. You're
46:01
>> right.
46:02
>> And you know who suffered for it? The
46:04
people of God. You say, "Preacher, what
46:06
does that mean for me? That's really got
46:08
to do with leadership higher than me."
46:10
Well, you've got people that are looking
46:11
to you.
46:13
You got a family that you're responsible
46:15
for.
46:16
>> And don't just think that it's just your
46:18
family. Your influence affects more than
46:19
just your family.
46:21
>> Your faithfulness to this church shows
46:23
to those around you how serious you are
46:25
about God.
46:26
>> You can't afford to be in the wrong
46:28
place at the wrong time. Amen. I love
46:30
each one of you. I hope I hope that's
46:32
something maybe help you this morning. I
46:34
know it helped me. Father, thank you for
46:36
this time. God, I pray that you would
46:38
help us to remember, Lord, there are
46:40
consequences to our decisions. And uh
46:43
Lord, we ought not be tampering with
46:44
things uh Lord that we don't know
46:46
anything about. Lord, I realize Saul
46:49
pretty much ended his life. Lord,
46:51
because of those decisions he made in
46:53
that day, Lord, would you help us
46:55
remember what we were responsible for,
46:57
God? Help us remember who we're
46:59
responsible for. And Lord, I know,
47:01
Father, even now, Father, there'll be
47:03
people probably uh Lord, that they'll be
47:05
their blood will be on my hands because
47:07
of my failure. And Lord, I grieve that.
47:10
But Lord, would you help us, God, to
47:12
allow that number to be as little as
47:14
possible, God? I wouldn't want a soul,
47:17
Father, to be for their blood to be on
47:19
my hands from this day forward. And so,
47:21
God, help us to do what we can to be who
47:24
we're supposed to be. Bless the service
47:26
today. Get glory to yourself. Well,
47:28
thank you for what you do cause. We ask
47:29
it in Jesus name. Amen.
47:32
>> Thank you for joining our service
47:33
[music] today. We'd love it if you'd
47:35
join us in person the next time you are
47:38
able at Meadows Baptist Church. Our
47:41
[music] physical address is 2988 Stewart
47:44
Road in Walnut Cove, [music] North
47:46
Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
47:49
school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning
47:51
worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday [music]
47:53
evening worship at 6:00 p.m., and
47:55
Wednesday evening Bible study at 700
47:58
p.m. For more [music] information, visit
48:00
us at meadowsbaptisturch.com.
48:03
Thanks again for tuning in.
48:06
[music]