The Tragedy of Dying Without God

Today life with Jamie Greer why God is not your prayers as you walk out on the conversation that he will hear your prayers and that is the conversation when you confess trust you soul walked out. Souls never repented on then that's what God will hear God yes will abundantly pardon, but you gotta come to God on his terms. God will not be used as life with Molly, but it's no people go to church every week. Read their Bible and even serve in Sunday school early to Bible study but still feel distant from God. They might even worry about whether or not their state. Have you ever been there. I know that I felt that way many times in my life today. Pastor JD dives into the story of King Saul to discover the security and confidence that comes from true faith as opposed to surface level religion. He titled this message the tragedy of dying without God, the answer is exactly the same millions of people you would make eye younger Bible much take it up for sale universe in general.

28 the last several weeks would been in a series called the search for a cane which is best for the life of David and one of the things were to look at this weekend-based theme that is recurring throughout the Bible that is the question about whether it is possible for you to be very religiously active to be very active in the church of God answered not really know God at all. Know what you hear exactly the way I said that I don't mean but is it possible for you to come to church twice a year Christmas and Easter, and to be a general hypocrite throughout the year and not of God. I mean, is it very possible for you to be active in the church like part of the ministry team somebody comes every week somebody give sacrificially is it really possible to be very active in the kingdom of God but not really to know God at all and that question may not make a lot of sense to you until you stop and just think about. Is it possible to be married in the liberal somebody for 40 years and never really know them and love them at all. Yeah, you know, just walking through a maternity ward automatically make you pregnant. No arriving.

Walking through that doesn't mean that you have the reality of many of the people that are in their unit is only a Mac computer automatically make you cool know I just annoying for a lot of your minutes, you know it's as if it doesn't mean that that realities will come. You and one of the things one of the surprising things of the Bible brings up a lot is that religious people often don't know God at all. In fact, there's really surprised that sometimes it's much harder for religious people to know God, but it is for nonreligious people as all through the Bible. That's what you see today that I don't really want some of you wake up and pay attention to this is very possible to be very religious and not know God at all to see what you see in graphic detail today exactly what that looks like to see the tragic end of see something in the life of Saul that really ought to scare us to death for same. 28 now potatoes a lot of times people were Christians don't overcome church like what we Christians do in church as well get together and we all talked down to everybody else is not in church with her like that.

If you're not a person readily come to church to have a good day you overhear a family discussion is walking on awkward family arguments I get to the passage of Scripture that is directed not you but us and you get to hear me say something to all of us that you probably always wanted to say yourself.

I get to yell at everybody in Jesus name I never said a manager you're saying in this morning as you hear me talk about some of the massive dysfunctions among other believers.

So, you're in for a treat today, right per se. 28 to look at the endless offer some 28 in the Morgan in the book & 31 x 28 were to begin in verse three that Samuel was the prophet of God in Israel died in all of Israel, and one for him and buried him at Rome, which was his hometown. Now Saul had put the mediums which mediums are people who communicate with spirits. Once right horse gives their want to answer the 100 calls God is.

Saul had taken those people and the necromancers. It's kind of a weird word.

It just needs people who talk with the dead, you put them out of the land they all live in a place called Hogwarts. Now Saul was the one who had done that if an employee or by the way is that I was a good thing Saul got rid the land of demon worship that was a very good thing that he had done that I should hear that before the Philistines assembled attainment of temperature and was also the Army, the Philistines, he was afraid. His heart trembled greatly here you see a recurring theme in Saul's own life and that is fear. Fear.

Fear is the present reality of every person who is separated from God.

Fear of the future. Fear of the uncertain fear of death, fear of the unknown fear of what everybody else thinks about you fear going bankrupt fear of unexpected problems like when you have the presence of fear in your life. It needs a God set in the right place. First John 418 says the perfect love casts out fear.

Perfect love casts out fear. When you know God, God loves you perfectly and that drives out all fear because God doesn't know any other way to love it perfectly, completely and so the presence of fear means the absence of God. And I'm talking all kinds of people involved in church. I've been a pastor for eight years. I know this that people in the church are often dominated by fear. Fear what's happening in the marriage hear what happened to the children fear what can happen to them tomorrow.

Fear of dying fear what everybody else is thinking about you. Saul is dominated by fear. That is like smoke from a fire that is pointing you to a massive problem of fire in your relationship with God because the presence of fear means the absence of God. Verse six. So Saul inquired of the Lord what to do in this situation. Lord did not answer him now.

The dreams that my journal about profits never did and what is your urine is the Old Testament Old Testament equivalent of the magic eight ball right just to put it bluntly, urine scholars tell us that your two rocks, urine, improvement, and on both sides of both rocks on once I was written just as I was with no somebody wanted to hear from God to go to the priest and the priest would take the high priest of Europe and the ferryman and throw them down both sides came up. Yes, the.net that God was telling you, just as we get on about for them to not know that you know don't do this if one cannot just want to know to suggest know that meant there's no clear word from God and everything, but know yes, that meant there was no clear word from God is what it means that Saul had gone to the priest and said, what is the work of God in the situation printed on the back to the suggest know the no yes yes no no yes no yes yes no yes no you probably sold like how can I do minutes he supernaturally got his answer is like when you shake the magic eight ball. All you get is that will ask again later that ever happened.

You write you shouldn't do the magic eight ball for guidance.

But you know you don't say right ask you at 300 times in a row.

You might think something's going on. God is supernaturally not given sought answers during the sum of your life just changed right now because you like where can I buy drum and film right we only sell them at the Saturday night service, which is why you gotta go to that to get the okay this is not this is an Old Testament thing that doesn't carry over to the New Testament. You do not hold go home get you a couple rocks and I guess I wanted to got to lead you that way. Old Testament provision New Testament reality right Saul is being frustrated because God will answer him. Verse seven. Then Saul said to his servants will seek out a woman who is eight medium or a witch that I may go to her and inquire of her and his servant said to him to help.

There's a medium at indoor souls like indoor indoor did not place all the locks live servicing yes and he said let's go. So Saul disguised himself as a Jedi warrior and put on other garments and went back to read Hebrew you see all this written right in this and two men met with them and they came to the woman by night and he said to bind for me a spirit bring up for me whomever I shall name to you woman says back to him. The irony of this is terrific. Jesus will surely you know what Saul has got help you cut off the medium of the necromancers from the lamp wire even laid a trap and I like to bring about my death stop here for a minute and just talk about how ridiculous this is. Here is a woman sorceress is this here is a woman who supposedly sees the future and she can even see through the costume of the goddess right in front of me so use head and shoulders above everybody else. Which means, in a land where everybody 543619 and she can see that this is Saul this stuff is always fake watches stuff on my Leica at night like 130 9100 calls a call into these your life that you publish it. But if you ever do. It's all ridiculous conversations like you Brian Regan talked about his like you know you like the sorceress is like you if you ever had a grandparent. Yes, as you know well you know it.

Did they die. Did they die of natural causes actually knowing got shot in the face will naturally he's dead you know you like seriously, this is like telling the future. This woman is a fake fraud is like always before, the salt is there in front of her. He says okay, I swear to you by the Lord, Lord lives, no punishment, so I will come upon you for this thing to make a joke about this, but the this here is Saul trumping God know more about the punishment for which is I got you covered a more diverse 11. The woman civil who shall I bring up for you is to bring up Samuel for me. I'm not sure. The wisdom of bringing up Samuel in a situation like this to conjure up some of the dead through a Satan worshiper.

Samuel is not your guy. Verse 12 this is awesome when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loud voice. She got used to this working right.

Any see you. She's like usually I just blow a little smoke and place them in your and I move the wheezy thing around and make some stuff up your future caressing her crisp apologies like Chris Salter single comes out which they would say said to Saul, why have you deceived me. Saul you go Einstein.

Now you see the present clearly. Verse 13 then the king said are. Don't be afraid at this point she had to be like you talking about. I mean I got I got the ghost of a dead prophet who was known to hack the enemies of God. The pieces in front everybody's eyes and you're telling me not to be afraid. Is it I'm afraid of you at this point.

Now she's like at several of my sisters adjustably set woman says the saucier God coming above the earth. He said to her, what is his appearance she said was an old man and his rapid growth. It was really ticked off. Saul knew that it was Samuel and he bowed his face to the ground paid homage, which is always an assault problematic is that he pays more respect to single many does the God this next part is great for 50 been single since all I do disturb me, bringing me out souls like men look I'm really sorry to bother you.

I know you're really busy being dead and all but but I am in great distress for the Philistines were warned against me got turn away from me and he answers me no more about profits or by dreams about all your thing therefore I summon you to tell me what I shall do the same.

Says verse 16. Let me get this right.

Saul got his turn away from you.

So you're asking me for advice. God is your enemy. And rather than reconciling with God you're looking for favors for me at this point Saul probably said yeah but I asked the Lord, and he wouldn't tell me anything saying is that that's right because what the Lord was to hear from you is repentance to be says in verse 17 she saw the Lord took the kingdom out your hand against your neighbor, David is you do not obey the voice of the Lord not carry out his wrath against this Amalek. Therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Saul has never really repented of what he has done with Amalek and how he lived his life trying to go on and use God to help them get out of a jam, while ignoring the fact that he is not really surrendered to God living out God's will is a lot of people who wonder why God will hear their prayers because of some area of unconfessed sin in your life like I got won't you talk to me. God is like over have this conversation 15 years ago you walked out of that conversation you've never come back to that conversation if you want to talk about that conversation you want.

Why is it that God is not hearing my prayer just because you walk out on the conversation that he's got a hat before you'll hear your prayers and that is the conversation when you confess trust and surrender to him. Saul walked out. Souls never repented on then that's why God will hear God yes will abundantly pardon, but you gotta come to God on his terms.

God will not be used as your Verse 19. Single says. Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you and the band of listings and tomorrow you and your son shall be with me that is the last thing you want to hear from a ghost write to be with me in the grave Lord will give the army of Israel. Also the him the Philistines who Saul Philip wants full length of the ground filled with fear because of the words of Samuel to strengthen him. Breeden did nothing all day and all night. Verse €25 and went his way. That night Saul recants so doing I told you before the crisis is not always the best time to seek God is here you see that Saul is crying out to God is not cried out to God for God is cried out to God to get out of a jam is not coming to God on God's terms.

He's trying to use God to get out of the situation is in a crisis is what I told him crisis are usually desperate usually gullible grab hold anything that you think will keep you afloat, not necessarily trusting God. Not necessarily surrendering to his plan and the proof of that is that as soon as you're out of that crisis. You go back to the way you were before you got into the crisis.

They hear me. I'm not saying you should not see got a crisis I just say need to ask God why you're seeking him are you trying to use it to get you out of a jam, or are you realizing that God is God and he's the only thing you should trust him and the only thing that you should give your life to serve a lot of people get their deathbed conversions because they're scared how I realize that Helen judgment are compelling reasons to seek God, but you can't just use God to get you out a hell. A lot of people go through deathbed conversions and if they ever got off their deathbed, they would go back to the way they always were, and that is not repentance, conversion is not just fleeing from hell. Conversion is pleasing to God that like a stamp over tenants that would not change human life will save you and death either a repentance that will not change human life will save you and death either. Deathbed conversions real.

Some of them yeah but a lot of them know because a lot of them are made because somebody stared what's about to happen and conversion to God is repenting of the fact that you trusted in yourself on your life and you delighting yourself rather than God in repentance that wouldn't change human life. If you got off your debt that will not save you a death either, which is why say crises and deathbed are not good times seek God remind us of modeling desperate at that point you might seek God for the wrong reason. I cannot say mostly got a new credit crisis or a deathbed you got asked my doing this because I recognize the God of God by doing this because he can to get me out of the situation is safe me from hell. That's not what God takes and have a look at the heavens. People who were converted to have trust and a delight in him. I wanted to get for single 31 will show you how Saul's life ends the tragic way but as you're flipping over three chapters are for single 31 want to point out something to you remember a few weeks ago I told you that rebellion, even small areas of rebellion is a liar like witchcraft in God's sight in their small areas of compromise like idolatry and I told you that many of us have trouble really believing that because we look at the areas of her life were not of a goblet with a not that bad yeah got it coming and sure were sleeping together, but were adults were responsible.

We love each other were committed and I won't say what the big deal is not that bad yet God were not tithing, but you know it's like robbing a bank or anything here you see the what God said about Saul disobedience was not a poetic image and it wasn't just an exaggeration. Saul, small compromises have grown into full or dependence on the demonic.

That always happens. You hear that you never pray ever going to like Gen. Cole is not 100, you might never pray to Satan reminder for visiting which, but something will begin to play the role of God in your life easier's artwork, small rebellion still separates you from God.

It is like the links of a chain. If you were here being towed by another car via a chain that you personally been driving around your cars being towed via check how it is likely to break before you're probably separated from the car right to one small act of rebellion removes you from the assurance and the security of walking with God that does is it creates a void in your life and into that void. Something will begin to play the role the supernatural. Something always plays the role the supernatural in your life.

Something is always ultimate that you like when I me because I'm not really religious you know anything.

Maybe you're not religious, but something in your life always have a godlike quality. There's something that you turn to is your source of security something you depend on for guidance something you lean on for happiness and fulfillment. I've explained multiple times here that what you worship is whatever you depend on for life, happiness and fulfillment for security. Whatever you could not live without. If that thing is anything but God. That is idolatry of the worst kind. It's even following Satan because ultimately Satan is the alterable self worship you've never gone to which got a séance but usually money like a gun right you will be generous.

Whether you survey your worry about it. So you treat romance like a God to do anything to get it you get it do anything to keep it do anything to worry and obsess about it. You are angry God productivity so you treat your family like a godlike affair was a good thing. Sure it is but I would becomes a God thing. We people listen.

I could destroy all the time effects. Having recently we got some young professional in this church who after graduating college feel like God is telling them to go serve him overseas, and they will go talk to their parents who raised the church were very active in church will send them know you are not to take you my child and grandchildren one day and live overseas. You will not do that listening those people are not Christians. I don't care how much they went to church and how much they gave and if he was chairman of the deacons is not a Christian because he doesn't answer the ultimate question of Christianity and that is your ultimate allegiance to your family, or is it the God.

Idolatry is idolatry weathertight out of a good thing or bad thing. I am aiming obvious Satan worshiper per se, but he's work to be something in the place of God.

And that's idolatry see what you're saying.

This is not exaggeration. Either God is God with no conditions or qualifications for your idolatry to the Pappas site is a harsh. This is no middle ground.

Nine let me make maturity in the sulfur single 31 verse one the Philistines fought against Israel. The minute Israel fled before the Philistines and Phil Slane about Gilboa.

Just like say what said the Philistines overtook Philistines before Sting struck down Jonathan Bennett Avenue milk issue of the sons of soul soul watches Army phone for soul watches his sons die right in front of his eyes, including Jonathan parents make no mistakes. Your children will suffer for your small areas of disobedience and for your areas of idolatry.

Soul watches all this happened about press targets on the archer's founder and he was badly wounded by the archers first for this.

Also, there is armor bearer draw your sword thrust me through with it.

Let these lessees uncircumcised, thrust me through and mistreat me call to begin. Saul is still primarily worried about what other people are going to do say about him like at this point, his mind will be directed to the one that Samuel said had become his enemy so his whole life is more obsessed with what other people say and do about him and is about God is armor bearer would do it because he was afraid therefore assaulted his own soul develop on it is armor bearer so solid that he also took his sword and died within six.

Thus, Saul died and his three sons and is on the bear, and his whole army on that day together in the minute Israel talk about the people that live in the cities. The civilians when they saw what happened. They saw that the Army had fled. Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled the Philistines came in with in the city usually does happen. Saul was supposed to drive the Philistines out the land. Instead, what is on his lost ground to the Philistines and out of listings or living in the cities of the Israelites. The next day per se with the Philistines can strip Slane saw his three sons followed him comfortable, so they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the Philistines, the land of wishing to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people they took Saul's armor and put in the temple asked to rob their primary deity may fasten his body to the walls of best shot.

That's how the whole book of verse angle ends the tragic end for the king who honor God with his lips followed his own desires.

Thankfully, that's not how are stories have to and you can surrender to Jesus right now and rely on his strength instead of your own dear.

Listening to Senate life. The Bible teaching ministry of JD Claire. Did you know that we've also made a bunch of Bible study resources available for you on our website. It's free of charge. Just visit Jamie Greer.com while you're there, you can also access plenty of other resources including the Senate life blog with articles from Pastor JD and other members of our staff. When you subscribe to our email last.

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