The Results Disobedience
We might be tempted to minimize our times of disobedience to God. Sin is nothing to take lightly at any time. King Saul found that out. (I Samuel 28:5,6) His failure to believe God and obey Him led to fear and to silence. That is a terrible combination for anyone.
Remember, disobedience is unbelief. When we disobey God, we are acting like a person who does not believe in Him at all. It hurts God when we disobey. It grieves the Holy Spirit. The sin of unbelief has serious consequences, because God does not want us to continue down that road. In Saul's case God had rejected him as king, and he was tearing the kingdom from him. In fact, it led to his death, and the death of his son, Jonathan.
The first thing Saul noticed was fear. He was afraid of his enemies, because the Lord had left Him. God does not have to follow any of us around. When we go our way, we leave Him. Then, when we face an enemy, God is nowhere to be found. We left Him. He did not leave us.
The second thing Saul encountered was silence from God. He prayed and asked God to show him what to do against the Philistine army. He only heard silence. God had given him every opportunity to obey Him, but he would not. This time God refused to answer. It was not until he sent Samuel to give Saul His message that God spoke. Then, it was to tell him of his defeat and death. I believe God allowed Samuel to come back for this special purpose, but the rest of the times, seances call up demons, not people.
Let me add one thing. I do not think that Saul lost his salvation when the Spirit of God left him. In the Old Testament the Spirit was given for a time, so kings and prophets could do God's work. God removed His Spirit from Saul because of his disobedience. He was still a believer, but God killed him for disobedience. If you doubt that happens read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and the believers who were dead, "asleep," in I Corinthians 11:30. They did not lose their salvation, but God took them because of disobedience. He can and will do the same thing today.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 30-31 and II Samuel 1.
Remember, disobedience is unbelief. When we disobey God, we are acting like a person who does not believe in Him at all. It hurts God when we disobey. It grieves the Holy Spirit. The sin of unbelief has serious consequences, because God does not want us to continue down that road. In Saul's case God had rejected him as king, and he was tearing the kingdom from him. In fact, it led to his death, and the death of his son, Jonathan.
The first thing Saul noticed was fear. He was afraid of his enemies, because the Lord had left Him. God does not have to follow any of us around. When we go our way, we leave Him. Then, when we face an enemy, God is nowhere to be found. We left Him. He did not leave us.
The second thing Saul encountered was silence from God. He prayed and asked God to show him what to do against the Philistine army. He only heard silence. God had given him every opportunity to obey Him, but he would not. This time God refused to answer. It was not until he sent Samuel to give Saul His message that God spoke. Then, it was to tell him of his defeat and death. I believe God allowed Samuel to come back for this special purpose, but the rest of the times, seances call up demons, not people.
Let me add one thing. I do not think that Saul lost his salvation when the Spirit of God left him. In the Old Testament the Spirit was given for a time, so kings and prophets could do God's work. God removed His Spirit from Saul because of his disobedience. He was still a believer, but God killed him for disobedience. If you doubt that happens read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 and the believers who were dead, "asleep," in I Corinthians 11:30. They did not lose their salvation, but God took them because of disobedience. He can and will do the same thing today.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 30-31 and II Samuel 1.