Voices of the Dead
TEXT
: Heb. 11:4INTRODUCTION
:A. NO COMMUNICATION WITH DEAD PEOPLE.
B. WHAT WOULD THEY SAY, CONSIDER IMPORTANT?
C. THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE LONG GONE SPEAK.
I.
SAMUEL( 1 Sam. 28:15-19 ).A. SAUL AND THE NECROMANCER OF ENDOR.
1. His fear of the Philistines ( vs. 4-5 ).
2. His reliance on superstition ( vs. 6-14 ).
B. NOT CONCERNED WITH WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
C. MESSAGE OF SAMUEL IS FOR US, TOO.
1. Certainty of death ( vs. 19 ). "Shall be with me."
a. Saul was to die as everyone must ( Heb. 9:27; Ecc. 12:7 ).
b. No putting it off ( Ecc. 8:8 ).
2. Proximity of death ( vs. 19 ). Tomorrow! ( 1 Samuel 20:3; James 4:13-14 ).
3. Amos 4:12 The need to prepare..
II.
THE RICH MAN( Luke 16:19-31 ).A. THE OCCASION OF THE STORY ( vs. 14 ). PARABLE? NO!
B. WHAT WAS THE RICH MAN'S MESSAGE?
1. Life after death is certain ( vs. 23; 1 Cor. 15:22 ).
2. Conscious. Torment and concern ( vs. 23-24 ).
3. Punished of the wicked ( vs. 23-24 ).
a. Nature ( Matt. 25:30; Mark 9:48-49 ).
b. Duration ( Mark 9:48; 2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).
4. Finality ( Luke 16:26; 2 Cor. 5:10 ).
5. Warning to the Living - Let them hear Moses! ( vs. 27-31 ).
a. Let us hear Jesus ( John 12:48 ). No excuse ( Acts 17:30 ).
b. "Lest thou come to this place" ( Heb. 2:1-3 ).
III.
ABEL( Heb. 11:6 ).A. CAIN OFFERED NOT BY FAITH; PRESUMPTUOUS ( Rom. 10:17; 14:23 ).
B. ABEL'S MESSAGE:
1. The necessity of faith ( Heb. 11:6 ).
a. Confidence.
b. Faith as a guide. "Faith comes by hearing... what is not of faith..."
2. The result of faith - "by faith Abel offered..."
a. Acceptable faith is obedient ( Gal. 5:6 ).
b. Faith without works? ( James 2:24 ).
3. The reward of faith - "witness born that he was righteous" ( 1 Pet. 1:9 ).
CONCLUSION
: IMPORTANT MESSAGES. ARE WE LISTENING?