VOICES OF THE DEAD
A. NO COMMUNICATION WITH DEAD PEOPLE.
B. WHAT WOULD THEY SAY, CONSIDER IMPORTANT?
C. THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE LONG GONE SPEAK.
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..
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 ).
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 ).
