Scriptures: 1 Samuel 28 v 3 - 20; Ezekiel 13 v 6 - 9.
King Saul was in a dilemma as the prophet Samuel was dead, who had always given him the word of the Lord concerning war and battles; he had also got rid of those who used familiar spirits, witches, wizards and fortune-tellers. So when the Philistines began to gather for battle against Israel he was very afraid.
Saul prayed to the Lord for guidance but received no answer. Saul had lost the favour of God over the way he treated David. In desperation Saul asked his helpers to find him someone who could use divination so he could enquire as to his response to the Philistine threat. They found the Witch of Endor in a forest and Saul disguised himself to visit her. She saw through his disguise and was terrified he would kill her. He reassured her and requested she channel the spirit of Samuel.
Normally a familiar spirit of the one asked for would be channelled. The true spirit is not able to comply. (All who practice spiritualism listen up - your dead mother or child or uncle cannot be channelled. Satan sends a spirit called a "familiar" who knows everything about the dead person to fool and deceive you.)In this case the real Samuel was sent by God to confront Saul. The Witch was terrified of him. He rebuked Saul and told him that he and his sons would be dead by the following day.
There are two kingdoms ruled by two different spirits. The Kingdom of God which is built on truth and the kingdom of Satan which is built on lies and deceit. God sends His prophets to bring a true and accurate word from Him to those who need it. Satan uses all forms of divination, astrology, omens, familiar spirits to deceive the foolish. If you are submitted to Jesus you would be committing sin if you went to a witch or a fortune teller. Just as Saul sinned and his immediate death and the death of his sons ended his reign as king of Israel.
I saw a Christian friend this week whom I first met at a prayer meeting 25 years ago. At that meeting I suddenly got a terrible headache. I asked if anyone present had a bad headache and she said she needed prayer for it. I laid hands on her and she was healed. She shouted "its gone, it's gone" over and over. She testified to the group that twenty years before she had consulted a fortune teller and when she left her she had this vicious headache. It had never left her for 20 years!! Jesus healed her completely.
Most fortune tellers or diviners talk about impending doom and death. If you put your faith in their words they will happen. Then the diviners get the credit for predicting correctly. I knew a man who had prayed for 5 years for a lady in his church to be saved. He excitedly told me one night that she had got gloriously saved that evening. The next morning he was very depressed as she had died overnight. I discerned a false prophecy and a spirit of death. I enquired of this man and he said that a "prophet" had come to his church from America a few months back and had prophesied over this woman that within 3 months one of her family members would be dead. It was she herself who died believing this "prophet" spoke the truth.
Prophecies that come from God are sent to confirm what God has already told you. They should not be a new direction you know nothing about. I boarded a plane and God clearly spoke and said there is a woman on this plane who has received a false prophecy about marriage. Moments later I was sitting next to a Russian woman who was doing a missionary course in South Africa. One of her instructors had prophesied over her that she was meant to stay in SA and marry him! She was very confused as she had a calling to Cambodia. I told her what God had shown me and we prayed together to release her from his words and the confusion they had brought her.
So do not be in a hurry to run after so-called prophets and perhaps get hurt by false words. If God wants you to know something He will find a way of confirming it. Don't act on any word until He does confirm it.
Another Christian called me for help. Before she said anything I received from the Lord that she had suffered huge financial loss through divination. She said that it was through a man who was a water diviner who said their was an underground stream on her property. After 8 wells had been dug and a great deal of money wasted not a drop of water was found.
If God is not talking to you find out why before you go looking in the wrong kingdom for wrong directions and guidance. Develop your relationship with Jesus to keep you on the right track.
Prayer: Heavenly Father our enemy prowls around seeking those he can devour with lies. We put all our trust in Your true Word to keep him away. For those who have strayed repent and blot out every evil word with the Blood of Jesus. Be cleansed and free in Jesus' name. Amen.
