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DYING WITHOUT GOD

Introduction....William Witherman tells a story about an experience he and his wife had in a small country town. He said one Saturday my wife and I went to a funeral in a little country church not of my denomination. I had grown up in a big city and had never been to a small country funeral, I had never been to a funeral like this one. The casket was open and the funeral consisted of their preacher. The preacher pounded the pulpit and looked down at the casket and said it's too late for Joe. He may have wanted to get right with God, but it's too late he's dead now. He may have wanted to spend more time with his wife and kids, but it's too late now. You can still decide, you're alive, it's not too late for you, now is the day for decision. Then the preacher told a story about how a greyhound bus ran into a funeral precession and killed a number of people and he said you know that could happen today. Today you need to decide. It's too late for poor Joe, but it's not too late for you.

William turned to his wife on the way home and said I'm so angry at that preacher and the way he did that. Have you ever heard anything as manipulative and insensitive as that? That poor family, that funeral was just disgusting. His wife said yeah it was manipulative, yeah it was insensitive, yeah it was disgusting, and the worst thing about it was that it was all true.

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I don't believe in being munipulative, especially at a funeral, but I am a preacher of the gospel and that requires me to teach certain text. One of these texts is Heb 9:27 read

HEB 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

Every one of us is going to reach that day, but no one knows that day

Something I do know is that where you and I spend eternity depends on the life we're living right now

Where are you headed? If you were to meet the Lord today where would you spend eternity?

Is He a part of your life right now?

1 SAM 28 (One of the most chilling stories in all the Bible because it shows us what it looks like to die without God)

1 SAM 28:

028:002 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

028:003 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

028:004 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

028:005 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

028:006 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Here is the scheme. The Philistines had driven deep into the land and have come to Shunum. Saul is facing a crisis and he is terrified

The old Saul might have been more confident and courageous, but over years of willful disobedience Saul faces an awful fate, and he has been abandoned by God

" How do you explain that? I thought God was always willing to take the prodigal back, so how do you explain His abandonment of Saul?

" Is 55:6 "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near." What does that mean? Let's find out

1 SAM 28:

28:7-10 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

028:008 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

028:009 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

028:010 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

In turning to witchcraft Saul was disobeying the clear command of God, because the Law of Moses forbade any trafficking with the occult.

" God's people have no business visiting witches, palm readers, séances, or calling the physic friends network. Those are faithless and they are wrong

" Saul knew that they were wrong. V.3 says he purged the land of them, but Saul has reached a point of terror that he's grasping at straws, because God is not in his life

" Saul doesn't have the confidence, peace, and access to God and he doesn't know where else to turn, so he turns to the witch. He could have turned to God but he didn't

If we continue to be willfully disobedient we can reach the point the Bible calls hardening

If we live in sin and always assume that Gods grace is going to be there when we need it we will one day reach a point where we are without God.

If we continue to refuse the gracious invitation of Jesus the Bible says (Heb 3:12)

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

When people come to worship and hear the gospel preached and the death of Jesus commemorated and hear the invitation again and again, but never respond the Bible says their heart gets hard

That's what Saul did and he reached a point where he couldn't come back. He had some spells where he would come to repentance, but then he would go right back to living in sin and now he is reaping what he had sown

If we keep going in the same direction we're going to arrive where we're headed and that's what Saul has done

Saul looks for a connection to God .

In his desperation Saul turns to the only connection to God that he can remember. He wants to talk to Samuel. He remembers the old prophet that rebuked him and spoke Gods word to him. The problem is Samuels dead Samuel had been Sauls connection to God

" Grandma's faith isn't going to make it for me. Mom's prayers aren't going to get me there. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR OWN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! When Saul came to the end of his life he didn't have a relationship with God, so the only thing he could do is think of somebody who did

" You need to start right now making sure that you have a good relationship and you need to be on speaking terms with God so when you come to the end of your life you're not a stranger before His throne

Samuel is called up (v.12-15)

1 Samuel

028:012 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

028:013 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

028:014 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

028:015 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

No one is more surprised when Samuel actually appears than the witch. She was going to do her hocus pocus and trick her client except this time the trick is on her because he is really there

" Samuel didn't appear from the grave because this witch conjured him up, but because Almighty God wants to speak a final word of judgment to the king He has rejected

" On this side of eternity humans are afraid of death, but if you're a child of God and you've gone through that and you're on the other side the last thing you want is to come back to this world

Samuels word (v. 16-20)

1 Samuel

028:016 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

028:017 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

028:018 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.

028:019 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

028:020 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

The Lord had told Saul to totally destroy the Amalakites and instead he brought spoils back and put on a show. God said I told you to obey and Saul said I did obey and God said no you didn't. YOU DID WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO. SELECTED OBEDIANCE IS NOT OBEDIANCE AT ALL

If I'm not willing to do what God commands and put Him first in my life then I want be saved

Saul thought that he would get some comfort, but he didn't (19-20) Saul falls out because he's dyeing without God and he knows it
(Gal 6:7-8) read The direction I'm going is going to determine where I end up. If I'm going to be ready that last day I need to be ready now

Galations 6:

006:007 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

006:008 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Conclusion.......A Bible class teacher was talking to her students about Mat 25, the great judgment scene with the sheep's and the goats. She explained that the goats live for themselves and they live it up and party and never think about God, but the sheep follow their shepherd and do what's right. Children, which one do you want to be? One little fellow thought about it and raised his hand. She said yeah Johnny? He said I want to be a goat while I live, and be a sheep when I die. It doesn't work that way. The answer is not dyeing right it's living right and having God in your life.

Compiled and delivered by Bro. Mark Little

028:002	And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
028:003	Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
028:004	And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.
028:005	And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
028:006	And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

28:7-10	Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
028:008	And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
028:009	And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?
028:010	And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

028:012	And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
028:013	And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.
028:014	And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
028:015	And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

028:016	Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?
028:017	And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:
028:018	Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.
028:019	Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.
028:020	Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

006:007	Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
006:008	For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.