Rappings in the Dark
Seeking guidance from mediums is a grievous sin that dishonors the Holy Spirit and turns us away from the Word of God.
D.L. Moody emphasizes the grave sin of consulting mediums and seeking guidance from the dead, which he believes dishonors the Holy Spirit sent to guide believers into all truth. He warns that many Christians today are turning away from the Word of God, just as King Saul did when he consulted a familiar spirit, leading to his downfall. Moody stresses that the Holy Spirit and Scripture provide all the guidance one needs, and turning to other sources is a serious transgression against God. He cites the story of the rich man in Luke to illustrate that the teachings of Moses and the prophets are sufficient for salvation and understanding. Ultimately, he calls for believers to rely solely on the Holy Spirit and the Bible rather than seeking false lights.
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I want to say right here, that I think in this day a great many children of God are turning aside and committing a grievous sin. I don't know as they think it is a sin, but if we examine the Scriptures, I am sure we will find that it is a great sin. We are told that the Comforter is sent into the world to "guide us into all truth," and if He is sent for that purpose, do we need any other guide? Need we hide in the darkness, consulting with mediums, who profess to call up the spirits of the dead? Do you know what the Word of God pronounces against that fearful sin? I believe it is one of the greatest sins we have to contend with at the present day. It is dishonoring to the Holy Spirit for me to go and summon up the dead and confer with them, even if it were possible.
I would like you to notice the 10th chapter of 1st Chronicles, and 13th verse:
"So Saul died for his transgression which he had committed against the Lord, even against the Word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it; and inquired not of the Lord: therefore He slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse."
God slew him for this very sin. Of the two sins that are brought against Saul here, one is that he would not listen to the Word of God, and the second is that he consulted a familiar spirit. He was snared by this great evil, and sinned against God.
Saul fell right here, and there are a great many of God's professed children to-day who think there is no harm in consulting a medium who pretends to call up some of the departed to inquire of them.
But how dishonoring it is to God who has sent the Holy Spirit into this world to guide us "into all truth." There is not a thing that I need to know, there is not a thing that is important for me to know; there is not a thing that I ought to know but the Spirit of God will reveal it to me through the Word of God, and if I turn my back upon the Holy Spirit, I am dishonoring the Spirit of God, and I am committing a grievous sin. You know we read in Luke, where that rich man in the other world wanted to have someone sent to his father's house to warn his five brothers, Christ said They have Moses and the prophets, and if they will not hear them, they will not hear one though he rose from the dead. Moses and the prophets, the part of the Bible then completed, that is enough. But a great many people now want something besides the Word of God, and are turning aside to these false lights.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Sin of Seeking Guidance from Mediums
- A. The Comforter is sent to guide us into all truth
- B. We do not need to hide in darkness and consult mediums
- C. The Word of God pronounces against this sin
- II. The Example of Saul
- A. Saul died for his transgression against the Lord
- B. He was slain for consulting a familiar spirit
- C. He was snared by this great evil and sinned against God
- III. The Dishonor to God
- A. Consulting mediums is dishonoring to the Holy Spirit
- B. We have all the guidance we need in the Word of God
- C. We are committing a grievous sin by turning to false lights
Key Quotes
“There is not a thing that I need to know, there is not a thing that is important for me to know; there is not a thing that I ought to know but the Spirit of God will reveal it to me through the Word of God, and if I turn my back upon the Holy Spirit, I am dishonoring the Spirit of God, and I am committing a grievous sin.” — D.L. Moody
“Moses and the prophets, the part of the Bible then completed, that is enough.” — D.L. Moody
“They have Moses and the prophets, and if they will not hear them, they will not hear one though he rose from the dead.” — D.L. Moody
Application Points
- We must seek guidance from the Word of God and not from mediums or false lights.
- Dishonoring the Holy Spirit by seeking guidance from mediums is a severe sin.
- We have all the guidance we need in the Word of God, and we must not turn to other sources.