Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
2 Kings 1: 1-3
1:1 Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.
1:2 And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.
1:3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel, [that] ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?
Voice of the Prince of Darkness—
The God of Ekron was supposed to give information, through the medium of its priests, concerning future events. Large numbers of people went to inquire of it; but the predictions there uttered and the information given, proceeded directly from the prince of darkness (The Review and Herald, January 15, 1914). {2BC 1036.2}
Is There No God in Israel?—
God is your counselor, and we are always in danger of showing distrust of God when we seek for the advice and counsel of men who do not make God their trust, and who are so devoid of wisdom in matters that they will, by following their own judgment, retard the work. They do not recognize God to be infinite in wisdom. We are to acknowledge God in all our counsels, and when we ask Him, we are to believe that we receive the things we ask of Him. If you depend upon men who do not love God and obey His commandments, you will surely be brought into very difficult places. Those that are not connected with God are connected with the enemy of God, and the enemy will work with them to lead us in false paths. We do not honor God when we go aside from the only true God to inquire of the God of Ekron. The question is asked, Is it because there is not a God in Israel that ye have gone to the God of Ekron to inquire? (Manuscript 41, 1894). {2BC 1036.3}
Spiritualist mediums of Ekron influenced Ahaziah. These mediums, also called witches and wizards, are an abomination unto the Lord. Ahaziah requested the mediums consultation instead of looking to God for healing. These mediums profess to speak to the spirits of dead people, and in the case of Ahaziah, to Baalzebub the god of Ekron. Saul was also guilty of consulting with familiar spirits, his crowning sin. Israel went into captivity because they used divinations and enchantments. The heathen nations around them were spiritualists. Spiritualism has always been connected to sun worship, or Baal worship, which is devil worship. The first spiritualist medium was the serpent and the devil spoke directly through the serpent. In these last days, unclean spirits will speak through the great powers of the earth. Modern Babylon becomes the hold of every foul spirit. The devil can work miracles and can appear as an angel of light and impersonate Christ Jesus. The devil will use spiritualism to unite different earthly powers for the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Our only counselor is God. In Him shall we trust. Acknowledge God in all your good works. Abide in Him, and He will abide in you. Amen.
Dear Father, God Almighty,
We come before You in spirit and in truth. You are our God and only true God. You are the creator of all things, in heaven and on earth. We thank You, praise You, and give all the glory to You. We are like little children that know not how to go out or come in. We pray for wisdom, as did Your servant King Solomon, to do what is right, favorable, and well pleasing in Your sight. We pray for discernment not to fall for the wiles of Satan, his demons, all the people that he works through and devices he uses. There will be miracles and lying wonders in these last days. We pray for all Your saints to keep looking to You for counsel and not to follow man on the road to perdition. We pray that none will sin against You as Saul and Ahaziah did by committing the abomination of spiritualism. Both Saul and Ahaziah died for their transgression committed against You and Your word for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it. Israel went into captivity because they used divinations and enchantments. We pray for mercy on all who have fallen for the deceptions of Satan, followed him, and not kept their trust in You. We pray that there shall not be found among any of us any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of times, an enchanter, a witch, a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations You our LORD and God does drive them out from before us. We thank You for this and we pray to be perfect with You, our LORD and God. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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