VOICES OF THE DEAD

TEXTHeb. 11:4

INTRODUCTION:

A.      NO COMMUNICATION WITH DEAD PEOPLE.

B.      WHAT WOULD THEY SAY, CONSIDER IMPORTANT?

C.      THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE LONG GONE SPEAK.

I.      SAMUEL( 1 Sam. 28:15-19 ).

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..

II.     THE RICH MAN( Luke 16:19-31 ).

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. 231 Cor. 15:22 ).

          2.       Conscious.  Torment and concern ( vs. 23-24 ).

          3.       Punished of the wicked ( vs. 23-24 ).

                   a.       Nature ( Matt. 25:30Mark 9:48-49 ).

                   b.       Duration ( Mark 9:482 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

          4.       Finality ( Luke 16:262 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 ).

III.    ABEL( Heb. 11:6 ).

A.      CAIN OFFERED NOT BY FAITH; PRESUMPTUOUS ( Rom. 10:1714:23 ).

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 ).

CONCLUSIONIMPORTANT MESSAGESARE WE LISTENING?