Introduction

Good morning, church family. Today, we're gonna dive into a passage that's a bit of a tough one, but it's crucial for our understanding about how evil can creep into our midst, the reality of spiritual warfare, and our need for discerning hearts and prayerful spirits. We're going to be looking at 1 Samuel 28:8, where King Saul, desperate and afraid, seeks guidance from a medium, a clear disobedience to God's law.

Author, A.W. Tozer puts it well when he says, "A scared world needs a fearless church." Friends, we need to be that fearless church. Not afraid of confronting the evil that can sneak into our midst, not afraid of the spiritual battles we face daily, and not afraid to pray for discernment to recognize the difference between God's truth and the enemy's lies.

Let's pray together.

Lord, as we dig into Your word today, we ask for Your guidance. Help us to see the truth, to discern good from evil, and to understand the reality of spiritual warfare. Give us the courage to confront any evil that finds its way into Your church and the wisdom to do so in a way that brings glory to Your name. Amen.

So, let's get into it, shall we?

The Danger of Evil Disguised in the Church

The danger of evil disguised in the church is a topic that is both complex and deeply important to understand. The church, as the body of Christ, is meant to be a place of refuge, love, and truth. However, as we see in the story of King Saul, even within the church, evil can disguise itself and lead us astray. This is a reality we must confront and guard against vigilantly.

The passage: We see Saul, a king chosen by God, resorting to consulting a medium, a practice clearly forbidden by God's law. This act of disobedience was not committed in a moment of rebellion or defiance, but in a moment of desperation and fear. This is often how evil finds its way into the church. It does not always come with a loud announcement, but rather, it creeps in subtly, often disguised as something seemingly harmless or even necessary.

False teachings: These teachings may appear to be based on Scripture, but upon closer examination, they twist or distort the truth of God's Word. False teachings can lead us away from the true gospel and into a path of spiritual destruction. They can create division within the church, sow seeds of doubt, and lead us to question the very foundations of our faith.

The actions and attitudes of its members: The Bible warns us that "a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough" (Galatians 5:9). In other words, a small amount of sin or ungodliness can spread and affect the entire church. This can manifest in various ways, such as gossip, slander, pride, or any other sin that goes unchecked. These actions, while they may seem insignificant at first, can create an environment that is not reflective of Christ's love and can ultimately lead to the spiritual decay of the church.

Complacency: When we become comfortable in our faith, we can become blind to the spiritual warfare happening around us. We may ignore the signs of evil creeping into our midst, dismissing them as inconsequential. However, complacency can lead to spiritual stagnation and can leave us vulnerable to the enemy's attacks.

The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is the battle that takes place in the unseen, spiritual realm ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO