Trust God alone for guidance and power; avoid seeking answers from occult or counterfeit sources, and rely on prayer to overcome deception and fear.
Friends, pull up a chair. Some weeks feel like the weather—gusts of news, gusts of need, gusts of noise—and our souls long for a quiet corner and a steady word. As October rolls across our calendars, costumes cover store shelves, cobwebs (the plastic kind) creep across porches, and talk turns to ghosts and ghouls. The world winks at the mysterious and plays with what it cannot control. Have you noticed how fascination grows where fear should caution us? How curiosity raises questions that the soul cannot carry?
You are loved by a Father who speaks peace, who guides His people, and who guards their steps. He gives wisdom to the humble and help to the helpless. He also warns us—because love warns—that there are doors we should not open and voices we should not entertain. Fortune-tellers promise shortcuts. Horoscopes hint at hidden help. Cards, crystals, charms—today’s trinkets wear tomorrow’s chains. Why grasp at the shadows when the Light has a name?
Priscilla Shirer said, "Prayer is the portal that brings the power of heaven down to earth. It is kryptonite to the enemy’s lies." That line sings with hope. The Lord invites us to pray, to listen, to lean into His Word. When confusion clouds the path, prayer clears the air. When fear rattles the heart, prayer steadies the hands. And as we open the Scriptures, we will see a king who crossed a line and a girl who was freed by the name above all names. Two scenes, the same Savior. The God who cared for Israel in the dark of night cares for you this very hour.
So take a breath. Lift your chin. The Shepherd is near. He knows the questions that nip at your heels. He knows the pressures that push on your chest. He knows the long week you’ve had and the longer one ahead. He has truth for your mind, comfort for your heart, and courage for your steps. Let’s hear His voice together.
Scripture Reading
1 Samuel 28 (KJV) 1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men. 2 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. 3 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. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 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: 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.
Acts 16:16-18 (KJV) 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
Opening Prayer Father, we are here for You. Your Word is our lamp, Your presence our peace, and Your name our shelter. Guard our minds from confusion, guard our hearts from fear, and guide our steps in holiness. Where we have entertained lies, replace them with truth. Where our appetites have strayed, anchor us in Your wisdom. Lord Jesus, exalt Your name in our midst—silence every counterfeit, strengthen every weary soul, and set captives free. Holy Spirit, give us clarity to see, humility to receive, and courage to obey. We ask this in the strong name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Fear pressed on Saul. The army stood near. He wanted a word. He wanted it fast. He had asked the Lord. He heard nothing. That silence felt heavy. He chose a door God had shut. He hid his face. He put on other clothes. He walked into the night and asked for the dead. This is how it starts. A heart aches for guidance. A shortcut seems easy. A whisper from the dark seems close at hand. The soul reaches past God’s line and takes a hand it does not see. The pull feels strong. The price stays hidden.
The woman warned him. Even she knew the risk. He swore an oath anyway. He used the Lord’s name to guard a sin. That is a tangle. The king who once cleared the land now hunts for a medium. His mouth says “as the LORD lives” while his feet walk where the Lord forbids. That is how a lie works. It turns faith words into cover. It makes disobedience look safe. It paints a holy color on a dark door. The heart weakens under that weight.
The scene grows worse. A figure appears. Samuel’s words cut like a blade. No advice for the next move. No comfort for the next day. Only the truth of loss. “The LORD is departed from thee.” The sentence falls. The kingdom is torn away. Death is near. The war will be lost. This is the harvest from that path. When a person seeks counsel from the grave, a grave answer comes. When a person drinks from a poisoned well, sickness follows. Saul hits the ground. His strength leaves him. He cannot eat. He cannot stand. He feels empty in body and soul. Fortune-telling promised help. It handed him despair.
Look at the street in Philippi. A girl trails Paul and his team. She has a spirit that tells things. People pay for it. The words sound true on the surface. “These men are servants of the most high God.” It sounds like free advertising. It brings a crowd. It also bends the focus. The noise points to her, to her handlers, to the money churn. The truth, held by an unclean mouth, turns into bait. It mixes light words with a dark source.
Paul feels the grief of it day after day. This is not praise. This is a trap. The message is being twisted. The name of Jesus is being used as a hook. The city hears the right sentence in the wrong way. Hearts get foggy under that. Lines blur. People cannot tell who holds the reins. That is how counterfeit guidance works. It does not always shout lies. It often echoes part of the truth with a different spirit. It is sugar on a slow poison.
Paul turns and speaks to the spirit. There is no ritual. There is no charm. There is only the name of Jesus. The spirit leaves. The girl is free. Her owners see their profit fade. Their anger rises. They drag Paul before the rulers. Whips and chains follow. This shows the trade behind the curtain. Fortune-telling feeds on people. It buys and sells pain. It calls bondage a gift and then it charges for it. When Jesus breaks that chain, the market takes a hit, and the market bites back.
The two stories teach the same truth from two sides. In the house at Endor, a king crosses a line and finds a sentence he cannot bear. In the street at Philippi, a girl is used by powers she cannot resist until a greater authority speaks. Both scenes show loss when people look to spirits for sight. Both scenes show how that search spreads harm. Families feel it. Nations feel it. Churches feel it too when they treat the occult like a toy or a tool. Boundaries keep life safe. God drew the boundary for our good.
Silence from heaven is a call to stop and bow. It is time to ask where the heart wandered. Saul would not do that. He had refused the Lord’s voice for years. Now he wanted a quick word, and he paid with his peace. There was still a path open. He could have torn his garments and cried for mercy. He could have waited. He could have fasted in grief before the Lord. He rushed to the forbidden table instead. Many do the same today with soft names and bright lights. The form changes. The spirits do not change.
Here is the test the Scriptures give. Does the voice submit to the Lord? Does it lead to obedience? Does it produce holy fruit? If the source is unclean, the fruit will harm. If the path bypasses prayer, the steps will slip. If money and control sit at the center, people become tools. Acts shows this in daylight. The girl’s chains were real. Her handlers smiled while they held them. The gospel cut the chains, and the smiles turned to rage.
God’s mercy still warns us. There are doors that feel safe in the moment. There are words that sound wise in the ear. There are signs that flash bright in the night. The end of that road is thin and cold. Strength fades. Joy drains. Trust breaks. In Saul we see the end of stubborn counsel-seeking. In Philippi we see the breakage that fake guidance brings to a whole city square. In both places, the light shines when God speaks and when God acts, and the shadows scatter.
Every October turns the volume up ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
Sermon Central
