Have you had this feeling that someone would call with bad news? You tell someone that you have this feeling that something is wrong with Uncle John. Then - the phone rings. You say, “That is Aunt Mary.” And it is!
All of us have had impressions, inklings, notions, sensations, and feelings of doom - and then the feelings become reality.
At the church building for an elders meeting, I call Janet to ask if the meeting is cancelled? James was calling to cancel the meeting and got a busy signal.
What does the Bible say? What are the sources of these feelings?
This study will divide itself into five parts - Five answers to the ESP questions. When people begin discussing this topic - there are five directions that they go for the source, cause, and explanation of these events.
Should we deny their existence? Do such things really happen?
Are these feelings a direct revelation, message, communication from God? Does God reveal His will to people today?
Do these premonitions come from the “spirit world” beyond the grave? Witchcraft, spirits of the dead, Satanism are often assumed to be the source of these warnings and messages.
Are premonitions just luck? Are they just coincidences?
Is there a Biblical explanation? Could it be the “hased” of God?
If we had time, every person here could tell of some experience similar to these.
We may not understand the cause, the source, the reasons for these things, but we all have had them.
Some of us just dismiss them as coincidence.
These feelings happen to too many and too often to be dismissed without further study.
Is it just our imagination? Do these things happen more to some people than others? I believe that some people seem to remember them, focus on them.
Is there some explanation? Most people take one of the following explanations. I offer a Biblical fifth explanation.
Hebrews 1:1-3 God used to speak directly to man (Patriarchal Age) and through prophets, like Isaiah and Moses (Mosaical Age). But now God speaks through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 17 When Jesus was transfigured, God made it clear that Moses and Elijah were not spokesmen anymore. “This is my Son. Here ye Him.”
Is
it possible that God is still revealing His will to us?
James 1:25 - Perfect law of liberty
1 Peter 1:3 - All things that pertain to life and godliness
1 Timothy 3:16-17 - Thoroughly furnished unto every good work
God’s Word and Will is complete. God is not still sending messages, revealing His will, making revisions or updates to the revelations and commands in the Bible.
God does not use visions, dreams, donkeys, or burning bushes to communicate to man. God communicates through His son.
The Bible is very clear on this topic.
All
forms of sorcery are wrong.
Leviticus 19:26-28 – Belief in actions of witchcraft are wrong.
Deuteronomy 18:9-15 (We will study in detail at point 5.)
Isaiah 8:19 – Shouldn’t we seek God instead of the dead?
Jeremiah 27:9 – Do not listen to such sources.
Revelation 9:21 – They refused to repent of this wickedness.
God
is clear about the punishment.
Exodus 22:18 – Not permitted to live
Leviticus 20:27 – Stone them with stones
Deuteronomy 13:5 – Shall be put to death
Here
is the suggested solution.
Acts 19:19 – Have a book burning
Separate yourself from all connections with them.
Several terms need to be discussed here: (See Deuteronomy 18:9-15)
Abominations – All kinds of evil in the sight of God
Pass through the fire – Human and animal sacrifices
Divinations; Witchcraft – Tea leaves, tarot cards, palm readers
Observer of times; Soothsayer – Zodiac, horoscope, astrology
Enchanter; Interprets omens – reading signs from animals, wooly worms, color of insects
Witch; Sorcerer – Potions, charms, amulets with special powers
Charmer; Conjures spells – Spells, chants, incantations
Consulter with familiar spirits; Medium – Channel, medium, communicate with spirit world
Wizard; Spiritist – Special knowledge, wisdom, power
Necromancer; One who calls up the dead – Séance, communication with the dead
When one of these feelings comes true - We think it was just a coincidence.
When it happens several times - we begin to wonder.
NOTE: When we have these feelings and they do not come true, we dismiss them without a thought. When they come true, we begin to wonder. We remember the occasions when our feelings come true; we forget the times it does not come true.
Should we just write it off to - luck, random incidents, lucky guess, coincidence or chance?
Should we say, “Good Luck” to someone leaving on a trip?
Is there such a thing as a jinx, voodoo?
Why do many have strong beliefs in such things?
Discuss - Providence.
Is God involved in our world? (Daniel 4:17 – God rules in the kingdom of men)
Is God involved in my life? (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalm 46:1)
If I am in covenant relationship with God - He has promised to show protection, mercy, care, and preservation of my life. (See the sermon – “Jerk the Chain.doc”)
Is the “hased” of God active?
From H2616; kindness; by implication
(towards God) piety; rarely (by
opprobrium) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty:—favour, good deed
(-liness, -
ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach,
wicked thing.
02617 checed {kheh'-sed}
from 02616; AV - mercy 149, kindness 40, lovingkindness 30, goodness 12, kindly 5,
merciful 4, favour 3, good 1, goodliness 1, pity
1, reproach 1, wicked thing 1; 248
Study the “hased” of God.
Deuteronomy 7:9 (mercy = hased)
Abraham and Abimilich – Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 20:1-13
Does God look after us as an older brother?
1 Chronicles 16:20-22 Do not touch my anointed ones
In the New Testament – Grace, Mercy,
Faithfulness, Agape love = the “hased” of God
Titus 3:3-5 – We were sinners, but by His mercy (hased) he has saved
us.
1 John 1:7 – Keep on walking in the light, keep on being cleansed by the blood
of Jesus
Romans 4:6-8 – Who is the blessed man talked about here?
Ephesians 1:19-20 – Exceeding great power
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is YOUR POWER!
How does God answer our prayers - “guard, guide
and direct us”?
Daniel 9 – Daniel prayed for forgiveness, deep repentance
Daniel 10 – Prays and fasts 21 days, Michael was busy with the king of
Persia (10:12-14)
I do not believe that God still reveals His will to man today.
It is an abomination to seek wisdom, guidance and help from witches and the sprit world.
All of us have had experiences that went beyond just coincidence or good luck.
Coming back from Russia. Letter to Bob Vick, who told Paul Sain. Mike Tallent
called to order literature - had just learned that they would be looking for a
preacher soon. I was looking at a church in Florida - not like the house, too
low of salary, out of our box, church with some internal problems. Janet and I
were still in Russia - praying for a good church. God was looking out for
those in his covenant.
First trip to Russia, October, 1992. Must name all cities on your visa. Can
not travel to any other city. Kirov was not mentioned. The day we are flying
to Russia, the Duma (parliament) changed the law to allow any person with a
valid visa registered in a city listed to visit other cities. In 10 days, we
taught and baptized 49 people, organized a church, taught them to sing, pray,
pass the LS, got them a place to worship, and left for home.
Saturday morning 60 miles from home. Hit something in the road, ripped a hole
in the (not oil pan), but transmission pan. There we sit. A woman stopped. She
normally would not stop, but for some reason she thought we were OK. She was a
member of the church where a friend of mine preached. He was able to locate a
man at a garage with a transmission pan from a transmission that he had just
replaced on a car just like the one I was driving.
Kirov church needed a place to meet for classes. An apartment was needed. I
asked the church to pray about this. A lady came to Rita, said, I have an
apartment I can not rent. It has no hot water, no bathtub, three rooms,
toilet, just cold water and propane stove. We rented it for $50 a month.
In the fall of 1997, we were in Russia for 3 months. Janet had this feeling that our son was going to meet us at the airport and introduce us to his wife. When we got off the plane in Nashville, there was Stephen with his arm around this pretty girl. He introduced us to his girlfriend, now his wife, Lora.
When these things happen -
Is it luck, good fortune, fate?
Is it the spirit world, crystals, stars, tealeaves?
Is it God giving you a new revelation?
NO! When these things happen, you know that you have been a part of the “hased” of God. Isn’t God good?
Isn’t that better than bubble gum?