1. How Christians try to manipulate God
1.1. Amos 8:11–12 (NLT) 11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD. 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.
1.1.1. Frustrating
1.1.1.1. Not to know what God wants
1.1.1.2. Not to get what you want
1.2. Keep asking hoping for a different answer
1.2.1. Don't want to go to church
1.2.2. Want a divorce
1.3. Financial limb
1.3.1. Call it faith
1.3.1.1. Really trying to blackmail God
1.4. Pray for our loved ones
1.4.1. Push
1.4.2. Nag
1.4.3. Manipulate
1.4.4. Rather than letting God do his part
1.5. Create him in our image
1.5.1. Impose our values on him
1.5.2. The world makes sin what is not sin
1.5.3. The world calls ok what God calls sin
1.5.4. God and his word are the only standard for truth, not us
2. The right way to pray
2.1. Total abandonment to God and His Word
2.1.1. When I disagree with the Bible, I am wrong
2.2. Relationship is built when there is no crisis
2.2.1. Know God everyday
3. When God doesn't answer prayer
3.1. Saul has lost God
3.1.1. Disobedience
3.1.2. Pride
3.1.3. Lack of Character
3.1.4. Presence of Philistines
3.1.4.1. Chasing David
3.1.4.2. Not dealing with them
3.1.5. Philistines Gathering for war
3.1.5.1. David does not have to fight
3.1.5.1.1. Dodged a bullet
3.1.6. It is Bad, really bad
3.2. Out of desperation Saul reaches for God
3.2.1. 1 Samuel 28:5 (NLT) 5 When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.
3.2.2. 1 Samuel 28:6 (NLT) 6 He asked the LORD what he should do, but the LORD refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots or by the prophets.
3.2.3. God refuses to repeat Himself
3.2.3.1. Told repeatedly that he had lost the Kingship
3.2.3.2. Answered with silence
3.2.4. How often do people do that
3.2.4.1. No relationship with God of their own
3.2.4.1.1. Always looking to to others to "seek God" for them
3.2.4.2. Their choices destroy
3.2.4.3. Then they come to God
3.2.4.4. God answers a repentant heart
3.2.4.4.1. Still reap what you sow
3.2.4.4.2. Heart is not changed
3.2.4.5. You can fool
3.2.4.5.1. Others
3.2.4.5.2. Yourself
3.2.4.5.3. Can't fool God
3.2.4.5.4. Repentance is not an apology after you got caught
3.3. Saul takes action
3.3.1. Same old problem
3.3.1.1. Takes things in to his own hands
3.3.2. 1 Samuel 28:7 (NLT) 7 Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.”
4. Witches in the Bible
4.1. Scripture never suggests they are not real
4.1.1. Leviticus 19:31 (NLT) 31 “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.
4.1.2. Leviticus 20:27 (NLT) 27 “Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense.”
4.1.3. Deuteronomy 18:10–11 (NLT) 10 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, 11 or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.
4.1.4. 2 Chronicles 33:6 (NLT) 6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger.
4.1.5. Leviticus 19:31 (NLT) 31 “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.
4.1.6. Galatians 5:19–20 (NLT) 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
4.1.7. 1 Samuel 15:23 (NLT) 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.”
4.2. NT handling of Witches
4.2.1. Acts 16:16 (NLT)
4.2.2. Acts 16:17 (NLT)
4.2.2.1. Best lies tell lots of truth
4.2.3. Acts 16:18 (NLT)
4.2.3.1. Did not look for it
4.2.3.2. Dealing with it not a big deal
4.2.3.3. How do you fight the Devil
4.2.3.3.1. Only one way
4.2.3.3.2. Run to Jesus
4.3. Jesus' take on it
4.3.1. Lk 10:18-20
4.3.1.1. Satan and demons are real
4.3.1.2. You have authority over them
4.3.1.3. But, don't worry about it, you get to go to heaven!