WHAT ABOUT GHOSTS?

[BIBLE Answers to Big Questions #5]                                                    

MARK 6:45-53                   

Pastor Rick Jackson

34% of Americans say they believe in ghosts, according to a poll by The Associated Press and Ipsos. That's the same percentage who believe in UFOs — exceeding the 19% who believe in spells/witchcraft. 48% believe in ESP.

23% say they have actually seen a ghost or "have been in one's presence, with the most likely candidates for such visits including single people, Catholics and those who never attend religious services. By 31 percent to 18 percent, more liberals than conservatives report seeing a specter."

Those who dismissed the existence of ghosts include Morris Swadener, 66, a Navy retiree from Kingston, Wash. He says he shot one with his rifle when he was a child. "I woke up in the middle of the night and saw a white ghost in my closet," he said. "I discovered I'd put a hole in my brand new white shirt. My mother and father were not amused."

3 in 10 have awakened sensing a strange presence in the room... singles are more likely than married people to say so.

The poll, conducted Oct. 16-18, 2007 involved telephone interviews with 1,013 adults and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

I. WHY DO SOME PEOPLE "SEE" GHOSTS?

1. The World [v. 45-48] physical surroundings create atmosphere

2. The Flesh [v. 48] physical state causes anxiety

3. The Devil [v. 49-50a] spiritual adversaries take advantage of our weaknesses

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

II. WHY AREN'T GHOSTS [as portrayed in stories, etc.] REAL?

1. Ghosts, by definition, are the Spirits/Souls of Those Who Have Died [Gn. 25:8- Abraham gave up the ghost, and died]

Gn.  25:17-Ishmael, Gn.  35:29-Isaac, Mark 15:37-Jesus, Acts 5:5-Ananias Acts 12:23-Herod

2. The Spirit of a Saved Person Goes Immediately to Heaven [2 Corinthians 5:6-8]

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

3. The Spirit of a Lost Person Goes Immediately to Hell [Luke 16:22-23]

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

III. HOW CAN I SETTLE THE MATTER ONCE AND FOR ALL?

1. Accept God’s Word on the Matter [6:50, 12:24]

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?

2. Accept Christ’s Person as God [Matthew 14:33]

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

3. Accept All of God’s Work as Indicative of His Nature [6:51-52]

Psalm 52:1 the goodness of God endureth continually.

Hosea 3:5 Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: