The Bible does not teach “spiritism.” Whenever the veil of eternity is lifted (which doesn’t occur often), what is seen is not akin to modern occult fiction. For example, in Luke 16 the account of the rich man and Lazarus is given. These were real men, who lived in real time, occupied a space in the real world, and after death went to real places. So it is with all of the characters mentioned in Scripture, as well as all who ever have existed, and who ever will exist.

In Hebrews 11:4 the Bible states: “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” Many individuals, like Abel, although dead, continue to speak. They do not do so in any audible or better-felt-then-told fashion. Rather, they “speak” through the lives they lived. Thankfully, many teach us great things. Sadly for them, however, the lives of some merely teach us ways to avoid. As this text reveals, Abel speaks to us about worship, even though we are thousands of years removed from the time in which he lived. Among other things, the worship he offered (as recorded in Genesis 4) reveals to us that when worship is accepted, so is the worshiper; and, when the worshiper is accepted, so is his worship.

Hence, from the “Voices From the Dead” we learn:

  1. How to Worship (Hebrews 11:4; Genesis 4)- from Abel
  2. How to Remain Faithful (Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 5)- from Enoch
    1. One can “walk with God” in an evil age
    2. One can “walk with God” even when it is unpopular
    3. One can persist in his “walk with God” regardless of circumstance
  3. How to Prepare (Hebrews 11:7; Genesis 6)- from Noah
    1. He prepared, though the time was far off
    2. He prepared, though all others were living for the devil
    3. He prepared, in spite of persecution
    4. He prepared, for his family
  4. How to Obey (Hebrews 11:8-10; Genesis 12:1-5; 22)- from Abraham
  5. How to Die (Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48)- from Jacob
    1. He died doing two things:
      1. Blessing men
      2. Worshiping God
    2. In contradistinction, how do you want to die?
  6. How to Overcome Temptation (Hebrews 11:23-26; Exodus)- Moses
    1. How was Moses so faithful?
      1. He never lost faith in God (“by faith”)
      2. He preferred God’s people (“with the people of God”)
      3. He realized sin’s pleasure is short (“pleasures of sin for a season”)
      4. He had a proper sense of values (“Esteeming…greater”)
      5. He never lost sight of the reward (“recompense of the reward”)
  7. How to Have Proper Faith (Hebrews 11:28-30; Exodus; Joshua)- Israel