Absolutely not! Scripture tells us through the story of the witch of Endor that it is possible to contact our dearly departed, but they cannot tell us the future as they do not have insight into such things.
"Samuel said to Saul, ' Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?'
' I am in great distress, ' Saul said. ' The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.' Samuel said, ' Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me.' "1 Samuel 28:15-17
Samuel only reiterated to Saul what he was already told while Samuel was still living. Contacting spirits to gain answers speaks about our unbelief, our unwillingness to obey God and keep His commands. Saul knew that it was wrong to seek after spirits- even if they are specifically named. One just has to read the entire story to understand that seeking out spirits in biblical times was a capital offense. Saul could have been stoned to death if he was found out. This is a serious crime and one that should never be taken lightly.
"Samuel said to Saul, ' Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?'
' I am in great distress, ' Saul said. ' The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.' Samuel said, ' Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me.' "1 Samuel 28:15-17
Samuel only reiterated to Saul what he was already told while Samuel was still living. Contacting spirits to gain answers speaks about our unbelief, our unwillingness to obey God and keep His commands. Saul knew that it was wrong to seek after spirits- even if they are specifically named. One just has to read the entire story to understand that seeking out spirits in biblical times was a capital offense. Saul could have been stoned to death if he was found out. This is a serious crime and one that should never be taken lightly.
The spirits have shown me things that have come true.
Most often times a spirit will get our attention by saying truthful things and this is done only to keep us coming back and seeking after their help. The story about Jesus calling out the demon early on in His ministry helps us to understand the workings of deceptive spirits even though they speak the truth, the motives must always be judged.
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ' What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God!'
'Be quiet!' Said Jesus sternly. ' Come out of him!' The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. " Mark 1:24-26
Jesus had a crowd following Him, and although the spirit spoke the truth, He did not want the evil spirit to say anything because that would cause the crowd to belief in the spirit. Even though the spirit knew of God and spoke the truth, does not mean that the spirit in the presence of God was then righteous and truthful. Jesus wants us to follow after truth and truth that is rigid, that is why Jesus is called righteousness because His form of truth is not bending. The evil knew of the truth and could speak of the truth but the truth was not in his heart. This is why Jesus told the evil spirit to be quiet because speaking the truth would cause Christ's followers to believe in a false form of the truth,and perhaps seek after it especially when Jesus couldn't be so easily found.
People went to Jesus, they followed after Him. Sometimes people would travel for days before they would find Him. People left their families, their jobs, their livelihoods to seek Jesus, and if they learned of an 'easier' way without leaving their homes, or jobs, then they would most certainly grab onto that and hang onto it as if it were the God's honest truth! ( Sound familiar?)
Jesus shut down the evil spirit before it had any time to do any damage. The evil was silenced before it could be believed by anyone in the crowd. This is why we are not to believe the spirits but to test to see if they are of God. That doesn't mean we go seeking out after truthful spirits, we seek God and only listen to Him, because only He comes in the spirit of righteousness. A truth that is unyielding and unwavering.
"Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ' What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God!'
'Be quiet!' Said Jesus sternly. ' Come out of him!' The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. " Mark 1:24-26
Jesus had a crowd following Him, and although the spirit spoke the truth, He did not want the evil spirit to say anything because that would cause the crowd to belief in the spirit. Even though the spirit knew of God and spoke the truth, does not mean that the spirit in the presence of God was then righteous and truthful. Jesus wants us to follow after truth and truth that is rigid, that is why Jesus is called righteousness because His form of truth is not bending. The evil knew of the truth and could speak of the truth but the truth was not in his heart. This is why Jesus told the evil spirit to be quiet because speaking the truth would cause Christ's followers to believe in a false form of the truth,and perhaps seek after it especially when Jesus couldn't be so easily found.
People went to Jesus, they followed after Him. Sometimes people would travel for days before they would find Him. People left their families, their jobs, their livelihoods to seek Jesus, and if they learned of an 'easier' way without leaving their homes, or jobs, then they would most certainly grab onto that and hang onto it as if it were the God's honest truth! ( Sound familiar?)
Jesus shut down the evil spirit before it had any time to do any damage. The evil was silenced before it could be believed by anyone in the crowd. This is why we are not to believe the spirits but to test to see if they are of God. That doesn't mean we go seeking out after truthful spirits, we seek God and only listen to Him, because only He comes in the spirit of righteousness. A truth that is unyielding and unwavering.