I don’t think that you would disagree with me that Halloween emphasizes the spirit world and in particular the dark side of the spirit world. As followers of Jesus how should we deal with this?
In this episode of Now is the Time I share with you my experience of dealing with a demon’s who were tormenting a girl in the jungles of the Amazon. I also show you what the Bible says about the spirit world and talk about the Christian’s response to Satan and demons.
Check it out, you might just be surprised!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:23 — 19.6MB) | Embed
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What does the Bible teach about the these things?
The spirit world is real
There are many references to the spirit world both the Old and New testaments. In Daniel 10:12-13 an angel came to Daniel and explained to him that he had been delayed 21 days by a spiritual battle.
Satan is real and has real power
Not only is Satan a real being but he also has great power. In Job 1 :6-12 Satan comes before God and receives permission to harm Job’s life. Satan has great power to destroy.
Peter also warns us to be alert because the devil is “prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
The spiritual battle is the greatest battle
It’s vital that Christians understand that we are in a spiritual battle. The spiritual battle is the greatest battle that we will ever fight! Ephesians 6:10-12
Christians should have nothing to do with the demonic world
- The Old Testament warned against participating in a long list of demonic activities including, sacrifices to Satan, divination, interpretation of omens, sorcery, casting spells, going to a medium, fortune teller or someone who communicates with the dead. Deuteronomy 18:10-12
- Saul was condemned for seeking the help of a medium. 1 Chronicles 10:13
- When people believed in the book of Acts they burned their occultic books. Acts 19:19
- Throughout the Bible believers are called to be children of light and life as opposed to people of death and darkness. Ephesians 5:8, Romans 8:6-7
There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel and excessive and unhealthy interest in them. C.S. Lewis
Questions to ask yourself about Halloween?
- Is my celebration teaching my children that Satan and demons are real or just fantasy?
- Is my celebration focusing on life and light or on death and darkness?
Resources
There are two great books I mentioned in this podcast. The first is a very useful book by Chip Ingram called Invisible War, The: What Every Believer Needs to Know about Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare. Chip does a good job of laying out what the Bible says about this topic and how we as Christians should respond.
The second book is a classic by C.S. Lewis called The Screwtape Letters. It is a fictional account of a demon who is communicating to his protegé through letters. Lewis has an uncanny way of understanding human nature, sin and the devils tactics to do everything possible to lead man way from God.
Question: Do you believe Satan and his demons exist? What’s your approach to Halloween?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:23 — 19.6MB) | Embed
floyd
October 30, 2013I have no doubt that satan does prowl around like a hungry lion seeking to devour us and our children. That being said, I did take my girls out to trick or treat to our neighbor’s houses and visit with others, but we did and do always explain the reality of fun and the danger of dabbling in the occult.
Caleb
October 30, 2013Floyd, I’m glad that you were able to talk with your girls about the dangers of dabbling in the occult. I think that it’s vital that we as parents don’t just go head long into everything the world does without intentional understanding the what and the why and then explaining that to our children.
Caleb
October 30, 2013David I just tried the podcast in Chrome and Firefox and both seem to be working just fine. Maybe you had an internet glitch. Give it another try and let me know if you still have a problem.
I like your approach doing it bigger and better and with different motives to let the world know that Jesus is better than anything else out there. I think there’s room for that!
Bill (cycleguy)
October 30, 2013I have no doubt the enemy exists as do demons. However, I do not make a big deal about Halloween from the pulpit or in personal life. We didn’t take much interest in it largely because of time and where we lived when the girls were of that age (in farming country where houses were few and far between). And I wasn’t going to drive them to a neighborhood I didn’t know just so they could have candy which would rot their teeth and make me put on weight. 🙂
Caleb
October 31, 2013Where I grew up we didn’t really get many trick-or-treaters either. Our house was up a gravel lane off the road, so I think that kept them away.
TCAvey
October 31, 2013Satan is very real. Spiritual warfare is very real. I and my family put on the Armor of God daily and will teach it to my son. He’s too young at the moment for in depth teaching but we still celebrate Fall Feast, not Halloween.
I think one of satan’s greatest tricks has been to make people believe he doesn’t exist. Just this past year I’ve encountered more than one person who used to go to church that flat out doesn’t believe satan is real.
Have you ever read, “Ascent from Darkness” by Michael Leehan? I highly recommend it. He used to be a satan worshiper and now is a devote follower of Christ. It will really drive home the reality of the spiritual world.
Caleb
October 31, 2013Thanks for the book recommendation TC. I’ll check it out on Amazon. Sounds like and interesting read.
TCAvey
October 31, 2013I believe it’s being made into a movie. I have written a few posts on it if you want to check on my blog. Michael Leehan has also come and spoke at my church. He has an awesome testimony of God’s delivering power and His endless pursuit of His creation. None of us are too far away that God can’t save us.
Dave Arnold
October 31, 2013Great post Caleb. The spirit works is very real, Eph 6 makes that clear. During this time, sadly, spiritual darkness is over emphasized. I like how some churches do trunk or treat.
Caleb
October 31, 2013Ok, I’ve not heard of “trunk or treat” what is that?
Dave Arnold
November 1, 2013Trunk or Treat is where a church or community center allows kids (and families) to come to a safe environment rather door-to-door. People open their trunks of their cars to pass out candy. It’s really a neat thing.
Caleb
November 1, 2013Ok, that makes sense. I just didn’t know what the “trunk” part was.
Larry Poole
November 1, 2013Caleb, I haven’t yet listened to this specific podcast, but I can’t wait to check it out tomorrow.
I’m sometimes caught off-guard by how little professing Christians know about spiritual warfare. If we think of the billions and billions of angels (a third of which were cast out of Heaven with Satan) and how they are literally fighting for the souls of mankind, it’s a staggering thought.
I always love speaking with missionaries who have came face-to-face with demonic spirits. I know very well a former missionary to Papua New Guinea who speaks of the severe demonic oppression of the region where he was a missionary.
That’s why I have such a high regard to anyone (and everyone) in the mission field. I can’t imagine the burden of that calling.
I hope you and your family are doing well.
Caleb
November 1, 2013Larry, I’m convinced that the demonic world is just as active in North America as it is in other countries. The main difference is that demons are more subtle here but that doesn’t mean they don’t have influence.
I’d love to hear your thoughts after listening to the podcast.
Charles Hutchinson
November 1, 2013I do believe that Satan exists. One thing that helps me when thinking about people that profess to follow Satan is that I realize they are just lost and in need of a savior. They believe a lie about who they truly are and just need to experience the love of The Father. That’s where Christians come in and display that for them.
Caleb
November 1, 2013How true Charles, they need to experience the love of the Father. I like the way you put that.