ALL HALLOW’S EVE

A popular Halloween movie line: “I ain’t afraid of no ghost” is known by many. The fun and witty movie entitled Ghostbusters was not centered around serial killers attacking teens at a campsite or in their dreams or cannibals luring people into their cabin because of a wrong turn. Instead, this movie was about the supernatural, and it is labeled comedy and not horror. Halloween, second only to Christmas, generates the most revenue in the USA. As All Hallows Eve approaches children and parents get excited about costumes, candy and accompanying or sending their children out to the homes of strangers asking for a TRICK or treat. As parents we give the speech, no eating the candy until I check it, or you go to your
church’s event where you can’t dress as ghosts or goblins but still dress up and get candy amongst people you know and trust. The latter seems like a fair compromise, right?

Nonetheless, this day is full of cute kids, some dressed as harmless butterflies, while others are dressed as the undead or serial killers asking for tricks or treats. No one really wants a trick. And those tricks can be cruel and deadly. Halloween has also grown large with many adults decorating their homes with huge and scary creatures. Truthfully, I’m amazed at some of the creativity. However, I can’t shake the thought that those people are inviting Satan to their homes. Crazy, I know because they ain’t afraid of no ghost. But are they afraid of demons? Do they even believe demons exist?

In a Disney movie, the Haunted Mansion, the main character when realizing the mansion may be haunted exclaimed, “Dark spirits – Don’t make no dark spirits come out!”  I thought exactly, don’t play with dark spirits. Demons are real. Many have a demon or dark spirit following or attached to them. We call them different things now: mental illness, addiction or crazy. As Halloween grows the minimization of Satan's power grows and this minimization gives Satan a foothold in the world. Not believing Satan exists and willingly inviting him to your home and mind is dangerous. Demons are real. The Bible speaks of demons often. Matthew 8:29, demons asked Jesus "have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Mark 1:34 talks about many demons being cast out. Ephesians 6 :11-12, tells us to put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. Moreover, it tells us that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against the rulers of darkness and against spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places." Spiritual host of wickedness sounds like dark spirits to me. So, as this season progresses remember that demons are real, should not be taken lightly and "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father bring to our remembrance that demons are real. Help us not to conform to the world and become complacent when it comes to Halloween, Satan, and his minions. Your Word speaks of demons and their power, but we know Your power is greater. Lord, convict the spirit of Your children who choose to celebrate darkness and make light of the power or realness of demons. Forgive us for compromising. Protect us Lord from these angels of darkness as movies get more and more horrific, as life, all too frequently, imitates art. Thank You for Your grace and mercy and for Your Son, Jesus the Christ who died for our sins. Amen.
By Sis. Pat Towns