Beware of Satans diabolical scheme this Halloween. It should truly frighten you.
Every night when I walk the dog, I see the signs of Halloween approaching. In my neck of the woods, people go out of their way to decorate their houses for the helliday.
Growing up, Halloween was a non-event. My parents didn’t participate in it at all. I think we might have gone so far as to put gospel tracts in the boo-bags of anyone brave enough to come to our door.
When I had kids, I liked Halloween. Perhaps it was a way of making up for what I thought I had missed as a kid. But really it was the one day of the year when everyone in the development came out of their house and acted… well, neighborly.
I enjoyed walking around the neighborhood and seeing people sitting out in their driveways waving at all who walked by. Neighbors gathered together around fire pits (again in the driveway or front yard) and chatted like friends.
I really liked that sense of community.
Too bad it was such an unholy occasion to bring it out.
These days, I think Satan is pulling a swiftie on us. Halloween has become so much of an “event” that he gets to mock himself and sort of make fun of all things demonic and spiritual.
Have you ever heard the statement “familiarity breeds contempt”? It means that when we become comfortable with something, we let our guard down around it. We start to relax.
I think that’s what’s going on with Halloween these days. It’s a way for us to get a laugh at the idea of the devil and demons and all sorts of evil types. If a little kid can dress up in a costume, it can’t be all that bad, right?
Wrong.
The spiritual realm is very real, and it’s not a nice place. Read Ephesians 6:10-18. Paul describes our existence in the spiritual realm as warfare. It’s a life or death kind of thing. Laughing at comical demons or devils isn’t close to reality.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus was very active casting out demons. He did it because the demons were devastating in the lives of the people they possessed. Nothing funny there.
In Revelation 12 we read of war in heaven as the Michael and the angels battled with a great dragon and his “angels”. Yes. This is full scale combat in the heavenly realms.
I’m not here to judge you if you like to walk your neighborhood or give out candy to the trick-or-treaters. But I’m very concerned that we are becoming lulled into a false sense of security regarding spiritual warfare.
When we laugh at it, we can’t take it seriously. When it’s the party theme, we drop our guard and embrace it a little too much.
It’s not funny. It’s deadly serious.
What can you do about it?
Firstly, you have to spot the lie. Conflict in the heavenly realms isn’t a cute or funny thing. It’s not a party theme. It’s not something that you should get excited about going to watch. It’s serious and you need to call it such.
Secondly, you need to arm yourself against it. Paul, in the famous Ephesians 6 passage doesn’t say that you should fight back against the devil. Nor does he say that you should run and hide. His command is specific: Stand Firm.
You don’t stand firm in your civilian clothes, God has provided you with armor. You need to be serious about getting it on. Then you need to be serious about getting into a battle line with brothers and sisters who support you No one resists the forces of evil in this world while standing alone.
You must be intentional about calling Satan “the great adversary”. He’s not something funny. He’s something deadly and dangerous.
Jesus has over come Satan, and you can rest in that power. Not on your own, but in borrowed victory. It’s the only way.
In my writing I’ve tried to find a way to talk about the battle in the heavenly realms in a realistic way. I’ve written a series of short stories that explore different topics of spiritual warfare. One, in particular I want to talk about today.
I’ve written Jarial as an Archangel. She wants to do her jobs well and maximize her potential and impact in the Heavenly Realms. But she has a friend, another Archangel named Lolonial. Her friend is not as disciplined and focused on her mission.
As the story reaches a climax, Jarial must make a terrible decision about whether to pursue her dream or try to reach Lolonial who has made a a series of bad choices. It’s a moment of eternal consequence for these immortal servants.
It tackles a really tough topic of Satan’s first great deception. Have you ever wondered how Satan fell? How so many angels followed him? This story paints a picture of that event. I have no idea how it really happened, but this story fits the facts in the Bible and makes it seem real.
I don’t want to say too much and spoil the story. But when it ends, it’s shocking and terrible all at the same time.
It’s a chilling tale, fit for the season. But very serious and with a very hard point to make.
I encourage every Christian to get their hands on this story and take the lessons to heart. If you’re brave enough, answer the questions at the end and reply to this email with your answers. That would be bold.
Here’s the link to get the story. It’s only available on my website.
https://www.dennis-stevenson.c…
Regardless of what you do, spend some time this week considering the reality of angels and demons fighting it out for the chance to influence the world and people around you. It’s a far scarier notion than any Halloween costume or trick-or-treat.
Dennis
