Halloween (Where Is The Light?)
by PJ
I had to stop and meditate for quite some time to recall my earliest remembrance of Halloween. One of the very first things I remember was going out with a cousin "Trick Or Treating" and going to a local Pastor's home where he was answering the door with hosiery over his head and scaring all the children. My first exposures with Halloween came in elementary school. It's interesting that both the Church and school were exposure places, but even more amazing was that parents, including my own, at the time, saw no harm in it.
I shall never forget my first encounter with a haunted house. It was at my elementary school and I was terrified as I was pushed alone into a dark room of ghouls and goblins. I wasn't alone. Many others got their first exposure to the frights of Halloween in the same manner. If Halloween is so harmless, why does it leave fear in the minds of children long after? For months after Halloween each year I would suffer from nightmares and wild imaginations. I can still remember being afraid to look in mirrors after watching scary movies.
As years passed, my involvement with Halloween became more and more elaborate. First it was costumes, then parties, and eventually I gained quite a knowledge of witchcraft. Halloween provides quite an opportunity for the promotion of pagan beliefs. Halloween makes paganism "somewhatly acceptable" because of the densitization coming from social participation. In my case, I believe satan was very interested in me. I believe he saw the calling upon my life and was out to stop me from fulfilling my destiny in G-d. Perhaps that's why such great temptation came to lead me toward occultic practices. It was amusing, at first, but one thing lead to another. With satan, it always does. He is like an unquenchable thirst, always needing and demanding MORE.
By the time I was a young adult, I had to go through a time of sincere renouncement of all the paganistic things I had gotten caught up in that originated in the "harmless" Halloween and the occult. It was not easy because by the time I learned what I was doing from G-d's perspective, the warfare to bring me out was intense. This is precisely why I have such a gift in spiritual warfare. I had to fight hard to walk free and learn to walk in the ways of the L-rd.
The temptation is much worse for youth and young adults today. As a society, we've embraced those practicing the occult and even brought the occult into our homes with board games, video games, music and books. The internet has exponentially increased the learning curve about paganism. The problem is that it's affecting our youth and not in a good way.
There's a story an Evangelist I'll just call Dave who tells of a mother finding a strange diary in her son's room. Fear hit her as she leafed through the pages and saw a myriad of satanic drawings. Then her eyes fell upon horrifying words, "Last year I stole a car at Halloween and ran over a kid and killed him. This year, at Halloween, I plan to do the same thing!" The words in this diary proved to be true. He had murdered a person the previous Halloween as a sacrifice to satan. If Halloween is so harmless, why does it have such a detrimental effect on some?
I readily admit, not everyone is affected in such severe ways by Halloween, but the few who are do great harm. Halloween conditions children and even adults to be receptive to occult practices and the violence associated. If you do any research at all on the violence of Halloween you will find case after case of horror.
Many kids are exposed to witchcraft and occult practices at Halloween activities but Halloween isn't the only culprit. So are the get-togethers like Fantasy and Fortress. So are the practices of magick, sorcery and other such occult-related activities. One might wonder why followers of Yeshua and Bible teachers are so adamant about the occult and it's dangers. It's because so many of us have been called in to counsel people caught up in it and what we've seen.
Occultic activity thrives on the element of fear. Fear torments. Yochanan Aleph/1 John 4:18 says "Fear hath torment." It's true. Sometimes fear can be long lasting. Fear extinguishes faith and it is written that without faith we cannot please G-d. Seriously, fear is a great detriment to a person's faith. In fact, fear will stop faith totally. That's why there's a sign on my front porch this year that declares, "There are no ghosts or devils here. We're a house of Love, not one of fear."
Many areas in the United States refuse to adopt out animals near Halloween. If Halloween is so harmless, why is this so? I can tell you one incident that happened to my brother a few years ago. He had a black cat named "Rookie." My brother never got too attached to animals until Rookie came along but he and this cat developed quite a relationship. It was near Halloween Rookie "disappeared" and my brother was only to later find Rookie's remains after an occultic sacrifice. Does the occult give an excuse to do evil?
In a ministry like mine, I am face-to-face with people heavily involved with the occult. I cannot tell you how many times I've been the target of occultic mischief and evil. Thank G-d I know the power of the blood of Yeshua but I often think about those that are confronted by such practices and have no knowledge of G-d to protect them.
Where does the occult lead people? It doesn't matter what path of the occult a person takes, it still leads to the same place. Ultimately that place is death. Occultic practices are a form of idolatry because they are a form of worship to someone other than the King of the Universe. Idolatry leads to sexual promiscuity, immorality, insanity, and eventually death. Dabbling with the occult often leads to demon possession and since the world system does not recognize demon possession, it winds up categorized as psychiatric problems. Most Psychiatrists are clueless about demon possession and their patients only wind up medicated, not cured. If you want a Biblical glimpse of the world of demon possession, read Yochanan-Makabi/Mark 5:1-15.
Let's look at what the Word of G-d says about these issues:
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (AMP) 21But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast. 22Abstain from evil [shrink from it and keep aloof from it] in whatever form or whatever kind it may be.
James / Ya'akov 1:27 (AMP) 27 External religious worship religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
John / Yochanan 1:11 (AMP) 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil, but imitate good. He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen (discerned or experienced) God [has enjoyed no vision of Him and does not know Him at all].
Romans 12:9 9[Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good.
Deuteronomy / Devarim 18:9-14 (AMP) 9When you come into the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of these nations. 10There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through the fire, or who uses divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer, 11Or a charmer, or a medium, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and it is because of these abominable practices that the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 13You shall be blameless [and absolutely true] to the Lord your God. 14For these nations whom you shall dispossess listen to soothsayers and diviners. But as for you, the Lord your God has not allowed you to do so.
Ephesians 5:11-12 (AMP) 11Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
1 Timothy 4:1 (AMP) 1BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach,
1 Corinthians 10:21 (AMP) 21You cannot drink the Lord's cup and the demons' cup. You cannot partake of the Lord's table and the demons' table.
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (AMP) 14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers [do not make mismated alliances with them or come under a different yoke with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? 15What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.17So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,
John / Yochanan 3:19-20 (AMP) 19The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. 20For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved.
There are so many forms of occultic practices today and all are rooted in the same origin, pagan Babylon. It never ceases to amaze me how Jewish kids have gotten caught up in the occultic practices that beset ancient Hebrews over and over. Jews really should be smarter than this. I actually had one young man from Israel say to me, "But PJ, if I don't discover evil how will I know good?" It's simple. Evil is the absence of G-d. That's how a person can tell evil from good.
People often ask if evil is so bad, why did G-d create it, after all, G-d created everything?! Evil is not a creation but an effect of choice. It's purely the absence of G-d. Where G-d does not rule, satan does. Is satan evil? Yes. Why? In him, a created being, there is a chosen absence of G-d. Is G-d evil? No. Why? Because in Him there is total love and light and no darkness at all.
Is G-d present in Halloween? What fellowship can light have with darkness? I think these questions have to be answered by all people where Halloween is celebrated.
I absolutely, categorically REFUSE to be one of those people Yeshua/Jesus spoke about when He asked, "When I return shall I find faith upon the earth?" Personally, I am out to reclaim October 31st. I am out to reclaim what belongs to G-d. October 31st belongs to G-d, not satan. Fall harvest parties are great but they are not a solution to Halloween. The solution is to rise up and take the day BACK. I am calling upon the Body of Moshiach/Christ to quit running away and get up and do warfare and take back what the enemy has stolen.
I have found that most people who celebrate Halloween do so purely out of ignorance of G-d's Word. Willful ignorance is around, yes, but it's not the greatest problem. Unenlightenment keeps people bound in darkness. And fear keeps the followers of Yeshua/Jesus from rising up to do battle. Why should any follower of Yeshua/Jesus operate in fear? Fear doesn't belong to us......FAITH belongs to us.
If you see a place evil is entrenched in your area, do prayer walks and drives and start taking down the principalities, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places by exercising your faith and speaking G-d's Word! You've got the Word, you've got the Blood, you've got the Spirit and perfect love casts out all fear. So get up! Get going!
I believe that the army of the Living G-d has a responsibility to stop running away on Halloween. How about the "light of the world" stop turning off the lights and handing over the kids to the evil children of darkness? The army of G-d is not too holy to be close to something and someone unclean. Let me ask you a question to meditate upon......"Is satan more satan on October 31st than November 1st or December 25th?" If not, get up and start being the light and salt and blessing the kids coming to your doors in costume. Bless them, pray for them and be the light and salt G-d sent you to be.
What do you think your soul looked like to G-d before He made it new? Aren't you glad He didn't turn off the light and hide in His inner chamber? He met you right where you were and what you were looked far worse than kids do on Halloween night coming to your door. Do you realize that we are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven? This gives us Diplomatic Immunity! We have the Word and the Blood of Yeshua/Jesus, we have the armor of G-d and we live in the shadow of the Most High G-d.
I am not asking you to celebrate satan. I am asking you to represent His Majesty, the King of the Universe, Love Himself! GO OUTSIDE ON HALLOWEEN AND BLESS YOUR NEIGHBORS! There is no nation untouched by paganism in one form or another so if Halloween does not apply to your situation, there's some paganistic activity that does. Pray! Fight the good fight of faith!
If you are involved in the occult, it's time to renounce the works of satan, make Yeshua/Jesus the L-rd of your life and get out of that junk. satan is far inferior to the G-d of Yisra'el. While I sincerely appreciate the desire to operate in the supernatural, why not do it the superior way? Don't believe the lie there is no way out. With G-d nothing is impossible to them that believe!
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