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“What should I be for Halloween?” It’s a question I asked myself often as a kid.

What if I told you that Halloween was just a symptom? What if there were something else that actually outweighed a holiday one day a year where the bloody, the scary, and the crazy gets its fifteen minutes of fame? 

What if Halloween wasn’t the biggest issue you face on October 31st?

Believe it or not, I’m not here to tell you that you should, or that you should not, participate in Halloween.

Actually, I want to put something far more important in front of you.

Would you give me about (5) minutes and let’s have a conversation about something way, way, way more important than Halloween?

And it’s something truly more to the heart of the matter than trying to answer the question of “what should I be for Halloween?

What about the reality … the sheer brutal reality … of spiritual forces in this world? Ever thought about that?

Have you ever thought about the fact that this world is full of very real spiritual forces?

More than that, have you ever thought about how you can navigate a world where dark forces are in play?

Well, there is good. And there is evil. And I don’t think any person of average intellect would debate that. Yet there is something a bit deeper at work here, and that is the purpose of those spiritual forces.

The Bible says that Jesus was raised from the dead and eyewitness saw Him for many days after that resurrection. And that by raising Jesus from the dead, God was giving Jesus authority in a position of supremacy in that God

 

“raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come”
 
Ephesians 1:20-21

 

There are many Bible verses that point to the fact that evil is a powerful force in this world. Jesus was constantly having to deal with the demonic.

The apostles were constantly dealing with those who were demon possessed. Do you think that all of that just went away when the Bible was close for writing? No! Never.

So how do you navigate a world where dark forces are in play?

I would offer these guiding boundaries.

 

Dark spiritual forces are to be respected.

Would you respect a lion? Absolutely you would.

The Bible says the devil is not only a real presence in this world, but that he’s a hungry beast.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

You would never, ever toy around with a lion. You’d never turn your back on a lion. You’d never intentionally put yourself in the path of a lion.

And that, friend, is why you will never see me play with Ouija boards. Or consult spirit mediums. Or do anything anywhere near that type of behavior.

I respect dark powers and I don’t go looking for them; they find me easily enough.

No, when it comes to a lion, you respect his power too much to play around with him.

In fact, I’d bet not only would you respect a lion if you heard one was in your neighborhood. You’d fear it. And you should. Lions can kill you.

Here’s the difference: the devil may be a lion that’s roaring, but to the Christian that lion can only bite if you give him permission.

The devil is to be respected but not feared – but that only goes for the Christian because the Christian is no longer under the authority of the evil one.

A follower of Jesus is told by Jesus himself that we have authority of evil. See Luke 10:19 for that. We have authority over the enemy.

The only reason we have authority over the enemy is because it comes through our relationship with Jesus Himself. We are victorious, as the Bible says in Romans 8:37-39:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Did you see that? Because of Christ, a Christian is victorious over demons, fear of death, powers, and any other thing that once separated us from Christ.

 

Dark spiritual forces are not to be pursued.

 

I believe we have seen a shift away from the idea of Halloween and there’s been a move to just an outright fascination with the dead and the dark.

In the last few years it seems there’s an obsession with zombies and gore.

Television shows have brought the living dead into our homes as if it’s normal. And friend, that’s not normal. Nor should it be celebrated.

The Bible tells us that God specifically doesn’t want us opening ourselves up to witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10).

We are told in many, many ways throughout the Scriptures to avoid evil on every level, like we see in Romans 16:19, “be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.” In other words, don’t open yourself up to evil, in any way whatsoever.

 

Let’s take it beyond Halloween. Let’s take it beyond Freddy Krueger, or Michael Meyers.

 

And let’s go to something Jesus said: you have an enemy.

Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

That enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Now … would you hang out with that kind of enemy? Would you invite anything into your life that has the prime goal of destroying you? Would you make a “friend request” with a thief who intends to steal from you?

No.

Don’t be naïve.

In the end, there is a truth I want you to look into for yourself.

God gave us a word.

Literally. He gave us the Scriptures, and they are completely able to be trusted.

His word is never going to hurt you or mislead you. And His word tells us to “think on” or soak your mind in things that are pure and noble.

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippains 4:8-9.

 

In a dark world, where light is a real option, why would you ever choose to let anything dark into your life?

It just doesn’t make sense.

Especially when you have a Savior who is willing to redeem your darkest past and give you peace!

Hey, I want to offer you something. If you feel that your life, or anyone in your family, has been hit by the powers of darkness, give us a shout at ClearView Baptist Church.

We have a living Jesus Christ who conquered the demonic once and for all. If you need some spiritual help contact us. We will guide you to His light and His truth.

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About the Author: Jason Cruise is the Senior Pastor of ClearView Baptist Church in Franklin, TN.

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