Tim and LaDonna

Remove all of the stuff and let me just serve You, Lord. I don’t want to be the point of contention, I want to point to You.
Let me be the husband, father and servant that You want me to be. Show me what stays and what goes.

Fast, pray, believe and wait

Give me revelation, show me what to do
Cause I’ve been trying to find my way and I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move?
Give me revelation
I’ve got nothing without You

LaDonna’s father and my father in law, Warren Casey quietly passed away this evening in Greensburg, PA. LaDonna was able to be with him at the end, reading scripture to him as he passed.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4

‘I Surrender All’ means the things you don’t want to surrender, too.

Why would you not want to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas? Is it because there is no proof that it happened on December 25? Is it because the pagan Yuletide celebration and Feast of Saturnalia were ‘Christianized’ by early believers, creating Christmas?
Is it because Santa Claus, Elves, flying reindeer and talking snowmen are more important to you than the redeemer of your soul? Is it because gluttony and greed are more important to you than salvation? What other excuse can you come up with?
Maybe you’ll say that His birth isn’t as important as His death and resurrection. You’re right, but have you forgotten that he was born as a human child at the start of His human life? Is that miraculous birth any less important than the perfect life that followed, or are we just picking and choosing?
Maybe you don’t want to celebrate His birth like most of the world does. Great! Neither do I! However, His birth has been celebrated appropriately for 2000 years by some, just as it has been celebrated inappropriately by many more for almost the same amount of time. Does that mean to just ignore it? If it was meant to be ignored, why did the prophets find so much importance with it? Why is it in the books of the Gospel?
It’s at this one time of the year that most of the world actually is acknowledging His existence. That’s something that if you are a true believer should set your heart on fire. Why not use this acknowledgement as a chance to tell the world about Him? They’re already singing about Him, whether or not they understand what or Whom they’re singing about. Is it because you really don’t believe yourself, or is it that you just don’t care?
If you’re not celebrating His birth, more than likely you’re still hijacking the day by using it as an excuse to take the day off of work, give and receive gifts, feast and party. Are you calling it ‘Christmas’, or are you, as the world is slowly doing, calling it ‘Holiday’? Do Him a favor and stop calling it ‘Christmas’ if you’re finding the fantasy and greed overtaking His birth in your celebration. If you are calling it simply ‘Holiday’, take a moment and try to see where you may be off-track. If it is truly Christmas to you, make sure you’re showing the proper reverence and thanksgiving that should be offered to the One that came to Earth to face Hell for you.

Most of us are celebrating Christmas, whether with Santa Claus and presents or remembering that ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’. Maybe it’s a combination of both. I believe though, that even those of us who are recognizing Jesus’ birth right now aren’t even sure why we’re doing so. What difference does it make? Have we watered down the Gospel so much that we’re taking the incarnation of God as a man and using it as an excuse to act happy or even silly, just showing our ‘Christmas Spirit’? Why have we allowed this occasion to be a time to party, spend a bunch of money, be greedy and overeat? Have we honestly forgotten that He came to Earth to live as a man and then face Hell for us? Yes, that’s plenty of reason to be overjoyed, but wouldn’t it be appropriate to show more reverence?

I’m sitting here, nearing the end of another day of drudgery at my job. I am bored with what I’m doing and don’t know how much longer I can keep it up. How can I get out of here and start doing something fulfilling? Not for greed, but for God.

Why do we allow ourselves to be comfortable with the wrong?

Why do we allow our children to be bombarded with fear and evil?

Galatians 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will
produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for
lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility,
quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, envy, and
drunkenness

This is where we have been fooled….Halloween is a sinful nature, it’s participation in demonic activities (you might not be casting spells, sacrificing animals or anything like that; however the smallest amount of participation is still participating. Most people don’t drink plain black coffee they will dilute it with cream and sugar; however it’s still coffee.) and yet we allow ourselves to be duped by the day. “Oh…It’s so much fun…It’s just innocent scary”. What does innocent scary even mean? How many things have we done wrong in our life that started off innocent? You can have an innocent relationship with a co-worker that turns into an affair. All sorts of sinful acts start off “innocent”. Halloween is plain and simple. It’s not about dressing up and getting candy. It’s an actual evil day. If you truly take yourself out of the “fun-ness” aspect of it you can see it clear as day. When you participate along with anything during this day you are also participating in the evil part of the day. It’s just like pornography is adultery…Evil is Evil no matter how “happy it is” “Well, we don’t take it seriously, We keep the Happy in Halloween” But the devil takes it VERY serious and so does God. Especially when Christians which He purchased with His own precious blood builds Haunted Houses so that the little lambs who have been entrusted to its care can be terrified and opened up to invading spirits of fear and torment and confusion. “it’s funny to scare people” or “it’s just fun to be a little scared”.  2 TIMOTHY 1:7 says, For God has not given to us the spirit of fear…. Hmmmm wonder who is giving it to us then…Who do you think?

2 Corinthians 6:16-17 agreement is there between the temple of God
and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said “I will
live with them and walk among them and I will be their God and they will be
my people.” Therefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no
unclean thing and I will receive you.

He wants us clean. Clean from all evil and idols. Yes I said it idols…Halloween is full of them. What exactly is an idol? Idol: One that is adored or adorned, often blindly or excessively. Yes they are also something that is worshiped but I know that most of you reading this don’t worship any of the Halloween images. However just adoring or adorning them (because they are evil) is also considered idol worship. Decorating your house, church, class-room, and clothing. Think about it just for a second…How many Halloween decorations that you have or purchase have smiley faces on them? “Oh, it’s a friendly witch” “Look how cute that happy ghost is” Jack-O-Lanterns, Black Cat, Witch, Demon, skeletons and on and on and on. Again you say “my family doesn’t worship them” but again look at what the bible says “Therefore come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing and I will receive you.” If you’re dieting you should not have a freezer full of ice cream. If you are an alcoholic you should probably not be around a lot of drinking. It’s the same with this….If you don’t want evil to fill your home you should not participate in it. You should not have any idols that represent any sort of evil thing. This includes all Halloween decorations, horror movies, books and anything else that might be unclean.

Some definitions of the idols we use for Halloween:
Witch: one that is credited with usually malignant supernatural powers; especially evil a woman practicing usually black witchcraft often with the aid of a devil or familiar: SORCERESS — compare WARLOCK

Ghost: a disembodied soul; especially: the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness a bad spirit or demon.

Black cat: (this is not the definition, but what it symbolizes) Black cats are the chief idol of the goddess of Wicca, Diana. In legend, she turns into a black cat to commit incest with her brother, Lucifer.

Demon: an evil spirit, a source or agent of evil, harm, distress, or ruin

Zombie, Vampire, Grim Reaper, Satan, Warlock, Werewolves, I can look up all the definitions of these, but honestly I think you are smart enough to see the evil in each of them

What is cute about these things?

The real fear for me in all this is where Christians stand. It’s hard to Stand Alone for what is right. It’s hard being different from our peers, but isn’t that what we are called to do.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is
your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you
will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing
and perfect will.

In our Sunday School lesson last week we talked about standing alone.

Mark 15:12-13, 32 for how the crowd turned against Jesus and had Him
crucified. Pilate asked them again, “Then what do you want me to do
with the One you call the King of the Jews?” Again they shouted, “Crucify
Him!”

Most of these people were the same people who welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with Palm branches and shouting “Hosanna Hosanna Blessed is He” They were now calling to “Crucify Him”. Following the crowd is what people do…I wonder how many people were standing for what was right? I would want to think I would be saying something else during His trial, but I might have also turned my back on him as well. .

More scriptures that back up the previous point

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

1 Corinthians 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

Ephesians 5:16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil

2Corinthians 6:14b-16 For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Helial (Satan)?

Peter I 5:8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.

1Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons
Bassed upon scripture you can find no right in any of this….There is no right in Evil. There is no right in Idols. There is no right in Fear. The problem is that people like Halloween. It’s fun. We want it to be innocent we want it to be just a fun day of dressing up and getting candy. But…it’s not. There is more to it then that. It’s rooted in evil and Satan LOVES that he has duped you into thinking these things.

Evil One: 1 John 5:19
In 1 John we are told that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We can, however, take solace in the fact that we are the children of God. Now if we can only see clearly that evil is not good in any fashion. Christ wants to be a part of every part of our life. He wants us completely. He doesn’t just want us to live day to day…He wants us to live abundantly!

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.

We are to base our lives on the word of God. If we really do this, it’s case closed. Halloween is evil and I will flee from all evil. Will you?

Websites I found that gives good background into Halloween

http://www.demonbuster.com/halloween.html
http://www.exposingsatanism.org/halloween.htm

I want this car. I want it now.