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Trick or Treat? Disclaimer: What you choose to do with Halloween or any other cultural holiday is your choice. You will not be judged here if you choose to allow your children to wear costumes and “trick or treat.” The purpose of this message is to inform, enlighten, and encourage you to seek the Lord for how He wants you to respond to these and other cultural opportunities we have available to us.

Trick or Treat? Halloween’s Origins Review Before the spread of Christianity to the British Isles, Celts and Druids (poly-theists) would celebrate the festival of Samhain (pronounced Sow-wane), marking the end of harvest, the beginning of the dark half of the year and the start of their new year. (Nov. 1)

Trick or Treat? Halloween’s Origins Review The pagan festival of Samhain (Lord of the Dead) included rituals such as the lighting of bonfires, the carving of turnips, sacrifice of animals, wearing of animal skins and recognition of the dead.

Trick or Treat? Last Sunday, focused on Halloween’s links with Wicca (also know as Pagan Witchcraft) and the occult practices of divination, magic/sorcery and spiritism. Today we will examine Halloween’s links with Satanism and what the Bible has to say about it.

Trick or Treat? Satanism Although thought by many to be similar, Satanism and Wicca have different beliefs even though both have strong ties to Halloween due to their affinities for occult practices.

Trick or Treat? Satanism Satanism has two primary expressions; monotheistic (one God), and atheistic (no God).

Trick or Treat? Theistic Satanists - worship Satan (a rebellious fallen angel) as their god - worship Satan (a rebellious fallen angel) as their god - are actively participating in an ongoing rebellion against Almighty God - are actively participating in an ongoing rebellion against Almighty God - believe they will one day overthrow Almighty God and set up a more democratic rule of the cosmos. - believe they will one day overthrow Almighty God and set up a more democratic rule of the cosmos.

Trick or Treat? Atheistic Satanists - participate in the same occult practices of Theistic Satanism, yet do not believe in Satan as a real god but rather as a symbolic representation of their own rebellion against any god or authority. - participate in the same occult practices of Theistic Satanism, yet do not believe in Satan as a real god but rather as a symbolic representation of their own rebellion against any god or authority.

Trick or Treat? Satanists and Halloween - use occult practices (divination, magic, spiritism) in their worship of Satan - use occult practices (divination, magic, spiritism) in their worship of Satan - believe Halloween to be when Satan’s power is strongest - believe Halloween to be when Satan’s power is strongest - some participate in “The Black Mass” on Halloween night - some participate in “The Black Mass” on Halloween night

Trick or Treat? Who does the Bible say Satan is? The Devil (Job 1:6, Zech. 3:1, Rev. 2:10). He is called "the dragon," "the old serpent" (Rev. 12:9; 20:2); “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30); “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2); “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4); “the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2), “the adversary, a roaring lion seeking those he can devour” (1 Pet. 5:8)

Trick or Treat? Who does the Bible say Satan is? a.k.a. Lucifer – “fallen angel” (Isa. 14:12) Beelzebub – “the prince of demons” (Matt. 12:24) Abaddon/Apollyon – “destroyer,” and “angel of the bottomless pit” (Rev. 9:11)

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Created being Creator

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus (Speaking of Jesus) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:15-16

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Liar Truth Liar Truth

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Hate Love Hate Love

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:10

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Darkness Light Darkness Light

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus “…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col. 1:12- 13

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Slavery to sin Freedom from sin Slavery to sin Freedom from sin

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus “…in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Tim. 2:25-26

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus Destruction Eternal Life Destruction Eternal Life

Trick or Treat? Satan vs. Jesus “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’” Matt. 25:41,46

Trick or Treat? Jesus and His Followers are Victorious!

Trick or Treat? Jesus and His Followers are Victorious! “Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.’” (Luke 10:18- 20)

Trick or Treat? Jesus Prayed for You! “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:15-18

Trick or Treat? Application – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double- minded. James 4:7-8

Trick or Treat? Application – “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:8-11 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:8-11

Trick or Treat? Application – Clearly, the Lord teaches us in the Bible to resist the devil, the occult and those who practice it. Please bear this in mind as you seek God’s direction to determine how you and your family will respond to the occultic, satanic elements of Halloween. If you have been involved personally in satanism or the occult, God’s grace and forgiveness is available to you through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!

Trick or Treat? Halloween Alternatives: - Harvest Parties - “Trick or Treat for Unicef” - “Trick or Treat so others can eat” - Give Christian tracts with candy

See you next Sunday!