Halloween Unmasked TODAY’S SERMON Colossians 1:12,13 and Ephesians 5:11-13

Colossians 1:12,13 & Ephesians 5:11, 12 12 (Give) thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

ORIGINS OF THE HOLIDAY Early Druids in France worshipped Samhain on November 1 Evil spirits came out that night to harm people Leaving food for them would avert danger Catholics “Christianized” the holiday, 800’s Nov. 1 became “All Saints’ Day” Night before became “Hallowed Evening” Shortened to “Halloween”

But, What’s the Harm in “MAKE BELIEVE” It implies that something doesn’t exist If the spirit world did not exist…no harm BUT…the spirit world is VERY, VERY real! Origin of Satan: Isaiah 14:12-15

Origin of Satan Isaiah 14:12-15 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.”

But, What’s the Harm in “MAKE BELIEVE” It implies that something doesn’t exist If the spirit world did not exist…no harm BUT…the spirit world is VERY, VERY real! Origin of Satan: Isaiah 14:12-15 Origin of demons (fallen angels??) Rev. 12:1-9, 2 Peter 2:4, Job 4:18

ORIGIN OF DEMONS Revelation 12:1-9 1 A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads.

ORIGIN OF DEMONS 4 His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6 The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

ORIGIN OF DEMONS 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down-- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Biblical References To It 2 Peter 2:4 … God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment… Job 4:18-19 If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth!

IMMENSITY OF SATAN’S KINGDOM Psalm 91:11--Angels assigned to guard us 6 Billion people on earth = 6 Billion angels 1/2 that many cast out = 3 Billion fallen angels Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the “spiritual host of evil in the heavenlies.” Don’t tell you children there’s no such thing! The OCCULT world is very real, not to be played with!

WHAT IS THE CHILD OF GOD TO DO ABOUT THIS? DON’T be afraid! 1 John 4:4 says “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world!” Put on the armor of God: Ephesians 6:11 There were two angels left for each one thrown out…Hell is outnumbered 2 to 1!

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO ABOUT HALLOWEEN? Ephesians 5:11 “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:22 “…abstain from all appearance of evil.” The decision is yours, but if you err wouldn’t it be better to err on the side of caution and godliness?

APPLICATION Have I experienced the supernatural power of Jesus Christ in my own life? Am I ready for life after death?