Halloween – Harmful or Harmless?

The original celebration was among the ancient Celtic people. They observed the end of the summer with sacrifices to SAMAN (Shamhain) He was “the lord of death and evil spirits.” This marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year.His holiday was called “The Vigil of Saman” (pronounced so-wein). The pagan god was shown as a ghostly, skeleton holding a sickle in his hand. The grim reaper.
The Celts considered November 1st as being the day of death because the leaves were falling, it was getting darker sooner and temperatures were dropping. Their sun god Muck Olla was losing strength because Samhain, lord of death, was overpowering him. They also believed that on the 31st October that Samhain assembled the spirits of all who had died during the previous year. They had been confined to inhabit animals bodies for the past year as punishment for their evil deeds. They were allowed to return home on the 31st October. Druid priests would sacrifice in order to appease Samhain and keep the spirits from harming them.

Druids – Occult practitioners, witches of sort. They would meet in a grove of trees or in stone circle to worship (Stonehenge). Around Stonehenge there is over 350 funeral mounds that contain the remnants of countless human sacrifice. Read Jeremiah 32:35

One-time witch of our day, Tom Sanguinet, former high priest in the
Celtic tradition of Wicca (witchcraft) said, "Halloween is purely and absolutely evil, and there is nothing we ever have or will do that would make it acceptable to the Lord Jesus."

The Origin of the Name, "Halloween"

Where did the name Halloween come from? Originally this Druid Holiday was called "The Vigil Of Saman." In early Britain it was called Samhain, which is pronounced Sowein. But, here is how we got the name Halloween. It came from an attempt to "Christianize" this pagan worship day. In A.D. 800 the Roman Catholic Church moved "ALL SAINTS DAY" from May to November 1st. The new day was called All HALLOW'S DAY and it soon became the custom to call the evening before ALL HALLOWE'EN. It was shortened and called HALLOWEEN.

Dr. John MacArthur said "First of all, dressing up like witches, ghosts, or
goblins is incompatible with a Christian's testimony. Furthermore, many of the customs of Halloween are associated with the worst kinds of pagan beliefs and ceremonies; they are usually sinister things such as demons, witchcraft and superstition."

He further stated, "If we as Christian parents simply disregard the unchristian aspects of such practices as mere fantasy or superstition and then encourage our children to participate in them, we run the risk of communicating the message that the spiritual battle waged by the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:10) is not to be taken seriously."

Origin of Costumes

How did the practice of wearing costumes at Halloween develop? The early origin of costumes is repulsive. On the evening of October 31st, the Druids, who were the occultic priests and teachers of the Celts, ordered the people to put out their hearth fires. The Druids built a huge new year's bonfire of oak branches, which they considered sacred. They burned animals, crops and human beings as sacrifices to their sun god Muck Olla and Samhain, their god of death. During this diabolical ceremony the PEOPLE WORE COSTUMES made of animal heads and skins. They then practised divination, looked for omens in the struggle of the victims sacrificed in the fires, jumped over the flames or dashed through them, danced and sang. All of this was done to frighten the evil spirits away.

TRICK OR TREAT

Now, just by chance if you had forgotten to dress up or could not fool the demons by dressing in animal skins or other disguises, there was a way to exorcise them. You were to set out a TREAT of food and fruit, and provide the wandering spirit with shelter for the night. If the demon was satisfied with your TREAT, it was believed that they would not TRICK you by casting an evil spell on you causing havoc.

JACK-O-LANTERNS

Jack-O-Lanterns, what is their significance? The World Book Encyclopedia, 1977 edition, volume 9, page 24-26 says, "The apparently harmless lighted pumpkin face of `Jack-O-Lantern' is an ancient symbol of a damned soul."

According to an article I read by Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. according to folklore "Jack-O-Lanterns were named for a man called Jack, who could not enter heaven or hell. As a result, he was doomed to wander in darkness with his lantern until judgement day." With this in mind, people began to hollow out pumpkins and turnips, placing candles inside to scare evil spirits from their houses.

There was another purpose for Jack-O-Lanterns according to author Owen Rachleff. "The candlelit pumpkin or skull... served as a beacon for the sabbat and as a signal to mark those farms and homes that were sympathetic to the Satanists and thus deserving of mercy when the terror of the night (Halloween) began." (The Occult Conceit; page 190).

Heroes of Halloween

Witch

1 Samuel 28 - The witch of Endor
Exodus 22:18
Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Galatians 5:20
Revelation 21:8

How should we respond – Read Acts 19:18-19

DIVINATION -- Seeking to know the past, present or future by astrology; horoscopes; channeling; tarot; etc. This can include animal or human sacrifice.

SORCERY or MAGIC(K) -- Seeking to control or manipulate reality for ones own purposes. This can include animal or human sacrifice to accomplish that end.

SPIRITISM -- Seeking to communicate with the dead or other entities through a medium.

What they believe

ANIMISM -- The belief that all objects (rocks, trees, wind, plants, mountains etc.) are alive and have a soul.
PANTHEISM -- The belief that everything is divine (god). Divinity is inseparable from and immanent in everything such as nature and humanity. In fact we are divine or gods.
POLYTHEISM -- Belief in many deities (gods). They also believe in multi-levels of reality.

DRACULA

Another classic Halloween character is COUNT DRACULA. If you watch you will see a number of these black caped, fanged toothed monsters running around this Halloween. But if you want to have your socks knocked off read DRACULA, A Biography of Vlad the Impaler, 1431-1476, by Radu Florescu and Raymond T. McNally. Dracula was a real person. He was maniac monster, the Hitler of his day. During his six year rule it was estimated by a reliable source that Dracula massacred 100,000 men, women and children.

Information taken from http://logosresourcepages.org/Holidays/halloween.htm

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Husbands

A husband had just finished reading a new book entitled, "You Can Be THE Man of Your House."

He stormed to his wife in the kitchen and announced, "From now on, you need to know that I am the man of this house and my word is Law.

You will prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, you will serve me a sumptuous dessert.

Afterwards, you are going to draw me a bath so I can relax. You will wash my back and towel me dry and bring me my robe.

Then, you will massage my feet and hands. Then tomorrow, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair?"

The wife replied, the funeral director would be my first guess

My Wife

Before I married my wife I thought she was an Angel.
After I married her I found out that she was......

She harps on everyday (Only Joking)

Personal Bible Study

What is the subject of this passage (one sentence)?
What lesson(s) is (are) here for me to learn?
What is the best or key verse?
Who are the principle persons?
What can I learn about Christ (or God, or the Holy Spirit) here?
What example is there for me to follow?
What error(s) is (are) there for me to avoid?
What command(s) is (are) there for me to obey?
What promise(s) is (are) there for me to claim?
What prayer is there for me to pray?

What is the Gospel according to You?

You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By deeds that you do,
By words that you say.

Men read what you write,
whether faithless or true,
Say! what is the Gospel
According to you?

The Life of the Believer

Reading Matthew 10:16-31

1.Propelled V16

The word propelled can mean to launch, to send, set in motion or to start.

This is the first time that the Lord sends His disciples into the work. Read v5-6

He will later on give them the great commission. Reading Mark 16:15 – Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

They had come through a short time of training and now they were being propelled into the work. They had been called to follow Christ and to be His disciples.

Where are you at today?
Are you member of the local church?
Are you active in the church? You cannot continue to take but you must begin to give.
You should be attending church on a regular basis. You be attending times of prayer where possible. You should be involved in the activities of the church.

This church needs people in music, Sunday schools, out-reach (Open airs/Old folks), Children's meetings.

We are called to something. Maybe God is calling you into full time service.

We are all called to serve. Maybe you new sphere of service is university. You have been propelled into it.


2.Persecution V17

He reminds them that they are sheep being sent into the midst of wolves

Sheep are defenceless against wolves.

The wolves will maim, destroy and kill a sheep if it is given a chance. The wolves are enemies of the gospel and of Christians. This is a worry in itself except we can take comfort that it is the Lord who sends us forth.

Expect it, Prepare for it from men v17, professing men v18, great men (authority) v18, all men v22 and even from your own kindred v21

People are being continually persecuted in foreign lands for their faith. Even Christians in the UK are being imprisoned for preaching the gospel in the open air.

We are not as yet living in fear of our lives for being a Christian in NI.

We are living in times where the wolf causes fear and seeks to maim our testimony

It wants us to conform to the world. It wants us to fit in. It wants us to talk like, dress like and go to the places they go.

We are to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves

The serpent will avoid danger - wise
The Dove loves cleanliness. They keep their body and nest clean. They love pure grain and pure water. Harmless – living peaceably with all, sociable creature – special affection for each other.

3.Position V24

We are to be the follower of Christ. We are to take that second place. In different times in the scriptures the disciples argued over who would be the greatest.

Turn to Luke 22:24-27

Homes, Churches and businesses are destroyed due to lack of strong leadership

It is terrible to see homes that are controlled and run by the children. They are allowed to watch and do what ever they want.

There should always be a structure. They should always be strong leadership.

If we have weak:
Fathers we will have weak homes
Bosses we will have a weak businesses
Elders we will have a weak church

It is hard to play second fiddle.

We need to encourage those in leadership especially when they need to make tough decisions.

Your job is not to usurp or rebel against authority

4.Peace V26

Fear Not – look at verse 28 & 31

There is enough FEAR NOTS in the Bible to cover every day of the week.

Christ is propelling you into the work but He cries out FEAR NOT!

In all our difficulties in life we must always remember that Christ is watching over us and we don't even realise.

Read Mark 6:45-51



Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson, 1936

5.Preach V27

We are to preach the Gospel – The Good News

We preach it through our -

Testimony
Words
Actions

The only Bible that the world may read will be YOUR life. Is it worth reading (example)

How can we get this Good News out there?

Speak it – Personal work, open airs, church
Live It
Wear it
Put up a sign
Pass out a tract
E-mail it
Facebook it – Share it button
Start a blog or promote someone else's
Organise something - Home/School/Restaurant

The Disciple's Crown

1.All faithful disciples will receive rewards

Peter was concerned about his rewards – Mat 19:27
Christ promised them thrones in His Kingdom – Mat 19:28, Luke 22:29-30
Selfless disciples will receive multiplied rewards – Mark 10:29

2.God is right and good in His rewards

He hires laborers for His work on earth - Mat 20:1
He promises some a specific reward – Mat 20:2
He promises others whatever is right – Mat 20:3-7
His rewards will exceed the expectations of many – Mat 20:8-9
Those who focus selfishly on rewards receive nothing extra - Mat 20:10-12
All God gives is right and good – Mat 20:13-16

3.Distinctive service will receive special rewards

Rewards for leading souls to Christ – John 4:36
Rewards for suffering for Christ's sake – Mat 5:11-12
Rewards for supporting God's servants – Mat 10:41
Rewards for helping fellow believers – Mat 10:42, Mark 9:41
Rewards for all faithful service for Christ – John 12:26, Mat 16:27

He will judge everyone's works – all deeds, words, motives, and thoughts

TED

The Disciples Cross

The cross was a instrument of Roman rule. It was the ultimate humiliation and shame.

1.The cost of discipleship

Forsake treasure on earth for treasure in heaven – Mark 10:17-22
Bear your cross daily and follow Christ – Mark 8:34-35 (Mat 10:38)
Die to yourself, as a seed in the ground – John 12:24-25

2.The conditions of discipleship

Allegiance to Christ means leaving your nest – Luke 9:57
Obedience to Christ leaves the dead to the dead – Luke 9:59-60
Dedication to Christ keeps plowing ahead – Luke 9:61-62

3.The conflict in discipleship

Expect opposition from carnal relatives – Luke 12:51-53
Expect the world to hate you – John 15:18-21
Expect persecution in the name of religion – John 16:1-3
Expect attacks from worldly wolves – Mat 10:16-18

4.The commitment in discipleship

The choices involved may hurt – Luke 14:25-26 (Mat 10:37)
The cross to bear may be heavy – Luke 14:27
The cost to build may be high – Luke 14:28-30
The conditions of battle may be harsh – Luke 14:31-33
The constancy required maybe hard – Luke 14:34-35