Welcome! We are glad you are here!. A View From The Mountaintop Sabbatical Reflections Make...

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A View From The Mountaintop

Sabbatical Reflections

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Trick or Treat?Trick or Treat?

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


Halloween’s Origins ReviewHalloween’s Origins Review

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


Halloween’s Origins ReviewHalloween’s Origins Review

The pagan festival of The pagan festival of Samhain (Lord of the Dead) Samhain (Lord of the Dead) included rituals such as the included rituals such as the lighting of bonfires, the lighting of bonfires, the carving of turnips, sacrifice of carving of turnips, sacrifice of animals, wearing of animal animals, wearing of animal skins and recognition of the skins and recognition of the dead.dead.


Last Sunday, focused on Last Sunday, focused on Halloween’s links with Wicca Halloween’s links with Wicca (also know as Pagan (also know as Pagan Witchcraft) and the occult Witchcraft) and the occult practices of divination, practices of divination, magic/sorcery and spiritism. magic/sorcery and spiritism.

Today we will examine Today we will examine Halloween’s links with Halloween’s links with Satanism and what the Bible Satanism and what the Bible has to say about it.has to say about it.


Satanism Satanism

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


SatanismSatanism

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


Theistic SatanistsTheistic Satanists

- worship Satan (a rebellious - worship Satan (a rebellious fallen angel) as their godfallen angel) as their god

- are actively participating in - are actively participating in an ongoing rebellion against an ongoing rebellion against Almighty GodAlmighty God

- believe they will one day - believe they will one day overthrow Almighty God and overthrow Almighty God and set up a more set up a more democratic rule of the democratic rule of the cosmos. cosmos.


Atheistic SatanistsAtheistic Satanists

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


Satanists and HalloweenSatanists and Halloween

- use occult practices - use occult practices (divination, magic, spiritism) (divination, magic, spiritism) in their worship of Satan in their worship of Satan

- believe Halloween to be - believe Halloween to be when Satan’s power is when Satan’s power is strongeststrongest

- some participate in “The - some participate in “The Black Mass” on Halloween Black Mass” on Halloween nightnight


Who does the Bible say Satan Who does the Bible say Satan is? is?

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


Who does the Bible say Satan Who does the Bible say Satan is? is?

a.k.a. Lucifer – “fallen angel” (Isa. a.k.a. Lucifer – “fallen angel” (Isa. 14:12)14:12)

Beelzebub – “the prince of Beelzebub – “the prince of demons” (Matt. 12:24) demons” (Matt. 12:24)

Abaddon/Apollyon – “destroyer,” Abaddon/Apollyon – “destroyer,” and “angel of the bottomless and “angel of the bottomless pit” (Rev. 9:11)pit” (Rev. 9:11)


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus



Created beingCreated being CreatorCreator


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus (Speaking of Jesus) “He is (Speaking of Jesus) “He is the image of the invisible the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all God, the firstborn over all

creation. For by him all creation. For by him all things were created: things things were created: things

in heaven and on earth, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him things were created by him and for him.”and for him.” Colossians Colossians

1:15-161:15-16



Liar Liar TruthTruth


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus ““When he When he

lies, he lies, he speaks his speaks his

native native language, language, for he is a for he is a

liar and the liar and the father of father of

lies.” lies.” John John 8:448:44

“ “Jesus Jesus answered, ‘I answered, ‘I am the way am the way

and the truth and the truth and the life. and the life.

No one No one comes to the comes to the

Father Father except except

through through me.’”me.’” John John

14:614:6



Hate Hate LoveLove


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus ““This is how we know This is how we know

who the children of God who the children of God are and who the children are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is who does not do what is

right is not a child of right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who God; nor is anyone who

does not love his does not love his brother.” brother.” 1 John 3:101 John 3:10



Darkness Darkness LightLight


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus “…“…giving thanks to the giving thanks to the

Father, who has qualified Father, who has qualified you to share in the you to share in the

inheritance of the saints in inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he the kingdom of light. For he

has rescued us from the has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and dominion of darkness and

brought us into the kingdom brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom of the Son he loves, in whom

we have redemption, the we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”forgiveness of sins.” Col. Col.

1:12-131:12-13



Slavery to sin Slavery to sin Freedom from sinFreedom from sin


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus “…“…in the hope that God in the hope that God

will grant them will grant them repentance leading them repentance leading them

to a knowledge of the to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will truth, and that they will come to their senses and come to their senses and escape from the trap of escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken the devil, who has taken them captive to do his them captive to do his will.”will.” 2 Tim. 2:25-26 2 Tim. 2:25-26



DestructionDestruction Eternal LifeEternal Life


Satan vs. Jesus Satan vs. Jesus ““Then he will say to those Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, me, you who are cursed,

into the eternal fire into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and prepared for the devil and his angels… Then they will his angels… Then they will

go away to eternal go away to eternal punishment, but the punishment, but the

righteous to eternal life.’”righteous to eternal life.’” Matt. 25:41,46 Matt. 25:41,46


Jesus and His Followers are Jesus and His Followers are Victorious! Victorious!


Jesus and His Followers are Jesus and His Followers are Victorious! Victorious! ““Jesus replied, "I saw Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like Satan fall like lightning from lightning from

heaven. I have given heaven. I have given you authority to you authority to

trample on snakes trample on snakes and scorpions and to and scorpions and to

overcome all the overcome all the power of the enemy; power of the enemy;

nothing will harm nothing will harm you. However, do not you. However, do not

rejoice that the rejoice that the spirits submit to you, spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your but rejoice that your names are written in names are written in

heaven.’”heaven.’” (Luke (Luke 10:18-20)10:18-20)


Jesus Prayed for You! Jesus Prayed for You! ““My prayer is not My prayer is not

that you take them that you take them out of the world out of the world

but that you but that you protect them from protect them from the evil one. They the evil one. They

are not of the are not of the world, even as I am world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; them by the truth; your word is truth. your word is truth.

As you sent me As you sent me into the world, I into the world, I have sent them have sent them

into the world.”into the world.” John 17:15-18 John 17:15-18


Application –Application –

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



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



Clearly, the Lord teaches us in the Clearly, the Lord teaches us in the Bible to resist the devil, the occult Bible to resist the devil, the occult and those who practice it. Please and those who practice it. Please bear this in mind as you seek God’s bear this in mind as you seek God’s direction to determine how you and direction to determine how you and your family will respond to the your family will respond to the occultic, satanic elements of occultic, satanic elements of Halloween. Halloween.

If you have been involved personally If you have been involved personally in satanism or the occult, God’s in satanism or the occult, God’s grace and forgiveness is available to grace and forgiveness is available to you through a saving you through a saving relationship with Jesus Christ! relationship with Jesus Christ!


Halloween Alternatives:Halloween Alternatives:

- Harvest Parties- Harvest Parties

- “Trick or Treat for Unicef”- “Trick or Treat for Unicef”

- “Trick or Treat so others - “Trick or Treat so others can eat”can eat”

- Give Christian tracts with - Give Christian tracts with candycandy

See you next Sunday!

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