Thanks for your prayers as I begin a class on Spiritual Warfare for the next 8 week and anticipate speaking several times at a Prayer conference in Rockford, IL October 27-29.
That all of us would recognize both our authority in Christ (Eph. 2:6; James 4:7) and our total dependence on Him as we cry out to Him in prayer!!!! ( John 15:5, 1 Thess. 5 :17 )
As you trust God to show you how to celebrate Halloween, examine the background of this day and use it as an opportunity to explain the reality of spiritual warfare to your loved ones. Always let your discussion of spiritual warfare lead you to the victorious work of Jesus Christ. Look at the following chart that examines some of the schemes of the devil and how they are the opposite of what our all-powerful God wants to do. For more details see Putting God back into the Holidays, pages 245-252.
| Satan | All Powerful God | |
| Acts 5:3
1 Tim. 4:1 |
Tempts to Lie and Deceive | God seeks to make us men and women of truth. |
| 1 Cor. 7:5 | Tempts us to immorality | God seeks to make us men and women of moral integrity. |
| Rev. 12:4-10 | Accuses and slanders us and promotes this in our relationships | God seeks to affirm; lovingly convict, and promote speech characterized by love. |
| Gen. 3:1-5 | Promotes doubt in God’s character and His Word | God seeks to empower us to believe Him and His Word. |
| 1 Sam. 15:23, 1 Tim. 3:6 | Promotes pride and selfishness | God promotes humility. |
| 1 Chron. 21:1-8; Matt. 16:21-23 | Encourages reliance on human resource and human wisdom | Promotes full confidence in God’s perfect power and wisdom. |
| Dan. 7:25 | Seeks to “wear out the saints”
(This verse is speaking of the Anti-Christ whom Satan empowers) |
Leads us to true rest and refreshment. |
| Eph. 4:26-27 | Seeks to stir up anger in order to gain an advantage for spiritually, emotionally, and physically harm | Comforts our heart and promotes love and forgiveness. |
| Acts 5:3; John 13:12 | Puts wicked purposes into people’s minds and hearts | Puts loving purposes into our minds and hearts. |
| Deut. 18:10 | Seeks to harm innocent children | Welcomes children to love and perfect them. |