Morning Devotional

October  31, 2005
"Halloween" (Part 5)     
    by Don Emmitte

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But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:7-10 KJV).

Happy Halloween! That may seem like a very strange way to begin a Christian devotional, but when you read the remainder of today’s issue I think you’ll agree that grace gives us more than ample reason to be happy! By the way, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I used the King James Version for today’s reading. I think it best translates the verse for today’s thought. I love the way it captures the spirit of victory in saying, When he [Jesus] ascended on high, he led captivity [demons] captive, and gave gifts to men. There are many who would say that any mention or participation in Halloween activities only celebrates evil. Of course, there are those who do celebrate evil on this day. I would never condone or recommend such activity. However, we must not miss the underlying truth within. That’s where I’d like to draw your attention this morning. Scott Murray wrote and interesting thought:

It was a dramatic struggle on the day that Christ died. Death, hell, Law, and Satan all did their worst. They plunged Him into death. But the grasp upon the invincible Son of God was shattered, because death and all enemies could not hold Him. He is victor by right over our most implacable enemies. His life consumes death, so that death is a shattered shell. We Christians can mock death and laugh at our enemies because the triumph of Christ so completely defeats them. This is the basis for the Christian celebration of Halloween. We can mock and make fun of death, hell, and Satan by the foolish capering of Halloween, because they have no power to terrify or threaten us Christians. In fact, the mockery of Halloween is appropriate only for Christians. Those who do not know the triumph of Christ should be terrified by the power of those things that Halloween mocks. Christ has burned the hands and dirtied the pants of our worst enemies. We Christians can laugh at them in holy joy.

I believe there are demons (and angels for that matter). In fact, I have seen them at work in others. Those of you who know more of the ministry that I have been intimately involved in over the past seven years will not be surprised by that statement. When I declare that Jesus’ victory over death and hell is complete, I mean COMPLETE! That is the cause for celebration in this pagan based holiday. Perhaps you are still bound by the chains of the laws of men and filled with the spirits of evil. You can be completely free of those things. Christ has conquered them. Nothing would give me greater joy than to see you experience that freedom. Start by truly surrendering your life and will to Christ. Then, one by one, ask Christ to fill each area of your life with his presence. It is amazing how that will leave no room for anything associated with evil. After all, light conquers darkness.

If you want to know more about how to experience freedom from evil, please email me with any specific questions you have and I will respond to you personally. God bless!