How Should Believers Respond to Halloween?

I know that many Christians will disagree with what I am sharing in this post, including some leaders within the Body of Christ whom I have known and respected for many years.  My role is not to force you to change your mind.  My role is to speak when I feel Holy Spirit directing me to do so, to sound the warnings that He directs me to sound.  I simply pray, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

I am not going to take the time to explain how Halloween started or how it morphed into what how it is “celebrated” today.  I have included references at the end that provide that history for those who are unaware.  What I will say is that any time we try to “Christianize” a pagan celebration, which is what occurred[1], we have moved the wrong direction.  Paul admonishes us to not mix righteousness (Christianity) and lawlessness (paganism).   

¹⁴ Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?   ¹⁵ Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?  (2 Corinthians 6:14-15, NASB 1995)

Where I will focus is on how true Believers in Jesus Christ should respond in today’s culture.  Should we celebrate Halloween?  If so, what are the consequences?  If not, how can we show the love of Christ to our “neighbors” (literally or figuratively) while not opening a door to the demonic. 

Interestingly, within the past couple of weeks as Holy Spirit was dealing with me to publish something about this, I heard at least four other ministers address it, including my pastor.  That got my attention, since I have rarely heard it addressed at all in all my years of being a Christian.  I believe God is trying to get our attention about how we unknowingly open doors to the demonic.  As the battle between heavenly and demonic forces intensifies, God needs His people to get free of anything that is keeping them from being totally free and ready to advance His kingdom.  So, fasten your seat belts and let’s get into it …

Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

To answer this question, I am going to take the advice of one of my former pastors.  He maintained that “the man with the experience is never at the mercy of the man with an argument.”  I am going to defer my opinions to those of someone with much experience on what he calls “the dark side.”

The episode of “It’s Supernatural” that aired on October 20, 2022, was titled “Ex-Warlock Reacts to Christians Celebrating Halloween.” (See https://youtu.be/Z8X5Y1HodEk.)  In it, John Ramirez hits this question head on.  His background provides insight that those who have (fortunately!) never experienced the demonic realms would likely never see. 

John Ramirez was introduced to witchcraft at the age of 7 and a half with a high-level demonic encounter and became deeply involved by age 8.  Over the next 25 years, he reached the highest levels of involvement as a high-ranking satanic priest – until an encounter with Jesus Christ, Himself, turned him around.  He knows how the demonic realm operates because he operated by its power. 

As part of the interview, Sid Roth asked him, “Why should a Christian not observe Halloween?”  Here is his response.  (Warning:  His response is direct and may offend.)

You open gateways and portals to the spirit realm of darkness, entrapments, set ups, plots, schemes, and wiles that the devil takes over your children, takes over your family. 

He continues: 

And it’s so demonic that once you put on a costume, you put on that outfit, you change your identity for who God called you to be.  And once you put that costume and that identify on, you describe yourself.  

Say you dress like little Ariel, the little mermaid; you’re [taking on] a marine spirit.  You dress like Casper the friendly ghost – you say, “Well I’m not dressing my kid like a witch and a devil; I’m dressing them as Casper the friendly ghost.”  You put on a spirit on your child. 

You change their DNA for the identity and now the devil has legal rights and he has permission that you have given him that you’ve sacrificed your kid spiritually to the dark side.

One note for those not familiar with dealing with freeing believers from demonic influence.  The term “legal rights” may throw you.  There is not time here to expound on this topic, but Satan is a “legalist.”  Just as he tricked Eve into violating God’s command to gain rights to her soul, he continues to do the same.  In any way we “entertain” him – knowingly or unknowingly – he (or his demonic minions) will maintain that access until we evict him (them) through repentance and applying the blood of Jesus.  Moving on …

Sid then asked, “But what if you say it’s just fun and games and parties and you’re ridiculous, John Ramirez.  What would you say?”

I lived it for 25 years of my life.  I got married on Halloween.  I had a demonic wedding with witches and warlocks coming into my wedding, baptizing [making sacrifices].  October 31 and November 1 are the [worst] … the month of October leads up to October 31, it ramps up to October 31.  It’s the high season of the witches and warlocks …

Then Sid moved on to ask “What about certain movies?”  While noting there have been many of them that came out during this season over the years, he specifically noted the new “Hocus Pocus 2” by Disney.  “What’s wrong with that?” he asked.  Ramirez responded.

It’s so despicable how they dress up the devil and make it glamorous, make it cultural, make it fun, make it attractive, make it a fashion statement.  But I saw clips of the movie to break down the demonic on it and “hocus pocus” is a saying that you say to come into agreement with the devil.  “Abracadabra.”  “Open sesame.”  These words have connotations to the dark side.   You’re chanting the words.  Proverbs 18:21 says “Life and death lays on your tongue.”  Whatever death you speak, you make a contract with the devil.

“Hocus Pocus” aims for young people.  It’s a target that’s designed to be glamourous, but the target and the contents of the movie … We have a part of the movie that the young people, they chant the song, “Come Little Children.”  The witches are inviting the children, “Come little children.” 

They are luring, bringing in, drawing the children into Salem.  Salem is the camp of the witches which is the foundation of witchcraft, a foundation of the devil’s kingdom, the devil’s camp.  And they are drawing the [children] there.

There is more, but that’s enough to make the point.  The issue is that things that seem “meaningless” or “harmless” to the uninformed are very meaningful to “the dark side” as he calls it and very harmful to those drawn in unknowingly.  As the saying goes, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” when you violate a natural law.  The same is true with spiritual laws.  When children – or adults - “innocently” chant demonic chants, they open the door for the demonic to enter their life. 

This was specifically addressing one movie.  Pick any of the witchcraft or sorcery movies or any horror movies and I’m sure Ramirez or anyone else who understand the realm of the demonic could go through it the same way.  This goes for horror movies[2] as well as other movies – or books – promoting witchcraft.  Many Christian parents have yet to understand the door that was opened to their kids (and sometimes themselves as well) through the “Harry Potter” series of books, movies, and then theme park.  But that is one of many.  Name a Disney movie that doesn’t have “magic” of some sort in it, and they are just one producer of such content. 

While movies (or the books from which they are made) were not part of historical Halloween celebrations, they have definitely become a part of the modern culture in the US.  “The scarier the better.”  Those engrossed in them have no idea to what they are opening doors.  Unfortunately, our ignorance of the enemy’s schemes does not keep him from using them.  In fact, he hopes we remain ignorant, because the uninformed are much easier prey.

I trust by now, you are beginning to see that participating in such rituals, even though we would not call them that, is dangerous.  So, what does one do when October 31 rolls around?

Can We Disengage from the Demonic without Disengaging from Society?

Yes.  We not only can, we must.  If we do not stay engaged with society, how do we influence it for the Kingdom?  Jesus even prayed for us that the Father would not remove us from the world, but keep us from the schemes of Satan while remaining in it. 

¹⁵ I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  (John 17:15, NASB 1995)

Jesus also admonished us to be “the salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.”  We can not do either effectively without engaging in our society.

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  ¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  (Matthew 5:13-16, NASB 1995)

As I mentioned at the beginning, I heard several others address this issue within the last couple of weeks.  Each provided some suggestions, many of which were the same.  I’ve added a few more.  Here are some suggestions.

• Prepare your property ahead of time by walking around it and praying over it.  Set up a “perimeter” that evil spirits are not allowed to cross.  If those coming to your door are “carrying” any demonic spirits with them, pray that those spirits not be allowed to enter on your property or to linger around it afterwards. 
• They will have costumes; wear your “uniform” – your favorite Christian t-shrit!  Let them know to Who you belong right up front.  😊
• If you plan to stay home and give out “treats” to the neighborhood kids: 
• Be “light” to the neighborhood.  Instead of your home being “dark and eerie,” have your porch or driveway (or where ever you will be stationed) well lit.
• Put on some worship music loud enough for your “guests” to hear as they walk up.  (Other homes will be blasting their eeriness.  We can fill the airwaves around our home with praise to the one true God.) 
• If you have some tracks or “touch cards” (as we call the cards we use to invite people to our church), hand them out or drop them in the bag with the candy.
• Pray for each child & parent that comes.  Speak God’s will and destiny over their life.  Pray for not only their salvation, but that they fulfill the purpose God established for them before they were ever conceived.  For the most part, this is done “under the radar” as they come and go.  However, …
• If there is opportunity and the parents are with them, ask the parents if they need prayer for anything. 
• If you do not need to stay at home to great “guests,” consider prayer walking your neighborhood.  This can also be done “ahead” – to pray protection and safety for all as well as for their salvation and the fulfillment of their God-given destinies.
• If you have children that want to go “get candy,” I strongly discourage dressing them in a costume.  If you must, choose one that represents their identity in Christ and pray that over them as you dress them.  For example, as a “warrior for the Lord” or as a “bride of Christ.”  Or dress them as you dress yourself, in a favorite Christian t-shirt. 
• Instead of the usual “trick or treat” greeting, considering asking at each home if there is anything you can pray about for them.  This was actually done in Europe at one point.  What a great way to engage your kids in ministry!      

By the 16th century, the practice of "souling" had become integral.  The poor of the town or city would go about knocking on doors asking for a soul-cake (also known as a soul-mass-cake) in return for prayers.

This practice is thought to have begun in response to the belief in purgatory where it was thought a soul lingered in torment unless elevated by prayer and, most often, money paid to the Church.  After the Protestant Reformation, "souling" continued in Britain, only now the Protestant young and poor offered to pray for the people of the house and their loved ones instead of those in purgatory while Catholics continued the older tradition.[3]

If you want more information on how to pray about this season, Wanda Alger posted a detailed prayer guide.  Her “8 Prayer Points for Christians During Halloween” is available at https://wandaalger.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/prayer-points-for-christians-during-halloween.pdf. 

What if You Have Been Participating in the Past?

Most (if not all) of us have participated at some level in the past.  Maybe as kids, growing up.  Maybe as parents, dressing our kids up and sending (or taking) them around the neighborhood or to a Halloween party.  Maybe as adults going to masquerade parties.  Some may have even been more directly involved in seances, card or palm readings, “lifting” people, or more. 

Don’t panic.  If fear sets in, that is from the enemy and is trying to keep you in bondage.  We can’t change our past, but we can get free from its effects.  Getting free is really very simple.  The “steps” are:  Confess, Repent, Renounce, Command, Replace, Rejoice. 

1. Confess that Jesus is Lord of your life and that you belong to Him.
2. Repent of your involvement in the activities.  (Be specific.  List each involvement you remember.  If you remember others later, just go through this again.)
3. Renounce your partnership with any demonic spirits that were associated with the activities.  Let them know that you no longer welcome them or want any association with them.
4. Command them to leave in the name of Jesus, because of His shed blood and His victory over them.  Depending on your involvement, there may be several that need to be addressed.  Sometimes, they will all leave at once.  Often, you will have to address each one.  You may find yourself yawning, coughing, sneezing, or with some other manifestation as they exit.  Don’t be alarmed.  That is usually the case. 
5. Fill the empty place that the spirits left with the Holy Spirit.  Ask Holy Spirit to come and fill those areas. 
6. Thank God for your deliverance.  Spend some time rejoicing in your new freedom and thanking Him for it. 

If you are not familiar with this type of ministry (usually referred to as deliverance ministry) or feel this is too much to handle on your own, seek out help.  Don’t let the enemy use shame to keep you from asking someone for help.  That is just another tactic of the enemy to keep you in bondage.

References for the History of Halloween

As promised, here are some references regarding the history of Halloween.  These references are all secular sources.  This prevents “doctrinal bias,” but also means that they do not reflect a true Christian world view.  However, for the most part, the facts seem to speak for themselves. 

“History of Halloween” - https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween

“History of Samhain” - https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/samhain

“Who Were the Celts” - https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/celts

“How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween” - https://www.history.com/news/halloween-samhain-celts-catholic-church

“Halloween 2022” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

“Ancient Origins of Halloween” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#ancient-origins-of-halloween

“All Saints Day” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#all-saints-day

“Halloween Comes to America” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#halloween-comes-to-america

“History of Trick or Treating” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#history-of-trick-or-treating

“Halloween Parties” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#halloween-parties

“Halloween Movies” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#halloween-movies

“All Souls Day and Soul Cakes” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#all-souls-day-and-soul-cakes

“Black Cats and Ghosts on Halloween” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#black-cats-and-ghosts-on-halloween

“Halloween Matchmaking and Lesser-Known Rituals” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#halloween-matchmaking-and-lesser-known-rituals

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[1] See “How the Early Catholic Church Christianized Halloween” - https://www.history.com/news/halloween-samhain-celts-catholic-church and “History of Halloween” -   https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween.

[2] See “Halloween Movies” - https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#halloween-movies.

[3] See “History of Halloween” - https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1456/history-of-halloween.

Never Doubt in the Dark What You Heard in the Light

A portion of scripture that I have been pondering for several weeks is the story of Moses returning to Egypt leading to the exodus. 

In our modern day culture we want everything to happen instantly.  But it doesn’t and it never has.

We try to reason out with our human intellect how things - even those things that God has promised us - can come about.  Those of us who are true believers call out to God to help us and even ask (intercede for) Him to intervene on our behalf, especially when we believe we are interceding for something that He has promised or is part of His plan.  But, if we’re honest, we usually have figured out how we think He should do it and often pray accordingly.  Rarely does He oblige us.

In meditating on the story of Moses returning to Egypt and all of the events that lead up to the children of Israel actually becoming free of Egyptian bondage, it’s not a story of ease nor one of great jubilation ... UNTIL you get to the END.

When Moses first returns, he is welcomed by his brother Aaron and the elders of Israel. Exodus 4:31 tells us that they believed Moses and worshipped God.  But their faith in what God has said and in Moses soon wanes.

Instead of things getting suddenly better for the Israelites, they get worse.

I heard a modern day proverb recently that often comes to mind. “Never doubt in the dark what you heard in the light.”  (For those who watch Flashpoint, Gene Bailey also quotes this frequently.  It came from Vision Church, pastored by Apostles Tom & Jane Hamon.)

Once we know God has spoken, we can’t afford to let go of what He said because darkness sets in - when things seem to go in the exact opposite direction.  We can’t see in the darkness.  We must hold on to what God has said until we get through it and back into the light (until breakthrough comes). We must not stop nor change directions in the middle of the darkness.

Back to the story...
The Pharaoh decides that if they have time to be petitioning him to go out in the desert and sacrifice to their God, they must have too much free time on their hands.  So now he demands that they continue to make their daily allotment of bricks, but first they must go gather their own straw with which to make them.

Of course, this was impossible.  While many of us today work an 8-hour day or 40-hour week, as slaves the Israelites were likely working sun up to sun down already.  Now they had additional work piled on to go find and gather the straw before starting to make the bricks, yet produce as many bricks as they had been each day. Because they would obviously fall short of the quota, the Israelites who had been set over them to oversee their work were being beaten for this failure. 

They appealed to Pharaoh. Surely he did not know what his taskmasters were requiring. But he did. He had ordered it. He let them know those were the new requirements.

So here we have Moses showing up to be their God-sent deliverer, but instead of bringing deliverance he has made their lives even more unbearable. The Israelite people are now upset (angry) with Moses because he has only made their lives more miserable. He’s gone from being the hero to being the villain.

Then the plagues begin.

At first, the Israelites were suffering the same plaques that were being brought on the Egyptian. Life continued to get more and more challenging.  Over the course of time that begins to shift, and there is a distinction made for Goshen, where the Israelites lived. 

They’re still living under very miserable conditions and their men are being expected to do things that are not possible.  But, that difference, God's people being protected from the plagues, begins to build some hope in the people.  Maybe God really is going to do something for them after all ...

Remember that all of this is prolonged, according to Scripture, because God continued to harden Pharaoh’s heart. We don’t get that! Why would God do that?  Why would He prolong moving and freeing His people?  Didn't He realize how bad conditions had gotten?

God was about to judge this evil Pharaoh once and for all. He had already planned to kill him and his entire army before he ever sent Moses back to Egypt.  Rather than end it quickly, God was pushing Pharaoh to show his true colors & just how evil he was.  On the other side, this also gave Pharaoh many opportunities to repent (change his attitude and actions) and do what God said do - let His people go.  God is always more than gracious” (abundantly merciful) to us.  His desire is for EVERYONE to repent and be restored to Him so that NONE are eternally damned with Satan.

Moses may not have been aware of God’s full plan - how long or how many afflictions it would take nor their eventual severity.
Aaron may not have been aware of that plan.
And the people certainly weren’t aware of that plan.
But God had a plan from the very beginning, even from before He spoke to Moses through the burning bush.

FINALLY, the death of Pharaoh’s first-born son (along with the first born of every Egyptian) caused him to cave in to God’s demands.

Side bar:
There is something we need to note here.
These were God’s demands, not Moses’ demands & not the people’s demands.
This was God’s idea that Moses was sent to carry out.
It was a plan instigated by God, but in which Moses had to be willing to participate.

God had told Abram (before He changed his name to Abraham) that his seed would go into a foreign land and be afflicted there for 400 years later, but afterwards be delivered.

13 Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. 15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”  (Genesis 15:13-16, NKJV)

There is nothing in scripture that indicates the Israelites were aware of or expecting that to happen.  There is no indication of a Daniel among them to realize the time appointed for captivity was up and to begin interceding for God to fulfill His promise given by His prophet. 

Yet even though it was a plan instigated by God and one in which God would be victorious, it certainly didn’t look like victory in the middle.  Selah.  We need to press through to the breakthrough and not quit in the middle!

Back to the story:
Once again Pharaoh’s heart is hardened and he calls his army and goes after God’s people to bring them back.

In the meantime, God has set up a trap.  In the natural, it began to look like a trap for His own people.  Because of where God had led Moses to have them camp, they were caught between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army coming after them.

This emboldened Pharaoh.

It looked to him like these poor, ignorant slaves and their leaders are too stupid to know what they had done to themselves. They had made themselves easy pickings for him to come and either  bring them back into captivity or kill them. They were hemmed in and defenseless.  To Pharaoh, their recapture, or demise if they refused to return, was certain. Victory was sure. 

But God had a different plan.

The trap He set was not for His people, but for those driven by evil who pursued them to persecute and kill them.

We know the story. And we know that the children of Israel were not seeing this as a victory for them and for God.  They, too, were seeing that they had been set up to be slaughtered and they were angry with God‘s servant, Moses, for causing them to be in this position.  (Read Exodus 14:10-12.)

BUT GOD was executing His plan.

In spite of all the grumbling, complaining, and lack of faith in the majority of His people, He was still determined to deliver His people.

WHAT AN AWESOME GOD!

Why was He blessing them when they (in our view) didn’t seem to deserve it?

Because of a covenant He had made with their forefather, Abraham, and a promise He made to Abraham.

Because of covenant and a promise given to Abraham, God sent a very unlikely person back to deliver them.  We think of Moses in the terms that we know him after this episode and 40 years in the desert leading these people.  Think of who he was at that time.

A Hebrew baby that had been raised in the Egyptian palace.  Wealthy.  Different culture.  Not like them.  A silver spoon in his mouth.  Then he became a murderer and fugitive.  Why should they get behind him or accept him as their leader?

But it was his love for his own people that caused him to commit that murder, which then caused him to flee from Egypt. The destiny and desire to deliver his people was already in him. He just didn’t have the revelation on how to go about it ... because it was not yet God’s time.

So he returns to Egypt as a former fugitive.

And apparently he doesn’t view himself as a leader because he can’t even speak plainly.  God has to allow Aaron to speak for him to get Moses to go.

Yet Moses, not one of their own leaders who had lived among them and suffered with them all of these years, was God’s chosen leader. God picked someone who didn’t fit their mold.

It’s up to God to choose and anoint whom He wills.
It’s up to us to recognize whom He has anointed and get on board with His plan.

That doesn’t make that person perfect. Nor does our recognition of their calling and anointing and getting behind them make us their “worshipers” as we are sometimes accused of being.  It simply means we choose to recognize and put our resources (time, energy, money, and prayers) behind the one whom God has chosen.  In these cases, we’re not asking God to get on our side; we are choosing to get on His.  That’s a position of sure victory!

I don’t think I have to spell out for this audience the parallels to today.  Except that some of you are now saying that we didn’t get to “the End” - to freedom - but rather are watching efforts to strip our freedoms from us.

My response: WE ARE NOT YET AT THE END.

God was not unaware of anything that has happened.  He knew ALL that would happen before He called 45 to run the first time.  And He knows how this will all end.

Again, it is not about 45 any more than it was about Moses.  They are both unlikely vessels He chose to groom & use.

God didn’t decide to remove His call on Moses or His anointing to carry it out because Pharaoh kicked him out of his court.  Nor did He do so when the people rebelled (many times) in the wilderness.  His promise to them was delayed (40 years!) because of their lack of faith. But He kept His promise to them because of His covenant with their forefather, Abraham.

Do I need to break this down?

God has spoken many things about our current time and situation through many different prophets.  Some of these prophecies were received and recorded 10 or 20 years ago.  Many are much more recent.

Some believers who initially embraced these words from God (given through prophecies, dreams, and visions) and even warred with them, along with some of the prophets who prophesied them, have now begun to “doubt in the dark what God said in the light.”  They have gotten stuck in the middle. 

For those of us who are still choosing to not only believe God so we are established but also believe His prophets so we can prosper, we need to pray for those who have gotten “stuck” in the darkness. We also MUST continue to contend for the victory, the breakthrough.

I don’t know how God is going to do what He has said He would do.

I don’t know when He is going to do it.

But I know He is up to something.

And it’s a “new thing.” I strongly sense that. It will be something that hasn’t happened that way before.

God had never sent plagues like that before.
God had never parted the Red Sea for His people before.
God had never fed anyone, let alone an entire nomadic nation, with manna before.
Need I go on?

Again, God rarely does things the way we expect or when we expect.
He moves in His way.
He moves in His timing.

We cannot become discouraged and “throw in the towel” when things don’t happen as we expect.

If you’ve gotten stuck in the middle, take a deep breath. Breathe in strength from the Holy Spirit. Tell your heart to beat again. And get back in the fight to contend for God’s expressed will to be done.


Let me add a final exhortation for those who believe that things didn’t turn out as expected ("as prophesied") because we, His people, called by His name, didn’t war enough in prayer, we didn’t repent enough, or because of God not overriding “the will of the people.”

Let me start with the will of the people. Anyone who is even half-way objective in looking at the overwhelming evidence has to realize that the votes counted do not accurately reflect the legitimate votes cast. The will of the people, the person who received by far the most votes and should have had an overwhelming number of electoral votes, is not the person declared the winner or currently residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.  I will not belabor that point. If you do not see that, it’s because you choose to ignore the evidence.

So God did not withhold His promises through His prophets because of the will of the people.  The majority did NOT ask for the person that was declared the winner nor for the agenda he promotes.

Further, there is no indication that the Israelites repented or warred in the spirit or even asked for deliverance.  Scripture records only that they cried out because of their taskmasters.  It was God who took note of their oppression.  But He knew the oppression (slavery) would happen when Jacob moved his family to Egypt during a famine.  He knew it even before that time because He told Abraham about it.  With that, God promised deliverance.  He had a destiny for His chosen people to fulfill so He could send His Son to earth in human form to become our Savior.  It wasn’t about their “goodness” or them doing everything just the way He wanted.  (They didn’t!) It was about the destiny God had for them as a nation and His covenant with their forefather. He would see that His plan was fulfilled.

The same is true today.  God did not raise up “a deliverer” because America deserved it or had earned it.  (Wow! I can feel even as I type that statement the reaction of some to my use of that word.  But that is what I heard Holy Spirit say, so I’m staying with it.)  God raised him up because of the destiny God Himself has for this nation and the covenants our forefathers made with Him.

This is the only nation that was ever founded for the purpose of being able to freely worship God.  And some of our forefathers made covenant with Him to spread the gospel of the Kingdom not only from shore to shore here, but from here to the nations of the world.

God remembers His covenant.  He remembers why He allowed this nation to be formed.  He remembers why He provided a victory for independence from the most powerful nation with the most powerful army & navy in the world at that time to the ragtag group of colonists.

God chose to create a nation called Israel to bring His Son to earth the first time as the suffering Servant and the spotless Lamb that was slain so that He could become our Savior and Redeemer. God chose to establish a nation called American to play a key roll in making sure the gospel of the Kingdom has been preached to all nations, tribes, and tongues so His Son can return to earth as Lord of Lords & King of Kings.

God has not given up on America.  Nor has He abandoned her.
He is as intent on us fulfilling our nation’s destiny as He was on Israel fulfilling theirs.
For those who think our sin is too great, I ask you to read through the Old Testament. You don’t even have to read it all. Just read through Judges and 1st & 2nd Kings.

I’ll close with one of my favorite verses, one I often “bring to God’s remembrance" in prayer. 

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purposes that prevail.”  (Proverbs 19:21)

Just remember that we, His people, must partner with Him to bring His will from heaven to earth.  It doesn’t happen automatically; but He will use those who make themselves available to cause it to be. 

BE ENCOURAGED!!

Flourishing Like a Palm Tree

This morning at Oak Creek Assembly of God (Oak Creek, Wisconsin) during a class on "Living in the Spirit" led by Pastor Mark and Heather McKinstry, they were noting that we need to serve (minister) out of 1) passion and 2) power.  As Heather began to talk about ministering out of passion, she talked about that being two-fold:  We need to have a love for God and a love for people. 

In her discussion she posed the following question to the class:  "What does guarding your heart in ministry look like?  Do you need to do that?  If so, how?"

My mind immediately went to Psalm 92:12.  Quoting here from the NIV: 

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon."

This is a passage that has been especially meaningful to me for decades.  I remember teaching on it in a lunch-time Bible study back in the late 1980s. What I want to focus on here is just the first part:  "flourish like a palm tree."

Palm Trees

I'm a native Floridian.  Because of that, I'm pretty familiar with palm trees.  The name of my elementary school was "Sabal Palm" and, needless to say, it was landscaped with them.  While the big ones that you probably picture are native further "down the state" (south), we do have some of the smaller ones that grow natively in the "black jack woods" in northern and central Florida. 

But, to the point, what does it mean to "flourish like a palm tree" and how does that tie to the question posed during today's lesson?

When a storm is "moving in" (heading onshore from the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico), the trees begin to respond to the winds and changing conditions.  The palm trees begin to sway in the wind.  However, unlike "hardwood" trees, the palm is limber and flexible.  While many of the other trees may have limbs snapped off or even the whole tree snapped in two, the palm trees just let those winds of adversity blow on through.  I'm sure you have seen them on the news during hurricanes swaying back and forth.  However, though it may lose some of it's fronds (leaves), when the storm passes, the palm tree "shakes it off" and is still standing while many of the trees around them may not be. 

You may occasionally see a palm tree that has been uprooted, due to lack of a sufficient root system.  The need for a proper root system, one deeply grounded, is an issue to be addressed. 

Yet the bark of the palm, that is flexible enough to allow for what I just described, is very tough.  It is almost impenetrable.  Why is that important? 

The palm tree has a "heart."  In recent years, you may have seen "heart of palm" salad on a menu in an upscale restaurant.  If so, it was likely expensive.  It is made with what we refer to as the "meat" from the heart of a palm tree, which is deemed quite delicious.  It is harvested by cutting through that very tough bark (no easy task; in years past, I've helped do it) to get to the core of the tree to cut out that soft, edible center.  [Are you starting to get the picture?] 

Like a human or animal, the palm tree cannot live without it's heart.  Once the heart is cut out, the palm tree will die. 

Let me now return to the question posed:  "What does guarding your heart in ministry look like?  Do you need to do that?  If so, how?"

To "flourish like a palm tree," we must:

1. be flexible
2. firmly rooted
3. have a tough hide
4. have a tender heart

First, we must learn to allow the storm to blow around us without breaking us.  Sometimes standing "righteously rigid" can be a hazard.  Not the "righteous" part; just the "rigid" part.  We can allow a religious spirit to drive us and not be able to lean into the wind and allow the wind of the Holy Spirit to "hold us together" in the midst of the storm. 

Second, we need to make sure we are properly rooted, making sure we are "rooted and grounded in love."  (Ephsians 3:17)  If we do not have a sufficient depth to our root system, when the storm blows, it will pull the roots out of the soil and leave us lying flat! 

Third, we need to have "tough hide" - or put another way, "thick skin."  We need to not be easily offended by what people do or say.  In Matthew 18:21, Peter asks Jesus a question:  “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  I'm sure Peter thought he was being very generous with his forgiveness.  But Jesus didn't seem to think so.  In verse 22, "Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"  Then Jesus goes on to expound on how we need to forgive others, if we want the Father to forgive us. 

Fourth, we need to develop an impenetrable hide that does not allow the fiery darts of the enemy to penetrate and get to our heart.  How do we do that?  By forgiving quickly - before a seed of offense can take root and begin to grow.  That is how we keep a tender heart.

I hope from now on anytime you see a palm tree or hear it referenced, you will remember the lessons we can learn from the wonderful piece of nature: 

1. Be flexible in adversity and lean into the Holy Spirit.
2. Grow your roots deep in the Lord and be grounded in His love.
3. Have "thick skin" so you are not easily offended.
4. Forgive quickly so your heart may remain tender and to be desired.

When God says “No," why do we keep asking?

 
Some time ago as I observed the consequences of a situation it reminded of the dangers of asking God if something is okay for you to do after you know He has already told you, “No.” I drafted this post then, but never completed and published it. I ran across the draft this past weekend and realized the message was a good one for me to revisit at this particular point in my life. (It’s interesting how we usually have to live our sermons!) So, here it is.  J

We should realize that when God says “No,” He means “No.” He’s a loving Father. He doesn’t say no to something that will be good for us; He only says no to things that will turn out to not be good – no matter what they may look like to us!

What I do not understand is why, after being told “No,” we continue to ask. If it is a timing issue, then He would not say “No.” He would say, “not now” or “not yet.” Again, when He says “No,” He really means “No.”

Let me put this in human terms. If we ask our natural father if we can do something and he can see the consequences of the decision will not be good, a loving father will say “No.” But, if he knows it is something that good for us or is okay (of no long-term consequence either way) but we’re not ready for it, he won’t say, “No.” He’ll say, “Not now.” He may give more direction, like “when you’re ready for it” or “when you’re 16” or, depending on his circumstances, “when I can arrange it." In essence, he's saying, “when the timing is right.” Then, we have a timeframe or the permission to ask again to see if it is now time.

However, it’s not uncommon for us to go back to our earthly fathers who have told us “No” and begin to beg or try to maneuver (dare I say “manipulate”) them into changing their mind. Likewise, many of us go back to our Heavenly Father after He has told us “No” and do the same thing.

God knows the ultimate outcome and consequences of our decisions. The immediate decision may seem harmless to us, or even beneficial, or at least bringing pleasure in some way. But God knows the end of the matter. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that the Lord declares:

For I know the plans I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

When we insist on a path different from His plan, not only are we not assured of the prosperity we would find in His plan for us, we can also move ourselves outside of the realm of protection, sometimes straight into harm’s path – whether that harm be physical, financial, relational, or spiritual.

Many times over the years I have had someone explain to me that God was telling them that something they wanted to do was okay to pursue, even though they had previously told me that He had clearly told them not to do so. Does God change His mind? Sometimes it may appear that way. But let’s take a look at an example in Scripture where it appears that He did.

The story of Balaam begins in Numbers 22. Balak calls upon him to come and curse the children of Israel. We don’t know anything about Balaam before this, but it is apparent he has a strong relationship with God because in verse 9, “God came to Balaam.” Since there is no indication that this was surprising in any way to Balaam, it seems safe to assume that it was not an uncommon experience.

God asks Balaam a question. We know that God already knew the answer (as He did when He asked Adam and Eve who told them they were naked or asked Cain where his brother was). I learned long ago that when God asks a question, He isn’t looking for information; He’s looking to reveal something to us about ourselves. In this case, it was about Balaam’s relationship with the men who were present.

In verse 12 God specifically and clearly tells Balaam, “Do not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.” At first, Balaam responds in obedience. (Verse 13 says that “Balaam arose in the morning and said to Balak’s leaders, ‘Go back to your land, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.’”)

But Balak is persistent and sends more men, “more numerous and more distinguished than the former” and ups the ante by offering “honor” and whatever else Balaam wants. The enemy knows our weaknesses; he knows what will tempt each of us. For some is it money. For some it is honor or prestige. For some it is relationship with someone in particular. Satan knows how to have someone – often it’s someone we consider Godly – dangle just the right carrot in front of us to get us to go where he wants us to go instead of staying put where God has us (or going the direction God wants us to go).

To me, Balaam’s first step down the wrong path was when he said:

Now please, you also stay here tonight, and I will find out what else the Lord will speak to me. (Num 22:19)

When God has already come to you and said not only “Do not go with them” but also “you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed,” (Num 22:12) and you are being asked to do is to go with them and curse the people God has told you not to curse, why are you asking for more information?

At that point, Balaam was not in need of any more information. Should he go? No. Should he curse those people? No. Period. End of discussion.

When we, like Balaam, go back to re-ask the same question that God has already answered, we are revealing our heart. Our heart is set to do differently from what God has directed us.

We are wanting God to change His mind. We are wanting Him to change His “No” to “Yes.” We need to learn a lesson from Balaam that He will sometimes do that – but it is not to our advantage when He does! (Remember, God’s reason for saying “No” is because He knows the eventual outcome. That is not going to change just because we keep asking!)

Verse 20 makes it appear that God has changed His mind. God comes to Balaam again, and gives him permission to go, though He gives Balaam restrictions on what he can say.

God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you shall you do.”

While God may have given Balaam permission to go, He was not pleased that he did. In fact, God was angry with Balaam about his decision to go.

But God was angry because he was going, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as an adversary against him. (Num 22:22)

HINT 1: When “the angel of the Lord” – generally believed to be the pre-incarnate Christ, also known as the Lord of Hosts – stands in our way as an adversary, perhaps we should reconsider where we are heading!

But not Balaam. Even after going through the whole issue of his donkey saving his life from the angel of the Lord three times and the donkey talking to him, even asking Balaam questions which Balaam answered, Balaam doesn’t “get” the message!

HINT 2: When your donkey starts talking to you, it’s time to pay attention to what it has to say!

Finally, Balaam, the prophet, sees what the donkey has been seeing – “the angel of the Lord standing in the way with his drawn sword in his hand.” He says to Balaam:

“Behold, I have come out as an adversary, because your way was contrary to me.” (Num 22:31-32)

So the angel of the Lord (Christ) has just said (1) He has come out as Balaam’s adversary and (2) Balaam’s way is contrary to Him. Wouldn’t you think at this point it’s time to let that donkey turn around and take you home? Not Balaam. And, unfortunately, all too often, not us either.

No, we don’t usually see the Lord standing in our way with a sword drawn or have a donkey carry on a conversation with us. But God often tries to speak to us just as clearly. He’ll send people with counsel. But we decide they just don’t love us and don’t want us “to have anything good,” or that they are jealous of our opportunity. He’ll send a message across our path through a sermon, a teaching, a word of wisdom, or a prophetic word, but we decide it doesn’t apply to our situation or we twist its (rather obvious) meaning to suit what we want to hear. Or we flock to those who will tell us what we want to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. (2 Tim 4:3-4)

Balaam persists in his desire to go to Balak. He repents for not realizing the Lord was standing against Him, and “offers” to turn back.

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the way against me. Now then, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back.” (Num 22:34)

As I said before, wouldn’t you think by this point Balaam would be heading for home? The angel of the Lord has already told Him “your way was contrary to me.” If the Lord stands there telling us that our way is contrary to Him, why would we respond "if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back"? Shouldn’t we just repent and turn back - quickly? Not Balaam. All too often, not us either.

I believe God gives Balaam permission to go because He knows what is in Balaam’s heart. If his heart had not been so set on going, he (1) never would have started the journey and (2) would be quickly turning back without asking, again, what he should do. God said “Do not go with them” and now the angel of the Lord is saying “your way was contrary to me.” Balaam didn’t need to ask God again what His opinion was about the journey. God had already made it abundantly clear. But Balaam still had his heart set on going – so that he might receive honor from Balak. What are we willing to sacrifice, how far will we push, to get the thing that gratifies us - the thing our heart desires?

Once again, Balaam is given permission to continue and does so, even though it is obviously not what God wants him to do.

But the angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but you shall speak only the word which I tell you.” (Num 22:35)

If all of God's counsel does not keep you from going somewhere you should not (or doing something you should not), He can still hem you in so that you can't really enjoy it when you get there! As I have heard Bishop Bill Hamon say many times, "God won't make you violate your will, but He knows how to make you willing!" (Ask Jonah!)

We know the rest of the story. When he gets to Balak, he cannot curse the people whom God has blessed. Three times he tries and three times he blesses them instead. So, instead of receiving honor and riches from Balak, Balak is even more angry with him that when he refused to come. So Balaam does not benefit from the trip, nor does Balak.

Some might say, “no harm done.” You could claim that, in fact, Balaam did speak the blessing of the Lord over the children of Israel and he even provided a Messianic prophecy in his final discourse to Balak in Numbers 24:17. So, what’s the big deal? God allowed Balaam to go and constrained him so that he blessed God’s people. Right?

Let’s not try to justify disobedience so quickly.

There is an often overlooked end to this story. While Balaam did prophesy over the people of Israel only blessing, as God directed, the way Balaam is referenced within the New Testament shows how he was remembered - how he was viewed by God. There are three New Testament references to Balaam:

… Having a heart trained in greed, accursed children; forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. (2 Pet 2:14b-15)

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 1:11)

In the first two passages, it is clear that God’s record of the event was that Balaam had “gone for the gold” – that his motivation was money. But, it’s unlikely that he actually received any pay, because he refused to do what Balak requested. Hence, he did not get that which he sought - the money or the honor. He did not "enjoy" his trip after all!

It’s the third reference that I find most enlightening.

But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. (Rev 2:14)

While we do not have this recorded in Numbers, when Jesus is speaking to John in the vision that we have recorded as the book of Revelation, He reveals what Balaam did while on his visit to see Balak. Somewhere in their conversation that is not recorded for us, Balaam told Balak how to make the children of Israel sin against God so that His blessing and protection would be lifted from them. If you continue reading in Numbers, the next chapter talks about these very things happening, which substantiates the statements made. Remember it is the resurrected Christ that is making these statements to John. He would know!

We can talk ourselves into believing that God is telling us something is okay when we know He’s already said, “No.” He may even have changed what He is telling us, as He did with Balaam, if we have persisted long enough in continuing to ask after He answered. We have no reason to be asking Him the same question over and over after He has answered. If He’s answered our question, all we are doing is trying to get Him to give us permission to do what we have set our heart to do. As with Balaam, sometimes He will. But instead of following Christ's example to pray "not my will, but Thine be done," we are following the example of Balaam.

I do not want to be like Balaam – and have Christ’s assessment of the fruit of my life being something quite different from what it should be. I do not want to place myself in a position to compromise or, worse yet, collaborate with the enemy. When God says, “don’t go,” it’s really best not to go!

I have often heard people who chose to continue on a path that God had told them to turn back from explain, even after admitting that they were in disobedience while on it, why it was okay that they had taken it.  I have to admit, I have trouble with that “logic” (justification). They usually point to a time here or there along the way that God used them during that time or how they grew because of it.

God used Balaam to bless His people. But the eventual fruit of Balaam’s journey was recorded as being greed and having taught the enemy of God’s people how to cause them to stumble in their relationship with God. God’s view is sometimes different from our own. We sometimes go where we shouldn’t (get into a situation, relationship, business deal) and leave (get out of it) without knowing the full impact of what our disobedience has cost – not only for us but also in the lives of others.

My prayer is that I become more and more quick to obey. Along with that I must also reject the temptation to try to convince God that my way is better than His. It never is!

All of that said, I am grateful that we serve God under the New Covenant, not the Old. He is loving and His mercies are new every morning. If we find that we have traveled down a wrong path, the appropriate action is to repent for our disobedience and turn around. His forgiveness is sure. And He will lead us back to the right path.