Charles Carrin Ministries - Gentle Conquest

HALLOWEEN: TRAGEDY BEHIND THE MASK

Monthly Commentary

"For unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and bewitched the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great .." (Acts 8:7-9.)

We live in an era when Christianity has lost its understanding--and its fear--of the occult. American young people are daily recruited into the dark world of witchcraft and Satanism while much of the church sits idly by. That was not true in the first century. Christians in that era well understood the deception and power of their enemies. In spite of the modern church=s claim that the Holy Spirit=s power vanished with the deaths of the Apostles, believers who came after that day still exercised authority over demons. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.), stood before the Roman Senate and boldly told them, ANumberless demoniacs throughout the whole world and in your city, many of our Christian men, exorcizing them in the name of Jesus Christ, have healed and do heal, rendering helpless, and driving the possessing demon out of the men--though they could not be cured by all other exorcists ...@

To Justin Martyr=s words, I say a thundering Amen! Let me explain. Years ago, I received an urgent call from a young Church of Christ pastor in Tennessee who wanted time with me. He was in great distress. We met at the Nashville airport and went to his home where he shared his crisis: "The only power in my ministry was argument and debate," he explained, "There was no manifestation of God's presence like the early church experienced. I became so despaired with my spiritual deadness that I turned to other sources. And I made wrong choices--I went into Eastern Mysticism." I listened as he continued. "I found real power--but power that soon became dark and frightening. The problem was that having invited it into my life, I could not make it leave. It began to dominate, control, and in a merciless way, forced its' will upon me." His story was familiar. The "spirit-guide" that had invaded his life, harassed his sleep, affected his family relationships, and succeeded in separating him from those he loved. It wanted all of him. In time, it destroyed his ministry. As we talked, depression clung to him in a merciless way.

When he finished, I explained that he had "touched the unclean thing," (Isaiah 52:11) which God forbad. The good news was that his repentance and the power of Christ could free him. I reminded him that there is no power of darkness that can successfully stand against the authority of Jesus. (Philippians 2:9.)

He sat on the end of a sofa, I stood beside him, and as I laid-hands on him in the Name of Jesus, he began growling, curled into a tight ball, and rolled head-first onto the floor. I knelt beside him, kept my hands on him, and commanded the spirits of witchcraft and Eastern Mysticism to go. As I did, he started wrenching, gasping for air, and experiencing tremendous pain in his spine. A few minutes later, he was free. The darkness, pain, and oppression, that had hovered over him were gone. I then prayed for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

There is a connection between Halloween, demons, and this young man=s experience. The Scripture at the introduction of this article connects Simon the Sorcerer with the victims in Samaria who were lame and paralyzed. Hear me carefully: Though the townspeople held Simon in high regard, he was actually the source of their ills. Without realizing it, those who sought his sorcery received far more than psychic-predictions. They became infected with crippling spirits that brought muscular deadness and twisted limbs. Simon's presence acted like a magnet that attracted these spirits to himself and then projected them upon the people. Jesus had earlier identified this same "spirit of infirmity" in the woman with the crooked back. (Luke 13:11.) While spirits of infirmity cause a variety of ailments, it is significant that leprosy, blindness, deafness, and other diseases common to the day, were not mentioned in regard to Samaria. Listen carefully to this point: Simon's variety of witchcraft was uniquely accompanied by demonic-problems related to the muscular and skeleton system. Why is that so? The young Church of Christ pastor gave the explanation. Read it again.

My recommendation for everyone who has had the slightest contact with Halloween seances, Ouija boards, astrology, palmistry, psychics, or occult family-ancestry, is to receive deliverance ministry. If you have medical or emotional problems that cannot be diagnosed, be aware, you could be dealing with a demon. Where do you go for help? Go to your pastor! If he refuses, show him the Scripture's teaching on the subject. (Mark 16:17.) Insist, that as a believing servant of God, he is obligated to minister deliverance to you. You need cleansing and he needs to learn. Do it! If he refuses, find someone who will. Don't repeat Simon's failure. Life depends on it.

This Halloween, when children come to your door, remember Samaria. Keep Simon=s memory clear in your mind. Receive the children graciously, lovingly. Don=t scorn them for what they don=t know. Let them see Jesus in you. Give them a Christian tract. Ask if you can pray for their protection. Explain that there are dangers connected to Halloween and that you want them safe from harm. Finally, be certain that your own life stays free of demonic contamination. Like Justin Martyr, let the world know you too have authority over demons. Explain to others that Halloween is a mask you do not need to wear.

* Proof texts of Christians vulnerability to demons: Luke 9:55. II Corinthians 11:4. Matthew 16:23. Galatians 3:1.