October is a special month because we celebrate two important Christian days: Thanksgiving and Halloween. Thanksgiving is to remind us to say, “Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for us.” There seems to be a shortage of “thanksgiving” for Jesus when our sin is forgiven; when He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit; when He casts demons out of people; and when He heals our sicknesses. We are to be like “…one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks” (Lk.17:15-16). Then we can “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

I talked with a woman who had been healed of cancer several years ago. She complained, “Jesus never does anything for me!” I reminded her that she would be dead today if it wasn’t for Jesus who healed the cancer. “Oh,” she replied, “I forgot about that…”

Then there was the man who was saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit, He complained that Jesus wasn’t doing anything for him. I had to remind him too what Jesus did for him. In the same vein, a man came to me complaining of his finances whose business Jesus had previously saved from bankruptcy. I had reminded him how Jesus helped him tithe his way out of debt after he repented. How easily we forget from day to day what Jesus has done for us.

Christians sometimes develop bad memories when it comes to giving thanks to Jesus. This often happens when we are not obedient. Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:2). We are to be His witnesses - meaning tell everybody what He has done for us. Give them our testimony. We are to tell people how He saved us (Lk. 19:9); how He Baptized us with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 8:17; 10:44-46); how He gave us Ministry Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 1:11; 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10); how He healed us (Lk. 3:5); how He gave us Healing Ministry (Mk. 15: 18), and how He gave us Deliverance Ministry (Mk. 16:17).

I never get tired of telling people how Jesus healed my heart and restored it to new. We all have a testimony about what Jesus has done for us. When we tell others what Jesus has done for us, that opens the door so He can do it for them too. We should always remember to “enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name” (Ps. 100:4). 

I suggest and recommend that everyone keep a “Jesus Journal” of all the things that He has done for them, including when we witness and do ministry. This helps improve our memories, and motivates us to “give thanksgiving to Him for all things He has done” (Ps. 23:6). 

“Halloween” is another Christian celebration that has been terribly misunderstood.  “Halloween” means “Holy Evening”, and “All Saints Eve” and reminds us of the Christians who have been martyred over the centuries. It was first designated as a “victory celebration” and to commemorate the defeated kingdom of darkness. It was also a time when poor people could go to Christian homes and receive food. It is a night to remind the devil/satan and the demons/evil spirits, that they are under the authority of any Christian who is Baptized with the Holy Spirit and have the “signs following” (Mk. 16:17-18). 

This means that we can “rebuke the devil and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7), and “cast out demons” (Mk. 16:17) to set people free. What most people don’t realize is that the “spirits of the dead” cannot leave their graves because they are confined to either “paradise” (Lk. 23:43) or to “hell” (2 Pet. 2:4).

Halloween is “victory night” proclaiming to the world that Jesus is Lord over every night (Rom. 8:37). 

---