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NEWSLETTERS
There is Victory in Jesus on Halloween! 
GWEA Monthly Message - October 2021
REVEREND GORDON WILLIAMS

There is a hymn, “Victory in Jesus” that we need to know because it reminds us what so many Christians today seem to have forgotten. Jesus defeated the devil (Matt. 4:1-11), the rebellious angels (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6) and the demons (Matt. 8:16) when he took “captivity captive” (Eph. 4:8; 1Pet. 3:18; 4:4-6) and shouted from the cross: “It is finished!” (Jn. 19:30). Jesus paid for our sin in full and when He forgives our sin, He cleanses us of “all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9).

When He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit, we can “resist the devil and he will flee” (Jas. 4:7) and we can “cast out demons” (Mk. 16:17). The enemy is defeated! So why are so many Christians pre-occupied with the devil and demons - as if the devil had won the “war in heaven?” (Rev. 12:7-12; Lk. 10:18) He lost! Jesus won the victory! Too many people talk about the enemy more than they talk about Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Heavenly Father combined. 

I did some interesting research and discovered that the number of references in the Bible to Jesus and His Army (14,041) far outweigh the number of the enemy’s (245). The percentages are: God’s team – 99.9983% and the enemy - .0017%! Yet most people cannot tell the difference between the works of the Holy Spirit and the work of demons as we have seen at the churches in Lakeland and Toronto, Ontario. As a result people are “worshipping demons” (Rev. 9:20), “holding the form of religion but denying the power of it” (2 Tim. 3:5); they “give heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars, whose consciences are seared” (1 Tim. 4:1-2). 

They want to go beyond the scriptures (1 Cor. 4:6-7) listening to the “angels of light” who are demons. They say that “you cannot judge” what is happening. How stupid do they think we are? Jesus commanded us, “judge not according to the appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (Jn. 7:24).

When we know the work of the Holy Spirit by operating in the 15 Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10); by having our characters shaped by the fruit of the Holy Spirit; and by worshipping in Spirit and in Truth (Jn. 4:23) as demonstrated in 1 Cor. 14:26f, then we learn quickly how easy it is to recognize the authentic work of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the counterfeit works of the enemy.  

Halloween is a clear example of this. Christians have been told that this is the night when the devil and the spirits of the dead are out and that they should turn off their lights so they won’t attract demons. Also they’re told not to give children who come to their doors any candy or treats. Halloween is no longer a pagan or ungodly night of worship, but a night to worship Jesus and what he did for us.

The early Christian church replaced all the days of the pagan worship with Christian worship and renamed the nights with Christian names. Halloween is a Christian name for October 31st which means “Holy Night” or “Holy Evening”. Some churches call it “All Saints Eve” as a time to remember those martyrs who gave their lives for Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:11).

Originally, it was a time when the poor could knock on Christian doors and receive food and money to help them. Each day in the Christian Calendar has been renamed by Christians, getting rid of any of the unChristian worship of the devil and demons. 

The Christian calendar reminds us that we do not have to fear any night because we have “all authority over the devil and demons” (Lk. 10:19). So let’s continue to celebrate Halloween as the “Holy Evening” it is meant to be. Use the night to be Jesus’ witnesses, and give out treats, Christian tracts and New Testaments, letting others know that there is always “Victory in Jesus!”

Let us celebrate and rejoice singing the old praise hymn, "Victory in Jesus!"

I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
 
Chorus:
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.

Let this Halloween (Holy Evening) be a celebration of what Jesus has done in your life. Share your testimonies and the "Good News" Gospel with your family, friends, neighbours and the community. If you, a family member, friend, colleague, etc., have not yet received Salvation, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the "signs following” (Mk. 16:17–18), healing, deliverance, and/or prayer for a specific need, I encourage you to come to one of our weekly online meetings or contact us. Happy Halloween! 

 
Copyright © 2021. The Gordon Williams Evangelistic Association. All rights reserved.
 
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