Tricks & Schemes of the Enemy

Halloween is a time of year where the enemies of darkness are in full force. Hallows eve and Halloween are two of the biggest celebrations of the year for witches (Wicca), Druids, and wizards. What’s interesting to me is they actually refer to rituals and activities as pagan celebrations. What we celebrate as Halloween, (fun, candy, and costumes), the witches call Samhain (pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin).

I’ve enjoyed dressing up in costumes over the years and taking my children trick-or-treating. I was purposeful to not dress or conform to the secular ideas that aren’t rooted in Christianity. Satan already permeates the minds of our children and culture and we mustn’t be naïve that pagan superstitions and rituals are only in movies.

No matter what time of year it is, we must discern when the enemy is near and to rely on God to demolish all strongholds and attacks of darkness. God’s word is very clear that we are to rid ourselves of all pagan idols, pagan shrines, or pagan worship. 

My friend Sheila had a dream and upon waking up, she knew that it came from the pits of hell. Take time to see how she combatted the enemies’ attacks and how you can do the same. Don’t conform to the evil aspects that surround Halloween. Be alert, have fun, but in a way that honors God and doesn’t give way to the devils practices. Separating yourself from secular practices is how you will discern when good is evil and evil good. Isaiah 5:20

Sheila Hyde

Michigan

I was sleeping and suddenly I found myself levitating and floating very quickly (like on a train) down a long, dark corridor.  Nothing could be seen but the sensation was that I was moving quickly, then I was in a room with a 3 story ceiling, still sleeping and lying flat on my back and I began to levitate higher and higher toward the ceiling and there was nothing I could do to stop it.  Jeff was not far away and I began to yell for him but he couldn’t hear me because he was sleeping, I continued to yell for him until I woke myself up, yelling his name. 

End of Dream.

The dream was very frightening.  I shouldn't be surprised.  I had a beautiful day of worship with God's Spirit.  The house was quiet, and I had Hillsong playing in the background all day.  Many times I just paused and worshipped God briefly and spoke to Him about this and that.  Before I went to bed I journaled thoughts and a few prayers and thanked Him for this beautiful time of peace & worship today.

This dream is nothing more than an interruption in my peace, my rest, and an attempt to frighten and bother me.  Yes, it did do those things.  But I recognize that I have a choice and will use it as yet another catalyst to draw in closer to the Spirit of God.  I can use this dream as a log on the fire to stoke the flames of God's Spirit in my life.  As I lay in bed, thinking about the unseen world this is what God is showing me:

1. Satan wants to interrupt any journey where we are pursuing God in a serious way.  He will use any number of techniques to do so.  Distractions are a chief method.  We are lulled into complacency by our distractions.  Work.  Friends.  Current Events (politics or hurricanes it doesn't matter). Emotions.  If we really think about it, it doesn't take much for us to focus on the material world around us, and to forget that there is an unseen world swirling everywhere.  It cannot be escaped. When we face a problem, and we react with irritation at another person, or we slump under the weight of discouragement, or we give in to the experience of defeat, we have given ground to the enemy.  We make little choices daily, little pieces of territory that we will either "take back" from the enemy or give away.  There really is no standing still in the spiritual realm.  The idea that we are standing still is a illusion - don't be fooled.  Galatians 5:22-23 (MSG) "But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely."

2.  I was pondering how our small group should be structured and what the format of our time together should be when we start again in September.  We will be studying a book on the character of Christ.  I can see clearly now that we will only wade ankle deep without a foundation of praise & worship and prayer. We must be purposeful to cultivate a Spirit of worship.  We can either invite or discourage the Spirit of God to join us in our lives and our endeavors.  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (MSG) "Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil."

3. We need only identify what is happening and ask the question - is this evidence of the fruit of the Spirit of God?  If the answer is no, then there is only ONE other answer.  It is the evidence of the meddling of the enemy.  There is no neutral ground.  It doesn't exist.  Galatians 5:22 New International Version (NIV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

No, I will not simply shake off this frightening dream and forget about it, failing to recognize where it came from.  I am the light because the Spirit lives in me.  1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV) "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? I will grab onto the Word of the Spirit and advance on the darkness."

Conclusion: "They sacrificed to demons who were not God ..." Deuteronomy 32:17

Book of death (spells and pagan rituals).  Photo by Amber Avalona 

There are people who conduct levitating spells. Don’t think for one moment it’s a magic trick or some illusion. This stuff is real! On one website there is a list of 52 levitating spells. Do not be deceived. Satan is supernatural and he can operate in a way that is powerful and intriguing. The ways of the devil lead to death and God warns us many times in the Bible to be rid of all such practices. “Do not worship the Lord you God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods.” Deuteronomy 12:4

Leviticus 26:30

Numbers 33:52

Related reading: Fearless and Brave Dream; Know the Enemy; Satan Disguised as an Angel of Light; The Sophistication of the Devil

Thumbnail photo: StockSnap