God's Roadmap

Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in his wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 TPT).


Thursday, October 27, 2022

What If We Celebrated the Holy Spirit Not the Fallen Spirit?


 by Barbara Latta

Crisp fall air invites us to gravitate toward campfires. Logs crackle and gray, oak-scented smoke spirals to the sky.

Give me a marshmallow and a hot dog, please.

Fall also brings Halloween. For weeks Halloween decorations have abounded in stores, yards, and porches. This is not an attack against those who like Halloween. But I am not one who likes this day because of the evil origins.

I know kids love to dress up and get candy. Who doesn’t like sugar? Children aren’t thinking of what all this means, they just want the goodies.

But some of the decorations can make a believer cringe. I think this day is observed as fun because the meaning is not taken seriously. A lot of people don’t believe the devil is real. And if they do, he is considered a cartoon character in a red suit with a pitchfork.

What if we celebrated the Holy Spirit not the fallen spirit?

While fall can call us outside to enjoy a backyard fire, campfires are no comparison to the fire of God.

What kind of thoughts does this Scripture bring to your mind?

For our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29 NKJV).

This verse can create different images.

God’s fire consumed sin. The blaze of judgment turned sin to ash at the cross.

While we are on this earth, we do still commit sin. But the punishment for our transgressions is complete because Jesus endured the fire of the wrath of God against sin.

God’s fire consumes us with power when we welcome the Holy Spirit into our lives.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent another kind of fire to the earth – the Holy Spirit.  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:11-12).

God’s fire consumes the motives of all our works. Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

The fire of judgment day is in the future. All those who did not accept the payment Jesus made when His body was consumed in the fire of God, will be burned in eternal fire. That will be a sad day.

The payment has been made, but many will not accept it.

Our God is a consuming fire. He burned our sin at the cross, He burns up our dead works to purify our motives and minds, and He burns within us with power. And His fire will judge those who reject Him.

Satan will feel that fire of judgment, too. Eternal damnation for the one who caused all the misery of earth since the Garden of Eden. He will burn with eternal misery. The days of evil will be over.

We can celebrate the Holy Spirit because Jesus defeated the fallen spirit. We don’t have to give the devil any more power by giving in to his temptations and lies.

God’s love can burn within your soul if you accept His sacrifice and join His family. By doing so, the identity of Christ is given to you and the Holy Spirit's power will dwell within your heart. 

Join the conversation and share your thoughts.

TWEETABLES

What if we celebrated the Holy Spirit instead of the fallen spirit? (click to tweet)

Our God is a consuming fire. He burned our sin at the cross, He burns up our dead works to purify our motives and minds, and He burns within us with power. (click to tweet)

 

15 comments:

  1. Well said Ms. Barbara. Like you, I choose not to recognize the day as a holiday, but I'll never turn a child away from my home either. No decorations or costumes, but I will great you with a warm smile, share something, and drop a copy of the gospel of John in their bag with it. God's blessings ma'am.

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    1. We do the same thing, J.D. we don't turn anyone away but share kid oriented tracts with candy. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  2. Thanks for this informative post. I enjoy the fun children have with this day. I have noticed the custom of changing the term “Halloween Party” to “Fall Party.” I decorate with pumpkins but not jack-o-lanterns.

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    1. I also decorate with fall harvest items but not jack o lanterns. I enjoy the colors and richness of autumn and the fun kids have. We can turn this day around to glorify God. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  3. Yes! I agree, Barbara, let's celebrate the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Guide, sent to us as another gift of love from our Lord. The Holy Spirit is with us every step of our journey, always just a prayer away. Blessings, my friend.

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    1. The Holy Spirit is our gift of guidance. I am so thankful He is with us on our journey. Thanks for sharing, Katherine. Blessings!

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  4. It breaks my heart to see more Halloween decorations than Christmas in yards. It reminds me the need for praying and getting to know my neighbors is more important than ever. I am ready to see revival fire fall.

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    1. I agree, Jennifer. Halloween gets more visibility in some places than Christmas does and it is a sad reflection of people's hearts. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  5. Barbara, I greatly appreciate this post. The title says it all. I grew up in a conservative anabaptist community. We didn’t celebrate Halloween. Rather once the fields had been harvested, we had harvest celebrations filled with fun, family and thanksgiving for another bountiful year. I no longer live in an agricultural community and find the suburbanite pressure to participate in Halloween activities great, but it never sat well. I couldn’t find any good reasoning behind the concept of 1. sending my children to the doors of strangers or 2. Sending them to the doors of beloved neighbors asking for something with nothing to give in return. So, we don’t participate. I’ve chosen to teach my kids that throughout the year they should carry gifts of flowers and baked goods to our neighbors. -Beth

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Hi Beth, its great to hear from you. Your example to your children taught them the best way to give to your community. My church also conducts a fall festival. I don't participate in the Halloween activities or decorations either, but I do use this day as an opportunity to glorify God by handing out tracts for kids with candy. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!

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  6. Barbara, I appreciate the warning and the promise of your message. I agree that many people just don't take Satan seriously, and we need to keep lovingly explaining the truth to them. Thank you.

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    1. The truth is what will set people free, but as you said, we need to present it in a loving way. Condemnation doesn't attract people to the gospel. Thanks for sharing, Annie. Blessings!

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  7. Yvonne Morgan11/6/22, 3:03 PM

    Great idea to celebrate the Holy Spirit more each day of our lives. Thanks Barbara

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  8. The Holy Spirit always gives us a reason to celebrate. Thanks for sharing, Yvonne. Blessings!

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