c

 

Ephesians 5:11

INTRO.- ILL.- One dark night two guys were walking home after a party and decided to take
a shortcut through the cemetery. When they got to about the middle of the graveyard they
were startled and stopped moving.

There was this terrifying noise, ³TAP-TAP-TAP´ coming from the shadows. Trembling with
fear, they spotted an old man with a hammer and chisel, chipping away at one of the
headstones.

"Holy cow Mister,´ one of them said after catching his breath. ³You SCARED us half to
death. We thought you were a GHOST! What are you doing working here so late at night?"

"Those fools!" the old man grumbled. "They misspelled my name!!"

This is Halloween weekend. And even though I was raised in a church that preached Christ I
still went ³trick or treating´ like most kids did. Apparently, our parents considered it to be a
harmless thing to do and it was probably a whole lot safer back then than today.

Do you believe in ghosts, goblins, witches, the boogeyman, etc.?

ILL.- DO YOU AVOID BLACK CATS IN ORDER TO AVOID BAD LUCK? This belief goes back to
the Middle Ages when it was thought that a black cat was the companion or mascot of a
group of witches, and that it changed into a witch or Satan after seven years of service.

Therefore, people reasoned, a cat crossing one¶s path might be a witch or the Devil in
disguise, up to no good. It is true that the devil is up to no good, but he is not disguised as
a black cat. HE IS MORE CLEVER THAN THAT.

 
    c

(No)

1.) Have no fellowship with the unfruitful woks of darkness and expose evil wherever it is
found. Eph 5:11

2.) There shall not be found anyone among you who participates in the occult. Deut 18:10-
12

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or daughter pass through
the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a
sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the
dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord«

 
   
  (No)

ILL.- According to a news service in London, a French farmer had an unfortunate accident
after watching a horror movie late at night. It seems that shortly after retiring, Michel
Maumond, 40, reported seeing "a ghost in white at the foot of my bed,´ he said. The
frightened man grabbed his gun and shot-off the toes of one foot.

That man has since determined that from now on he will stick to watching safe movies and
reading safe books at night. There is really only one safe book to read at night.
1.) There is no such thing a ghosts, only evil spirits who like to masquerade. 2Cor 11:14-15

II Cor. 11:14-15 ³Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then,
if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness...´

Even though we believe there are no ghosts, we do believe in what the old King James
called the ³Holy Ghost.´ He is the reason why Christians need not fear wicked spirits.

2.) The Holy Spirit protects believers from evil spirits. 1John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world.

 
 !
 "c

(Yes)

1.) Everyone needs to believe and trust in Jesus. Eph 1:13

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in
whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise...

2.) Everyone needs to walk in the Spirit. Eph 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of
redemption.

CONCLUSION:
II Cor. 4:4 ³The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.´