HALLOWEEN, ALLHALLOWS EVE OR HALLOWMASS, SABBATHSCHOOL LESSON Say - Welcome to Sabbath School. Let s bow our head and ask God for understanding as we study today. In just a few days, the celebration of Halloween is upon us, a holiday which is associated with the supernatural, darkness and death. Halloween is celebrated on the eve of All Saints Day (Allhallows or Hallowmas) celebrated in many churches and is immediately followed by All Souls Day, both celebrations linked to Halloween. http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761572079/halloween.htm Say From the Britannica Encyclopedia (article 9038951) one will read, November 1 was considered the end of the summer period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. It was also a time when the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. Say Continuing on in the same article, It was in these ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. The period was also thought to be favorable for divination on matters such as marriage, health, and death. When the Romans conquered the Celts in the 1st century AD, they added their own festivals of Feralia, commemorating the passing of the dead, and of Pomona, the goddess of the harvest. Say Halloween followed immediately by All Saint s Day and All Souls Day, which is celebrated in many churches, masquerades as though it were approved by God. But in truth EVERY GODLESS nation had days they honored the dead; days which date all the way back to Nimrod and the legendary, Semiramis, Nimrod s mother/wife which perpetuated the lie that Nimrod was still alive. This was the beginning of what is called Halloween today or Allhallows Eve or the worship of the Lord of the Dead, Satan or Samhain. Say As one can see, it is not difficult for anyone to trace the origin of Halloween therefore this lesson will focus on how God instructs His people concerning such a celebration.
Say In recent years, while the world has outlawed in many instances, the wonderful stories and miracles of our Creator, Jesus Christ, the interest in wizardry, witchcraft, magic and astrology have been on the increase. Books, movies, computer games, all based on the fun of sorcery, folklore and superstition are made to appeal to a young, gullible, innocent audience and accepted and promoted by the average adult. Say - Israel, God s people, came in contact with magicians, astrologers, stargazers and sorcerers from the time they were in Egypt and, just as we are now, were plagued with this forbidden activity throughout history in spite of God's instructions against such practices. Say - God instructs His people, Take heed that you be not snared by following them...saying, how do these nations serve their gods", Deuteronomy 12:29. But the Israelites, influenced by superstitious fear, did not obey and corrupted themselves by taking many of the customs of the pagan Canaanite Gods and Goddesses which surrounded them. Say - God tells us, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to... use divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination (disgusting) unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD... thy God hath not suffered (allowed) thee so to do" Deuteronomy 18:10-14. Say - God pronounced death to anyone who dabbled in demonism or Satanism. "A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them" Leviticus20:27. God tells us, "Thou shalt not suffer (allow) a witch to live" Exodus 22:18. Say Imagine, God s people, His chosen people, were and are to be a holy example to the surrounding godless nations, actually had a part in carrying on the customs which are known today as Halloween! It is a sad thought for God wants His people to tell the true story of His plan for eternal life shown through His Holy Days. A plan which reveals The Path of Life for both the living and the dead. Say - Why was God so against superstition, sorcery and magic? As always, God gives His followers clear instructions. He tells His people Regard not them (turn away from) that have familiar spirits (one who talks to the dead, a necromancer), neither seek after
wizards (false prophets), to be defiled (made impure) by them: I am the LORD your God, Leviticus 19:31. "Thou shall have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3. Say - In another place, God said through His prophet Isaiah, And when they shall say unto you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits (one who talks to the dead), and unto wizards that peep (whisper), and that mutter (growl or groan): should not a people seek unto their God Isaiah 8:19, 20. Say - God specifically forbade the use of witchcraft and spiritualists; a spiritualist is one who believes and or teaches the dead survive as spirits and can communicate with the living. And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards... I will even set my face against that soul (person), and will cut him off from among his people, Leviticus 20:6. 27. Say - Why was God s punishment so harsh? The Bible tells us, "And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt (sin) and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee" Deuteronomy 13:5. Say Therefore hearken not (listen not) to your prophets, nor to your diviners (evokers of the dead), nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters (practice magic), nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, Why? For they... LIE unto you, and you should perish, Jeremiah 27:9-11. Say - Halloween is a cover-up, a tradition of men appearing as innocent fun but underneath lies deception and pulls one away from the true God and back into the world. Timothy warns God s people we are not to mix the two. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing (misleading, leading to error, deception) spirits, and doctrines of demons, I Timothy 4:1, Mark 7:7-9. Say - God is the author of "light, truth and life and in Him is no darkness at all" I John 1:5. In contrast to God, Satan, "abode not in the truth,... he is a liar, and the father of it" John 8:44. Satan is a being of darkness (ignorance of divine knowledge), deception (trickery as in Halloween) and death, Revelation 12:9.
Say - The Bible teaches us that all spiritual guidance should be sought in God alone, For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men...christ Jesus, I Timothy 2:5. God tells His people, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matt. 7:24. That Rock is Christ, I Corinthians 10:4. We honor our Father when we obey Him not disobey. Say - Now is the time to repent of ever celebrating Halloween and turn to God and thank Him for His holy righteous laws which "will bring us to Christ" and "make us wise unto salvation" Galatians 3:24, 2 Timothy 3:15. Say - There is a time coming when Satan, the author of all deception, will be removed and all will know and worship the one true God, the God of truth and life not darkness and death! MEMORY VERSE...I honor my Father... John 8:49 BELOW IS THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOTS
HALLOWEEN I LL NOT TURN A PRETTY PUMPKIN INTO A JACK-O-LANTERN; GOD SAYS NO. I LL NOT HANG A GHOST UPON MY TREE; I LL NOT MAKE A BAT OR A BIG BLACK WITCH; I LL NOT WEAR A SCARY BOO HALLOWEEN MASK; I LL NOT THINK OF SCARY, GORY TALES; WHAT WILL I DO? I WILL THINK ON GOOD AND LOVELY THINGS; I WILL MAKE A PUMKIN PIE AND TO A NEEDY FRIEND, I WILL BRING. THE SEEDS I LL DRY AND PLANT THEM IN THE SPRING; AND WAIT FOR GOD TO SEND US THE NOURISHING SUMMER RAIN. WE LL DO OUR PART WITH HOE AND WEEDING DOWN UPON OUR KNEES; THEN WAIT FOR A NEW PUMKIN TO APPEAR BRIGHT AMONG THE LEAVES. I WILL HONOR GOD, JOHN 8:49 By B. R. B.
MEMORY VERSE...I honour my Father... John 8:49 Memory verse for tots MEMORY VERSE...I honour my Father... John 8:49