Notes from this week's podcast: Closing the Door in the Name of Jesus

(Jo uses the example of running the air conditioner and opening or leaving open the back door and leads us to think about the last week of October being that way spiritually)

What is Halloween? What does the Scripture tell us? Are we living in a responsible atmosphere according to the Word? 

Remember: Ignorance is no defense. We must be informed because the enemy does not care that we do not know. 

"God protect our homes; protect our families." 

We must be careful. Are we leaving any cracked doors for the enemy to creep in because of our ignorance?  And snatch our peace, steal the joy of our children, steal God's purpose for our children and grandchildren

We cannot pray in one breath for a hedge of protection around our home, covering it with the blood of Jesus while in another act we open the door and invite darkness in. 

God says that we're to be aware of the practices of other nations, peoples that open the door to darkness. They're not neutral or harmless -- not just cultural things. We [can't] commingle them in our culture.

(Refer to last year's podcast on the history of Halloween. Link below)

Scripture is telling us that this is a power of darkness. And we need to have understanding of it so that it does not get a foothold over our home. And then we take a courageous stand that we say: no, we're not going to participate in that. 

What does God's Word say?

It shouldn't be one of our rhythms that we follow because it's against the rhythm of the Word of God.

In 1 Samuel 28: the case study of Saul. He got desperate and disobedient. The verdict is found in 1 Chronicles 10. 

We pray for our family's protection. 

We don't give the devil an opportunity. Be watchful. He's looking for the cracked door or wide-open door.

A heart of unforgiveness is a wide-open door for the enemy to come in and take captive our hearts and our homes. We're to guard our hearts, our homes -- our responsibility! 

Guard your heart. Guard your eyes. Guard your thinking. Don't conform to the world. Guard your mind. 

I want to be like a wise watchman on the wall over my home, my city, over the Church (the body of Christ) -- that we do not cause little ones to stumble or cause them to fall into sin.  

We want to be wise and lead our children to righteousness through the Word of God. 

We want God to dwell with us in our homes. 

We want to protect our minds. 

The enemy is not laughing because we're having a little fun. He's laughing because we're accepting it. He doesn't need us to be wicked. He only needs us to commingle with it, to be entertained, to be captivated by it, so that we participate in it. 

1) Repent - whatever the Holy Spirit is pointing the finger, confess it. 

2) Renounce it - Turn from it. Don't try to manage it. 

3) Get it out of your house

4) Resist - Stand against; Close the door.

5) Replace it with something better

The Christian life is not about subtracting. It's about a life of exchange. When God saved you, He saved you from death, but He replaced it with life. And that's God's mentality. He has something better for you.

You're closing the door in the name of Jesus Christ.   

Scripture for further study: Deuteronomy 18:9-14, 12:29-31; Leviticus 19:31, 20:6; 1 Samuel 28; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14a; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21; Ephesians 4:27; 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 101:3; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:2; Matthew 18:6; Titus 2:12; Acts 19; James 4:7

Link to last year's podcast:  "Celebrating Halloween? Here's What to Know", October 21, 2025. Podcast Click Link:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/953542/episodes/18046652