We have made a decision not to celebrate Halloween. But it is important that we don’t just stand against the pagan Halloween festival, which is the holy day of the Wicca religion. Ultimately, we must actively seek to positively advance the kingdom and glory of God.
 
We as Christians should not find our primary identity  in what we are against. Where we are against something, it is only because we are passionately FOR something else. So if we can grow to relish the choices we can make that will advance the Kingdom of God in our stand against Halloween, then we can bring God increasing glory. And I see the opportunity to joyously sing "Hallelujah" rather than simply stay away from Halloween.
 
Hallelujah means “Praise the Lord”. We as Christians are called to live with heads lifted up and with a heart of praise.
 
In living in a culture that overwhelmingly embraces and celebrates Halloween, we might not feel like we’re winning. And we might not feel like we’re in the majority.
But if we’re with Jesus, we’re definitely on the overwhelmingly winning side (Romans 8:37). Let us always remember this.
 
One note: We are not winning against human beings. We’re not fighting against any friend in school or family member or coworker or institution. Our fight is not against flesh and blood. So we also don’t have any interest in proving a point, or winning any argument against any human being.
 
Our fight is against the devil and his forces of darkness.  So let us refocus our minds and hearts to take our fight against the devil and the kingdom of darkness.
And yes, we are totally unafraid of the devil and his forces. But we must also be crystal clear that he is real. And he is on the prowl - seeking to steal, kill, and destroy what the Lord has given us - IF AND ONLY IF we give him room.
 
Also, the devil is not particularly disturbed that we stand against Halloween. And he is also not disturbed by the vast majority of Christians who say or sing Hallelujah, because it is said without authority. But the devil trembles when our “Hallelujah” is proclaimed with authority. 
 
So if we are to sing “Hallelujah,”  we must do it with authority. This is the burden on my heart. This was what the Lord reminded me personally about, but I also believe it applies to our families and our church.
 
In Revelation 19:1-6, we see our King executing the last and final judgment on the kingdom of darkness, and all of heaven shouts Hallelujah - Revelation 19:1-2,6 - After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER.”.. Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”
 
In these verses, I see two ways in which I can grow in authority in saying, “Hallelujah!”:
1. God has judged immorality
2. God has avenged the blood of His bond-servants.
 

1. Renew my fight against all immorality

Immorality anywhere is dangerous. And immorality is increasingly rampant in the world. But immorality in the church is especially dangerous.
 
So let’s examine the spirit of immorality in our lives.  We as a church must ensure that we win. If we will commit to a greater purity against immortality, we are on the winning side.
And it doesn’t matter now how it has been in the past. We can start afresh today. We can forget what lies behind and press forward now - hearing the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
 
The greatest revival that I can think of in the Bible where the new Ephesians believers brought and destroyed literally MILLIONS OF DOLLARS worth of witchcraft and black magic (Acts 19:19). We can have a similar spiritual revival if we do the same in the arena of immorality. So let’s examine our eyes and kindle a fresh pure light in our eyes -and let us (both men and women) fight against all sources of sexual temptation.
  • So romantic novels that get us unhealthy dreams must go.
  • Let's recommit to be on guard with what we watch - whether R or PG13 - where immorality is trivialized.
  • Let’s be doubly on guard against what we click on - on the internet and our phones and other devices.
  • Let’s make sure we dress modestly and behave with one another in purity.
  • Let’s stand against all flirtatiousness in our eyes, in our speech, and in our joking.
  • Let’s guard our ears for the music that leads us into temptation.
  • Let's protect our children from programs or activities that normalize or trivialize gender differences.
 
Family of God, let us examine our lives and commit as individuals and families to be purer. If we make the decision now sincerely and seriously, we can sing Hallelujah with authority.
 

2. Remember those who were killed for being followers of Jesus

It is not a small thing to see blood spilled.
And it is not a small thing to be willing to die for a cause.
And it is a very big thing to be willing to stand firm for Jesus, even when faced and threatened with death.
 
We can sing Hallelujah with authority - as we maximize our respect for those faithful saints over the centuries who were unwilling to compromise and were killed. God will avenge the blood of His saints that was spilled. Every last drop of blood that was shed by every single martyr for the Lord Jesus will be avenged. Avenge is a strong word, but we don't back down from that - because it tells us how seriously God takes it.
 
Now we must never go out of our way to provoke being physically martyred, but we can have the same attitude of heart as those who were martyred for the faith. As Revelation 12:10-11 says, we all overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and by the testimony of our lives and words (e.g. that we fight immorality), and by not loving our lives even when faced with death. We must increasingly be people who are fixed on the Kingdom of God and not on this earth (John 18:36; Hebrews 11:16). And let us also seek to have hearts that will be faithful even if faced with death. Revelation 2:10 - Prove yourself to be faithful until death (or, even if it means death), and I will give you the crown of life.
 

Conclusion:

May we recommit and renew (make as if brand new) our pledge to the Lord, and especially in these areas.
 
Halloween is not simply a festival we stand against, but an opportunity to take back that which the devil has stolen. With the Lord Jesus as our King and Captain, let us set our heart upon the Kingdom of God and against all immorality. Then we can proclaim with true spiritual authority, “Hallelujah! Our Lord God reigns supremely in our hearts and in our church!”
 
Amen!