Beware: Satan Can Use You! At Halloween or Anytime

Beware: Satan Can Use You! At Halloween or Anytime    By Kelly Durant  10-27-24

Mark 8: 27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?²⁸And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.²⁹And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.³⁰And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.³¹And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.³²And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³³But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

2. Today we are aware that Halloween is this weekend. And why are more and more Christians getting less unattracted to this pagan tradition? Why do some of us choose not to celebrate it? Is it because of how it is not just for fun anymore, but news reports reveal actual Satanists worship and sacrifice on this day? Through the years the costumes have gone from cartoonish to diabolical, right? 

There is no need for me to discuss in detail the practices and works of the devil, satan, or lucifer, on certain holidays; everyone knows of these and how they are manifest in each culture! We do associate satan with just this, pagan customs, and evil manipulative and fearful manifestations at certain marked times. 

Halloween is an easy target to identify, it is obviously playing around with the appearance of evil, even though most every child trick or treating is not engaged in satan worship. However, some people actually do worship satan on Halloween day, and others just take it as a dress up day. You and I reject it most out of it not being something lovely, pure, and virtuous but ugly, not exhaling worship to God, and we “avoid the appearance of evil”. 1 Tess. 5:22

Consider these verses Phil 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

3. Now back to Mark 8 and how satan comes at anytime. Have we ever examined this scripture before? First it starts off good. Peter is showing that he is the most spiritual, the best student, the most wise to answer. He answered in verse 29, “Thou art the Christ”! He was top of the group; he must have been proud of his confirmation by Jesus that he spoke well.

But then what happens? Jesus starts teaching of his death; he is teaching something supernatural, a prophecy about His rejection, trial, death and resurrection after 3 days. And what does Peter do? He thought he knew all the best answers, right?

Peter has the nerve to rebuke Jesus! Peter had just declared that He was the Christ, but now He is telling Christ that he is wrong to say what He is saying?! What nerve! So, what was Jesus’ reaction? He said to Peter, vs.33 Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savors not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

He rebukes Satan in Peter! That is a very strong rebuke! Let’s look at this a bit more.

4. I find there are only 3 times that Jesus addresses satan personally in the gospels. Jesus did teach about the works of the devil. One example is in John 10:10  ¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

But the 3 times Jesus addresses the satan personally is: 1. When he is tempted in the dessert and He rebukes satan, 2. When he addresses him in Peter who is accusing Him 3. When he addresses him in Judas who is possessed, betraying, and scheming violence against him paid by the Sanhedrin in the last supper.

The works of the devil in people are usually obvious. Satan gets others to participate in division by inspiring anger, jealousy, rage, and violence and even killing so that they inflict great damage on God’s work and others doing God’s work. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

5. Satan is always destroying life, relationships, and corrupting souls for his use. He is a thief and a liar and his deeds get exposed. How many of you know people who have their lives full of broken-ness and destruction? They don’t even realize satan is using them!

It is ironical and hypocritical that many people have hurt others in their past very deeply and yet they complain of the hurt others have done to them! We reap what we sew! But then there are as well people who have just been victims of evil people!

And what about satan’s deeds amongst God’s people? Could it be that there are personalities amongst us as Peter that most of the time are spiritual and even leaders, but sometimes they, out of their anger or pride, damage the good that someone of God is doing? 

6. There is a phenomenon in life. Most people think that they are the center of the universe! Most people never see the big picture of what God is trying to do in their lives, of what God’s long-term plan with the whole group is! This was the case of Peter and Judas! They were accusers against Jesus’ words and deeds and God’s plan! 

Peter was so proud that he was following the “Son of God” so lifted up that he was bolder and smarter than the others, but at the same time so unaware of his own personal defects! Do we see others near us blind to their own personal defects?

Don’t forget Peter denied Jesus 3 times and God let that happen in order to smash his pride into nothing! In order to embarrass him as the least bold in front of all so that he would radically change and finally become useful enough to do God’s will and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ! Can you relate to this in your own life?

7. Peter’s pride was offended that Jesus announced that he would die and be raised up again! No! How could that be the future for the Son of God? Peter did not want to be following a “loser”, he could not let Jesus be murdered like that! His pride and joy leader could not become a symbol of rejection, humiliation, and death! Peter was not a good listener because Jesus says at the time that He will be raised up! That was a supernatural miracle transcending everything!

Peter was accusing Jesus of being wrong! Peter is only focusing on the negative. Peter did not see the bigger picture of God’s work, and that is just like so many of us in the church! How many of you know people who only focus on the negative? They always comment the most negative things for everything because they never believe nor foresee that there is something good at work in God’s plans? 

8. So how can satan use even the best of people? When people do not have things their way, when they can’t be the center of the attention, when someone says or does something that they don’t like, instead of praying, instead of holding their words until they find out more of what is happening, instead of asking God what are you doing and changing in my life even though I do not understand, these people explode like Peter!

I lost count of the number of times I have seen people in their own carnal reactions without the holy Spirit just explode and speak all kinds of evil against other brothers and sisters, against the leaders, against the Captains, against their Corps or the Salvation Army, all done in their ignorance, anger, destructiveness and their unawareness of that they are being used by satan!

That is the accusatory satan that can get into any one of us, “the accuser of the saints” that should be rebuked by someone, corrected by some leader in the church! Jude 1:9
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee!

9. It is confusing when we see such a strong leader as Peter be so carnal at times! It happens in the church! I believe a person who has had Jesus for years, a person who walks in real (not pretended) holiness having the Holy Spirit as their guide, usually is protected from satan’s attacks, but we all must all watch out & pray without ceasing!

Satan uses any situation to make us explode in anger, to divide us, to make us think we are justified to criticize and condemn someone else over some word or action that they did, but the reality is when we rebuke a righteous person who has God on their side, we are opening ourselves up to get a rebuke, as in the case of Peter! 

I understand legitimate complaints and there are mistakes made by people, misunderstandings sometimes, and these can be fixed over a friendly meeting and a conversation, but people who allow their selves to speak condemnation and accusations as Peter need to ask their selves, is satan using me? Have you seen satan use someone you know in the past?

Satan has used most of us in times past to some degree due to our ignorance and immaturity. But what does God need to do in your life, what humiliation does he need to allow, how hot does God need to allow the fire of the trials in your life to be in order to purge out all of the impurities and carnal behaviors you have?

10. Don’t forget that if you do not accept a rebuke and humble yourself and repent, you will end up like Judas! Peter repented in tears, but Judas wanted to show he was in charge! He was not going to get humiliated by Jesus! Jesus was not doing what he wanted for him nor for the Zealots, so he just betrayed him!

So many so-called Christians betray their own brothers and sisters, betray their own pastors or Captains, and the church they attend because they, like Judas, never accepted that God wanted them to be humbled and radically changed! 

Instead, they always wanted to change the mission, God’s plan of what the church should do! This was Peter and Judas problem! They always criticized and wanted to change the message of the leader and pastor. This was Peter and Judas problem! They always wanted to show off that they knew more than everyone else, that they were more spiritual! Satan used Peter and Judas because they had a pride problem!   

11. The instruments of satan always think they are always right, and others are always wrong! They believe their spirituality is superior and more dedicated than anyone else. They always say divisive things!      

The question is, has satan been in your thoughts and actions lately? Some are so quick to proclaim their own goodness, that we reject Halloween, that one never drinks, that we fast and pray, but how are we on the scale of pride going against Jesus? Pride is everyday temptation and is serious, vs. a holiday that is not taken seriously by some! 

Has satan used you to bring accusations, dissentions, betrayals amongst the saints? Satan knows he is an ugly creature who brings death, but few really recognize him for his subliminal works, for his works of accusing, dividing, and destroying the good that God is doing!

12. We resist satan, the thief, the destroyer, the liar, the murderer, the accuser of the saints and Lord help us to rebuke and expose his words and works when we see them manifest in some weaker brother or sister!  Let’s focus on the good! Let’s focus on the positive! Let’s focus on Jesus!

At the name of Jesus, the devil flees! Especially when a saint is on his knees!

Be aware of satan’s devices, not just on holidays, but remember Jesus beat satan once and for all, Jesus cancelled the death sentence satan brought us, and the wonderful thing is we can call on Jesus anytime! Jesus frees us from satan’s influence, temptations, and subliminally devious cultural traditions.