Who You Gonna Call?

Who You Gonna Call?

When the movie Ghostbusters came out in 1984 I couldn’t wait to go see it. Back then

I was a big Saturday Night Live fan so being able to go to a movie with Bill Murray and 

Dan Aykroyd in it was just the right ticket for me.

The story behind the Ghostbusters:

Three odd-ball scientists get kicked out of their cushy positions at a university in New York City

where they studied the occult. They decide to set up shop in an old firehouse and become

Ghostbusters, trapping pesky ghosts, spirits, haunts, and poltergeists for money. They

wise-crack their way through the city, and stumble upon a gateway to another dimension,

one which will release untold evil upon the city. The Ghostbusters are called on to save the Big Apple.

The Ghostbusters stated in their advertising “We are here to believe you”. The Ghostbusters

want to gain the trust of those who are experiencing the paranormal in order to get their business.

Interestingly enough, the movie portrays the characters paranormal views as crazy stuff.

Throughout the movie, the Ghostbusters are made fun of and are not taken seriously. Today however,

the paranormal is viewed more seriously and there are many new TV shows and movies that are attracting a lot of attention and interest in this topic. Here is God’s perspective on occult. We should take seriously what the Bible says:

Do not partake in the Occult:

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 New Living Translation

A Call to Holy Living

 “When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the LORD your God will drive them out ahead of you.

God does not approve of those who dabble in the occult:

Leviticus 20:6 The Message 

I will resolutely reject persons who dabble in the occult or traffic with mediums, prostituting themselves in their practices. I will cut them off from their people.

Because we have an enemy who wants us to turn away from God we must be careful what we allow

into our minds and hearts. We can become deceived into believing in false teaching. We know that

the enemy is out to devour us and is the father of lies:

1 Peter 5:8 New International Version 1984 

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 8:44 New International Version 1984 
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a

murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies,it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Because we have an enemy, Satan, many Christians experience spiritual battles. We

must put on the armor of God for protection:

Ephesians 6:11-12 New Living Translation 

Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

So the point I am trying to make is that we make sure we understand is that The Bible strongly 

warns people not to consult mediums and spiritualists for the truth, but to inquire of God.

Isaiah 8:19-20 New Living Translation 

Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

What also jumps out at me is how the Bible made its way into the movie.

 I especially liked the reference to the Bible in this dialogue:

Dr. Peter Venkman: This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions.  
Mayor: What do you mean, "biblical"?  
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff. 
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.  
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...  
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave! 
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria! 
Mayor: All right, all right! I get the point!

The above dialogue references the end times. Of course we can do without the 40 years of darkness

and dogs and cats living together. The Bible does reference animals living together

in peace but I don’t think that is what the movie writers had in mind. 

OK, here is where I am going with this; Movies are fun but when it comes to real life, when we get in spiritual trouble, or when we are having a spiritual battle, who you gonna call? We should not call the Ghostbusters or those who engage in occult practices, fortune telling or even read Horoscopes for help.  

As followers of Jesus we should call on the Lord to give us wisdom, discernment, guidance and assistance. The reason why we call on the Lord for help is because He is trustworthy, faithful and loving, and His Word breathes life into us.

Psalm 19:7-8 New Living Translation 

The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.

Psalm 33:4 New International Version 1984
For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Hebrews 10:23 New International Version 1984 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Isaiah 54:10 New International Version 1984
Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Psalm 145:17 New International Version 1984 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made.

God promises to give us a hope and a future:

Jeremiah 29:11-12 New International Version 1984 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

God will give us direction:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version 1984 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 

God works for the good of those who love Him:

Romans 8:28 New International Version 1984 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who

have been called according to his purpose.

God’s promises to give us wisdom we ask for it.  God will even use the

trials in our lives to mature us and build in us a strong faith:

James 1:2-5 New International Version 1984 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock for Godly perspective.  Through petition

and prayer we can seek God’s will and understanding in and amongst our circumstances:

Matthew 7:7-8 New International Version 1984 

Ask, Seek, Knock

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

So why should we trust in the Lord?: Answer - God is trustworthy and does not lie!

Numbers 23:19 New Living Translation 

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Psalm 9:10 New International Version 1984 
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

More reasons to trust God:

Psalm 37:4-6 New International Version 1984 

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Proverbs 16:20 New International Version 1984 
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Nahum 1:7 New International Version 1984 
The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,

Romans 10:11 New International Version 1984 
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

We can trust God with our eternity:

John 14:1-3 New International Version 1984 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

When it comes to wisdom God promises to give it to his followers:

James 1:5 New Life Version 

If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never

say you are wrong for asking.

God’s Word is always available to guide us through life and equip us for ministry:

2 Timothy 3:15-17  New International Version 1984 

and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation  through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

As followers of Christ we have everything we need to live rightly and navigate our

way in a fallen world. The Holy Spirit was given to us to not only mark our salvation,

but is our source of truth, comfort, strength, faith, power and wisdom:

John 14:16-17 New International Version 1984  

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

John 14:26 New International Version 1984  

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

John 15:26 New International Version 1984  

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Acts 1:8 New International Version 1984  

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 New Living Translation 

And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

God has provided everything we need to live a life set apart to Him; Salvation through Christ,

the Bible, the Holy Spirit, reconciliation with God,  and becoming a new creation in Christ make

this possible. We have a choice, either to live for God or live against Him. As true followers of Jesus

our desire is to live for Him. God will equip us and help us to live for Him and fulfill His purpose in this life. This is a promise we can look forward to:

Romans 8:28 New Living Translation

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

God also promises to never leave us nor forsake us: 

Deuteronomy 31:8 New International Version 1984 

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

We can trust God to meet our material and spiritual needs:

Philippians 4:19 New International Version 1984 

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Remember this: Nothing can separate followers of Jesus from God’s Love

Romans 8:38-39 New International Version 1984 

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 10:28 New International Version 1984  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

So why call on God rather than those who claim to have all the answers to live a successful life or those that say they can solve our problems?  For me, the creator of all things has proven His love through Jesus' sacrificial work on the cross. Jesus not only died to pay for our sins, but also to give us a new life that knows no spiritual death. Through Jesus we are now friends with God. Because of Jesus we become part of God's eternal family. Because of Jesus the Holy Spirit is given to us to become our source of supernatural love, eternal perspective. wisdom, discernment and strength.

So when we need help to navigate the spiritual twists and turns in this life,

the question is, who you gonna call?  

Best Answer: 

Call on the One whose willing sacrifice rescues us from an eternity separated from Himself. Call on the One who loves us more than we could ever imagine. Call on the One, the name of Jesus, and begin to live a new and abundant life.

Just Sayin……………….Dave