A Christian’s Attitude Towards The Darkness of this World
Assorted Scriptures
October 27, 2019 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland
I. Introduction (John 3:19; 8:12; 12:46; Ephesians 6:12)
A. Four Scriptures this morning
1. John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
2. John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
3. John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
4. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
B. It ought to scare you to play with, and “toy with” demonic things, spirits, the darkness of this world
1. It is a real thing
2. And you will only be hurt by treating demons, devils, Satan, and sin like they are fairy tales (John 10:10; 1Peter 5:9)
C. There are two powerful kingdoms at war – right now, right around you and me (Col 1:13)
1. Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
2. The kingdom of darkness
3. And the kingdom of God
D. You and I are caught in the middle of the most epic of battles
1. Seismic changes are happening
2. Unexplained forces are affecting entire generations – technology, the internet, drugs, entertainment
3. The extreme political battles are only a show of something behind the scenes
4. And it is not just GEORGE SOROS
E. It has been this way since right after creation (Isaiah 14:12-15)
1. Isa 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
2. He has been fighting God ever since that day!
F.
G. You cannot ignore what is going on
1. We cannot just go on with our lives and live like the war does not exist
2. It is like someone trying to have a quiet cup of tea in the midst of a major battle field
3. You have to choose sides, and arm yourself for the fight
4. Or else, you, and your family, and this church, and our nation only becomes more casualties of the war
5. And believe me, we have seen far too many casualties of THIS war!
6. FACT: There is a general turning away from the truth (2Tim 4:3,4) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
7. FACT: There is a general turning TO Satan by so many people
a. (1Tim 5:13-15) And withal they [WIDOWS] learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan.
b. LET THAT SINK IN!
c. EXAMPLE: I personally know of a widowed missionary’s wife, who lost her husband. And she is now living with a man, unmarried and pregnant.
d. (1Tim 4:1-3) Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some [BELIEVERS] shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
e. It’s sad that today, that fewer and fewer people are actually marrying
f. And there is a HUGE push against meat eating
g. It is not just a fad… it is demonic!
H. Christ Jesus gave every believer what they needed to be a conqueror, and even MORE than a conqueror (Romans 8:37-39)
1. Rom 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2. But only with proper training
3. And with the right kind of weapons
4. No wonder all over the western world there is a constant push to disarm people from their confidences in the Bible
5. Making for wimpier, and more miserable “Christians” than ever
6. When we should be conquering, and winning the world!
I. But after today’s message, I hope you become keenly aware of the battle going on, and have the right attitude towards it, and have a definite plan of attack towards the darkness in it!
II.
III.Message
A. Be AWARE of the Darkness
1. Not many are aware of spiritual things – of the kingdom of God
2. They only believe what they can see and touch and hold, and buy and sell
a. 1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
b. That’s why they don’t take sin, and hell very seriously
c. That’s why church is a tradition, a waste of time, and an inconvenience
3. Yet Jesus said…
a. Mark 4:11,12 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
b. 2Cor 4:3,4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
c. So, Are you one of those who just can’t perceive, sense, understand anything other than what you can see?
d. You need to put this Bible to the test – find out if it is true, and believe what it says about things you cannot see
e. Especially about your soul, and about heaven and hell!
4. A Christian is supposed to be known as a SPIRITUAL person – not a prosperous person!
a. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
b. That means we are spiritually aware of wrong spirits around us and IN us
c. Spiritually aware of wrong thoughts, wrong attitudes, wrong desires
d. Spiritually aware of the presence of God, and of the kingdom of God
e. There still is right and wrong, folks
f. Only a fool believes we need to reject Biblical morals
5.
We need a generation
of people who are aware of not just the kingdom of God, but of the spiritual
darkness that has this world in its grip!
THERE ARE TOO MANY “CHRISTIANS” WHO ARE PLAYING WITH FIRE!
6. Be aware of the reality of “the darkness”
a. Self harm is rampant (12 years old all the way to 50 somethings)
b. Drug addiction has no end in sight – so they are striving now to normalise it
c. Anger is a way of life in most people’s homes
d. Such pride like I have never imaged
e. Such division in homes and society
f. LGBTQI smashing every moral and good thing
g. Satanic worship on the rise
h. Druidism, paganism, and the determined replacement of Christmas with HALLOWEEN (more emphasis on the occult than on the birth of the Son of God!)
7. Some Signs of Spiritual Attack and Spiritual Bondage
a. There are several signs of being under spiritual attack but here are seven signs that may help you know that you are struggling under an attack.
b. Unnatural Fear
1) Panicking at things you used to be able to handle
2) Constantly worrying about so many things – never trusting God
3) Afraid of Satanic attacks – don’t be afraid of it – it will come. Just prepare for it like Rugby Players prepare for meeting their opponents on the field
4) 2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
c. Feelings of Worthlessness
1) That you are unworthy to be saved, constantly questioning your salvation
2) Satan delights in getting Christians to ask themselves, “Who do you think you are? How can you share the gospel with someone, when you’re such a wretch?”
3) THAT is a demonic lie – even an unsaved person’s soul is worth more than the wealth of entire world!
d. Feelings of Condemnation and constant guilt – hating yourself
1) Never able to trust Christ loves you and has removed your sins as far away as the east is from the west!
2) Constantly worrying about sinning against God and never being accepted
3) Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
4) Christ did NOT save you and forgive you for you to live under constant guilt
e. Prayerlessness – no interest in praying and talking with our God
1) The only time that Satan really fears is when we are praying in Jesus’ name and pleading the blood of Christ. Prayer is not easy…it’s hard work.
2) When you are under spiritual attack, praying is the last thing that you feel like doing.
3) We only make progress in our spiritual life when we are moving forward on our knees.
4) Sometimes it’s really hard to do so start of by giving thanks to God and reading over Scriptures of His awesome attributes. That may discourage the Enemy from trying to interfere with your prayers and stop Him from putting thoughts into your mind.
f. Full of the World, not of the Word - Carnality
1) At the very time that you feel that you least want to read the Bible, that is the exact time that you need it the most. Tap the power of God. Stay in the Word. Make a daily Bible reading plan and stick to it. It’s a great weapon to use in spiritual warfare.
g. Constant Family Conflict
1) The enemy has been seeking to destroy the family since the Garden of Eden.
2) Family conflict is Satan’s way of attacking where it hurts most.
h. Rebellion - Mockery of God, of Godliness and of other Christians
1) When YOU sit here and mock this Bible, and the commandment to keep yourself pure and do right, no matter how hard…
2) Then YOU my friend are under spiritual attack!
3) When you put off obeying clear commands in this Book, you are not expressing your freedom – you are only a puppet
B. A Right Attitude Towards the Darkness
1. We were delivered / SAVED from darkness - out of its grip
a. Col 1:12-14 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins
2. We have been called OUT of darkness (1Pet 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light
a. God tells us, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
3. So, Reject the Darkness – Abhor it!
a. Do not make light of it, laugh at it, ignore its power
b. Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
c. 1Tim 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.
d. Don’t play with it
e. Don’t make light of sin, of evil, of dark things
1) I did with music – my music 40 years ago was dark, heavy metal, rock music
2) People toy with pornography
3) They toy with alcohol
4) They play with gambling
5) They don’t care what they watch, or what they laugh at
f. It ought to upset you and anger you at how much YOU love this world, and the sins of our culture!
g. You and I need to REJECT darkness
h. And even REBUKE it in society, and in ourselves even
i. So that we can walk in the LIGHT
4. Beware of Apathy about the spiritual war. Beware of being lazy about sin in your life. Don’t leave any door or window open to Satan’s work in you
a. Laziness gets people hurt in war!
b. Most times, the devil counts on you being LAZY about your commitment to church, your Bible reading, your obedience towards its commands
c. Fear opening your home up to Satan, and to demonic attack
d. Fear opening your mind and heart to spiritual attack
e. Satan only gets the upper hand when WE open the door to him
f. You understand that don’t you?
g. KEEP control over what comes into your ears, into your eyes, into your thinking
h. Make sure right things, clean things, pure things, good things fill your heart and mind and life!
i. Not wicked friends, and shameful acts that you would be ashamed of someone else finding out about
IV. Conclusion
A. There are two powerful kingdoms at war – right now, right around you and me
B. You and I are caught in the middle of it all
1. Don’t let Satan the liar trick you and tell you, you are worthless, or weak or too far gone.
2. Don’t let life lead you to despair and giving up on following Jesus.
3. Don’t stop praying, and trusting, and praising God.
4. And DON’T fall back into the life you came out of.
5. God is for you and not against you and won’t forsake you, even if you mess up for a time.
6. The battle is real, and our enemy is real.
C. Christ Jesus gave every believer what they needed to be a conqueror, and even MORE than a conqueror
D. Are you even AWARE of the Darkness?
E. Do you have a Right Attitude Towards the Darkness of this world?
F. Did you take note of How to Defeat the Darkness?
G. It works!
H. But, it will only work for a born again child of God
1. Until YOU repent of your own sinfulness, and believe what Jesus did for you on the cross, you are trapped and a puppet of Satan
2. Believe the good news that Christ died for sinners like you and me
3. That He WANTS to save you, and free you from fear, and from sin, and from guilt
4. Will you let Him save you right now?