From Darkness to Light 12-17-2023

Many Christmas Scriptures

There are many scriptures that are familiar in the Christmas Season

New Living Translation Chapter 9

2  The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light.

and

New Living Translation Chapter 9

6 For a child is born to us,

a son is given to us.

They are two of familiar Christmas passages, and they are both in the section of scriptures we will look at today.

The passage is in Isaiah chapter 9.

Chapter 9 talks about God sending light to a dark corner of the world.

But what kind of darkness and what kind of light is being talked about?

The answer is Spiritual Darkness!

To help us see the contrast better this dark and light we are going to start reading in Isaiah chapter 8 at verse 19

New Living Translation Chapter 8

19 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.”

So this passage is going to talk about a kind of spiritual darkness.

As you and I know, there are many other kinds of darkness,

bad advice,

poor choices

we can follow.

Proverbs 5 and 7 the naive being lead into sexual sin.

Proverbs 7:22 says

New Living Translation Chapter 7

22 He followed her at once,

like an ox going to the slaughter.

Darkness can also be found in :

drugs

alcohol

greed

pride

and countless other ways

that make us drift away from God. But what should we do?

People should seek God’s Guidance

That is what the rest of verse 19 says

New Living Translation Chapter 8

But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

Of course people should seek the guidance of the Lord.

Consulting the dead,

if it is really the dead communicating back and not demons

why should the dead know as much as God knows?

They don’t and should not be listened to.

What should we do

New Living Translation Chapter 8

20 Look to God’s instructions and teachings!

What happens when we don’t look to God, when we say it’s not true and follow another path

New Living Translation (Chapter 8)

People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

Contradicting God’s word, which is not the same as discussing what does it mean,

contradicting Gods word is on the path to complete darkness.

Then Gods word explains in further detail

Isaiah 8:21–22 NLT

21 They will go from one place to another, weary and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse their king and their God. They will look up to heaven 22 and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.

When ever tragedy happens, and sometimes it’s our own fault:

we can either look to God for help and comfort

Or we can blame God, and yell at him.

If your are on the path of darkness,

any of the paths of darkness,

away from God

the end of the road is being thrust into utter darkness.

In this life, that is being thrust into total depravity

In the life to come,

that’s HELL.

and we don’t want to go there.

But what is the solution

Did God make a provision to help us follow his path?

Isaiah 9:1 (NLT)

1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

There are two great announcements there

New Living Translation (Chapter 9)

that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever.

That is a message of hope in this life

the second great announcement about Galilee of the Gentiles, it

New Living Translation Chapter 9

will be filled with glory.

Let’s read the rest of the passage and then make a few comments before Eric comes to speak

Isaiah 9:2–7 NLT

2  The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. 4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian. 5 The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

Some of this was fulfilled with Jesus birth

Some of this was fulfilled with Jesus TRIUMPHANT MINISTRY

Some of this will be fulfilled in the age to come.

What kind of guidance to we needs

Mediums and Spiritists?

NO!

People should seek God’s Guidance

When things go bad, especially when it’s our fault

should be blame God?

NO!

People should not blame God

We should ask God for His help

A good portion of God’s help, is from learning how to life so

People should accept God’s gift of Light

If you can do those things,

your life will be better and

your eternal life will be supper.

Eric is going to come and share about a ministry opportunity in South Sudan, that includes sharing the message of salvation with wives and mother in need.