Combating the Darkness 11/15/2020
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 31:57
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· 503 viewsThe answer for darkness is light. The scripture gives us three sources of light that should be in each of our lives.
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When I was a child I was deathly afraid of the dark. I would require my lights to be left on all night. I would freak out if I woke up in the middle of the night with my lights off.
In my mind if the light was on I could recognize any threat. I could recognize any person who entered my room. There would be no shadows that appeared as something they were not.
Right now you may be reflecting on your own childhood and thinking of a time when you were afraid of the dark. As adults we understand it is a common fear that each of us share and must get over at some point. Not too many of us grew up never having a night light. You may even still have a night light in your room or be afraid of the dark. According to one study done in the UK, 40% of adults are not willing to walk around their own home with the lights off.
Being afraid of the dark is a universal fear.
The reason: It’s not the darkness itself that’s frightening. It’s the fear of what the darkness masks.
The unkown.
We see a news story of someones child who’s life was taken by an unthinkable crime. Innocent life taken. We ask “why is the world so dark?”
Stories of injustice. We ask “Why is the world so dark?”
Seeing suffering in all its forms. We ask “why is the world so dark?”
Look at personal devastation of sinful decisions, sin and all its results. “Why is it so dark?”
Maybe its your own unresolved issues that pile up on you until there is a breaking forth of depression that lingers in life, coming and going seemingly at whim. Why is my world so dark?
The darkness takes on many forms. Darkness is a reality. Today I want to give you the remedy for the darkness. There is only one way to combat darkness, that’s with light.
As a child I knew the only answer was for momma to leave the light on, if light was in the room, the darkness disappeared.
It’s so simple. You may even ask why even preach about it? Because many people have no idea how to turn the light on in their own life. You may not realize that you need a light source turned on in your life.
So today we are going to turn the light on. Look at someone that is six feet from you and say “turn the light on”.
Sources of light
Sources of light
The light shines from three sources. Everyone of us need each of these sources.
The light shines in the Word.
The light shines in the Savior.
The light shines in His saints.
Word
Word
The first source of light is His word.
130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
That word entrance can be translated as opening or unfolding.
The opening of Your words gives light. The unfolding of the Words of God give understanding to the simple.
Light shines when you spend time in this Word.
It will give you understanding of your own sinful nature. It will also give you a revelation of who He is and a revelation of His ways.
There is no substitution for this… No self help book, no academic book… There is just something special about this Word.
Savior
Savior
The second source of light is in the savior. You need the savior!
Jesus is the only answer to the darkness of sin in your life. Without Jesus your darkness will only grow in the grip it has over your life.
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
The darkness of sin grows with a tightening inescapable grip on the life of the person who is unwilling to acknowledge and obey God.
Sin with all its destructive results from which we are unable to save ourself deceives us into believing it is better to remain in darkness having our sin hidden then to be exposed by the light. Why? Because we love darkness.
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
Could be rendered: You practicing evil hate the light and do not come to the light, lest your deeds should be exposed.
The reason why we choose to continue in darkness, we love it.
Some are blind because the god of this world has blinded them.
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Some are blind because of their own ignorance and hard heart.
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
The first answer for the darkness of sin growing in your life is God and His answer through Jesus Christ.
29 “For You are my lamp, O Lord; The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.
Jesus said
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
He is the eternal light! He shines so brightly that heaven needs no sun.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
Jesus is the lamb of light! Jesus is the answer to sin. Jesus is the answer to the darkness of our world. Jesus is the answer to the darkness that is working to envelope your life.
He can take the darkness and give you purpose, give you a place, give you a reason to rise in the morning.
Walking in darkness is optional.
2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Your answer is in Jesus and His promise of the Holy Spirit. He is calling you to get up out of your darkness.
14 Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”
Keep walking in the light.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
You may not always know…but you can find out what is acceptable to the Lord.
His Saints
His Saints
The third source of light is His saints.
Did you notice in verse 8 of Ephesians 5.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
You are light in the Lord.
Jesus said:
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
You are a light in a dark world. Someone right now that you have a relationship with needs a light to shine, they are too blind to turn to Jesus right now. But you can be the light that points them in the right direction.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let your light shine. Let it shine for your lost loved one, your neighbor, and for your fellow saints.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
No matter how strong a believer you are, you cannot walk in the light alone.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If you have been feeling like the darkness of this world is creeping in on you, maybe it’s because you have been trying to walk in the light alone.
Being church hurt, or being hurt by another believer is not a valid reason to isolate. We need the church! We need the saints of God!
8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.
9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.
10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
Commandment - love each other.
We are called to unity. I can see where the isolation of this year has hurt our unity… feeling disconnected and isolated.
This week you should contact one of your fellow saints at Branches Church and encourage them. If you don’t contact someone, don’t complain that someone didn’t call you cause you didn’t call anyone else.
Altar
Altar
The way you combat the darkness is with light. The three sources of light are the Word, the Savior, and the Saints.
Maybe you need to make a commitment to opening the Word everyday.
You might need to work at connecting with the body of Christ. Building some relationships with saints that you become close with.
You may be saying I know I need Jesus, but I don’t know where to start.
Repent of your sins - turn from sin. Get baptized to wash away your sins and cleanse your conscience. Jesus will fill you with the Holy Spirit, you will know because you will speak in a language you have not spoke in as the Spirit gives you what to say.
If you haven’t received the Holy Spirit, ask Him. “Jesus I want this promise you are giving others. Can I have the Holy Spirit?” Begin to praise Him for being true to His promise. You will begin to feel the presence of God and a work He is doing in you. Surrender to Him, don’t wrestle against it. Surrender to it and you will begin to speak a language you don’t understand. That is the Spirit being given to you.