Fight For Your Life | Walking In The Light

Week 1, we learned that: We must know we are a part of a larger spiritual battle Today, we are looking at an important Biblical theme The theme is LIGHT AND DARKNESS Scripture uses several themes to separate the THINGS OF GOD and the THINGS NOT OF GOD Good and Bad Wisdom and Foolishness Righteous and Unrighteous Another of those themes is LIGHT AND DARKNESS An example of this is… 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. This leads to the questions: What exactly is LIGHT? What exactly is DARKNESS? Let’s Start with… Biblical Theology of Light and Dark   Genesis 1:1-4 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God created light The light was GOOD   Darkness represents CHAOS Formless Empty Without purpose So we can say that… God’s Creation thrives in the light   Psalm 27:1 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life whom should I dread?   A new layer of what light is… Light Represents God and His Salvation   Isaiah 9:2 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. Darkness is a state we can live in Perpetually God’s light (SALVATION) pulls us out of Darkness But this is not a physical darkness… Romans 1:21-22 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became worthless, and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools… This darkness affects our hearts and minds But… John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light (Salvation) of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it. The light of God’s Salvation in Jesus overcomes the CHAOS and hard hearts of the World   What is this Darkness? Darkness is the fallen state of humanity, the created world, and the kingdom of evil. It started in the Garden of Eden and continues through humankind’s rebellion. Darkness refers to falsehood and evil. To live as children of light means to be directed by what is good, right, and true. Symbolizes sin, ignorance, and separation from God This is important because it challenges our modern perception of: GOOD VS BAD God is not some heavenly principle – BAD God is not a sky Santa Clause – GOOD This leads us to say things like… “I think I’m a good person who sometimes does bad things…” “I’m not perfect, but I know my own heart…” “I think as long as you do good things and aren’t mean to people, you are a good person…” This isn’t what the Bible is trying to say AT ALL   Some practical ways to better understand how this darkness affects us Darkness of Understanding Unknowing Ignorance Darkness of Decisions Falsehood Wickedness Bad Choices Chaos Darkness of Separation From God From Life From Salvation   Let’s better understand what is in the dark… There are Monsters in the Dark There is more to this darkness that scripture speaks about… Colossians 1:13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.   This darkness is a kingdom against God and His creation   There is an agency to evil   We need to rid our minds of the medieval caricature of Satan. Dispensing with the horns, the hooves and the tail, we are left with the biblical portrait of a spiritual being, highly intelligent, immensely powerful and utterly unscrupulous. ~ John Stott   Ephesians 6 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.   What we need to know about Satan and His kingdom of darkness 1: This “kingdom” is structured to wage war against God and his church An organized hierarchy 2: He doesn’t just influence people but also nations Idolatry Evil on a large scale The destructive malice of Satan against all humanity, and particularly against the church, is channeled through human agents and the systems and institutions they have built. Humanity in general is afflicted by the destroyer through the structures of injustice and oppression of which the flesh and the devil are joint architects, and Christians are murderously attacked by individuals and governments ultimately directed by Satan. ~ Richard Lovelace   Lord’s Prayer: Your KINGDOM COME… We wage war on evil to see this happen   3: He would rather you not know he exists Like the mob, works in Darkness C.S. Lewis – Either disbelieve he exists or excessive interest Lastly… 4: He does have SOME authority over this world The temptation of Jesus   There is tremendous hope because scripture teaches… The Light of God Is Always Victorious Against Darkness   Jesus has ULTIMATE Authority and has defeated satan on the CROSS   Our Goal is the WALK IN THE LIGHT   Ephesians 5 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 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 light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth— 10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.