Dealing with Darkness

1. Dealing with Darkness “God, send the light”

2. “Darkness” in Scripture

3. “Darkness” in Scripture • “Darkness” = Absence of light

4. 1. Darkness of Deviation

5. 1. Darkness of Deviation • God’s original plan was NOT darkness (Gen 1.1, Eze 28, Isa 14)

6. Eze 28:11-15 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

7. 1. Darkness of Deviation • God’s original plan was NOT darkness (Gen 1.1, Eze 28, Isa 14) • The Earth was in a state of darkness because of judgment (Isa 14.15-17; Eze 28.13)

8. Isa 14.15-17 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Isthis the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

9. 1. Darkness of Deviation • God’s original plan was NOT darkness (Gen 1.1, Eze 28, Isa 14) • The Earth was in a state of darkness because of judgment (Isa 14.15-17; Eze 28.13) • God remedied the darkness by sending the light in the form of the sun (Gen 1.2-3)

10. 1. Darkness of Deviation D. The light was present since creation, and simply revealed through the darkness (Gen 1.3)

11. 1. Darkness of Deviation D. The light was present since creation, and simply revealed through the darkness (Gen 1.3) E. God used His Spirit to manifest the light by “moving” upon the “waters” (Gen 1.2; cf. Rev 17.1,15)

12. Rev 17.1,15“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:” … “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues”

13. 1. Darkness of Deviation F. God sent the light of creation (the sun) to dispel the darkness of destruction caused by deviation

14. 2. Darkness of Death

15. 2. Darkness of Death A. God’s original plan was not death (Gen 1.26-31, 2.17)

16. 2. Darkness of Death A. God’s original plan was not death (Gen 1.26-31, 2.17) B. The Earth was again placed in a state of darkness because of judgment upon man (Gen 3.6,16-19)

17. 2. Darkness of Death C. God remedied the darkness of death by sending the Light to be our life in the form of the Son (John 1.4-9)

18. 2. Darkness of Death C. God remedied the darkness of death by sending the Light to be our life in the form of the Son (John 1.4-9) D. The Light was present before creation, and was revealed to us in our darkness (John 1.1-2,10-14)

19. 2. Darkness of Death E. God used His Spirit to manifest the Light by moving upon that which was dead (I Cor 2.10-13; Eph 2.1; John 6.63)

20. Eph 2.1-5And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

21. 2. Darkness of Death E. God used His Spirit to manifest the Light by moving upon us (I Cor 2.10-13; John 6.63) F. God sent the Light of LIFE to dispel the darkness caused by death!

22. 3. Darkness of Deception

23. 3. Darkness of Deception • God’s original plan was opposed by deception (Gen 3.1-5, II Cor 4.4)

24. 2 Cor 4:4 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

25. 3. Darkness of Deception • God’s original plan was opposed by deception (Gen 3.1-5, II Cor 4.4) • The Earth remains in darkness because of deception among men (Rom 1.21, John 3.19-21, I Jn 1.5-7)

26. Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened Joh 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God

27. 3. Darkness of Deception • God’s original plan was opposed by deception (Gen 3.1-5, II Cor 4.4) • The Earth remains in darkness because of deception among men (Rom 1.21, John 3.19-21, I Jn 1.5-7) • God remedies the darkness of deception by sending the light of the gospel to rescue us (II Cor 4.4)

28. 2 Cor 4:4 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

29. 3. Darkness of Deception D. The light (gospel) was present since creation, and is revealed in the church – shines through the darkness (Eph 3.9-10 , II Cor 4.6)

30. Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly placesmight be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

31. 2 Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ

32. 3. Darkness of Deception D. The light (gospel) was present since creation, and is revealed in the church – shines through the darkness (Eph 3.9-10 , II Cor 4.6) E. God uses His Spirit to manifest the Light of the gospel to darkened men, offering truth where deception lies.

33. 2 Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

34. 3. Darkness of Deception F. God sent the light of His church (His sons) to dispel the darkness caused by Satan’s deception of the world.

35. Dealing with Darkness To the Darkness of Deviation: God sent the light of creation in the sun.

36. Dealing with Darkness To the Darkness of Deviation: God sent the light of creation in the sun. To the Darkness of Death: God sent the Light of the world in the Son.

37. Dealing with Darkness To the Darkness of Deviation: God sent the light of creation in the sun. To the Darkness of Death: God sent the Light of the world in the Son. To the Darkness of Deception: God sent the light of the gospel in the sons.