For a long time we have been asked (by you), to do a series of messages on good and evil in the world around us, and, how that affects our lives . . . . . . And you've asked us to talk about why it is that darkness and light are such powerful forces in our spiritual lives . . . . . . so for the next 2 weeks we're gonna learn together about how darkness (evil) works and then next week we'll talk about how we can best walk in the light . . . 2 week mini-series . . . . . .
Ever wondered why everybody likes light more than darkness. It's ture - especially with kids . . . I saw this played out on Thursday night this week . . . I was at home with the boys and I asked Kaden and Kash to help me carry some stuff down stairs . . . fine . . . but when we got to the top of the stairs to go down - our arms were full so we couldn't turn on the light switch . . . . . . So we ventured down into the darkness . . . actually I ventured into the darkness and when I got to the bottom I turned around because I realized that I was talking but no one was with me . . . The boys were frozen on the third stair and the third stair was . . . just at the point where the light would really begin to disappear if they took one more step down . . . so I turned around and before I could even ask the question, Kaden said, "we're scared", and Kash finished his sentence, "of the dark . . ." Do you remember those feelings as a kid?
Then . . . Friday morning I'm up early on my way to my office to write this and I'm in my truck rearranging some stuff on the seat so I can start the truck - and while I'm there the paper delivery person comes up the sidewalk and she doesn't know I'm in the truck and I didn't see here . . . and my truck is loud and just as she's by the truck I started it . . . and she jumped and ran 3 steps . . . freaked out . . . and I waved and said, "sorry . . ."
So . . . why is it that the darkness is a scary place in life . . . And why is it that in the absence of light we humans don't feel quite at home . . . darkness just doesn't seem like a comfortable place to us . . .
Well - what I'd like to drive home today is that this metaphor of darkness and light goes far beyond the physical or even the mental or emotional - but . . . into the spiritual . . . . . . in fact it goes to the very heart of our souls . . . We were not created to walk in darkness (spiritually) - we were created to be drawn towards light . . . Let me tell you about that . . .
In the very beginning of the human race God created Adam and Even . . . and He created them in the light - meaning - they walked in peace and perfect relationship with God and they lived in a perfect creation - a place with no evil and no sin . . . It was paradise - called the Garden of Eden.
(This is probably the closest picture to heaven we will ever have on this earth is the picture of Adam and Even in the Garden of Eden) . . . Awesome possibilities . . . Awesome future . . .
However God created Adam and Eve (and all of us) with a free will - we can choose - choose to walk with God or not - choose to walk in the light or to dwell in darkness . . .
And God gave Adam and Eve a choice . . . He said . . . you can follow me and have this entire garden (creation) to live in - in fact - you will be over all the earth and every animal and you will reign supreme . . . it will be amazing and you will be blessed . . . but . . . all I will ask of you is one request Don't eat the fruit from this one tree . . . You can have 1000's and 1000's of other trees, but just this one - is off limits . . . and if you want to follow me - just honor me by not eating from this one tree right here . . . God gave them a choice . . .
Now . . . here's the kicker . . . The enemy of our souls - Satan - (the leader of all that is evil in the spiritual realms . . . .) He knows better than anyone else (better than we do) that we have choices . . . and so he came to Eve out of the shadows of paradise and said, "I know that God said you can do anything you want here . . . except eat the fruit of this one tree in the middle of this garden . . . In fact . . . it's this tree isn't it - (The tree we just happen to be sitting under right now . . .) What a coincidence . . . and then he said,. . . "why do you think God doesn't want you to eat that fruit (long pause . . .. . . ) Could it be that if you eat that one piece of fruit you will gain knowledge that only God has . . . in fact (the evil one said) I bet if you eat that fruit you'll be just like God - You'll have power and position just like God does . . . and that's why . . . Eve . . . that's why God doesn't want you to eat that fruit . . . because be wants to keep you down and hold all the power to himself . . . . . and wow . . . that fruit sure looks good doesn't it look how juicy that is . . . think of what might happen if you ate it?" . . .
And so she ate and so did Adam and Satan laughed and God cried . . . and darkness entered the world in a single moment of choice . . .
So I have always wondered and tried to figure out why Satan did that - why did he want to deceive and distort and bring in the darkness - why didn't he just leave it be - after all it was paradise . . .
Why? Because Satan is in a war against God, it's good against evil - darkness vs light . . . A cosmic battle that has been going on for 1000's of years . . . . . . and what's at stake in this war, is your soul and mine, for all of eternity . . . (that's the truth)
See Satan already knows his fate -he knows he will spend the rest of eternity separated from God and in the darkness . . . He hates God and he hates the light . . .and (He) (The Evil one)will do whatever it takes to win the battle over our souls and to distort the gift of free choice God gave us . . . is his favor . . .
So you're probably out there saying, wow - this is pretty big stuff . . . Dean - are you sure it's all that serious . . . I mean it kinda sounds more like a movie than a church - You're probably thinking . . . I just came to church today to sing a little and have some coffee . . . and now we're talking about darkness . . . . . . How did we get there?
Here's what it says about Satan in the Bible just to kinda set the tone.
"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour . I Peter 5:8 (NIV)
Now - there's a picture . . . he prowls around like a roaring lion . . . waiting to devour someone spiritually . . . Sound pretty serious to me . . .
See folks, what we often don't understand is that there is a battle going on - and it rages around us all the time - every day. And we don't often see it because our lives are so based in this physical world (a world that we can touch and see) . . . Our lives are based so much in that world that we can't really fathom - a battle in the spiritual world . . . a world we can't see . . . and can't touch . . .
So let me try and explain for just a few minutes how the enemy fights (against our souls) . . . . . . because in order for us to defend ourselves or even be on the offensive - we must know his plan . . . and here it is . . .
This is my best stab at how the darkness works . . .
The name the bible uses most often for the evil one is the word devil . . . and the reason it uses that word is because of it's meaning - the word devil comes from Diabello - which means the divider. The one who causes division . . . And his only weapon in this spiritual war is to separate us from good and God. To divide the light in as many ways as he can . . . to separate light . . . with darkness . . .
And from what I can see . . . . . . his battle plan isn't much more complex than that - (it's simple actually . . . . but quite effective) - because he focuses his attack on us individually . . . in a couple key ways . . .
. He divides what God unites . . . (That is his first plan of attack . . . to divide what God unites . . . .)
See God is all about unity and community and the coming together of people in love and grace and harmony. That's a huge part of God's plan for humanity . . . . . (that we would experience true oneness with one another.) Because there is strength in that (spiritual strength) and there's nothing quite like it . . . and the devil hates unity and only wants to divide it . . . Because he knows that there is strength in numbers - strength in community.
And it's interesting that when you read more about Adam and Eve and how the enemy beat them . . . (read Genesis chapter 3 and watch it unfold) . . . the enemy 1 st makes sure Eve is alone, separated (division) from Adam before he tempts here . . . . . . and then he uses her, to further (separate) Adam from God, as well . . . (divider)
The craziest part of this story though is their (Adam and Eve's) response (after they willfully disobeyed God . . . ) (and they choose) when God finds out and confronts them on their disobedience . . . . . . (further separation happens). They turn on each other . . . and that's when you really know Satan has won . . . because Adam says, it was Eve's fault . . . . . . she gave me the fruit . . . and you can just watch the darkness begin to separate and divide what God united . . . and I often wonder what was the biggest hurt to God . . . Their choice to disobey him - or how that choice started them down the path of hurting each other . . . and divided them as a couple . . . The enemy of our souls loves to divide what God has united.
Let me cut to the chase - folks . . . . . . You can expect opposition from the enemy at home - because your marriage and family is something God desires to be together and united . . . and the enemy will do whatever it takes to divide that little community (called your family) because there is strength there spiritually . . .
You can expect an all out attack on your marriage. You can expect an all out attack on your kids and your relationship with them. Because the evil one wants to divide what God unites . . . Now hear this . . .
God has brought you and your spouse and your family together for a reason - and that is to build each other up spiritually and emotionally and mentally and to be strength and hope for one another and to be a conduit of light to a dark world - That's what your marriage and family is for . . . to be light . . . . . . and . . . . . . the enemy will do whatever it takes to tear that apart . . . in hopes that you will actually weaken one another mentally and emotionally and spiritually instead of strengthening each other and he hopes that bitterness and anger and hate would over take love and hope and peace . . .
Because if he can reek havoc on a marriage and divide you - he can get you alone and we're always weaker alone . . . and if he can separate us from our kids . . . there's a much greater chance of him getting your kids to fall . . . spiritually . . .
What God unites Satan will try to divide . . . and he has no mercy - he will go to great lengths . . . to see it happen . . . nobody wins but him when a family comes apart . . .
My job today is to simply point out his battle plan . . . and I don't have a lot of time to give you a defensive strategy . . . but knowing his strategy is half the battle. Three or four quick things . . . .
. Expect opposition at home
Don't think it won't happen to you . . .
. Be prepared - (read) - (seminars)
-books on how to strengthen the family/marriage
-marriage strengthening small group
-marriage encounter weekend . . . .
. Be intentional about growing community at home
-build friendships in your family
-create unity - be open/honest
-spend time -hug one another
-speak often of your love . . . for one another
. Pray " Family that prays together stays together "
-our family prays together at least once a day, usually 3-4 times
-simple prayers - start and end the day (blessing, protection)
He will do what ever he can to divide your family. You must do whatever you can to strengthen it . . .
(Church community division)
Let me take this to another lever - The community that Satan hates the most is the church . . . Remember - he divides what God unites . . . and he knows that the church is about light and hope and grace and peace and forgiveness and community . . . and he will do whatever it takes to trash the church and to stop authentic community from happening (this is another weeks message - but . . . )
2 things here - quickly
1. Pray for this church
-God's protection
-Gods' blessing
wisdom
wisdom
wisdom
-Leadership
-Future
-Love to flow strongly . . .
2. Keep relationships strong . . .
-forgive one another
-love one another deeply
-share life together
-let grace flow to one another
-encourage one another
-talk well of one another (mouth gets us into trouble)
If he causes division in relationships in this place - he's got us . . .
The enemy loves to divide what God unites . . . but we're not gonna let him. (1 st big principle)
Here's the 2 nd over-arching principle . . . .
2. He divides our Strengths and Weaknesses
And may I add - he focuses mostly on our weakness . . .
(Let's spend some time here . . . )
Thoughts from Glen Kirby - friend - brother - book - "The Fight of
Your Life."
Probably the clearest example (in the bible) of temptation and all out spiritual warfare happens when Satan comes to tempt Jesus in the desert . . . Let me set the scene - Jesus is 30 years old or so and is just about to start His active ministry around the countryside - The power of His message of love and transformation is about to be unleashed . . . but just before that happens, Jesus spends a significant time alone in prayer and fasting (40 days to be exact) which is probably the most focused spiritual season anyone has had . . . in all of history . . .What 's interesting to note is that Satan comes to attack Jesus right when He is at His weakest point physically, and when He is at His most alone point relationally and strangely enough - he comes when Jesus is at his strongest point spiritually . . .
Let me unwrap this a bit . . .
Jesus went into the desert for 40 days of prayer and fasting . . . in preparation for the most significant season of his life spiritually (right?) He came out of those days and turned the world upside down it was after that season of prayer that his public ministry began with power and authority . . . and literally 1000's of people would come to faith . . .
And Satan's attack comes on him right at that moment . . . what's the principle?
* His attack intensifies when we walk closer to the light. Here's the take-home . . . People if you are about to have a break through spiritually or if you are in the process of sharing God's love and light to someone near you - or if your starting to understand the next level of spiritual truth - or if you are really wanting to make a difference for good and for God with your life . . . . . .
- Expect opposition in that moment . Or if you're about to take a spiritual step like baptism or sign up to volunteer at the church or to lead a small group or go in one . . .
Right in the step from darkness to light is when Satan increases the intensity of his attack . . . and it kinda makes sense doesn't it? He hates the light and he hates the spiritual strength that we get from walking in the light . . . and he certainly doesn't want us sharing God's light with anyone else . . . . That's why he attached Jesus when he did - to try to stop that spiritual breakthrough from happening . . . and that's why we must be prepared and aware as well. When we're moving spiritually . . . we can expect opposition . . . When God is about to do something great in us - be most aware . . .
Here's a second principle we can learn from Jesus' battle . . .
* His attack is more focused when we are alone .
Jesus had been alone for 40 days when Satan attacked him . . .(not quiet but alone for 40 days)
Why then? Well again it isn't a really tricky plan - but it works . . . See
Satan knows that we were not created to be alone to much and when we're alone and lonely for too long, lots of things start to go a little sideways on us . . .
Our self-confidence is often shaken and doubts begin to arise in our minds and even the most introverted of people - (who don't mind being alone)
Even all the introverted folks, after they have been alone for too long become a little "people needy" and "recognition needy" . . . and so that's when Satan focuses his attack on Jesus - at the end of 40 alone days . . . and people you can expect the intensity of his attack to happen when you are alone, or maybe its more when you feel most alone . . . (because often we can be surrounded by people and yet feel alone . . .)
And get this . . . Satan plays by no rules . . . he will attack you stronger when you're down and when you're lonely. He'll dump all kinds of horrible thoughts in your mind . . . And he'll tell you lies all day long about your self-worth or about how it's better to stay alone and out of community . . .
It happened to Jesus and I expect that's how the darkness will invade our lives as well . . . and again knowing the plan of the enemy is ½ of the deal in winning the battle . . . When you are alone or feel alone, expect spiritual opposition.
Here's the 3 rd principle.
* His attack is strongest where we are weak.
The most practical side of Jesus battle with darkness was that Jesus was in a weakened state. Physically He had been without food for 40 days . . . and Satan's 1 st temptation was to offer food in exchange for his spiritual allegiance . . . pretty practical . . . He goes after an obvious weakness . . .
See folks, a key part of his strategy - (which again is not rocket science . . . but it works) is that he knows our weaknesses and how to turn those weaknesses into darkness . . . So again - here's the take home . . . I think we should expect spiritual opposition in our areas of weakness . . .but here's the question. Do you know what your weakness is spiritually? Because the enemy of your soul sure does and my bet is he's hitting you with it every time . . .
What is your area of weakness ? What is your Achilles heal? . . . .
Drivenness?
Do you find yourself - willing to sacrifice anyone and anything for success? . . . Are you driven to the point of exhaustion to see our career move forward? . . . Well (here's a thought), why wouldn't Satan just help you be more successful all the time - because it will lead to more driveness and less faith . . . What is you're area of weakness?
Self-esteem issues? Loneliness/Depression?
Does he know that all he has to do is keep you alone and you won't believe God loves you and you won't believe your worth anything?
Do your know your weaknesses?
Addictions
A huge area of weakness we are often blind to: (but the enemy isn't)
Do you know what addiction might be your downfall?
Booze?
Sex?
Gambling?
Folks, my point is pretty simple - sometimes the most obvious of things in and around our lives - just aren't that obvious to us . . .
And if we want to stand strong spiritually - we have to know what our biggest weaknesses are . . . because he will certainly attack us there . . .
Remember - it's a war and he is the enemy . . .
Do you know the area that he can hit you often and regularly and how will you shore that up?
Ideas (to be aware of our strengths and weaknesses)
Relationships and Community
- walk with someone
- small group
. accountability - ask questions - people that clearly and
plainly point out my spiritual soft spots . . .
Journaling - see red flags- write them down . . .
. habit - yesterday - weaknesses
- strengths
Prayer - resist temptation
- intentionally ask people and pray for you
Folks, I have intentionally left out most of the stuff about light this week . . . next week we'll talk about htat . . .but I don't want you to go home defeated . . . Be encourages - there are ways to defeat the enemy strongly . . . to be victorious in the battle . . . and next week were gonna learn together . . .how to walk in the only place evil and darkness cannot go . . . the light of Jesus Christ . . . |
