What You See is Not All There Is... Battling Darkness

So, here we are in the middle of an unseen battle between the kingdoms of light (Jesus) and darkness (Satan). There are three things we need to know in this battle.

First, we can't treat our enemy lightly. Don't get caught up in the deception that Satan is some harmless little goofball in a red suit with horns and a pitchfork. His power and authority, while limited, is to be recognized. Jude 9-10 says even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, would not bring a direct accusation against Satan, but said, "The Lord rebuke you". Read the story in Mark 5:2-8 about the incredible physical power the demoniac who lived among the tombs exhibited.

1 Peter 5:8 says, "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour." Does that sound like an enemy we should just brush off and take lightly?

Secondly, we must not flirt with darkness. I believe there are many Christians, young and old, who think it's ok to dabble with some questionable things. The word occult means "hidden", and the enemy uses many things that might seem harmless at first glance. Let's look at what the Bible says about how God views a Christian’s involvement with the occult. "And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the LORD." Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Pretty clear, eh?

While we can use "personal conviction" as an excuse to watch, listen or read something, I believe the question we need to ask is, "What is the source?". If we have to analyze and dig to find a biblical, godly meaning in something to justify our desire to associate with it... is it really good?

I don't think God has a gray area, that is on both sides of the fence, where His children can play because their personal convictions allow it. “Obey God because you are His children. Don't slip back into your old ways of doing evil; you didn't know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God-- who chose you to be his children-- is holy. For he himself has said, ‘You must be Holy because I am holy.’" 1 Peter 1:14-16

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Destruction is certain for those that say evil is good and good is evil; that light is dark and dark is light; that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter." 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, “Keep away from every kind of evil." We simply have no excuse to flirt with anything that has occult or demonic ties.

Lastly, we need to know that we don’t fight with our power, but with God’s authority. So many people live what I call, Roller Coaster Christianity because they are trying to fight the battle against darkness in their own power. They move one step forward and two steps back, all the while becoming more frustrated, angry or depressed because they never seem to have victory over the enemy.

Matthew 10:1 say, “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.” He gave them AUTHORITY, not power. It is with the authority in Jesus’ name that we come against the kingdom of darkness.

There is a story in Acts 19, that tells of seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish priest, who went around casting out evil spirits. One day they came upon a demon possessed man and they tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus. The evil spirit answered, "I know Jesus, and I know Paul. But who are you?" and proceeded to beat all seven of the men so badly, they ran out of the house naked and badly injured. Because they didn't have a personal relationship with Jesus, they could not operate in His authority, but only in their own power.

We also must use the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit (God’s Word) in this battle. When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness (Matthew 4), he consistently responded with Scripture. The enemy cannot overcome the Word of God, and this is why we must read it, study it, and get it into our hearts.

I’ll close with this. “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you.” James 4:7-8. If we will surrender every part of our lives to Christ, holding nothing back, and resist any temptation to compromise, the enemy WILL flee.

Remember, we are not fighting FOR victory, we are fighting FROM victory!

-P Dave