Overcoming Darkness

“‘I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.’

His disciples said, ‘Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.’

Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:25-33 ESV

Jesus has already overcome all the darkness in the world in which we live. We now have access by the spirit to walk in Him to overcome as He has overcome. Jesus reassures us that Father God loves us because we love Jesus and, in Him, we have peace. We are enabled to overcome the darkness within and without by His spirit and His word.

In the above passage, Jesus spoke in symbolic language, using figures of speech that He had to translate into commonly understood words in order for His disciples to understand. Jesus’ work was to show the Father in Him, drawing all back to the Father through His marvelous work. He brought His being right into the hearts of men and women. He states When His work is finished, He will not have to bring all to Father God because we will be with Him in the Father, Who loves us so much!

What does this say about the teaching that Jesus is needed to intercede between believers and a wrathful, angry, condemning Father? Jesus’ intercession is between us and our enemies dwelling in darkness, not our loving Father God. He is interceding for us so that we may fulfill God’s will on the earth. Can you hear this good news?

We hope for good news, but often in our hearts, we expect the bad. With all the evil and adversity around us, it seems as if the forces of darkness are flourishing while we, weak and undone, are helpless to fight it all. We become unable to trust that all God does is good and that His news is always good news to those who love Him and are called according to His purposes.

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8: 27-31 NIV

What does this say to our trembling hearts when we focus on the darkness? When God is for us, who can truly be against us? There are Christian people all over who are following Christ today, looking into the future of His Kingdom being established on this earth. We encourage and edify one another with the promises of God. His people do come against the forces of darkness that try to swallow up the light of God.

Others focus on all the work we have to do to qualify to enter in, all the laws that history has proven human flesh cannot obey. The word of fear, not faith, is strong in many. In contrast, how many sermons are preached about entering into His rest? When peace and rest are in our hearts, it will flow out to others. May God continually plant a good crop of His fruit, the Word of His good news, filling our hearts with His water of life to flow out to all mankind!

Beware of faith-defeating reports. Be quick to discern the base of fear and weakness, the inability of us to please a wrathful God. Many believe the bad report of eternal punishment from God for all in His wrathful judgment. This delivers fear and condemnation to unbelievers as it is planted in the hearts of God’s people. The word does not spiritually state this. Just as the Israelites of old, many somehow shrink the Lord’s called and chosen into weak and defeated earthly people, unable to enter into the rest and peace of the kingdom. God supposedly fails in His plan to save those destined for eternal hell.

Some constantly fight or fear the devil, whom Jesus Christ defeated. They remind us of our sinful nature that Jesus paid the price to eradicate. They cover the new man in Christ with darkness and defeat. Such messengers focus on the flood of evil and disaster evident all around, the threatened judgment of God who remains unappeased. They do not focus upon the victorious God of their salvation, along with all His mighty power to bring all in subjection to Him.

Only a few seem to see beyond the present, trusting God to be faithful, loving, and true, to do what He said He would do. We who do trust and believe proclaim that we can follow on to know the Lord, conquering the world in us, just as Jesus conquered. We can be lights in the midst of great darkness, doing all through Christ who strengthens us.

We can learn to live in all that the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished, here and now. We are not waiting to die or to escape in a literal rapture. We can be in the world, but not of it. God hears and knows all hearts. He knows when we are murmuring and complaining about our lot in life and the worldwide daily news of loss, death, and tragedy. Father God knows and, while humanly understandable in our present times, it is not pleasing to Him.

Because of Jesus Christ, He has compassion and forgiveness for all. The Israelites back then were pardoned by the Lord because their leaders interceded:

"I have pardoned them as you requested,’ the Lord replied. ‘Yet as surely as I live and as surely as the whole earth is filled with the glory of the Lord, not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— no one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers.

None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.” Numbers 14:1-10; 20-22 BSB

There was forgiveness along with consequences for unbelief. God will deal with all those, past and present, who keep their vision on darkness and defeat. All those who are fearful cannot enter into the kingdom in that condition. False teachings from the mind of man disqualify them due to unbelief in His promises. We cannot treat with contempt all that God has already done, with signs and wonders, providing for us in our times of walking on this earth.

We require vision to see beyond the flood of darkness and death that feeds fear and torment. The fearful and unbelieving cannot enter in:

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:7-10 KJV

Look who the fearful are coupled with: unbelieving, abominable, murderers, whore mongers, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars. These are giants to overcome on our way to our inheritance, as He takes over rulership of our hearts. We must overcome Fear and unbelief by the spirit and the word, believing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we surrender our hearts and our ways to Him, God brings the fire of His presence to burn up fear and unbelief. Some start this process in this life, so they do not appear before the Lord naked. Others must be thrown into the lake of fire to be purified to dwell in the kingdom when their rank is called. The lake of fire is a purifying place that does not mean hell. How can it mean that, as death and hell are thrown into it:

“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Revelation 20:13-14 KJV

Yes, all are judged, with judgment coming first to the House of God. God will judge all to redeem, not condemn, all people. His judgment is for correction, not punishment. Does it not say that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord? Be not deceived, God will judge with righteous judgment those who look into the things of God’s kingdom and see darkness more than His light.

God is even now destroying the refuge of lies that have dominated and robbed His people. We are promised a new heaven, a high spiritual place in which to dwell, a new earth that is no longer headed for destruction. We must understand what God is saying by the spirit, that the internal and external fires that He’s bringing on our earth (flesh) are the fire of His presence. This is God’s plan to bring about long-awaited redemption and positive change. He swallows up fear with faith.

Did not Jesus say:

"But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:31-32 NIV

Do you think our Father, the ruler of the universe, is incapable of giving us the kingdom? Consider another of God’s own, the great leader and Israel’s king, David, who had many enemies. In the Psalms that he wrote, he continually reminds himself that God is faithful. Over and over, David reiterates his trust in God. There is no fear in trust. Perfect love casts out fear.

Trust cannot co-exist with fear in our hearts if we are to enter into His spiritual kingdom of peace, joy, love, and righteousness. We seek God to swallow up our fear, building a complete trust in Him that brings lasting peace.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:4 NIV

We need to persist in modeling and influencing our brothers and sisters to see the truth of God in overcoming all of our enemies, without and within. It does not say we must wait for these changes to happen after we die. We are changed as we walk and talk with Him. We are enabled to speak the truth in love despite rejection or persecution. We share the Good News of the Kingdom, boldly risking being markedly different from the majority.

Thousands of martyrs of old have done just that, despite torture and evil from others who were threatened by their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They stood against the Romans who tortured and killed them for entertainment. They clung to the simple gospel of Christ, resisting what church leaders added as man’s requirements to enter in. They challenged religious leaders to show them in the scriptures where their church laws were found. None could scripturally support any religious requirements added to Jesus’ word. They lost their very lives for doing so, dying while, like Jesus, asking God to forgive their enemies.

The Lord does delight in us, His called and chosen people. He uses the willing and obedient to aid the rest of us in entering fully into the spiritual land He has promised us. People are unaware of God’s kingdom within, that His kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy is here, available now to those with faith who surrender to His ways.

Do we need to be reminded that the Lord is with us? That our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered all things on our behalf? That He has conquered death, sin, and the devil? That the battle is not ours but His? What a formidable internal enemy fear is. Only our Lord can fully conquer it. No matter what we see and hear about what is coming on the earth in this hour, we are not to be afraid.

We do need to be reminded Who holds the keys of death and hell, Who has already gained the victory for us, Who is interceding against the enemy of our souls, Who is giving us the victory though it is yet to be fully evident! We must speak these truths to each other to stir up our most holy faith. Jesus Christ our Lord is ever interceding on our behalf, personally and for His people. We can learn to dwell in Him and rest in His care and provision.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.” Psalm 91:1-8 NIV

We visualize Father God covering us under the wings of His spirit, protecting us from all harm. He is truly our refuge and strength from all darkness around us. We have the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are learning to walk more and more fully into all that He accomplished. He is our high tower, our stronghold, our ever-present defender against the dark, evil forces all around us.

There is a spirit of darkness dwelling in negative words about God and the future of those He loves. It matters what we confess, as the negativity of darkness is contagious. Ask any coach of team sports what happens when members of their team, and in particular the leadership, adopt a negative, defeatist attitude.When a spirit of negativity and defeat takes over any group, the leadership has quite a challenge to rebuild faith and confidence in the outcome.

This is true in any organization, workplace, family, or gathering. It’s difficult to achieve success when a negative, fearful spirit takes over a group. It was true for the Israelites, and it is true for us, His called and chosen people in this era. We are to sustain our confidence in our God:

“Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36 ESV

We are to have confident assurance in our God regardless of what surrounds us in this world. He hides us in His spiritual presence. We are lights shining in this present darkness and, oh, how the world needs us to be just that! Can it be clearer that the way of life in the kingdom of God is through faith in God and all of His promises? All negative, fearful things, especially those used to keep power and control over God’s people, will eventually be destroyed by God as death is swallowed up by life.

We have yet to see this perfected, but faith, as Abraham, the father of our faith, is needed:

“As it is written, I have made thee [Abraham] a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17 KJV

Abraham’s faith pleased the Lord because he believed what God said, though he did not yet see it. Ever wonder why God seems to allow the very things we fear to come upon us in trials and tribulations? He is teaching us to look to Him, to trust Him, not to what we see and hear and understand of this world. God has allowed fearful things to come upon us so that we become strong in our trust in Him.

He swallows up fear of death with His everlasting light. We do not have to join the crowd of naysayers bemoaning the state of humanity in this world. We keep our eyes upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, pursuing the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, along with our beloved brother, the Apostle Paul.

In the Old Testament, God destroyed the people because of their unbelief, not because of the strength and power of their enemies. He remains capable of removing the disobedient if they will not repent of their failure to preach the truth of His word. This is particularly true for leaders who are fearful and won’t go in themselves, thus blocking the way for their followers.

God lifts the anointing of His presence, extinguishes the light of their candlestick, and reveals the lack of godly power in their words. For the called and chosen of His people, however, He creates faithfulness now, through Jesus Christ. He is destroying our enemies within us by the refining fire of His presence, writing His truth in our new hearts, no longer stony, as Ezekiel prophesied centuries ago:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV

He did this very thing when Jesus Christ rose again and came back as the Spirit to dwell within us. Even little children learn to say “I have Jesus in my heart” with complete faith that it is so. He knows we are subject to vanity, unable to do anything to become righteous ourselves. Aren’t you glad that we are His workmanship, that He does in us what our flesh can never do? His promises are eternal and will be fulfilled.

Watchmen upon the wall are eagle-eyed in warning of the enemy while having faith that God will conquer all our enemies in our Land of Promise. Kingdom living is righteousness, peace, joy, and love. He will accomplish His will and purpose. Now is the time to hope, pray, and believe Him. Oh, how we need to see the sons of God revealing the Christ within, led by the spirit, joining spiritual Zion to bring about change for all.

“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You--in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].

Trust [confidently] in the LORD forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].” Isaiah 26:3-4 AMP