The Bible speaks of two kingdoms, the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Every person is in one of those kingdoms or the other. No one can straddle the fence. Those two kingdoms are in conflict. There is a battle raging between these two kingdoms that has gone on since man was created.
What does that have to do with you? Whether we like it or not, you and I are trapped in the war zone between these two kingdoms. In fact, we are either on one side or the other. The problem is that most people have no idea that any type of conflict is going on between these spiritual kingdoms. Many people see the world in shades of gray, rather than the contrast the Bible teaches between light and darkness. The result is that many people’s lives are being destroyed and short circuited by forces and conflicts they either don’t believe in or don’t understand.
I want to talk about “Understanding The Darkness.” Let’s gain some insight about what the dark side is all about from God’s words to Paul.
NIV Acts 26:17-18 I am sending you to them [the Gentiles] to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins.
So we see that people are in darkness and need to be rescued. The dark kingdom is ruled by the power of Satan, whereas the kingdom of light is God’s kingdom. Unfortunately, the majority of people in America no longer believe in the existence of Satan. So they are incredibly naïve about the dark side and it’s power. People just think that they are dealing with evil people, rather than with any evil power behind them. They’re wrong.
NIV Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Your real struggles in life are not ultimately with people, but against the powers of this dark world, against spiritual forces of evil. When you begin to understand who the real enemy is, it simplifies life and makes you much more effective in dealing with the struggles of life. In this message series, we are looking at the ancient book of Esther from the Old Testament, but we are looking at it through the lens of the New Testament. Jesus said of Himself …
NIV John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Jesus showed us the forces behind the darkness and how to defeat them through His power. So let’s look again at the book of Esther.
Listen to my March 14, 2010 message “Understanding the Darkness” (message-notes).