January 17th, 2025
by Steve Marshall
by Steve Marshall
Church Family:
Here is your one question test for today. Do you pursue walking in darkness or walking in light (1 John 1:5-6)? Your answer will reveal fruit of having fellowship with Jesus Christ unto eternal life or not (1 John 5:13). Don’t forget that walking in the light of Christ is not a means of gaining fellowship with God; instead, because of the fellowship that we possess by faith in Christ we walk in the light of Christ. Christianity requires us to pursue a life devoted to holiness and righteousness (1 John 1:5-2:1; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Heb. 12:10-17). John the Apostle, does not sugar-coat his statements in his letter of 1 John, so let's ask three more questions so that we can accurately answer the one stated above.
What is spiritual “darkness?” Darkness is used in Scripture to explain many things, but John is speaking here of a darkness which is a spiritual blindness (Eph. 4:18) which describes those who are "darkened in their understanding" and "alienated from the life of God" because of the ignorance that is in them. As Christians, we were once so living in darkness that we were blinded to the truth. "The God of this world" had blinded our spiritual eyes, so that we did not see the light of His glorious Gospel and therefore we pursued darkness. Darkness also frequently represents Satan and his mysterious spiritual influence that he wields upon the human mind. He is called "the Prince of Darkness" (Eph. 2:2, 6:12). Darkness seems to be an accurate description of where he thrives most, in darkness. Are there things that you do in darkness or hide in darkness? Sin is also a tremendous moral and spiritual darkness (Eph. 5:11) that when we pursue it spreads over the human mind and soul unto death (Jam. 1:14-15). God is the "Father of Lights," but Satan seems to be the father of misery, despair, ignorance, sin and darkness.
What is spiritual “light?” God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus is the light of God that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him. Jesus is the true light, which gives light to everyone, He has come into the world (John 1:5, 9). Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the light shining in the darkness and He is never overcome by the darkness (John 1:4–5). Jesus declares Himself to be the light of the world and so whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus has come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Him may not remain in darkness (John 12:46). When John says that “God is light,” with no darkness in Him at all, he is saying that God is holy, morally perfect as manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and we are called to be living a holy life as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16)
What is "walking?" When Scripture speaks of us “walking” it is getting us to consider what we are deliberately pursuing? Are we pursuing darkness or light, sin or holiness? What we deliberately pursue in our heart controls our thinking which then determines where we go, what we see, what we say, who we hang out with, and what we consume. Deliberately, actively pursuing darkness and unholiness makes fellowship with the God of light impossible. John tells us that if we say that we have fellowship with Jesus, the light of this world, yet we walk in darkness, we are lying to ourselves and not practicing the truth (John 1:6).
Where do you spend most of your day? Are you deliberately walking in darkness under the power of sin and Satan or walking in obedience to the light of Jesus Christ that has been manifested to us?
Jesus is not afraid of the dark! Christ delivers us from the power of darkness. We are still tempted by sin but we are not sin’s slave. We are still tempted by Satan, but we are not under his power! Jesus conquered the darkness, which means that you too can overcome the darkness in this world (1 John 4:4). If we have put our faith in Christ, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
See you Sunday, walking in the light: Steve
Here is your one question test for today. Do you pursue walking in darkness or walking in light (1 John 1:5-6)? Your answer will reveal fruit of having fellowship with Jesus Christ unto eternal life or not (1 John 5:13). Don’t forget that walking in the light of Christ is not a means of gaining fellowship with God; instead, because of the fellowship that we possess by faith in Christ we walk in the light of Christ. Christianity requires us to pursue a life devoted to holiness and righteousness (1 John 1:5-2:1; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Heb. 12:10-17). John the Apostle, does not sugar-coat his statements in his letter of 1 John, so let's ask three more questions so that we can accurately answer the one stated above.
What is spiritual “darkness?” Darkness is used in Scripture to explain many things, but John is speaking here of a darkness which is a spiritual blindness (Eph. 4:18) which describes those who are "darkened in their understanding" and "alienated from the life of God" because of the ignorance that is in them. As Christians, we were once so living in darkness that we were blinded to the truth. "The God of this world" had blinded our spiritual eyes, so that we did not see the light of His glorious Gospel and therefore we pursued darkness. Darkness also frequently represents Satan and his mysterious spiritual influence that he wields upon the human mind. He is called "the Prince of Darkness" (Eph. 2:2, 6:12). Darkness seems to be an accurate description of where he thrives most, in darkness. Are there things that you do in darkness or hide in darkness? Sin is also a tremendous moral and spiritual darkness (Eph. 5:11) that when we pursue it spreads over the human mind and soul unto death (Jam. 1:14-15). God is the "Father of Lights," but Satan seems to be the father of misery, despair, ignorance, sin and darkness.
What is spiritual “light?” God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus is the light of God that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome Him. Jesus is the true light, which gives light to everyone, He has come into the world (John 1:5, 9). Jesus is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the light shining in the darkness and He is never overcome by the darkness (John 1:4–5). Jesus declares Himself to be the light of the world and so whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus has come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in Him may not remain in darkness (John 12:46). When John says that “God is light,” with no darkness in Him at all, he is saying that God is holy, morally perfect as manifested in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and we are called to be living a holy life as He is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-16)
What is "walking?" When Scripture speaks of us “walking” it is getting us to consider what we are deliberately pursuing? Are we pursuing darkness or light, sin or holiness? What we deliberately pursue in our heart controls our thinking which then determines where we go, what we see, what we say, who we hang out with, and what we consume. Deliberately, actively pursuing darkness and unholiness makes fellowship with the God of light impossible. John tells us that if we say that we have fellowship with Jesus, the light of this world, yet we walk in darkness, we are lying to ourselves and not practicing the truth (John 1:6).
Where do you spend most of your day? Are you deliberately walking in darkness under the power of sin and Satan or walking in obedience to the light of Jesus Christ that has been manifested to us?
Jesus is not afraid of the dark! Christ delivers us from the power of darkness. We are still tempted by sin but we are not sin’s slave. We are still tempted by Satan, but we are not under his power! Jesus conquered the darkness, which means that you too can overcome the darkness in this world (1 John 4:4). If we have put our faith in Christ, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6).
See you Sunday, walking in the light: Steve
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
2023
March
Hebrews 10:24-25Psalm 32Psalm 1Like A Tree...He is our SHIELD, our GLORY, and the LIFTER of our head...No Longer Live For Themselves...We worship a LORD who wants our words, meditations and cries...The goal of all things in each moment everywhere...A stronghold in times of trouble!God keeps you as the little man in His eye.And who is a Rock, except our God?His way is perfect. Always. Forever.The LORD restores your soul perfectly."Whatever the Lord does" is beautiful.The LORD's perfect law will REVIVE your soul.100% Wisdom guaranteed!Come and Claim Your Great Reward.Fit for the Kingdom of GodFaithful Prayer brings Faithful Power - God's power.Remembering the Good in Good Friday - Good Friday TimelineFind God's Glory in Every StoryDenying Self Remains Our Call Even During a PandemicCome together in Prayer and Fasting - Wednesday evening to Thursday evening5:13pm Daily - Powerfully Praying TogetherHave you noticed? Can you see it?None of this is meaningless!Grace Community Church's Mitigation Strategy for COVID-19Do not fear; Only believe!Why Demons... today? For God's greatness to be seen more clearly everyday.Having Faith vs. Engaging FaithWhat does your heart hear? - With a hardness, shallowness, thorniness or goodness?Know Your Sins - Know His ForgivenessDoubt your doubts... not Jesus.Compassion Costs Us Something - Invest Your CompassionWonder twin powers - activate! Faith and The Word of GodHoliness is something we are to do because of what we already are - Holy.Boasting in our arrogance in 2020 vs. Resting in God's Providence in 2020Does the start of 2020 find you spiritually renewed or spiritually sleepy?Satan never saw it coming... the IncarnationWhen do you forgive someone's grievous sin against you?Are you a Peacemaker or a Peacefaker?What does gratitude look like today?We Grieve with HopeFear wants to be your boss. God says, nope...What does your anger look like? What is your anger saying?
Categories
no categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments