Friday, July 21, 2023

A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call to Come Out of Darkness

 


    1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. 

    What is this darkness out of which we were called? It is spiritual darkness. It is the darkness of thought and heart where the 'marvellous light' --the light of Christ Jesus--has not yet shined upon. 
    Figuratively speaking, it is the principle of sin and sin's results. Literally speaking, it is the outer darkness where sin reigns. It is outside of God's holiness and therefore cannot be in God's presence. 
    But we who choose to answer the call to salvation through Jesus Christ are brought into His marvellous light. 
OUR FAITH + HIS GRACE = ETERNAL LIFE
    This darkness out of which we have been delivered blinds the eyes of the heart and is the veil which prevents the light from entering the mind and its thoughts. We who now believe once stumbled in the dark in ignorance believing that the lies from the devil and being satisfied in them. 
    What lies? For example: "Everybody's doing it." Everybody was not doing it, whatever the "it" was when the devil tempted us to do it and we gave in. "All roads lead to God." All roads do not lead to God. There is only one Way to God and that is the Way of Holiness. It is an old path, a narrow path: few find it. 
    Wherever negativity is, Satan is; stirring up trouble and instigating wickedness. As he stirred up the mob, who shouted to crucify Christ (Matthew 27:22,23).
    Ephesians 6:12 tells us darkness has rulers and that the believer fights spiritual battles against them: 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.'


    1 John 4:4 encourages God's people in God's Word that "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." When we consider this verse we realize that God is referring to the god of this world, to Satan, and to Satan's minions (spirits of antichrist {see verse 3}). 
    In us we have The Holy Spirit of God, Who was sent to us after Christ left, having ascended into heaven to be with His Father. The Holy Spirit of God leads us along the Way of Holiness, drawing us ever closer to the Marvellous Light of God's Love. 
    I am so thankful I answered the call to leave the darkness and step into the Light. Now that I am no longer living in the darkness of this world, I can see the hand of God everywhere and I know His voice. 

Here I Am To Worship/The Call - Hillsong Worship
Good, Good Father - Chris Tomlin
Living Waters - Hlengiwe Mhlaba
Spirit Lead Me - Michael Ketterer
I See The Lord - Lindell Cooley