Explores finding God's presence in our darkest moments, standing firm in faith during adversity, and drawing strength from His divine guidance.
Greetings, beloved congregation! We find ourselves gathered together once more, not by chance or by circumstance, but by the purposeful design of our Heavenly Father. He has called us together, in this sacred space and time, to seek His face, to know His heart, and to understand His Word.
Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the very beginning of all things, the foundation of our faith, the genesis of Genesis. We find ourselves standing at the precipice of creation itself, peering into the profound mystery of a world not yet formed, a world shrouded in darkness. It's a place that might seem, at first glance, to be void of hope. But, as we will see, it is in this very darkness that the light of God's love first begins to shine.
Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher of the 19th century, once said, "I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." This quote reminds us that even in the midst of the deepest darkness, God's presence and power are at work. Even when we are tossed about by the waves of life, it is God who is our firm foundation. It is God who brings us through the darkness and into His marvelous light.
In the beginning, there was darkness. It's a simple statement, yet it holds a profound truth. Before the world as we know it came into existence, before the first ray of sunlight pierced the void, there was darkness. But this darkness was not empty, nor was it devoid of purpose. It was in this darkness that God's Spirit moved, that His creative power was at work. This is the first glimpse we get of God in the Scriptures - a God who is not afraid of the dark, a God who is present even in the midst of nothingness.
He is found all around: This is a comforting thought, isn't it? To know that our God is not a God who is distant or detached. He is not a God who is only found in the light, in the places that are easy to see and understand. No, our God is a God who is present in the darkness, who is at work in the unseen places of our world and our lives.
But what does this mean for us? How does this truth impact our lives today? Let's consider this in four different ways.
Firstly: We must understand that darkness is not synonymous with evil. In our human understanding, we often equate darkness with something negative or bad. But in the biblical context, darkness is simply a state of being, a part of creation. It is a canvas upon which God paints the masterpiece of His creation. It's a stage set for the grand drama of life to unfold. It's a womb where new life is nurtured and formed. Darkness, in and of itself, is not evil. It's a part of God's creation, and He is sovereign over it.
Secondly: We need to recognize that God is present in the darkness. The Scripture tells us that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. He was there, in the midst of the darkness, before anything else existed. This tells us that there is no place, no situation, no circumstance that is beyond God's reach. He is there, even in the darkest moments of our lives, even when we can't see Him or feel His presence.
Thirdly: We should remember that God works in the darkness. The first act of creation was God speaking light into the darkness. But before He did that, He was there, in the darkness, preparing, planning, working. This reminds us that even when we can't see what God is doing, even when we don't understand His ways, He is at work. He is preparing, planning, working for our good and His glory.
Fourthly: We must realize that God uses the darkness to reveal His light. It was against the backdrop of darkness that the first light shone. It was in contrast to the darkness that the light was seen as good. This shows us that God often uses the dark times in our lives, the difficult seasons, the trials and tribulations, to reveal His light, His goodness, His grace.
As we move forward, we find ourselves in a place of uncertainty, a place that may seem devoid of hope ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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