We Need Christmas Because We Have A Problem With Darkness Series

WE NEED CHRISTMAS BECAUSE MAN HAS A PROBLEM WITH DARKNESS

Colossians 1:13 (NIV) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) 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.

John 1:1-5 (NIV) 1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was with God in the beginning. 3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 3:19 (NIV) This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

John 8:12 (NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

I. CHRIST CAME TO PERSONIFY THE LIGHT TO THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW HIM

John 1:1-5 (NIV) 1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was with God in the beginning. 3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4  In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

a. THE LIGHT THAT GOD GAVE TO MAN WAS NOT UNDERSTOOD

i. KATALAMBANO – TO POSSES AS ONES OWN, TAKE POSSESSION OF

b. LIGHT AND DARKNESS COEXIST IN OUR WORLD WITH EACH OTHER

i. AN ETERNAL STRUGGLE

ii. LIGHT DOES NOT BANISH DARKNESS

iii. DARKNESS DOES NOT OVER POWER THE LIGHT

c. THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD KNOWS THE LIGHT OF GOD ALL TOO WELL

i. DEMONS CRIED OUT CONCERNING THE BUSINESS JESUS HAD WITH THEM

ii. JESUS CAST OUT DEMONS AND FORBID THEM TO SPEAK BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHO HE WAS

iii. JAMES WOULD ALLUDE TO THE KNOWLEDGE DEMONS HAD OF JESUS. THEIR KNOWLEDGE BROUGHT THE TO SHUDDER

d. IN THE TEXT, THE WORD DARKNESS IS ALMOST PERSONIFIED

i. THINGS DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR NOT UNDERSTAND.

ii. ONLY PEOPLE HAVE THE QUALITY OF UNDERSTANDING

e. MAN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE LIGHT OF GOD BECAUSE ITS MEANING IS HIDDEN

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Proverbs 4:19 (NIV) But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Psalm 82:5 (NIV) "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

i. SATAN UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIGHT OF GOD

ii. SATAN ACTIVELY SEEKS TO KEEP MEN BLIND TO THE LIGHT OF GOD

iii. SATAN HAS BEEN VERY GOOD AT TAKING WHAT GOD USED TO REVEAL HIMSELF BEFORE JESUS AND TURNING IT AROUND.

1. THE BOOK OF ROMANS SPEAKS ABOUT MAN WORSHIPPING THE CREATED OVER OR INSTEAD OF THE CREATOR.

a. IDOLS OF WOOD AND STONE

b. NATURE

c. EVOLUTION

2. AND BY ACTION DENYING THE IMAGE OF GOD BY THEIR ACTIONS

a. ABORTION

b. EUTHANASIA

f. THE LIGHT COULD NOT BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD UNTIL THE INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Romans 1:20 (NIV) For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

i. THE NATURE OF LIGHT IS TO DISPEL DARKNESS

ii. SATAN CAN RESIST THE LIGHT, BUT WILL NEVER OVERCOME IT

iii. DARKNESS REPRESENTS DEATH, IGNORANCE, SIN, AND SEPARATION FROM GOD

g. SATAN’S PRIMARY TASK WITH THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW CHRIST IS TO KEEP THEM IN DARKNESS

i. FALSE RELIGION

ii. PHILOSOPHY

iii. SATANISM

iv. EVERY OTHER ISM

h. LIGHT PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE

i. MAKES THE DARKNESS FELT

ii. LEAVES MAN WITH TWO CHOICES

1. EMBRACE THE LIGHT

2. EXTINGUISH THE LIGHT

John 3:20 (NIV)

20  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.