Ephesians 6:12 – Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the ruler of this world, the darkness of this age, against the spiritual iniquity in the heavens.
Part 3 ~ Liberation From And Victory Over Darkness
Darkness is a place of judgment. When Satan rebelled against God, he was cast out of the presence of God. Satan rules in the realm of darkness and chaos. The judgment of darkness came also upon men when Adam and Eve listened to the voice of Satan and died (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13). The death that came upon Adam and Eve separated them from the life and light in God, and they found themselves confined to a realm where iniquity ruled supremely. The darkness hides the glory of God and blinds the eyes and minds of men from seeing and knowing God (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:35; 1 John 2:11).
In this darkness, God is absent and His goodness unseen. Mankind has grown so accustomed to the darkness that when the light, Christ Jesus, came into the world, men loved the darkness rather than the light because they loved the evil (John 3:19; 1 John 2:15-17). Jesus came to deliver mankind from death and darkness, inviting all to come and follow Him into the light of life (John 8:12). Through Christ Jesus, we are given power over darkness and the ruler of the darkness, so that mankind’s eyes can be opened, and they can be turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:18).
We must recognize that darkness is a realm of the demonic, a holding place for those whose judgment is eternal death. With joy and resolve we should cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light (Romans 13:12). There should be nothing more precious to us than knowing and exercising our freedom to walk in the light of life. Fellowship with the darkness of death should be the last thing any liberated child of God should want to return to (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Those of us who were once in darkness, but are now light, must be willing to walk in the light (Ephesians 5:8; 1 John 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Matthew 5:14).
We must decide whose side we are on and what realm we live in. God has translated us from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of the Dear Son; but if we say we know Him and have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie (Colossians 1:13; 1 John 1:5). We should rejoice in our liberation from death and darkness, and have no desire to return to the prison of condemnation (1 Peter 2:9; Jude 13).
Blessings,
Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
