STALKING THE DARKNESS 10 SIGNS OF A NOBLE CITY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF KINGDOM: 1) The city is safe; there is a sense of well-being. 2) The city is prospering; businesses are thriving, the economy is growing, and there are plenty of good paying jobs for everyone who wants to work. 3) The educational institutions are excellent. 4) There is a positive spiritual climate in the community. 5) The morale of the city is great. 6) The medical community is well equipped and staffed. 7) There is healthy recreation and entertainment in the city. 8) The local government is honest, wise, forward thinking, and noble. 9) The poor and homeless are given care by all the citizens of a noble city. 10) The city has a noble identity and a deep sense of purpose that are infused into the DNA of its constituents. THIS IS WHAT A LIGHTED CITY LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A LIE SO DEMONICALLY DESTRUCTIVE THAT IT HAS LITERALLY REWRITTEN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. This Lie actually undermines the destiny of nations, decommissions the weapons of our warfare, and derails the great commission. 1
WHAT S THE LIE? In the last day s the church will get brighter and brighter while the world gets darker and darker! MATTHEW 5:14 16 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 2 TIMOTHY 3:1 9 Realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. NOTE: HOLDING TO A FORM OF GODLINESS, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE DENIED ITS POWER. Not a description of the world. In other words, the light went out in the Church and that s the reason the world got dark. ISAIAH 60:1 3 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you 2
and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. The connotation is the dissension of the people of God was responsible for the deep darkness in the first place! MATTHEW 6:23 If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! IF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD What happens to the world when believers turn off the lights and pull down the shades? IF WE ARE GOING TO BE A FORCE OF HOPE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WE MUST DITCH THE PASSIVITY THE PEACE OF GOD DOES SURPASS ALL UNDERSTANDING BUT Peace isn t the Absence of Conflict but is an Aggressive weapon Peace enforces Security, Protection and Well-Being Jesus commanded the storm Peace, be Still. DARKNESS IS NOT FORCING THE LIGHT OUT It s light that is stalking the darkness! The Goodness of God is overwhelming evil The Power of the Spirit is displacing the powers of darkness. 3
THE CHURCH DID NOT BEGIN WITH THE ABC FOCUS Attendance, Buildings and Cash. These are not True indicators of Spirituality. TRUE DISCIPLES OF JESUS ARE LOSING THE TASTE FOR THE SHALLOW AND SUPERFICIAL They are tired of the hype, greed, religious politics and a Hollywood Jesus. DISCIPLES ARE LOOKING FOR DEPTH IN THE WORD AND IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS A free-flowing move of the Spirit Looking for Numinosity (Supernatural on Men, objects, places - Peter s Shadow) For personal empowerment and - Leadership that does not play political games. JOHN 12:35 36 NKJV Walk (advance) while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." MATTHEW 10:8 And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. WHO IS SATAN? He is a Fallen Angel Rose Against God in Pride 4
Headquarters in Atmospheric Region MATTHEW 12:43 45 (NKJV) When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return to my house from which I came. And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation. Claims us as His House Seek to make man what they are 1 JOHN 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. JOHN 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. MATTHEW 5:14 You are the light of the world WHEN HIS LIGHT ILLUMINATES YOU Darkness has to flee We have Dominion over Demonic Powers & Darkness We can bring Light (Revelation) 5
THE CHURCH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DARKNESS OF ITS TIME. We are to Shine Drive out Darkness & Ignorance WHAT CAN YOU DO TO LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTER THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW? 6