Rsbc
Feb 1st. 2004
Sunday Morning
Subject: “ Darkness”
Text: Matt 8:11-12
Intro: Jesus used this particular term two other times in his preaching. This one is associated with Israel not seeing the light of the Messiah, and not having faith...
In another parable Jesus used it Matthew 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The unprofitable servant: Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
As I began to make preparation for this message I copied all the verses in the Bible into a format and read all them. There was 142 verses that mention darkness in one way or another. (1.) Sometimes darkness is related to GOD: Exodus 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God [was]. (2.) When Joshua was dying and giving his farewell speech he said this about darkness: Joshua 24:7 And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
I... “ THE WAYS OF DARKNESS”
Solomon that great man of wisdom said: Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
1st. They are deceitful ways...Proverbs 4:19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
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2nd. To walk in the ways of darkness is to be called a fool by the Bible: Ecclesiastes 2:14 The wise man's eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
The Rick farmer is a classic example of a man that walks in the ways of darkness...Luke 12:16‑20 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry. 20 But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Keep in mind the ways of darkness will eventually lead to outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
II... “DARKNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SORROW:
The great picture that Isaiah painted concerning darkness is revealed in two places of his writings..
Isaiah 5:30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if [one] look unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.
Isaiah 8:22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.
The pending of judgement of God is predicted here, and yet most scoff at it as though it some wives tale of a preacher who doesn’t know what he is talking about.
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Once the cry of Isaiah Isaiah 65:14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
III... “ THE GREAT DARKNESS OF THE HEART”...
Jesus was preaching and this is what he said about this darkened heart of the sinners who are unsaved..
Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!
It is great believe me. It so great that it causes sinners to see no wrong, feel no wrong, Oh yes, they may feel some remorse for a little bit but that wares off quick.
1st. Sinners are said to love darkness: John 3:18‑19 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
2nd. Sinners in this darkened state manifest their sins openly and unashamedly..
Romans 3:9-19
These verses leave not one sinner out, not one who is born of Adam’s race can congratulate himself in the eyes of God..What an indictment from the Lord upon sinners who are in darkness today...
IV... “ THE OUTER DARKNESS IS THE ABODE OF THE LOST WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SAVED...
Three times the Lord speaks of casting men into outer darkness. The horribleness of this is beyond me. It is not easy to think of, especially if you know someone is lost and in danger of going there.
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1st. The fallen angels are chained in this outer darkness...2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2nd. This darkness is forever: 2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
Jude 1:11-13
V... “ THE GREAT DARKNESS OF CALVARY THAT CHRIST SUFFERED”.
Matthew 27:45‑46 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
This internal and external suffering of Christ paid the debt of sin forever. He settle what no other could do. This suffering in the darkness of hell itself, that is taking our hell, our punishment, our all for his all was without doubt the most painful of all the sufferings of Christ...
It was here he was made to be sin who knew no sin..
It was here that divine justice was satisfied pacifying the Father..
It was here that his love was demonstrated in action for the vilest of sinners.
It was here that his mercy and compassion was lent out for us..
It was here that he became the suffering son of God for all our needs..
It was here that he was made a spectacle to the world of mockers..
It was here that he won the great victory when he cried it is finished.
It was here that he defeated and destroyed the devil..
What do you see when you see calvary, do you see a wooden structure, a wooden t-bar, or do you see Christ dying in your place...
VI... “ THE HOPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN DARKNESS THIS MORNING MUST NOT BE LEFT OUT”...
The promise of Christ..
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John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Can you follow Christ today? Has he put it in your heart to give up, to look up, to surrender to him. I trust that he has opened you up to this today. Again listen to Jesus...
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Four things and I am through..
1st. The forcefulness of God’s light into the dark heart:
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2nd. The power of God’s light delivering us..
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
3rd. The great hope that he has given to those who are in darkness:
Isaiah the prophet said many years ago...Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
When Jesus came this verse was literally fulfilled..Matthew 4:15‑16 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
4th. Christ is calling from darkness:
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Peter said we were examples of that wonderful calling!
1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Harry D Clarke wrote the hymn “Come, Ye sinners, Poor and Needy” which speaks volumes to sinners... the first verse says...Come ye sinners poor and needy, Weak and wounded sick and sore, Jesus ready stands to save you, full of pity, love and power”
Matthew 11:28‑30 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.