Intensity

The intensity of world events is clearly increasing. Our knowledge of what is happening worldwide can be overwhelming. Because we have 24-hour news coverage, the internet, and a much "flatter" world in the last 20 years, we know in near-real time what is happening in the furthest corners of the earth. While this is amazing, it can also feel very negative. The state of the world, as reported to us, is increasingly negative. Darkness is increasing, but so is light. Jesus promised that the "wheat" (light/righteousness) and the tares (darkness/sin) would mature together until the end:


Matthew 13:24-30 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”


As Jesus lifts His hand of restraint from the world system, and allows mankind to have what it really wants, sin will mature. Darkness is going to a level we really would have had a hard time imagining even 10 years ago. The Bible says four satanic "strongholds" will increase in this generation. We can see it already happening now:


Revelation 9:21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.


Random shooting violence is one of the most obvious pieces of evidence for this. Guns are not the problem, an increase in agreement with demons on the part of mankind is. Sexual immorality is growing at unprecedented levels. The news reported over 10,000 prostitutes were brought to the Superbowl this year because demand for their services is so high. Human trafficking is the worlds fastest growing crime, statistically. Our kids are fed a steady diet of witchcraft and sorcery in the their shows and books and are now mostly desensitized to it. This is the primary means, agreement with demonic strongholds, that darkness will increase. Identity theft, credit card fraud, robbery...these things are all increasing exponentially right now.


While the Bible says this must happen, the Bible is also clear that the Church is not without a HUGE role in this time. The name of Jesus has not, and never will, lose one degree of power over darkness! Jesus told His followers:


Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”


Where darkness increases, the Bible says light...the Bride...should respond with authority. Anywhere we see darkness, we are supposed to be resisting it in Jesus' powerful name!


James 4:7-8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.


The first thing we must do...Resisting 101... should be not agreeing with darkness in our lives in the first place! God isn't demanding perfection, but He is requiring agreement with Him about right and wrong. He gives grace to obey, not grace to continue in rebellion.


As we agree with God about what is right, we also need to assert our authority against darkness. Darkness takes many forms. The strongholds mentioned in Revelation 9: murder, theft, sorcery, immorality...but also sickness, poverty, anger, pride, depression, anxiety, rebellion, hate, revenge...look around! darkness is pretty easy to spot. We are not intended to live powerlessly in the midst of this rising tide of darkness. The Church is supposed to resist and cause the enemy to flee. We resist with our active words: "sickness leave now in the name of Jesus." "Spirit that brings a vengeful attitude, leave now in Jesus name." "Depression leave now, in the name of Jesus."


The more we resist darkness, the more darkness must flee. The less we resist darkness, the less darkness must flee. It really is that simple. We complicate it, because we aren't sure it will really work, or we don't want to say the words and have nothing happen. God didn't say we are responsible for the results...we are responsible to do our part, and He is responsible to do His. Taking our part and actively exercising our mouth against darkness is agreeing with God. It is His power behind our authority. His plan determines exactly what we results we see with our eyes or hear with our ears, but the truth is: we resist the enemy and heaven moves whether we see it or not. We resist, satan flees.


There is a principle in the Bible that is essential to understand: if we are faithful in the initial stages, we are given more authority, if we aren't faithful with a little, we will never see more. This is because God never forces more of His kingdom on us. Because of love, a response of faith on our part will always be required. Waiting until we have some observable measure of power should not be an option...we resist now, and more is given to us. At first results may, or may not, be tangible. If we will be faithful to resist whenever we see darkness, eventually results WILL be tangible, but agreeing with God isn't conditional on knowing when it will work. Obedience is simply resisting because Jesus said to!


Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’


If I get a cold, I may decide to get more rest, take some vitamin C, drink extra water...these are fine and good, but if I never resist the sickness with my words ("sickness, go now in Jesus name") then I have not been faithful in the little things. I shouldn't really be expecting more victory over darkness if I won't even tackle the small things. If I see anger rising up in a coworker and I just become a spectator and never take authority over anger...even in a whisper...then I haven't been faithful in little.


We are surrounded by increasing darkness. We can complain, join a group, write a letter to our congressman, say "I'll pray for you" without actually praying, give money to a charity...satan doesn't mind any of these things....but hell is TERRIFIED of the Church waking up and actively resisting darkness everywhere we see it. On tv, at the grocery store, at home, at work, at school... we have authority over every thing that disagrees with God! If everyone who believed in the power in Jesus' name took authority today and resisted even three or four expressions of darkness with our words...even in a whisper only heaven hears... I guarantee our city would be a dramatically better place today!