The Discipline of Darkness - 4 — Jack Hibbs

The Discipline of Darkness and the Call to Advance

Disciplines of darkness. What about. And what causes so often our Christian experience to be hindered or in a sense retarded in its advancement. Rather than going forward we begin to slip back. Or what about our walks and how they're challenged.

And listen. Just because you may be going through a dark time as a bad place we need to understand that tonight. Isaiah and Matthew. Matthew chapter 28. Looking at verse 18 to verse 20. It is the very theme of this series.

Jesus is going to speak to us in a moment it says there. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying that is all of the disciples and the Apostles. He said all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I've commanded you and behold I am with you always even to the end of the world.

And that's what we're doing right now. In fact every time we do come together in the Bible that's exactly what we're doing now. Flip on over to Isaiah chapter 50. Isaiah 50 verse 10. Isaiah 50 verse 10 says.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servants. Let him. Who walks in the dark. Who has no light. Trust in the name of the Lord and rely on him. Tremendous word. Maybe you remember growing up as a kid I know I do of being afraid of the dark.

Is it just flat-out normal. I think for kids to be afraid of the dark. I I mean I thought I was the only weirdo in my house because I had an older brother and an older sister and they were not about to lead on that.

They were afraid of the dark. I was always the one I have now found out. I was always the baby saying leave the light on. Any of you have young kids that do something like that. None of you. That's great.

So I am the weirdo that's just super. Leave the light on. I wanted the hall light on. Or I wanted the bathroom light on. Or I wanted a nightlight on as a little tiny kid. And there's something about the comfort of a light on.

There's something about darkness that is natural to the human nature that's not good. Man is naturally afraid of the dark mankind. That is. And so again. I just remember growing up thinking about that and being concerned about that.

But I wasn't too far off as a kid about being afraid of the dark. Look in light of this week. And let me tell you was not Sunday afternoon. Awesome. Oh I'm not talking about the salvations and the souls and the worship.

I'm talking about the earthquakes. Whoa man that was something we prayed sat down to eat about five minutes after that everything starts moving and you're the earth is shaking. And I remember way way back in the Sylmar earthquake.

If any of you were around on February 9th 602 a .m. What year was that. Remember nineteen sixty seventy-one. And my goodness I lived in Orange County at the time but everything shook. And from that moment on I remember finding my grandmother's Bible and I remember sleeping with the Bible.

And this is what my logic was. I remember this clearly that if I have a Bible with me and an aftershock hits God will not let me die because I'm holding the Bible. And that's what I honestly thought. And I slept with that Bible for a long long long long time never read it but I slept with it and things that we think of.

Why. Because first of all the Bible talks about darkness. So I wasn't too far off as a little kid being afraid of the dark. The Bible speaks about darkness. The Bible says that there's a great difference between darkness and light.

And so tonight as we talk about these things we need to remember that this is a broad brush approach to the fact that there are things that are dark and sinister. There are things that as a believer we can trip up and get into that is very dark and wrong.

And then there's also the darkness as it were of the soul that comes against us. And we may not have done anything wrong but because in fact we are walking with Jesus and we're drawing close to Jesus I hear it from many of you.

You've come from a church before that didn't teach the Bible and now you're coming here and you're getting the Word of God. And then six months into your time here all these things happen in your life and you're wondering what's going on on the Word of God is being made to be part and fiber of your life.

Trials come. We can say that the the dark night of the soul comes meaning that God seemingly stop speaking to us. We check all the bases we take the pulse. We see that we're doing everything right. But all of a sudden the heavens are like brass.

God where are you. We cry out and there's no answer seemingly he's there. In fact we were actually growing more in those moments than at any other time. And we need to remember that darkness by nature is a fearful thing but the Bible makes it very clear that we can power through it.

The Gospel Turns People From Darkness to Light

Acts chapter 26 verse 18 speaks regarding this and darkness. The Bible says concerning the going forth of the gospel that is to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins.

The Bible speaks about light in darkness the power of Satan and the power of God. And God's motive is all to bring you and I to a saving faith in Christ. And Satan's desire is to keep you blind to the love of God and alienated from God.

Colossians chapter 1 verse 9 says that we ought to be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding that you may walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing him being fruitful in every good work and increasing.

That's the word illumination in the knowledge of God illuminating knowledge. We are to be as Christians increasing. That's why we're here tonight in the middle of the week. We have come in the middle of the week.

We've come from our jobs. We've come from our homes that we might continue to be enlightened. That's what the Holy Spirit does. It's a supernatural thing. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 17 says. Therefore do not be unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is.

So these dark things that we talk about regarding scripture are unavoidable things in life. There are people today who don't know God. They're walking in darkness as the Bible. There are Christians who may have backslid away and they're walking in darkness.

And then there's again the attack against the believer whereby a sense of darkness has come upon us. And yet it's a good thing in the sense that we are advancing. A great quote I want to give you. I read it today.

It says what God has spoken to us in the light. We must never forget in the dark. Is that a great word. What God has spoken to us. What God is speaking to you right now about the relationships or the situations in your life.

What's going on in your life. What God is speaking to you in this sense in the light. Remember it. That's why the Bible says I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not. What church sin against you O Lord.

What God has spoken to you in the light. We'll find out what that means tonight. Remember in the darkness when those dark times come. So look with me number one jot it down in your note-taking if you would it is this that number one that this the disciplines of darkness.

Distinguishing Spiritual Light From Darkness

Number one starts with this that we need to learn the difference between the two. That there is a light and that there is a dark according to the Bible there's a spiritual difference between light and darkness.

Gonna give you a lot of verses tonight. You guys up to it. Are you guys up to it. First John chapter 3 verse 8 says. He who sins is of the devil. The word means he who sins is one who lives a life of sin.

In other words practices. And this is what you live for. You live to rip people off. Or you live for this thing or you live for that thing. And God's not ruling in your life. He who is he who sins of the devil.

For the devil has sinned from the beginning for this purpose the Son of God was manifested. Or that he's come that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever's been born of God does not sin. Now look that's that word again practice.

And you see what I've sinned from time to time. We've all sinned from time to time. This word means to practice a life of sin. In other words it's your lifestyle. So understand that. Well for his seed remains in him.

And verse 9 excuse me. For whoever has been born of God does not sin but his seed remains in him. That is does not practice sin. And he cannot sin because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed or made manifest.

Whoever does not practice righteousness there's that word is not of God. Nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you've heard from the beginning that we should love one another not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.

And why did he murder him. Because his works were evil and his brothers righteous. Do not marvel. My brethren if the world you first John is speaking about a lifestyle practice are you one who dismisses sin easily.

Then you don't have a understanding of the two differences and where they come from regarding God's righteousness and what he wants you to live and act like. Versus Satan's plan to destroy and to deceive Romans chapter 1 verse 18.

For the wrath of God is revealed the word in Greek by the ways the present tense the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth and unrighteousness because what may be known of God is manifest in them.

That's a great statement. That means that God has revealed himself to all people internally the conviction of God's existence. For God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world is invisible attributes are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even as eternal power in Godhead so that they are without excuse.

In other words people who claim to be atheist down deep inside they know they're lying against the truth is remarkable is remarkable. So I don't believe in God in their mind they're wrestling with what they just said because they know down deep inside that they've just spoken untrue.

Anyway I'll keep going though verse 21. Because although they knew God they did not glorify him as God nor were they thankful but became futile in their thoughts and in their foolish hearts were darkened.

Verse 22. Professing to be wise they became fools. Wow. And then this verse. First Corinthians 4 5. First Corinthians chapter 4. Verse 5 says. The Lord will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.

God knows everything. And the difference between the two is monumental. And as Christians we need to learn this. And I gotta tell you right now it's not going to be a popular thing to have yourself taught in the Bible these things.

Because the moment listen the moment you begin to live out a true faith that is alive means that you are going to stand up against the tide of somebody. Hear me out. I need you to be awake tonight. If you take a stand you are going to upset some people.

The Christian does not take a stand to upset people. The Christian takes the stand number one based upon the Bible number two it needs to be rooted in love because there are people who are going to fight against what you believe and they're gonna kick against what you believe.

Just know this. If what you believe is biblical and you are conveying that in love then eventually they will either say no for one last time or they will say yes because they have found out that what you're saying is true.

It's pretty powerful stuff. The light and the dark will always coexist. Understand this as well. You can't have darkness without the presence of light. You see. Wait a minute. That's an oxymoron. If there's light then there's gonna there won't be any darkness.

I understand what you're saying but that's not the context in which I'm saying it. You cannot have light without the possibility of darkness existing in this realm in this world. Now we'll see by the time this message comes to an end that in eternity there is a place where there's absolute darkness.

And there's a place where there's absolute light. And I don't know about you but I'm afraid of the dark. So I know where I'm going. Man that's important. The disciplines of darkness number two is this recognize what's in the dark.

Recognizing Sinful Dangers in the Darkness

What's in the dark. Now the other night our little dogs went off barking. They don't bark much unless somebody's around or something. So they started barking. And I have one of those real powerful light beam things that shine out my backyard.

A handheld thing. Million camp million 1 million candle. What blood lamp. Turn that thing up. You don't dare touch the end. It's hot and I'm looking in the yard. Do we have raccoons that come in our yard and they can hurt little dogs and all that kind of or me and and so I'm looking I'm looking.

I'm looking. I'm looking why. Because I want to know what is in the dark. I don't go looking for what's out there. But when something approaches me or something's making a ruckus. I need to know and recognize what's in the dark according to the Bible what are those things that live out in the dark.

And I'm going to go through this quickly though you I'm sure can fill in the gap. First of all the Bible tells us that it's all manner of sin that lives in the dark and has a a bead on us as it were that we are in its sights as Christians.

Maybe you're a brand-new Christian. You just came to the Lord this last resurrection Sunday and you're here tonight. And you said Jack you know it's only been a few days but I've I've seen this happen and it's like what you said that I would begin to have a mind change.

I'd be thinking different. And I'm here tonight and that's awesome. On the other hand you look you recognize immediately also that there's no a battle with the things that you once did and there's a part of you that still wants to do them.

But now there's a war going on on the inside. First of all I want to welcome you to the family of God because where there once was never a war inside now there's a big war inside. Isn't that beautiful.

Cheer up. You've been blessed by God. What you once never struggled about. When your friends said hey let's go do this. You went all right. I'll dry. Now it's your friends are saying this week hey let's go do this.

And you say I don't think so. And you've even thought about making up some story to not go with them because of the war inside. That war inside is that spirit worn against the flesh. That's a good thing.

So that's in a nutshell things like pride or hatred violence immorality lies gossip all the stuff that is native to the flesh. Now there's a war. We need to recognize what's of the dark Christians. Listen.

I believe not. You per se the church in America by and large cannot even recognize those dangerous sinful dark things that go bump in the nights. Because so many Christians this evening around the world wherever are not rooted in the Bible they can't even recognize any longer or discern what is right or wrong.

And we see Christians in the name of Christianity endorsing things and embracing things that is clearly opposite the Christian doctrine. And yet they think they're doing the right thing. Be careful. Know your Bible.

The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians chapter 5 verse 19 says now the works of the flesh are evident. At least they should be. Which are here they go. Ok let me pause. Right there. What I'm gonna read you right now is in the Bible tonight.

Will you trust God enough to say he's right. Even though even though with what I read you might be involved in doing right now. Listen. This is the cool thing. For example what I'm about to read. If you're involved in any one of those things a your thought will be oh man I can't believe that.

You should stop thinking like that and realize oh God what do I do. Help me see what's the bit. Why. Because you will be choosing to follow the darkness or the light. So the works of the flesh are evident.

Which are these adultery. Now that means having sex with somebody else's husband or wife. And you also are married or one of them. One of the mix is married. God says this is the works of the flesh. This is what people who don't know God do they commit adultery.

Fornication. Fornication is sex or a sexual immorality outside of marriage. Unclean this ungodly conduct. Lewdness dirty things. You could easily put pornography in lewdness idolatry worshipping things.

Finding the word actually means finding your identity in things. Sorcery. Which is an interesting word. Sorcery in the Greek it's the Old English put it a sorcery. And that's totally make sense. If you lived in the 1600s it makes perfect sense because incantations and all was used.

I should say drugs was used with incantations by voodoo witch-doctor type weirdness. But the word is very awesome. And you know it very well in Greek the word appears actually in your Bible. In Galatians 520 you recognize that pharmaceutical or hallucinogenic drugs.

God says that's what the world does. Very powerful thing by the way that unlocks the door into the spirit realm. Hatred. That's hatred to the point of I want to kill that person. And if you could kill him you would.

If you wouldn't if you weren't get caught. You know that feeling. Don't. Oh yes. Now you're so quiet now. This plagues the human heart. Contentions. Always got a fight about something. Jealousies. Outbursts of wrath.

Do we not live in an outburst of wrath. Kind of age. Violence. Set up the YouTube. Set up the camera. I'm gonna beat that guy up. Or like this poor girl who we saw on the news this week where she was put in a coma by someone kicking her with steel boots.

Set up the camera. I'm gonna perpetrate this crime. Unbelievable stuff. The Bible says the works of the flesh is selfish ambitions. That's climbing over people to get to the top for yourself. Gain dissensions.

Breaking relationships up or friends up or against the unity. Heresies false doctrine. Envy murders drunkenness. Revelries. That's wild parties. The word revelries and the like of which I tell you beforehand.

Just also I told you in time past that those who practice these are there's that word. Those who do these things as a lifestyle will not inherit the kingdom of God. Why. How can the Bible say that the Bible simply identifying the works of the flesh.

Which are these. Look at verse 22. But in contrast now we shift from the darkness to the light. But the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace long-suffering kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control.

Against such there's no law meaning that you don't need to. You don't even have to have a law established or posted in front of such person. Because in the internal processes of their hearts heart and mind God's in control.

Church. Did you hear that God is controlling them. So you don't have to watch over them. Our founding fathers said if America ever gets away from a religious understanding then you will have to create more and more laws.

We have more today. Are you listening. We have more laws today than ever and more lawlessness. Laws do not make people righteous. A person deciding to follow God makes a person righteous by faith and a community safe to live in a county safe to live in a nation safe to live in.

Don't think for a moment. Well we need a new law. Well no. We need to stop making laws. We need to enforce the laws we have. And you know what. If I was a dictator of the universe I would have Bibles given to every prisoner.

Okay that ever that goes to jail you got to have a Bible. And oh no call the ACLU. But I would put the Ten Commandments back in class. That's what I would do. You can't do that. Our founding fathers thought it was just a fine thing to do.

And since we took them out crimes gone through the roof. Many of us are old enough to remember that. One year we went to school we stood put our hands over our hearts at the Pledge of Allegiance had the Ten Commandments on the wall and we had prayer in school.

And I went to a secular school. I remember when the astronauts were in peril and the president United States said everybody gather together. School campuses gather together. Auditoriums were packed. We went to the auditorium on the basketball court and we were led by somebody on administration in a prayer for the astronauts who were in trouble out in space.

Can you imagine that happening today. Hey astronauts. Tough. Amazing. See Jack how old are you. Very very old. But the gospel attacks spiritual ignorance. Matthew chapter 4 verse 4 15 says that the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali by way of the sea beyond the Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles.

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And upon those who sat in the region of the shadow of death light has dawned. Man that's awesome. Every time somebody says I want Jesus they're coming from darkness into light.

It's incredible. It's awesome. It's wonderful. Number three the disciplines of darkness. Is this. Avoid those dark things. Avoid them. Okay this is where it gets fun avoid them according to the Bible.

Avoiding Darkness Through Scripture and Holiness

How do you and I avoid those dark things. The scriptures. Very clear. We need to be loading up our hearts and our minds with scripture over and over again. Truly truly I want to announce this if anything ever needed a washing all right.

It is our minds. It's our minds. We hear so much stuff that if you're not careful you'll hear it enough where it doesn't bother you anymore. We'll think about things that are not right. The lyrics to a song may be incredibly offensive to God.

And here's the fun part as a Christian the Holy Spirit I you know I may be a person who thinks that this rap song or whatever is all that's a cool song. And you're listening. And you might even be mouthing the words and you have no idea.

And then all of a sudden God gets a hold of your heart and says do you hear what you're saying. Now first of all let me make the record clear. I don't listen to rap songs. You don't have to listen to rap songs to hear junky words.

Just turn on any country Western radio station. But you know I left my money left my honey and you know met some girl and stole their shotgun. And whatever. You remember when you were younger before you were Christian you had all these songs.

You'd sing these songs. And now that you're Christians like I didn't know I was singing that song. Well listen to this stuff gets in our head. And if there was it was ever true. It's true now. And that is we truly need a brainwashing.

We need it. We need all you Christians are brainwashed. I pray to God I am wash it some more. Lord the Bible says that we need to have our minds renewed daily in the Word of God daily daily. That's why we encourage one another.

Read the Bible daily. Hey I got I gotta tell you. And for those of you who are who are tuning in right now do this as well. Go to our website on the front page of our website at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills go to the front page down to the left hand side click on there and it says listen to the daily Bible.

Listen. You can click it on and listen to the guy read it to you. Close your eyes and listen to that. I tell you by the grace of God I want to encourage you. I'm going to say this not to boast. I'm going to say it for you to join me.

I get up in the morning. I listen to that in the dark. I got my cup of coffee. I listen to that in the dark and then I pray it. I pray what the guy is reading to me in the daily Bible. Then when that's done I went to iTunes and I got Thomas Thomas Nelson publishers the Bible.

I sit in the dark as I get up very early. I sit in the dark and I click on that and it and it's so. It sounds profound but it's not. It's easy. That guy will just take you through. I go through ten chapters of the Bible a day with my cup of coffee.

I'm listening to it. God begins to develop a theme in my mind as I'm listening like I've been going through right now all of the things of the blessings of the 12 tribes of Israel. And then so I've been praying Oh Lord God.

I pray that you would bring that blessing upon my family upon my son-in-laws upon my daughters upon my wife. I am so excited to find out what I'm gonna hear tomorrow morning so I'll know how to pray.

Try it. Will you do that. It's so fun you can't wait. Why do they bring that up. I have no idea all about the Bible hiding it in your mind and in your heart. Very very important. The Bible says in Ephesians 5 11 5 11 it says have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.

For it is a shameful thing to even speak of those things which have been done to them done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light for whatever makes manifest is light.

Therefore he says awake you who sleep arise from the dead and Christ will give you light. 2nd Corinthians 614 says do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. Oh some of you youngins need to hear this.

But Jack he's so cute. Get away from him. Trust God. Oh but Jack she's such a cutie. Get away from her. Pray. But I'm gonna lead her to the Lord. And what if you don't. I'm tell you what. She's so cute and so sweet and so nice.

She'll lead you into her world. If you don't lead her into yours. Listen. See what do you expect me to do. Be patient trust God and pray if that's the one for you. Listen if that's the one for you pray and ask God to make it happen.

But don't you make it happen. Because if you make it happen somebody else can make it unhappen. What do you expect me to do. Just grow up lonely. I would rather grow up patient waiting on God than marry and be miserable for the rest of your life.

And then the world says well just divorce him. If it doesn't work hello. You'll be doubly miserable for the rest of your life. I'm not kidding. I'm telling you please take that from my heart. I'm not being paid extra to tell you that.

Spare yourself some grief. Trust in God. Let the Lord bring to you that one. Don't be unequally yoked. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness and what communion has light with darkness.

See the difference. Avoid the things of the dark when somebody calls you up and says this or that. Or when when you see this. If you're driving down the freeway there's a billboard. Look the other way or whatever it might be.

You have to fight that. This is a great example. I've used it often. It's so excellent. Especially the young people that are here tonight. But check this out Genesis 39. Just write it down. It's not going to be on the screen.

Genesis 39 starts at verse 9. You know the story. It's Joseph. He's in Egypt. And man I don't know how to tell you except just straight up. The Bible says that Joseph was extremely exotic in the Egyptian culture.

He was a Hebrew. And if you've ever been to Israel Hebrew men and women they usually all have complected lightly all of complected skin. And they can have anywhere from black hair to a reddish hair to a blonde hair.

Whatever. Usually wavy. And here's the here's the weird thing light blue or light green eyes. It's very interesting looking. Joseph was extremely out of his culture in his looks. The Bible says he was handsome and smart.

And the Bible says he was a well-built man. He's a slave to Potiphar and his wife. Potiphar's wife that is keeps flirting with him. Hey sweetie she was. And look you know how Satan works. She must have been a real cutie pie.

So she's winking at him. The Bible says she was. She cast longing eyes at him. I guess women know what that means. She keeps hounding him. Lie with me. Lie with me. Verse 9 says. No one is greater in this house than I am.

My master which is her husband has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing. Most notice this and sin against God. He was practicing the presence of God.

Which steer listen. Which steers you out of darkness and into the light constantly. Didn't Job say I've made a covenant with my eyes not to look upon. Okay a young woman. So check this out. And though she spoke to him to Joseph day after day he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and none of the household servants were inside. She caught him by his robe and said come to bed with me. But he left his robe in her hand and ran out of the house.

What do you think of that. A person who walks in the light says God give me that strength. Thank you Lord. Awesome. Joseph rocks a person. The darkness says. What a dope. Well man boy that guy blew it.

Darkness and light. How you respond determines if you are on a an avoidance course or not. Will you avoid or will you hit. Number four. The disciplines of darkness means this. Know the dangers of the night.

Knowing the Dangers of the Night

Know them. You don't have to listen. You don't have to experience them to know them. Parents listen. Well we believe in raising our kids up and letting them find their own way. Do you know. That is disaster.

I understand that if I understand that if you grew up without any spiritual upbringing whatsoever but just basic morality. You don't leave your children to themselves. Well we don't. You know we don't turn or point our children in any religious persuasion whatsoever.

Listen. I'm warning you. You're making a big mistake. There's a reason why the Bible says teach the Word of God to your little kiddos. There's a reason. Know the dangers of the night according to the Bible.

What are the dangers of walking in darkness. Listen. In Matthew 622 Jesus said the lamp of the body's the I want you to think about that for a moment. The lamp of the body. Why does he put it that way.

Is the I. Because you see this thing right there. This thing's very important for a bazillion reasons. But one of them is it takes in stuff constantly. Your eye is constantly taking in. You may not even be thinking about anything.

Guess what your eyes doing. It's storing data. It's a conduit. It's the window. It's the window of your soul. It's looking all the time. And what it looks like what it looks at matters. What are you looking at.

What do you let this thing see. Isn't it amazing that a child naturally will hide their face from something scary or evil sinister or dark. I remember my daughter I don't know when it was could have been ten years ago.

It doesn't matter how long ago it was. But she I don't know if I ever told her this. I don't know if Lisa and I ever told her this. But one time my daughter or daughters I remember but one of them said oh this is a really great movie.

It's scary. You want to watch it. I said I'm not watching it. I don't. I can't watch scary movies. I'll tell you the reason why. And this is I don't know if I've ever told them but my wife and I Lisa and I from the days that I've been an early Christian God has allowed me to be exposed to some stuff in people's lives that you don't even want to know about.

I've seen stuff that Hollywood somebody in Hollywood must have seen it because they put it in the movie in ministry. I've seen stuff where it's like this is not of this world. God be here now be here big.

So when somebody says you gotta come watch this movie scary. I don't need I don't need to go there. There are dangers in the night. I mean spiritual night. And Jesus is what your eye takes in. It matters.

If therefore your eyes good the word means focused or solo single on what is good. If your eye is good your whole body will be full of light he says. But if your eyes bad your whole body will be full of darkness.