Our first day of ministry was spent hiking up a mountain.
I know what you're thinking… "That's ministry?"
Let me tell you a bit about our day.
The street leading to the mountain was lined with stores full of marble statues… after the first couple stores it dawned on me: these are their gods. It was at that moment that I realized that this would be hike unlike any other I had ever taken before.
As we climbed the steps that realization was confirmed. The statues were everywhere. Instantly my mind went to my quiet time that morning and I realized that God had prepared me for the day. That morning as I prayed, God laid the book of Deuteronomy on my heart. I know this had to be from Him because honestly, I’ve never voluntarily read in that book before. So I flipped open my Bible and the first passage I laid eyes on was Chapter 4:32-40. The theme of this passage is: “The Lord alone is God.” As I read it, God reminded and encouraged me that He is the all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing God.
So as I walked past the man-made, marble gods that was the Truth that resounded in my mind…
"…know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God of heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other." Eventually I began to speak that over the statues. Over the people we passed. Over the temple placed half way up the mountain. Over the mountain as a whole and over the city that lay below.
It was then we came to a cave. As we descended into the cave I struggled down the steps in the dim lighting. As my vision was clouded by the physical darkness, I felt the weight of the spiritual darkness that was very much present. Shrines lined the walls. I began to pray over the cave… I spoke the same Truth over each of the shrines… “The Lord is God of Heaven above and on the earth below there is no other.”
I looked over to my teammate, Brian, and noticed He was taking pictures of the ceiling of the cave. When I looked up, I felt the overwhelming presence of God fall on me. The light of the sun was breaking through holes in the ceiling of the cave. Though there was so much darkness within, the light of God was still present… all you had to do was look up.
On this race and in life, there is darkness everywhere.
In the States, we don’t always recognize it as such… but I know it’s there. Darkness does not just exist in the less developed countries. We're just so unaware.
I see it now
it’s in addiction…
it’s in abuse…
it’s in our so called “sexual freedom…”
it’s in the music industry…
it’s in the media’s clouded view of beauty & success…
it’s in the American dream…
it's in our cities…
it’s even in some of our churches.
Darkness affects us more than I ever realized.
1 Peter 5:8
“Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
I’m not writing about this to freak you out. I’m writing to make you aware. That passage is not done there…
1 Peter 5:9-11
“…Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
Open your eyes to the darkness, but do not despair.
Just as a learned in the cave, we just have to look up.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7)
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” (Colossians 1:13)
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
“We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.” (1 John 5:18)
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:37-39)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:10-18a)
God has given us all that we need to resist the devil.
The enemy is real, but our God is greater.
Light conquers dark. Always.
Take heart, He has overcome.
