Rescued From Darkness
Learn what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit: Read Dr Bill Bright’s article series “How You Can Be Filled with the Holy Spirit”
“For He has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son” Colossians 1:13
A famous general invited me to his office. He was hungry for God and eager to become a Christian. Yet as we counseled together, he seemed reluctant to pray. I inquired as to his reluctance, and he said, “I don’t understand myself. I want to receive Christ, but I can’t.”
I turned to Colossians 1:13,14 and asked him to read it aloud. Then I asked him to tell me what he thought it meant. The light went on. Suddenly he realized that he was a member of Satan’s kingdom, and Satan was trying to hinder his being liberated from darkness and gloom into the glorious light of the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Satan did not want him to receive Christ into his heart.
As soon as the man realized he was a member of Satan’s kingdom, he was ready to pray and receive Christ into his life so that he would then become a member of God’s kingdom.
I, too, was once in Satan’s kingdom – not a very pleasant thought, but true. And so were you if you are a Christian. Every person born into this world is a part of Satan’s kingdom; all who are not now experiencing the saving grace and love of Christ are a part of his kingdom.
It is God the Holy Spirit who enables men to comprehend spiritual truth. It is God the Holy Spirit who liberates men from darkness into light. It is God the Holy Spirit who is responsible for the new birth that brings men into the kingdom of God.
When we go out to witness, it is not enough to know God’s plan. It is not enough to know the Four Spiritual Laws. It is not enough for us to be nicely groomed and properly scented. We need to go in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. He alone can change men.
Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-13
Today’s Action Point: My first concern in everything I do and every contact I make today will be that the power of God’s Holy Spirit will be operative in my life, so that others will see His supernatural qualities in my life and want to join me in following Him.
Question: What difference has it made to your life today that you are part of God’s Kingdom?
20 years ago my world collapsed and i had quit work, i had also grew up in a christian family, five people i knew died and other issues and the church we attended then, three pastors also quit within a short amount of time within each other, i was also mad and didn’t care, my husband was ready to leave me but God said to him don’t, it will get better,it did, i was looking to who i was and what i really believed in, about 14 years ago the church we are attending now God through the people there healed me and now God is my life.
Hi J White,
I appreciated the article as well as your responce to it. You are so right: we can reccognize the light as it contrasts the darkness. Here is my story of how
God turned me around: “After growing up in a Christian home and being baptized as a teenager, I was glad to go into 2 years of voluntary service. Then I drifted for 30 years. I had a vague feeling that all was not well, but did not realize how far I’d fallen. With considerable difficulty I did hold onto a job, but was not getting ahead. I had lost rapport with my family (wife and 3 children), felt lonely and even bitter at times I even looked at horoscopes, When I found that evil spirits were starting to cater to me I was horrified, and prayed that God show me how to straiten out my life. Then God gave me a dream in which I was on my way to hell, and I knew why. That shook me up! For the next 7 days, upon returning home from work, I knelt by my bed and wept bitterly for Jesus to wash me clean. Then I felt refreshed. I asked God what the next step would be, upon which a friend invited me to a Full Gospel Business Men’s meeting. There I received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. What a thrill. I have never been the same since! I’d let go of God, but in His mercy, He had not let go of me. In His love, He drew me closer to Himself than I’d ever been before. My wife and I were led to participate in a Bible study for couples, which helped us to again find one-another. The Holy Spirit was doing a work in both our hearts. We took that course 3 times, and were in a position to teach it, when we moved to another province, and work commitments kept us from doing so.” (That Bible study was “Married for Life”, with what has now become University of the Family.)
The devil wants us back, so I pray that you (& I too) will daily put on the full armor of God, as in Eph.6:10-18, and be led by the Spirit.
Blessings, Alfred.
I owe every blessing I’ve received to the Maker of Heaven and Earth. Without whom I would be a shadow of who I am now. As far back as I can remember I’ve thought about Christ and sought his protection and guidence, with several years of unbelief and darkness sprinkled throughout my past. I am more thankful now of what God has allowed me to go through in terms of my waywardness, than I beleive I would be without it. That’s something God has given to me and I’m glad He has brought me back full circle.