“DARKNESS CONQUERED!” 

One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.  Isaiah 30:17 KJV 

PRE-AMBLE by Robert 

Our world today is a dark place and like the days of Noah growing darker, many exist in this darkness as part of the delusion Satan has enveloped them in as his slaves to sin. We should understand there will be adverse conditions which go along with our commitment to Yeshua (Jesus Christ), Isaiah points out, this adversity places us in the position of becoming a bright light, guiding many through the delusion of darkness they are functioning in presently. 

Our current position in this darkness, living with the political upheaval and the current pandemic choices being faced.  Our position is firmly described by Isaiah and revealed in the following article. Putting on God’s armour now becomes our choice knowing we are warriors pushing back the darkness; so daily many are cured of their idolatry.

To all true penitents, sin becomes very hateful. As beacons with abundant means of grace, with the influences of the Holy Spirit, our light is extended to places destitute of it. This is the light that the gospel brought into the world proclaiming healing to the brokenhearted.

OPENING COMMENTS by Robert 

Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave an advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures.

Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom.

Thus, Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost. 

Many call Christ, Master and Lord, who are far from serving him. But they serve their carnal, sensual, worldly interests. They corrupt the head by deceiving the heart, perverting the judgments by winding themselves into the affections. We have a great need to keep our hearts with all diligence. It has been the common policy of seducers to set upon those who are softened by convictions. http://romboughrobert.com/2020/12/09/are-you-coping-or-dealing-with-life-6/ 

The ministry of the gospel calls men to receive Christ as a Prince and a Saviour, and he will surely come in the power of his Spirit to all places where he sends his faithful servants. But the doom of those who receive the grace of God in vain will be very fearful.

Those who despise the faithful ministers of Christ, who think meanly of them, and look scornfully upon them, will be reckoned as despisers of God and Christ. 

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows.  

The Christian armour is made to be worn, and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare and finished our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls.  

The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God’s grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him an advantage.  

The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare.  

Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour and is first mentioned. There can be no belief without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath.  

The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. The resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.  

Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defense every way.  

The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation.  

Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan.  

To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary. Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour.  

But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth plainly and duly taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart. 

The doctrine and example of consistent believers will enlighten others, and direct their way to Christ and holiness, even as the lighthouse warns mariners to avoid rocks, and directs their course into the harbour.  

Let us try to shine. The gospel is the word of life, it makes known to us eternal life through Yeshua (Jesus Christ). Running, denotes earnestness and vigour, continual pressing forward; labouring, denotes constancy, and close application. It is the will of God that believers should be much in rejoicing; and those who are so happy as to have good ministers, have great reason to rejoice with them.