Right now, I feel compelled to issue a warning. I believe it comes from the Lord. He wants us to know that darkness is coming. Almost two thousand years ago, Paul warned it would come:
“Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NKJV)
I genuinely believe this is being fulfilled in our lifetime. Because of these practices, the dark will get darker. The enemy of our souls will not give up his fight to keep souls trapped in darkness. He’ll do all he can to blind the world to God’s message of eternal life. But God’s light will shine ever brighter than the darkness.
The Coming Darkness
Satan is going to unleash his fury on the world. For one, he will launch an attack against Christians. He will use the darkest of deceptions; the worst that hell can muster against God’s people. Paul warned Timothy, “The Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV). Even now, the enemy is mounting an assault against God’s people.
The devious darkness that is coming will throw all it can at the world and the Church. This darkness will come with fiendish fiery darts of deception against Jesus’ Word and true disciples. Lukewarm “churches” will cave into worldly ways and false gospels, and yet proclaim “We’re the real church!” Many lukewarm leaders will know their error, but still, follow the father of lies and his sinister deceptions. The temptation of worldly acceptance will overcome them.
As this darkness settles in, many in our society will be duped. Satan will spread lies about the integrity of God’s word and God’s design for families with a father and mother. Many will embrace these lies like never before. The deceived will mock the real Jesus and His ways. That will become normal to the false church and to those who hate God. This will cause a spiritual pandemic of sin to spread in the Church.
Droves of so-called Christians (many who are really merely unsaved churchgoers) will tragically surrender to this darkness under the false banner of love. They will proclaim, “We must love everyone!” But they’ll say this to excuse the sin in their midst. That’s right, they won’t just embrace sinners—they’ll embrace sin.
Voices in the Wilderness; Lights in the Darkness
But the darkness won’t win. Why? At the same time, there is a stirring in the heavenlies. God’s angels are going forth at lightning speed to help finish the work God planned from the beginning. These angels will assist God’s Church in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. He is speeding things up to get the message of the gospel to the whole world. This work will usher in Jesus’ glorious return. All the while, the demons of darkness will furiously fight God’s angels, seeking to frustrate His plan.
During this time, God will raise up voices—wise, God-fearing leaders who will proclaim His truth. God’s true children of light will also arise and shine brighter than ever before. They will realize we can no longer stay hidden in our safe worship circles claiming revival while darkness consumes the masses. That’s not revival—true revival always invades the darkness to bring people into the light. The Apostle Peter called us to “save others by snatching them out of the fire” (Jude 1:23 ESV). That’s a very visual and soul-stirring statement from Peter; one that we must all embrace. We must snatch the lost from the future fires of hell, not mock them while they burn.
Raising a Standard Against the Darkness
How should we respond to this invasion of darkness? God’s word tells us: “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19 NKJV). It’s no time to shrink back in fear—God has promised to raise up a standard! Brothers and sisters, we are part of that standard!
A flood of filth cannot deter God’s merciful plan of redemption, for Jesus can part the seas of evil. God has called us to stand in the gap and be the light of the world. We are God’s army of light sent to dispel Satan’s devious delusions, and our generation needs us to shine more than ever. The time to play Church or merely hide in the illusion of God’s presence is over. God has called us to go out! Let me explain what I mean by that.
Many years ago, the Lord spoke to me: “If you come into my presence, you will go out with my presence.” God’s presence doesn’t leave us stationary. We need to move with God’s presence!
God launches us out from his presence, and the world needs us to live propelled by God’s presence more than ever.
Yes, God calls us to go, and to go with joy. Isaiah 55:12 (NKJV) says, “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace.” That means we will break out of our safe circles and go out to rescue the perishing, thundering with the joyous and victorious heartbeat of God. God needs soldiers to do that. Will you lift your hand to God and say as Isaiah the prophet, “Here I am Lord, Send me?” Those who don’t will look back later with much sadness and regret. Which will you be? If you claim Jesus as your Lord, but really only want spiritual pampering, you need to change or get out of the way!
Time for Fresh Direction
In light of the darkness the world is facing, we need to refocus on God’s call. You see, too many of our efforts as Christian leaders are misdirected. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). That’s the plan from the throne room of God—and any other strategy will fail to fulfill God’s Kingdom purpose and will allow the darkness to spread like hellfire. But many believers and leaders spend much of their time coddling half-hearted believers. That’s why so many Christian leaders are weak and weary. Enough of that! Instead, embrace God’s Great Commission and go to rescue the perishing. God won’t strengthen us to do things He has not ordained and directed us to do.
The modern Church has made many bad decisions. For one, we’ve impaired God’s work by misdirecting our efforts and focus on lesser things. Many say, “The enemy of the best is the good.” Good works can get in the way of God’s best works. Many people practically work themselves to spiritual death doing things God never called them to do. Their light dims as their spiritual power wanes. It’s time to come into God’s presence and fully recharge so we can go out in power.
The truth is that the devil has sent people into our midst to consume our time with their self-centered motives. We give advice, and they don’t receive our counsel—to their own damage. They come back, and the cycle continues forever. It tires the person offering help as much as it tires the person resisting their help. See it for what it is, and invest in those who genuinely want to follow the Lord. Paul wrote, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV). Pastors, leaders, and discipleship-minded Christians—which are you focusing most of your energies on?
What Happened to True Discipleship?
Remember—Jesus told his disciples, “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV). No coddling there. Then why do so many pretend Jesus’ command has changed? They seem to think He now says, “Do what you want! God’s Grace will cover your sin.” Many have even denied the existence of Hell, even though Jesus spoke about this place of torment more than he spoke of Heaven. But Jesus’ words are unchangeable. Our perception may change, but the truth is the same today as it was when Jesus first spoke it.
So why have we altered the rules? Why have we lightened the load? Yes, I know Jesus said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30 NIV). He carried a tremendous weight with great ease through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can make the weightiest matters seem light as a feather when we embrace the way of the cross. But why have we tried to change the way of the cross to something other than what Jesus commanded?
It’s time for us to speak the truth in love regardless of personal consequences. Isn’t that what Jesus did when he came into this world? Didn’t He suffer much for the truths He spoke to set people free? Didn’t Jesus say, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21 NKJV)? Finally, didn’t He call us to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 NKJV)?
Then why don’t we obey his command? How can we sit around in our comfortable, complacent Christianity while over 3 billion people have never even heard of Jesus Christ? How can we hide in the light instead of sharing it? How can we pretend to be “on fire for God” while we let darkness have its way? The whole world—including billions of unreached souls—live doomed by the darkness of Satan’s demonic and destructive heresies. Those heresies abide in the heart of every false religion on this planet. Those religions offer no redemption or eternal hope. Billions in those religions have never clearly heard of Jesus.
God’s ultimate plan is to reach those unreached masses (most of whom live in the 10/40 Window). Without the gospel, those untold billions will spend an eternity separated from God in eternal hellfire. Why? Largely, because we didn’t care enough to send the gospel to them. I don’t want that on my eternal record, do you? When I get to the judgment seat of Christ, I don’t want to hear God say, “Well, you made it.” I want to hear Him say, “Well done good and faithful servant!” Don’t you?
Jesus Will Win—So Let’s Stand Up or Get Out of the Way
To end, I want to share good news. In the end, the darkness will not win—Jesus will! The Kingdom of God will come through victoriously. Those who fight with God win with God! So go and fight as faithful ambassadors and warriors of the Kingdom of God. Heaven will speak of these last day battles for billions of years in the future. Be a part of His-story! Be a part of His solution! Be a part of Jesus’ army of light against the darkest legions of demons ever unleashed on this planet. The time is now to stand up and go, or get out of the way!
You heard me — now’s the time to stand and be counted. If you won’t stand as a spiritual soldier in God’s army, please get out of the way. Just move to the side, and don’t spend God’s resources for your own selfish and vain plans. It’s time to invest our time, resources, and energies into fulfilling God’s Great Commission, not some pastor’s second rate lesser vision to “build their church.”
Yes, the darkness is coming in like a flood, and God is raising a standard against it. Do you want to be a part of that standard? Do you want to be a part of God’s end-time salvation army? Or will you sit idly by while this darkness blinds untold masses to God’s light? Jesus said, “The thief comes to kill steal and destroy but I have come to give them life abundantly” (John 10:10). Let’s give life by proclaiming it to those nearby and sending it to those far away in unreached lands.
A Prayer to Join the Army of Light
Right now, I pray everyone reading this will get motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit to get ready to go, do, and be all God has called us to be. If you want to surrender to his will and purpose, please pray with me.
Jesus Christ, I confess that I have lived a somewhat selfish and self-centered life.
I want to change that now.
I confess that my vision has been blurry, and I thank you for opening up my eyes to see your heavenly point of view.
From this day forward, I surrender myself to your purpose and your plans for my life.
I will no longer live for myself.
I will no longer spend most of my resources on myself.
From this day forward, I will invest in getting your gospel to all people—and especially to those who have never heard before.
From this day forward, I will proclaim your word boldly as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.
I will no longer bow to the idols of the age! I will bow to you and you alone, Jesus Christ, my Lord, my Savior, and my God.
Thank you for hearing my prayer.
I receive forgiveness, empowerment, and boldness in Jesus’ name.
Thank you for hearing my prayer and for sending me out with the power of the Holy Spirit to be your light to this world.
In Jesus’ name, amen!
Now, let’s go forward in the power of the Holy Spirit!
(This was written in May of 2020. For some reason we forgot to post it here.)