Where The Tree Falleth (video sermon)

The Miracle Of Dreams (poem)

That night when in Judean skies the mystic star dispensed it’s light,

A blind man moved within his sleep, and dreamed that he had sight!

That night when shepherds heard the song of hosts angelic choiring near,

A deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell and dreamed that he could hear!

That night when in the cattle stall slept child and mother cheek by jowl,

A cripple turned his twisted limbs, and dreamed that he was whole!

That night when o’er the newborn babe the tender Mary rose to lean,

A loathsome leper smiled in sleep, and dreamed that he was clean!

That night when to the mother’s breast the little King was held secure,

A harlot slept a happy sleep, and dreamed that she was pure!

That night when in the manger lay the Sanctified who came to save

A man moved in the sleep of death, and dreamed there was no grave!

-Susie Best

Worth It (song)

The Power Of Darkness

 There's a fear in the heart of almost every child when it comes to the dark. Somehow, they know that there's something there to be afraid of. Where did this fear come from? Why doesn't it have to be taught?

Daniel 2:22- He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.God knows what is in the darkness. He brought creation out from that black night.

Genesis 1:2- And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

There was darkness before the creation. A planet without form and void of life. Darkness covered the face of the deep until a voice rang out in power with the creative power of "Let there be light".

The cycle of time began with the division of the light and the dark. Then more beautiful things came into being as God expanded His creation with plants and animals, stars and suns, and the magnum opus finish with the creation of humanity.

Jeremiah 51:15- He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.

Darkness was almost forgotten as the moon and stars lit the night. The sun rose every morning to chase the dreaded shadow away. But the blackness didn't like to stay hidden. As Eve bit down on the fruit, the inky blackness took root, and as Adam chose to partake of the fruit, the darkness of sin infected the world bringing with it the knowledge of evil.

The wickedness spread until God had to drown the inhabitants of the world in the depths of a watery grave, saving one family and two of each animal to continue His design of life.

Hebrews 11:7- By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

II Peter 3:6- Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:God sent His law to teach them how to follow the light in an immoral world. This wouldn't dispel the darkness, it could only highlight the fact that this wickedness was ingrained into the very fabric of creation.

Deuteronomy 5:22- These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

Galatians 3:24- Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

God knew that no one could possibly keep the entire Law, so promised to send a Messiah to shine through the darkness. A Savior to lead the captive of sin to freedom. 

Hebrews 2:14-15- Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

When the time was right, Jesus was born. Darkness shrieked with a fearsome anger. It influenced Herod to send soldiers to try to destroy the flicker of light while it was still a small, innocent babe.

Matthew 2:13- And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The Bible doesn't tell us how many times and how many different ways the darkness tried to snuff out the light as Jesus grew into a man. However, as Christ began His earthly ministry, the evil tried a direct approach. Three temptations that would corrupt the Light causing it to dim and fade if He had fallen susceptible to it. But Christ's brightness shone through as one-by-one He overcame temptation with Scripture. The same voice that created the world, staved off evil with "It is written".

John 12:46- I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Darkness watched and waited until it saw it's rumination in the religious leaders of the day. It stoked their fury until the beings that were once the pinnacle of God's creation turned on Him. It coaxed Judas Iscariot to betray the Sun of Righteousness with a kiss.

Luke 22:48- But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?

Luke 22:53- When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

During the crucifixion, even the sun and stars refused to shine. The earth quaked at the horror of the dying Creator. Only the darkness rejoiced as it spread it's ugly shadow across the world.

Matthew 27:51- And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Luke 23:44-46- And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Darkness exalted while Jesus was in the tomb. It was certain that it's victory was complete, and that the Light would never come out again. The cold, dark tomb seemed to be the end for the bright and morning star.

Micah 7:8- Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.

The Son shined more brightly when He came forth from the tomb. Darkness shrank back as it realized that it's conquest had been temporary.

Isaiah 9:2- The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

The disciples hadn't realized what was happening. They were shut up quaking in fear hoping that the political and religious powers were content with the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. But once Christ walked into that room, He dispelled the gloom of despair in their hearts.

Revelation 22:16- I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

II Peter 1:19- We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

He ascended into heaven leaving some precious promises behind. First, the Holy Spirit would come and indwell them, giving them the boldness of the Light of Life inside them. And, secondly, He left the promise that He will come again.

The blackness hated that the Lord left His light. It scavenged the earth to find and snuff it out.

Psalm 143:3- For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Isaiah 60:2- For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

For hundreds of years, the powers of darkness waged war on the indwelling light of the christian during the church age. The more it tried to destroy the greater the light spread.

Acts 26:18- 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, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Throughout the generations, as one christian was felled by the dark more arose to put on the armor of light and shine the good news of the Gospel to those in the dark.

Romans 13:12- The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Ephesians 5:11- And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Ephesians 6:12- For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

One day soon, however, Christ will take the Christians out of this world and let the darkness have it's way. 

Isaiah 5:30- And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Isaiah 8:22- And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

Darkness will reign supreme in the Tribulation, and for 7 years the world will feel absolute despair as the darkness does what it has always wanted- consume and destroy.

Joel 2:10- The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:

Even the sun, moon, and stars will not be able to shine during this time. But the sun will withhold it's light when Christ comes again! He will return to the earth with a vengeance to beat down the powers of darkness.

Joel 2:2- A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Jeremiah 23:12- Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

Just when all hope will seem to be lost, the powers of Darkness will face the Son of Righteousness like they've never seen Him before!

Matthew 24:30- And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Isaiah 11:4- But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

Then, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign in the light for the Millenium. The world will be transformed from the desolate void that the darkness spread into a beautiful place like the original creation of Eden.

Revelation 20:4- And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Isaiah 11:6-10- The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Only once more will the shadow of darkness slink across the land. But it will be no match for the Son of Righteousness. This will be the last time the powers of darkness will ever dim the light of Life again!

Revelation 20:7-10- And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Darkness will fall and Light will prevail.

Job 18:5- Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.

Revelation 22:5- And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.