Light Shines Out of Darkness
Light Shines Out of Darkness
by Charles Capps
As we approach the end of the age, we as believers are coming closer to the Kingdom of Light and our light will become brighter. But the world is coming closer to the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, their darkness will become darker. For the scriptures reveal that the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Things are not going to get better in the world. The world will be walking further into darkness, stumbling as it goes. But you don’t have to stumble in darkness. You can have the light of life. “The spirit of man is the candle (lamp) of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” (Proverbs 20:27) This scripture reveals that it is through the human spirit that God communicates with mankind. When Adam was created, his spirit (lamp) was in tune with God and enlightened. But when he sinned, his lamp went out and he became spiritually dead. He had lost the illumination of the Holy Spirit in his spirit.
Lamp-Lighting Ceremony
After the fall, mankind was ruled by his physical senses, because his lamp had gone out. But on the Day of Pentecost, that illumination was restored through the new birth by the Holy Spirit. In the Upper Room, the 120 had their lamps (spirits) lit, and before the day was over, that number had grown to over 3,000.
(Acts 2:41) They could then receive revelation from the Spirit of God and understand His Word.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6 Paul said: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Have you noticed in the Scriptures, when Jesus told the disciples He was to be crucified and rise again on the third day, two of them said, “...Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (Mark 10:37) They didn’t seem to understand a thing He said at that time. But after they were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, they called to remembrance the things He had said because their spirits had come alive to the things of God. His words then became understandable. Their lamps were burning and the light had come!
In John 14:16-17 Jesus said: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit communicates with your human spirit and brings revelation. He reveals things to your spirit that don’t come by the five physical senses. They are revealed to you from within, from God’s Spirit to your spirit.
In 1 Corinthians 2:12 Paul makes this statement: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” What spirit did mankind receive at natural birth? The human spirit, and it was enlightened until sin put the light out. Then, when we are born again, the Holy Spirit restores that light. God has imparted His Spirit to you so you can know the things that are freely given to you of God. They are revealed by His Holy Spirit into your human spirit.
Comparing Spiritual Things
The spirit of man is truly the candle of the Lord. It is the means that God uses to enlighten us, so we might know the things of God and compare spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:12-13) Here Paul is referring to the human spirit for that’s the spiritual part of man. Your physical body doesn’t have an ounce of spirituality in it! The change starts when your human spirit is born again and changes you from within.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Tapping the Source of Knowledge
The natural man – your physical body and mind – doesn’t know all about you, but God’s Spirit and your spirit have that knowledge. Notice Paul’s statement: “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11) This indicates that the human spirit knows all about you, and the Spirit of God knows all about you and God. So when you bring those two together, you have tapped the Source of all knowledge. In other words, your lamp (candle) is lit! The light is turned on in your spirit.
“But he who is spiritual judges all things…” (1 Corinthians 2:15) It’s the spirit on the inside of you that is able to judge all things. But your spirit is judged by no man. Men may judge your actions, but they can’t judge your spirit – only God can do that.
The Mind of Christ
“For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16) How do we have the mind of Christ? Through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit. When your spirit and God’s Spirit come into unity, you have access to the mind of Christ.
Let Your Lights Burn
Luke’s Gospel reveals something that will shed more light on this subject: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning...” (Luke 12:32-35) The Word of God is the truth that you are to be girded with, and the “light” He refers to is your spirit illuminated with the revelation of God.
Turn the Light On
Girding yourself with the Word of God will turn the light on in your spirit. God’s Word will enlighten you to the wisdom of God and give you direction in life. Job and Solomon both gave us some prophetic insight concerning darkness and light. “The light of the wicked indeed goes out, and the flame of his fire does not shine. The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp beside him is put out.” (Job 18:5-6) “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” (Proverbs 13:9) As we approach the end of the age, to those who refuse the light of God’s Word, darkness will grow much darker. They will be in danger of losing even what little light they have received from others.
The scriptures give some indication that the wicked in the business world, who have had the secular knowledge and ability to make millions, may lose it in the days to come. “...for the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” (Proverbs 24:20)
Recompensed in the Earth
“If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner.” (Proverbs 11:31) I believe Proverbs 8:12 is prophetic of inventions that will come in our day through men of God who are enlightened by God’s Spirit: “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” Verse 18 says, “Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness.”
When wisdom dwells with prudence, it is capable of producing inventions that will bring durable riches and righteousness. Many of them have already come on the scene. Some will astound the world! Some will be used to preach the Gospel to the world. Others, I believe, will be used during the Millennial reign of Christ.
There is good news for those who are born again. (John 3:3) God will enlighten your darkness as you commit your life to Christ and receive the light of life. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:4) But the scripture also reveals that: “The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.” (Proverbs 4:19) To those who make a decision to walk in this light, their pathway will be a way of light. But the wicked will go further and further into darkness and confusion. Proverbs 11:8 states: “The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead.” I believe in the days to come, the wicked of the earth will become more confused and lose what insight they have in this world system. But the righteous will grow in wisdom and understanding of the ways of God.
But those who are not enlightened by the light of life will stumble in the darkness. It is that darkness that will bring fear upon mankind. “What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” (Proverbs 10:24) “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” (Proverbs 11:3) Jesus said: “…Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) When you are born again you become a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Then God’s Spirit will bear witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. (Romans 8:16) “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12)
If you have not committed your life to Christ, do it today. For you will find in Jesus, the life you have been looking for. He is truly the light of eternal life.
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- Charles Capps