The Desolation of Darkness

FORGET NONE OF HIS BENEFITS 
volume 22, number 10, March 9, 2023

 

“. . . how great is the darkness!” -Matthew 6:23

The Satanic Temple in Boston is sponsoring SatanCon, 2023, April 28-30, and the theme is Hexennacht in Boston, which in German means “Witches Night,”, the ancient pagan holiday of May Eve.[1] On the agenda for SatanCon, 2023are panel discussions on paganism, a satanic wedding, satanic rituals, and a satanic marketplace where people can presumably buy fetishes, as well as lectures on “Reclaiming the Trans Body” and “Satanism and Self-Pleasure.” The temple leaders hope in due time to gain access to after school programs in public schools with “After School Satan Clubs”, patterning them after Christian Good News Clubs. The event has sold out and promises “a weekend of blasphemy and remembrance in Boston.” On another note, on March 4 and June 3, St. James Church (Anglican), Piccadilly, in London will host PREACH, a drag queen celebration of “artistry and ingenuity in every walk of life.”  

Anyone with a brain can see the demonic origin of the Satanic Temple and their conference, but we should never forget that darkness prevails in our Western culture, perhaps more than what the people of Western Europe experienced prior to the gospel coming to their continent around 200 A.D. How else can you explain the recent multiple murders committed by a mother who stabbed her five children, four of whom died? How else can you explain the murder of the black man Tyre Nichols who was beaten by five black Memphis policemen? How else can we explain the murder of the innocent child in her mother’s womb? Paganism and Satanic worship have a long history of child sacrifice and the Satanic Temple in Boston is raising money to assist women to abort their children. Have you ever met or confronted a mother at an abortion clinic who is hellbent on murdering her child? The eyes of the murderer are full of venom and hatred. These people and their acts are demonic. How else can you explain school authorities by-passing parental authority and urging eight year old children to undergo hormone blockers and transgender surgery? I could go on but I am sure you get the picture very well. Our western world has been co-opted by Satan and his minions and things will only get worse unless we pray as the Syrophoenician woman prayed (Mark 7:24-29, Matthew 15:21-28). Remember this—revival always comes out of desolation. We see this repeatedly in the Psalms of King David (Ps.16,18,22). We see it with Jonah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Ezra, Nehemiah, Josiah, Zechariah, and many others.  

From reading both texts concerning the Syrophoenician woman we find that the poor woman was beside herself with grief. As Jesus comes to her pagan region she cries out to Him, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” The woman unquestionably was deeply burdened. She had come to understand clearly her daughter’s problem. Perhaps her child had no friends. Perhaps she was bullied at school. Maybe she was terribly unattractive and unpopular. These reasons, of course, meant nothing to this mom. She knew her daughter’s problems were far greater than rejection by her peers. Her daughter was in darkness. She was demon-possessed. We do not know when the mother came to this conclusion, but by the time Jesus came on the scene she had diagnosed the problem accurately. Somehow she knew that Jesus was not like a pagan, holy man or like a Jewish religious leader. She called Him “Lord”, “Son of David”, which speak of His authority and lineage as Messiah.  

After correctly assessing the situation, after seeing and believing in Jesus’ authority and power, she prays. And my friends, her prayer ought to be a model for our prayers. I am only addressing this one aspect of her prayer today, but I will have more to say in subsequent weeks. But notice her earnestness. Mark tells us that after hearing of Jesus she came immediately. She had no time to waste. Jesus was there. Her daughter needed Him desperately. Notice next her reverence. She fell at His feet, a portrait of humility and submission. Note the content of her prayer. She asked for mercy. She knew she did not deserve it. She deserved eternal hellfire. After all, she was a pagan woman, much like the people at the Satanic Temple in Boston. No doubt she previously had no problem with sacrificing children but now she believes in Jesus. And why does she need mercy? Because she sees the problem for what it really is, the darkness of demonic possession. 

My friends, our problems today are not merely the fact that unconverted sinners are having their way in our world. The corruption in government and business, the breakdown of the family, the wholesale murder in our urban communities, the rampant pedophilia, transgenderism, and all our other problems cannot be resolved with government legislation, better education for our children, more welfare programs for the poor, or moral transformation. We must see the world for what it is—darkness, the work of the devil. Ephesians 2:1-3 paints a sordid picture of the pagan Ephesians before God saved them. Among other things, they were walking “according to the prince of the power of the air,” the devil. They were under his dominion. They were blinded by the devil and could not see Jesus for who He is (2 Cor.4:4). 

What does this mean for us at this present time? See all that is happening in our world for what it really is, the devil and his minions possessing almost all the major influencers of our culture—most of the churches, media outlets, social media, college and universities, the entertainment and sports industries, Washington D.C., and local and state governments. The devil is not merely at the SatanCon, 2023. He is working in every avenue of our culture, including very possibly your own family. 

Are you allowing the demonic underworld to affect your family? What do you watch on television or the cinema? Are you allowing your children unfettered access to the internet? Are you monitoring their friends? Do your children hear you say you love Jesus but see you act as though your money and recreation are more important than Him? Are you controlled by secret sins about which your spouse knows nothing? Are you putting your “confidence in princes” rather than the only Savior of sinners? Have you considered that your child’s flirtation with unknown people on social media is inspired by the devil? Have you considered that your daughter’s bulimia may be more than psychological? Do you suspect your teen is addicted to porn or drugs and think this is merely a phase on his way to responsible adulthood? See these for what they are—they are earthly, natural, and demonic. The devil is seeking to destroy your family, your community, and our nation.  

My friends, until you see the darkness of demonic possession and influence, you will never pray like the Syrophoenician woman. Until you see the desolation of darkness, then you will not pray as the people of Acts prayed. Get a clearer picture of what you are up against and pray with like-minded earnestness, desperation, and reverence, asking God for mercy, not only for your family members who are under the control of the devil, but also for all the dear people of our nation who are on the road to hell, who do not know their right hand from their left.  _______________________

1 Also known as Beltane, a Gaelic word which means Bel fire, a fire lit to honor the Celtic god Bel. Wiccans also observe May Eve as a celebration of the fertility of the Lord and Lady. Obviously the origin of May Eve, therefore, is pagan., as is May Day observed on May 1.