"I will incline mine ear to the parable, and shew my dark speech upon the harp" Psalm 49:4
Voodoo, witchcraft, spells, black magic, incantations, reincarnation, ghost-hunters, tarot card reading, palm reading, mind reading, hypnosis, dungeons & dragons, Ouija boards, aliens, crystal balls, vampires, sorcery, supernatural phenomenon, and on, and on, and on. The world loves it! The world is fascinated with it...mesmerized with it...even intoxicated with it. Why?
We want to know. We want to discover hidden things. We want to unlock the age old mysteries that have baffled us and frustrated us since the beginning of time. We want to know what else is out there...not just in space...we want to know what's in that other realm. It’s like we could almost tear a little seam in the air...split it open and peer into the unknown...and see what's behind all this...and maybe see God.
Jim Morrison of "The Doors" was a terribly, troubled young man. I can't help but remember a line out of his popular song..."break on through to the other side". He so desperately wanted to know...to see...and he tried whatever means it took to see it, and go there...drugs, alcohol, witchcraft, poetry, songwriting. In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul was so desperate for answers that he asked the witch of Endor to call up or summon the spirit of Samuel so that he could get answers to the outcome of a battle. We want what we can’t have. We want to know what has not been revealed.
I believe the other answer is that we love and want power...supernatural power. We are enchanted by it. Our desire is to possess it, and be the "mystical ones" wielding power over the elements. Jesus’ performance of power over the elements/nature was quite possibly the most impressive thing that he did in the eyes of His followers. The disciples were rebuked for rejoicing that demons submitted to them. John and James, the Sons of Thunder, offered with great fervency to call down fire on Christ's enemies....only to be rebuked, once again by Jesus.
In "Latent Power of the Soul", Watchman Nee describes how Adam once walked in great power. He managed the earth. He named all the animals. He walked in perfect, unbroken, unhindered fellowship with God.
He walked in what?
That's right.
He walked in perfect, unbroken, pure fellowship with God. That's the difference. It was pure. There was no darkness. There was no unknown. Well, except for that tree...that annoying tree that kept calling out for him...try me...come on...there's more to know...there's more power...God's been holding out on you...I have mysterious things to show you...oh there is so...much...more. And we know the rest of the story how he ate of the tree, brought sin into the world, and destroyed perfect fellowship with God.
I don't know much about "dark powers". That was one of the FEW things I never dabbled in much, other than an occasional trial with the Oija board when I was a kid. But I do know there must be some reality to it because the Word of God says to stay away from it. "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." Deuteronomy 18:12
Voodoo, witchcraft, spells, black magic, incantations, reincarnation, ghost-hunters, tarot card reading, palm reading, mind reading, hypnosis, dungeons & dragons, Ouija boards, aliens, crystal balls, vampires, sorcery, supernatural phenomenon, and on, and on, and on. The world loves it! The world is fascinated with it...mesmerized with it...even intoxicated with it. Why?
We want to know. We want to discover hidden things. We want to unlock the age old mysteries that have baffled us and frustrated us since the beginning of time. We want to know what else is out there...not just in space...we want to know what's in that other realm. It’s like we could almost tear a little seam in the air...split it open and peer into the unknown...and see what's behind all this...and maybe see God.
Jim Morrison of "The Doors" was a terribly, troubled young man. I can't help but remember a line out of his popular song..."break on through to the other side". He so desperately wanted to know...to see...and he tried whatever means it took to see it, and go there...drugs, alcohol, witchcraft, poetry, songwriting. In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul was so desperate for answers that he asked the witch of Endor to call up or summon the spirit of Samuel so that he could get answers to the outcome of a battle. We want what we can’t have. We want to know what has not been revealed.
I believe the other answer is that we love and want power...supernatural power. We are enchanted by it. Our desire is to possess it, and be the "mystical ones" wielding power over the elements. Jesus’ performance of power over the elements/nature was quite possibly the most impressive thing that he did in the eyes of His followers. The disciples were rebuked for rejoicing that demons submitted to them. John and James, the Sons of Thunder, offered with great fervency to call down fire on Christ's enemies....only to be rebuked, once again by Jesus.
In "Latent Power of the Soul", Watchman Nee describes how Adam once walked in great power. He managed the earth. He named all the animals. He walked in perfect, unbroken, unhindered fellowship with God.
He walked in what?
That's right.
He walked in perfect, unbroken, pure fellowship with God. That's the difference. It was pure. There was no darkness. There was no unknown. Well, except for that tree...that annoying tree that kept calling out for him...try me...come on...there's more to know...there's more power...God's been holding out on you...I have mysterious things to show you...oh there is so...much...more. And we know the rest of the story how he ate of the tree, brought sin into the world, and destroyed perfect fellowship with God.
I don't know much about "dark powers". That was one of the FEW things I never dabbled in much, other than an occasional trial with the Oija board when I was a kid. But I do know there must be some reality to it because the Word of God says to stay away from it. "Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead." Deuteronomy 18:12
I don't know much about these dark powers but I do know about something else.
Dark Speech...
The Dark Speech of God...
He speaks in parables and riddles. And when His words are seemingly simple and clear, be careful you don't miss something. His speech is layered with meaning...reaching unfathomable depths. In Him is hidden the secrets, the mysteries of His Kingdom. A kingdom no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive. But He does reveal...In fact it's been given to those in Christ to know these secrets. The mysteries of the ages are there...In His word...in His Son, Christ. The manifold wisdom of God is being revealed through the church. Study all the philosophies of history....I've tried. I have found what the disciple, Peter, said was true...”teacher, why go anywhere else, you hold the words to eternal life".
Dark Speech...
The Dark Speech of God...
He speaks in parables and riddles. And when His words are seemingly simple and clear, be careful you don't miss something. His speech is layered with meaning...reaching unfathomable depths. In Him is hidden the secrets, the mysteries of His Kingdom. A kingdom no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can conceive. But He does reveal...In fact it's been given to those in Christ to know these secrets. The mysteries of the ages are there...In His word...in His Son, Christ. The manifold wisdom of God is being revealed through the church. Study all the philosophies of history....I've tried. I have found what the disciple, Peter, said was true...”teacher, why go anywhere else, you hold the words to eternal life".
"The word of God is living and active, more powerful than a double-edged sword". Hebrews 4:12
Is it power you want? Have you considered that He "gives us all power pertaining to life and godliness"? In Christ is the FULLNESS of life. And as we die daily, we grow in the awareness of His power and His presence. But therein lays the difference. This is not like the power the world or dark, spiritual forces have to offer. Read Philippians 2. Jesus gives us the example to divest ourselves of any want for power or position or worldly greatness. We are offered nothing but the opportunity to fall in love with the Person...that is all-powerful...Jesus Christ. We are offered the fullest life possible...Christ in us...we are offered the opportunity to be buried with Him in baptism and raised to newness of life! And we begin to operate not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit!
When I was lost, in the world, and wanted nothing to do with Christ I would laugh at Christianity. I thought of it as a meaningless religion for the weak and well the....square...kinda nerdy...moral...judgmental people. I now realize that following Christ is not for the wimpy...but it is for the hungry…Those hungry for truth, purity, real life, eternal wisdom. What drives those ridiculous Christians? Why do they do what they do?
Is it power you want? Have you considered that He "gives us all power pertaining to life and godliness"? In Christ is the FULLNESS of life. And as we die daily, we grow in the awareness of His power and His presence. But therein lays the difference. This is not like the power the world or dark, spiritual forces have to offer. Read Philippians 2. Jesus gives us the example to divest ourselves of any want for power or position or worldly greatness. We are offered nothing but the opportunity to fall in love with the Person...that is all-powerful...Jesus Christ. We are offered the fullest life possible...Christ in us...we are offered the opportunity to be buried with Him in baptism and raised to newness of life! And we begin to operate not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit!
When I was lost, in the world, and wanted nothing to do with Christ I would laugh at Christianity. I thought of it as a meaningless religion for the weak and well the....square...kinda nerdy...moral...judgmental people. I now realize that following Christ is not for the wimpy...but it is for the hungry…Those hungry for truth, purity, real life, eternal wisdom. What drives those ridiculous Christians? Why do they do what they do?
They are driven by Dark Speech and hidden manna. Do they misrepresent God sometimes? Yes. But it doesn't change the fact that their hearts have been transformed by the most mysterious power of the universe...that same power that God exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead." Ephesians 1:19-20
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