Darkness on SermonAudio

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Main Points 1. God judges rebellion with destruction and death. 2. God brings resurrection and life to those who repent and believe in Him. This sermon examines God's judgment against Israel's rebellion and idolatry in Hosea 13, contrasting the nation's former prominence with its spiritual decline and coming destruction. Despite God's faithful provision and repeated warnings, His people forgot Him in their prosperity, turned to false gods, and placed their confidence in human rulers rather than their only Savior. Through vivid images of wild animals, childbirth, and death, the passage reveals the seriousness of sin and the consequences of refusing to repent. Yet even in this dark chapter, there is hope. God promises to demonstrate His power over death, pointing toward Israel's future restoration and the ultimate victory over death through Jesus Christ. The sermon concludes with an invitation for unbelievers to repent and trust in Christ for salvation and for wandering believers to return to God and experience His forgiveness and restoration.

Series: Acts: To the Ends of the Earth Preacher: Pastor Joaquin Garcia Passage: Acts 13:1–12 Date: 10/11/2026

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home." With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an ....

This sermon examines the ninth plague of darkness in Egypt as a divine act of de-creation that reveals God's sovereignty over the Egyptian sun god Ra. The preacher argues that darkness throughout Scripture consistently symbolizes God's judgment on sin and idolatry, citing passages from Amos, Isaiah, Revelation, and the Gospels to demonstrate that human suffering alone does not produce true repentance. Instead, the text highlights the contrast between the Egyptians, who were plunged into darkness, and the Israelites, who retained light, pointing forward to the cross where Christ bore the judgment of darkness on behalf of God's people. The message concludes with a call to reject compromise in obedience, urging believers to stand firm in their faith and proclaim the gospel of grace to a world that loves darkness rather than light.

Light in Scripture makes visible God's presence, His covenant promises, Christ's redemption, and the eternal glory of His kingdom. As children of light, we are called to walk in God's truth, reflect His glory, and anticipate the perfect light of His glory in the new creation.

(AI Generated Summary) This sermon explores the biblical practice of lamentation, arguing that it is a legitimate and necessary expression of faith in a broken world. By contrasting the righteous complaints found in the Psalms with the sinful grumbling of Israel in the wilderness, the message distinguishes between bringing pain to God in trust and rejecting God's sovereignty in doubt. The text highlights that God does not expect believers to suppress their grief or pretend that suffering is absent, but rather invites them to pour out their hearts honestly. Through examples from Job, Habakkuk, and Revelation, the sermon affirms that even the most intense cries of distress are met with divine presence and comfort. Ultimately, the goal is to restore the church's capacity for honest prayer, recognizing that true faith involves trusting God's goodness even when the experience of life feels dark and overwhelming.