In a densely populated residential city district, there is a hum of people. You can't see where they are going, there is no electricity and hasn't been for for over 12 hours. The city is an eerie place when street lights are off. In fact this city has had persistent air strikes and constant sirens the last few days, and so the mood is tired at best. Fatigue on this scale can be a very damaging thing, coupled with trauma, loss of routine, sleep depravation, unpredictable supplies of water and food, expensive and limited fuel, mobile connection and internet communications only at random times.
Yet, in this darkness, the people gather, for the children's club JCC which has never been interrupted. Like ants on the same journey, they all head to one place, the basement premises of the church which runs 24/7. Sometimes in this place there is the sound of crying, there are many grieving loved ones and traumatic family encounters. Sometimes in this place there is the sound of singing, the PA managing the crowd for aid, or directions on how to obtain food or clothes, but always there is the sound of the ministry team welcoming and proclaiming the only true hope in Jesus Christ.
Today there is the sound of laughter. First it is nervous laughter as candles are lit, these are abnormal times. Then, the kindness of the youth team expressing care and compassion, biscuits, fun games and especially the excitement of mobile phone torches creating new games. Many children are not from this location, but remember their home in Mariupol, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, as if it was a lifetime ago. Time has stood still in the darkness for many of these families, they cannot remember which day it is, for days seem like years, years seem like days.
At this point, I have a conversation with the Pastor, about the vitality and effecacy of prayer in such a situation. The battle is raging, and a battle even greater than the one that can be seen. It is the battle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. Children are praying in the name of Christ, and marvelous things are happening in the hearts, lives, families and communities.
Jesus Christ said
"I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life."
The enemy of Ukraine deals in darkness, it is his modus operandi. Darkness breeds fear, it produces danger, and is a cloak taken in the hope that evil can be hid.
1 Thessalonians talks about all sorts of things that people do in darkness, and the breeding ground it is for sin. Yet, there is great hope... for in the darkness the people of Christ shine brightly.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
We long for the ultimate dawn of daylight to come, when Christ comes in all his glory, and so we live in the light of that day getting ready for its certainty, and the inevitability that the judge of the living and the dead will come and shine His light on all things.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. Pray for our precious family in Christ as they minister light in a dark place, whether it be in a war torn basement in Ukraine, a border location in the oppression of Afghanistan, the polytheism and dark occult superstitions of Nepal, Bangladesh / South Asia, the graveyards lit at night by relatives sleeping with their dead among the prostitution of Poland or Philippines. Throughout the world there is no shortage of darkness, whether routine or extraordinary, but GOD has his people ! The light is shining in the darkness, Christ is being proclaimed, and hearts are being opened by the radiance of Christ.
Colossians 1:11-14
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 6:12
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. що визволив нас із влади темряви й переставив нас до Царства Свого улюбленого Сина,
До колоссян 1:13
Амінь!!!!
Igor
Бо ми не маємо боротьби проти крови та тіла, але проти початків, проти влади, проти світоправителів цієї темряви, проти піднебесних духів злоби.
До ефесян 6:12
Амінь
John 1:5
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"
"Every blessing You pour out, I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in,
Lord still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name"
Matt Redman
