1.  “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power…”

2.  “…for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

3.  “…for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

4.  “Power” Exousia (ἐξουσία) KJV – Power 69; authority 29; right 2; liberty; jurisdiction 1; strength 1: 103

5. “  ” I. The “Power of Darkness” On Mankind. A. God’s relationship to darkness. 1. God is removed from darkness (1 John 1:5). 2. No communion between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). 3. Life is a battle between the forces of light and darkness (Ephesians 6:11-12).

6. “  ” I. The “Power of Darkness” On Mankind. B. What is the power of darkness? 1. Those who don’t do God’s will “walk in darkness” (1 John 2:7-11). 2. The way of the wicked is like darkness (Proverbs 4:19). 3. Men love darkness (John 3:19-21). 4. Darkness misunderstands light (John 1:5).

7. “  ” I. The “Power of Darkness” On Mankind. B. What is the power of darkness? 5. The Jews who sought to kill Jesus acted within the “power of darkness” (Luke 22:53). 6. The wicked will be assigned eternal darkness (2 Peter. 2:17; Jude 13).

8. “  ” I. The “Power of Darkness” On Mankind. C. The world does not know it’s in darkness. 1. The Jews thought they were doing right (Luke 23:53). 2. Some view light as darkness (Isaiah 5:20). 3. One may consider himself in Christ while in darkness (1 John 1:6). 4. Darkness is passing away (1 John 2:8).

9. “  ” II. The Gospel and Darkness. A. The gospel calls people out of darkness. 1. God calls sinners out of darkness into His light (1 Peter 2:9). 2. How does God call man? (2 Thess. 2:13-14). 3. Zacharias’ prophecy (Lk 1:76-79; Col. 1:21).

10. “  ” II. The Gospel and Darkness. B. In coming to Christ one comes to the “Light of life.” 1. If one follows Jesus he may have the light of life (John 8:12). 2. The purpose of the gospel is to call people out of darkness (Acts 26:18).

11. “  ” III. Christians’ Responsibility to Darkness. A. Christians must flee darkness. 1. Christians mustn’t associate with “works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11). 2. Christians must cast off the “works of darkness” (Rom. 13:12). 3. Those who believe in Christ can’t abide in darkness (John 12:46).

12. “  ” III. Christians’ Responsibility to Darkness. B. The Christian can return to darkness. 1. Darkness may overtake a person (John 12:35). 2. Christians must not be “in darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

13. “  ” III. Christians’ Responsibility to Darkness. C. Christians must see the light. 1. Children of light must “find out” what is acceptable to the Lord (Eph. 5:6-10). 2. Christians are “sons of light” (1 Thess. 5:5). 3. Christians must “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).