{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"First Baptist Arlington Sermons","title":"The Absence of Light - December 1, 2024","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2426,"description":"Dennis R. Wiles \nFirst Baptist Arlington \nDecember 1, 2024 \n \nADVENT 2024 \nTogether . . . in the Light \nDecember 1 - 31, 2024 \nPreaching Voice: Evangelist \n \nThe Absence of Light \nIsaiah 1:1-9 \n \nADVENT CANDLE: HOPE \n\nCELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER \nIsaiah 65:17-19\n\nTheme for 2024: Together \n \nTheme for Fall 2024: Together . . . in the Light \n \nDarkness has its place in our lives. There is a natural cycle of light and dark woven into the fabric of God’s creation. \n \nDarkness captivates, baffles, and appalls us. It's a shifty thing of many textures, many moods, a state of fascination and of horror, an absence and a presence, solace and threat, a beginning and an end. \n-Jacqueline Yallop \n \nCONTEXT: Isaiah opens his book of prophecy with a poetic and symbolic representation of the brokenness of the nation of Judah. Because of the rebellion and spiritual apathy of God’s people, the times were dark. \n\nIn the Scripture, darkness represents the very absence of God. It represents the power of sin, evil, brokenness, rebellion, and unbelief in this world. \n\nThis is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. \n-John 3:19 \n\nDarkness can be both a corporate reality and/or and individual experience. \n\nDarkness is my closest friend. \n-Psalm 88:18 \n \nThe answer to the power and presence of darkness in this world is the power and presence of God! God is light! \n\nGod’s light can overcome the personal darkness in your own life!","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/UAbjbO_BQA3R5XEsQj1SCg2lWzYdffFGQbPeYIvJPQ8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM0Mjg4LzE2NjM1/OTk5NzAtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}