Recognizing the Darkness

Not every influence of darkness is obvious.

Sometimes spiritual darkness is blatant and easy to recognize. Other times, it works subtly through the culture around us, the messages we accept, the entertainment we consume, and even the way we understand our identity.

In his message, “Recognizing the Darkness,” Pastor Donnie Immel took a brief break from The Famous Ones series to address the unseen spiritual battle taking place around us and the importance of recognizing both blatant and subtle demonic influences.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to recognize the ways the enemy seeks influence in our lives, seek wisdom through God’s Word, and walk as salt and light in the world.

Recognizing Blatant Demonic Influence

Pastor Donnie began by explaining that Scripture describes an unseen spiritual battle between good and evil. While this battle is not always visible, there are times when its influence becomes apparent in the world around us.

In 1 Corinthians 10:20–21, Paul warns believers against participating in the worship of demons, explaining that we cannot participate in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

Pastor Donnie described blatant demonic influence as openly seeking or welcoming supernatural powers, energies, or forces outside of God and Scripture.

He identified several ways people open themselves to this influence:

• Opening their hearts to demonic influence.
• Participating in occult practices or calling on spirits.
• Worshiping false idols.
• Following false religions that offer a path to salvation apart from Jesus Christ.

In Romans 1:25, Scripture describes those who exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped created things rather than the Creator.

Similarly, Deuteronomy 18:10–12 warns against divination, sorcery, witchcraft, casting spells, consulting spirits, and communicating with the dead.

Pastor Donnie emphasized that these practices seek spiritual power or knowledge apart from God.

As Christians, our spiritual authority, wisdom, and salvation must be found in Jesus Christ alone.

Recognizing Subtle Demonic Influence

Although blatant demonic activity is concerning, Pastor Donnie explained that subtle influences are particularly dangerous because they do not always appear spiritually harmful.

Most people will never intentionally invite demonic activity into their lives. Instead, the enemy can work through ideas, messages, and cultural influences that gradually draw people away from God’s truth.

Living for Pleasure Instead of Eternity

One subtle influence Pastor Donnie identified is a culture focused on life’s pleasures rather than eternity.

Our world continually encourages us to pursue whatever makes us feel good, achieve personal success, and experience as much pleasure as possible.

But when our attention becomes consumed by the present, we can lose sight of eternity.

In Luke 12:20–21, Jesus tells of a wealthy man who accumulated possessions but lived without considering eternity.

Although the man had prepared for his earthly future, he had failed to prepare for what mattered eternally.

Pastor Donnie explained that Satan seeks to extinguish thoughts of eternity by keeping people consumed with the present.

As followers of Christ, we must live with eternity in mind rather than allowing temporary pleasures to determine our priorities.

Finding Our Identity in Christ

Another subtle influence Pastor Donnie addressed was what he called a victim identity.

He described this as taking the hurts and experiences of our past and embracing them as part of who we are. It can also become a way of excusing sinful behavior or believing that we can never move beyond what has happened to us.

The world may tell us that we are permanently defined by our past, but God’s Word offers a different message.

Our past does not define us. Through salvation in Jesus Christ, we are made new.

Pastor Donnie pointed to the life of Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers and experienced tremendous hardship.

Joseph could have allowed those experiences to define him. Instead, with God’s help, his past became part of a greater testimony of God’s work in his life.

Pastor Donnie challenged believers to overcome a victim identity by taking responsibility, repenting, accepting God’s gift of salvation, and walking in the new identity He has given us.

That is why we call salvation being born again.

Our identity is not ultimately shaped by the words of others or the hurts of our past. It is shaped by our Heavenly Father and the new life we receive through Jesus Christ.

The Influence of an Atheistic Worldview

Pastor Donnie also identified atheism, the denial of God’s existence, as a subtle influence within our culture.

He explained that atheism is often presented as neutral ground rather than a worldview that rejects the existence of God.

A worldview is the lens through which someone understands life, determining their beliefs, values, morality, and purpose.

Pastor Donnie discussed how atheistic worldviews can be communicated through education, entertainment, and other parts of everyday culture.

Because the messages around us influence how we understand the world, Christians must recognize the beliefs being communicated and evaluate them through Scripture.

Our understanding of truth should be shaped by God’s Word rather than simply accepting the worldview presented by our culture.

Four Ways Satan Gains Influence in Our Lives

After discussing blatant and subtle demonic influence, Pastor Donnie identified four specific ways Satan seeks influence in people’s lives.

Some of these practices may appear obviously spiritual, while others are more easily overlooked.

If we are going to follow God and walk as salt and light, we must recognize these influences and exercise biblical discernment.

1. Seeking Spiritual Guidance Outside of God

The first area involves seeking supernatural knowledge or spiritual guidance outside of God.

Pastor Donnie identified practices such as:

• Horoscopes and astrology.
• Fortune-telling and psychic hotlines.
• Tarot cards and Ouija boards.
• Séances and attempts to communicate with the dead.

In Deuteronomy 18:10–12, God warns His people against divination, consulting mediums, and seeking supernatural knowledge through occult practices.

Pastor Donnie emphasized that believers should not seek spiritual guidance through these sources.

Christians are called to trust God and seek wisdom through His Word.

2. Seeking Spiritual Power Through Objects

The second area involves placing spiritual trust in physical objects.

Pastor Donnie discussed objects such as crystals used for healing or good energy, dream catchers, talismans, and lucky charms.

He explained that these objects become spiritually problematic when people trust them to provide supernatural protection, favor, healing, or power.

In Ezekiel 13:20–21, God speaks against magic charms used to ensnare people.

Pastor Donnie reminded the church that spiritual authority belongs to God alone.

Jesus Christ is our healer and our source of peace and strength.

We should not assign spiritual authority to objects that belongs to the Lord.

3. Witchcraft and Occult Practices

The third area involves witchcraft and occult practices, including Wicca, spellcasting, curses, and attempts to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain, healing, or protection.

Pastor Donnie addressed the belief that certain forms of witchcraft are acceptable if they are practiced with good intentions.

However, he explained that Scripture does not divide witchcraft into acceptable and unacceptable categories based on someone’s intentions.

In Galatians 5:19–21, witchcraft is identified among the acts of the flesh.

Pastor Donnie emphasized that attempting to access supernatural power apart from God contradicts His Word.

As believers, we are called to seek the Lord rather than turn to occult practices for power or protection.

4. Entertainment and Media

The fourth area Pastor Donnie addressed was entertainment and media.

This includes occult-themed movies, paranormal investigations, ghost-hunting apps, and entertainment that glamorizes witchcraft or demonic activity.

Pastor Donnie explained that entertainment can make an alternative spiritual worldview appear attractive, even when that worldview directly contradicts Scripture.

When we repeatedly consume certain messages, things that once troubled our conscience can begin to feel ordinary.

“Entertainment is a teacher.”

What we watch, listen to, and entertain can influence our thinking, our convictions, and our understanding of what is acceptable.

In Ephesians 5:11, believers are instructed to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

However, Pastor Donnie also cautioned against becoming legalistic or assuming that everything around us is demonic.

He encouraged believers to approach these matters with wisdom and discernment rather than fear.

During the message, he discussed Halloween and shared how his family had used the occasion as an opportunity to connect with neighbors, pray with people, and invite them to church.

His challenge was not to withdraw from every interaction with the world, but to recognize what influences us while looking for opportunities to represent Jesus.

We must exercise discernment over what we watch, entertain, and allow to shape our thinking.

Measuring Everything in the Light of the Bible

Throughout the message, Pastor Donnie challenged the church to recognize the ways spiritual darkness seeks influence in our lives.

Some influences are blatant, while others are subtle enough to become accepted as normal parts of everyday life.

But regardless of how something is presented, Christians are called to measure it against the truth of Scripture.

Pastor Donnie concluded with this challenge:

“If you want all that God has for your life, measure everything in the light of the Bible.”

Our decisions, beliefs, entertainment, and spiritual practices should not be determined simply by what is popular or culturally accepted.

Instead, we must seek wisdom and discernment through God’s Word and allow His truth to guide the way we live.

Final Thoughts

Recognizing the darkness around us begins with understanding the truth of God’s Word.

Pastor Donnie reminded the church that we must find our salvation and eternal security in Jesus Christ, seek guidance and wisdom through Scripture, worship Jesus, find empowerment through the Holy Spirit, and remain connected to the community of the church.

We are living in an unseen spiritual battle, but we do not have to navigate it without direction.

God has given us His Word to guide us, His Spirit to empower us, and the church to encourage us as we follow Him.

As followers of Jesus, we must recognize the influences that seek to draw us away from God while remaining firmly rooted in His truth.

May we be people who measure everything in the light of the Bible, walk in the new identity we have through Christ, and live as salt and light in a world that needs Jesus.