Holy Words, Empty Hearts: Driving Out the Darkness in the Church
This is a question that should stir every believer: If demons shriek at the sound of Jesus’ name, how can they be in church on Sundays?
The Bible says, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe, and shudder” (James 2:19).
Demons know who Jesus is. They recognize His power and authority. But trembling is not the same as obedience. They fear Him, yet still rebel.
The enemy’s focus is clear, to divide the Church from within. He’s thriving in the work of sowing discord, fostering compromise, and turning believers against one another.
Demons don’t mind church services, they mind Holiness. They aren’t threatened by concerts, comfortable sermons or smiles. They’re terrified when the whole truth of God’s Word is preached. They can sit through worship and a service when sin is ignored, but they will flee when truth exposes darkness through what is preached.
How did The Demons get here?
Revelation 12:4 tells us that Satan swept a third of the angels from heaven. We do not know the exact number, but this could be billions of heavenly beings cast down in rebellion. Imagine that scale of deception being casted upon the earth.
Those same fallen spirits now roam the earth under his command. Scripture warns us, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But here’s what many forget, he doesn’t always come roaring. “For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
This is how he infiltrates churches, not through open evil, but through imitation light. He comes disguised as false teaching, counterfeit love, and emotional comfort that lacks conviction. Right now, he’s being "allowed" into the Church through the many hearts of people he deceives daily, those who claim faith but live in compromise, those who serve in ministry yet ignore holiness, those who prefer affirmation over repentance.
The devil can’t invade unless given access, but too many have opened the door with complacency. He will prowl where hearts allow, and today he is allowed into our churches every Sunday.
Confronting Darkness with Holiness and Truth
This is why our Pastors and leaders of the Church of Christ must get back to start doing body work! (The Body of Christ) We’re too worried about “loving everyone” in a way that pleases people instead of honoring God.
The enemy has twisted love into mere tolerance, and tolerance into silence. But Jesus didn’t come to affirm sin, He came to free us from it. John 8 shows both the love of Jesus and His call to repentance.
If we are to be truly Christ-like, we must model the same: true love speaks the truth, and real love confronts sin openly.
The Church grows not through outward affirmation but through inward transformation, through discipleship, correction, and sanctification. Paul wrote, “Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). Growth comes from truth, not comfort.
Pastors must preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Preach the truth about the sin in the lives of your congregation! As John wrote, "If we claim to know Him yet continue to sin, we are liars and the truth is not in us"(1 John 2:4).
And again, "No one who abides in Him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him" (1 John 3:6).
With this truth spoken by John, the disciple that was closest to Jesus and sat at is right hand at the table, we can learn that many people sit in church on Sundays who do not truly know God, and the Truth (Jesus) is not in them (1 John 2:4).
These are not easy words which is why you do not hear them much from our Pastors, but they are holy words, and demons can’t stand them when spoken because they know they expose the sin in our lives. They despise correction because truth exposes their deception.
The whole church knows about God’s love and His mercy. But if that’s all they hear, and pastors fail to confront the sin in their lives, compromise will take root. The enemy will start chipping away, bit by bit, heart by heart.
If you don’t teach them how to walk in holiness, the world will. And the world’s teachers, the "Godless voices" will show them how to live a counterfeit Christianity, one that honors comfort over truth and leaves hearts wide open to deception.
This is what you will have roaming the hallways of your church: people being taught how to live in righteousness by the enemy of the world. If you are not addressing sin, you are inviting and allowing the Devil to roam through those doors. Silence in the face of sin is a victory for the him.
The Church doesn’t drive out demons with hype, lights, concerts or noise, we drive them out with holiness, authority, and the Word of God. When Jesus is truly enthroned at church, darkness cannot stay. Demons can’t stand the presence of Jesus.
But they can sit comfortably where He’s not truly invited. So let’s invite Him back, not just in word, but in Spirit, power and most importantly, TRUTH. Let’s cleanse His house. Let’s strengthen His Body. Let’s preach His whole truth until every false light is extinguished and every demon flees.
CALL TO ACTION
Church leaders - Wake up and stop softening the message to keep the demons in your church! It’s time to address sin in your congregations openly. Be honest with your people. Sin is offensive to God, and it must be offensive to us too. Preach the truth, call out compromise, and lead your flock toward holiness before darkness takes deeper root.
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