This Present Darkness (Darkness, #1)

by Frank E. Peretti

“It was Chimon’s task to bring him here,” he said, “to blind the eyes of his enemies and slip him through ahead of the adversary’s choice for the pastor of this flock. Chimon

praying every hour of every day. We were called here for

his sake, for the saints of God and f...

Hank opened his Bible and read from Second Timothy, chapter 4. “‘I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season,

reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from

the truth, and will turn aside to myths. “‘But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.’” Hank closed his Bible, looked...

of us apply God’s Word where it may apply. Tonight I will speak only ...

call from God; I just read it. Some of you, I know, have really gotten the impression that Hank Busche is obsessed with the gospel, that it’s all he ever thinks about. Well, that’s true. Sometimes I even wonder why I remain in such a difficult position, such a...

commission, and as Paul said, ‘Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.’ I understand that sometimes the truth of God’s Word can become a divider, an irritation, a stone of stumbling. But that’s only because it remains unchanged, uncompromising,...

lives on such an immovable foundation? To violate the Word of God is only to destroy ourselves, our joy, our peace, ...

with you, and so I’ll be truthful in letting you know exactly what you may expect from me. I intend to love all of you, no ma...

feed you for as long as you’ll have me. I will not discredit, compromise, or turn my back on what I believe the Word of God teaches, and that means that there may be times when you’ll feel my shepherd’s crook around your neck, not to judge or malign you, but to help you move in the right direction, to protect you, to heal you. I intend to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, for that is my calling. I have a burden for this town; sometimes I feel that burden so strongly I have to ask myself w...

in Ashton to answer that burden. “If that is the kind of pastor you want, then you can let me know tonight. If you do not want that kind of pasto...

Grandma smiled lovingly and looked into Hank’s eyes. “I think the Lord is forcing a revival upon that church, but its like the turning of the tide: before the tide can come back in, it first has to stop all its going out. Give the church time to turn around.

Expect opposition, even

expect to lose a few people, but the direction will change after the lull. Just give i...

thing: there was nothing that could keep me away from that meeting last night. I was dreadfully sick, Satan’s attack, I suppose, but it was the Lord who got me out. Ri...

feel His arms bearing me up and I got my coat on and got down there, and just in time, too. I don’t know if I’d even go that far to get groceries. It was the Lord, I know it. I’m just sorry I only had one vote.” “So...

You never know what the Lord might do. But you are curious, aren’t you?” “I’m really curious,” said Hank, and now he smiled too. “Well, you might find out, and maybe you never will. But it’s all in

the Lord’s hands, and so are you. Let me warm up your tea.”

This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.’ We need to

pray, and we need to get other people praying.

That’s just what the angels keep telling me.” Mar...

She looked at Hank. “He was telling

me to pray for you, and you were in the dream too. I could see you up behind that pulpit preaching, and he was standing there behind you with his wings stretched out over you like a big canopy, and he looked back at me and said, ‘Pray for this man.’”

“Well, it’s time somebody else was praying too. I believe the tide is turning, Hank, and now you need true believers, true visionaries who can stand with you to pray for this tow...

in.”

“Lord God,” she said, and the warmth of the Holy Spirit flowed through them, “I build

now a hedge around this young couple, and I bind the spirits in Jesus’ name. Satan, whatever your plans for this town, I rebuke you in Jesus’ name, and I bind you, and I cast you out!”

His strength is not in his own sword, but in the saints of God. Somewhere somebody is praying!”

Shall I send emissaries to burden them?”

let the watchcarers see that these people are burdened with prayer for their loved ones here.”

we won’t fight, not yet. Not until the prayer cover is sufficient and we know why Rafar is here. He’s

Take as many as you need to surround Marshall Hogan. Greater numbers may intimidate

where swords cannot.”

These were spirits from the principality levels, princes themselves of their own nations, peoples, tribes. Some were from Africa, some were from

“Bold words, Rafar, but your strengths can only succeed with immediacy; the strengths of our enemies grow with time.”

Our prayer cover is insufficient—while he has all the backing he

Triskal could feel a new strength coursing through them. They looked down at Hank. He was praying. “Dear Lord,” he said silently, “help us to reach these kids; help us to touch their lives.”

Evil spirits? In such a

young boy? Lord, what can I do? What can I say?

The Lord answered, and Han...

“Sorcery, let go of him in the name of Jesus.”

But Sorcery obeyed.

“Divination, in Jesus’ name, let go.”

Hank hung on to Ron’s hand and waited, watching and praying until he knew what else to do. This was all so incredible, so fascinating, so frightening, but so necessary. This must be the Lord’s Lesson Number Two in Spiritual Combat; Hank knew he

was learning something

he would have to know to win ...

It was just today I was thinking I needed somebody to pray for me. I just couldn’t go on with all the stuff I’ve been into.”

but we all have Jesus, and He gives us a special love for each other.”