Let's begin by reading,

Matthew 16:18,19
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

All of us are aware of the condition of the city - the problems, the darkness prevailing over our city, affecting the lives of the millions who live here. Like any other large city, we face all kinds of evils : immorality, live-in relationships, pub culture, homosexuality (lesbian/gay lifestyles), various addictions, suicide, prostitution, human trafficking, bonded labor, corruption, crime, etc.

The Church has been called to engage in spiritual conflict. We have been given the authority of the Kingdom of heaven (the "keys" represent authority) to overthrow the gates of hell (the power centers of hell). We have kingdom authority vested in us.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The real battle for souls is a spiritual battle. The devil blinds the minds of people attempting to prevent the light of the gospel from illuminating their hearts.

Acts 26:17,18
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you,
18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'

In winning souls, we are actually bringing people out of darkness to light, from the power of satan to God.

How do we penetrate darkness around us?

#1, Through Proclaiming the Gospel

Matthew 4:15-17
15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES:
16 THE PEOPLE WHO SAT IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT, AND UPON THOSE WHO SAT IN THE REGION AND SHADOW OF DEATH LIGHT HAS DAWNED."
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

This verse it talking about people in spiritual darkness seeing great light. What did Jesus do for them to experience that light. He came, as the Light of the world proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

We read earlier in 2 Corinthians 4:4 about the "light of the gospel".
The preaching of the Gospel releases light that penetrates the darkness.

We must proclaim, share, tell others the Gospel message.

#2, By using our spiritual weapons of warfare

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

God has given us spiritual weapons : our spiritual authority, prayer, worship, word of
God, etc. through which pull down things that the enemy raises to blind the minds of people.

We should not be intimidated or feel overwhelmed when we see that the minds of the people are being swayed and held captive by new age philosophies, deceptions, arguments, reasonings that contradict the word of God. We've been given weapons to pull these things down and tear them apart so that the light of the Gospel can shine into people's hearts.

We must engage in spiritual warfare through fervent prayer, worship and declaring the Word of God.

#3, By letting God's glory shine through

Isaiah 60:1-3
1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

God's response to a world in deep darkness is to arise upon His people, and cause His glory to be seen through His people.

God's glory is a manifestation of who He is and what He does. It is an expression of His nature and power. God wants His glory to be revealed through His people so that the darkness that covers the earth and the deep darkness that envelops people, will be penetrated.

As God's people we need to walk with Him in everyday life, so that who He is and what He does in revealed through us. Through the life we live, the work we do, through stepping out in faith, through overcoming life's challenges, through victorious living, through demonstrating God's power, through manifesting His love and wisdom...we display His glory.

The Lord Jesus stated it this way:
Matthew 5:14-16
14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The real battle is a spiritual battle, when we are engaging in spiritual, social, or political transformation. In as much as we get our horses ready for battle, lets look to the Lord from whom deliverance comes (Proverbs 21:31)