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NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!
SOME ENEMIES THAT PROVE BELIEVERS
JUDGES 3:1-4; ACTS 1-12
Introduction
We recently went through the hole Book of Joshua. One of the things that we saw as we went through Joshua was that when the nation of Israel conquered the land of Canaan, they failed to drive out some of the people who were inhabitants there.
If you’ll remember, God told them to drive out those inhabitants because they would become a snare to them and cause them to fall away from God’s will for them.
So, their failure to drive them out was a matter of disobedience to the command of God. Nevertheless, we find that God used their incomplete obedience for a purpose. Now that doesn’t excuse their disobedience one iota! But, God is sovereign, so He can use our disobedience if He wants!
Our text tells us that the Lord allowed those enemies to be left in order to prove Israel. They would be a source of trial or testing to see how strong Israel's faith would be when faced with adversity.
The same principle applies in every age. In the history of the early church instances of trial are found that correspond to things Christians face today. We can learn some things by examining some of these trials.
I. THE ENEMY OF WAITING MUST BE RECKONED WITH!
(Acts 1:4-8, 15-26)
We are living in a society that hates to wait. We want gratification now! We want what we want, when we want it, and we want it now!
There are people who have made billions of dollars off of our inability to wait! (Fast food, Credit cards, Convenience stores.)
A. God Must Be Allowed To Operate In His Time If We Are To Have His Best For Our Lives!
B. God Has A "Best" For Every Aspect Of Life When We Wait For His Timing!
1.Every decision we make should allow the Lord time to act.
2.The Lord moves when all the details are in accord with His will and Word.
C. Waiting Is Necessary For Renewal!
Isaiah 40:31–“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
THE ENEMY OF WAITING. . .
II. THE ENEMY OF DOUBTING OR DOWN PLAYING THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE RECKONED WITH!
A. Understand That The Word Of God Was The Cornerstone, The Main Thrust Of The Early Church!
In the upper room prior to the power of the Holy Ghost coming down, the Word of God was the main thrust!
(They were prayerfully waiting at the Word of Christ.)
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples spake the Word of God. (Acts 2:11)
In Peter’s sermon recorded in Acts 2:25-26, He used Psalm 167 to teach about Jesus.
When they were being threatened, the Word of God was still primary!
Acts 4:29–“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,”
Acts 4:31–“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
In Acts 6:1-7, deacons were chosen that the apostles might give themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.
In Acts 7, Stephen preached a message on Bible History and then applied it to the Jews rejection of Jesus.
In Acts 8, as they were being persecuted and scattered the Word of God was still their main thrust!
Acts 8:4–“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”
The Word of God was their main thrust just as it should be our main thrust!
No matter what the times are like or whatever comes our way we need to keep the main thing, the main thing!
B. Satan Consistently Attacks God’s Word And Those Who Preach It!
1. He cast doubt on the Word of God in Genesis 3!
(Yea hath God said. . .? Ye shall not surely die. . .)
2. He has sown seeds of doubt ever since that time!
3. The Word preached by the Old Testament Prophets of God was attacked along with the Prophets!
Hebrews 11:35-39–“. . .and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith. . .”
James 5:10–“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”
4. We see here in the book of Acts that the Word of God was attacked in the early Church!
(We see Saul and the Jewish leaders persecuting those who preached the Word.)
5. The Word of God has been under attack since the day sin entered this world!
6.The Word is still being belittled in this age in which we live, so it is important for us, as believers, to earnestly contend for the faith!
C. As Believers We Must Determine To Let The Word Of God Be Our Final Authority In All Matters!
2 Timothy 3:16-17–“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
THE ENEMY OF WAITING. . .OF DOUBTING OR DOWN PLAYING THE WORD OF GOD. . .
III. THE ENEMY OF CARELESS LIVING MUST BE RECKONED WITH! (Acts 4:13)
Peter and John were flesh and blood just like you and me!
Don’t you think that there was probably some temptation for them to live like the world in their day?
But, they resisted the temptation to live life carelessly and lived for Jesus! Others could clearly see that they had been with Jesus!
2 Corinthians 5:14-15–“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Matthew 5:14-16–“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Ephesians 4:17-21; 5:1-11
1 Peter 2:9–“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
Romans 13:11-14
Oh how we need to wake up and discern who we are, Whose we are, and the times we live in!
THE ENEMY OF WAITING. . .OF DOUBTING OR DOWN PLAYING THE WORD OF GOD. . .OF CARELESS LIVING.
IV. THE ENEMY OF INDIFFERENCE TO WITNESSING MUST BE RECKONED WITH! (Acts 1:8; 4:17-20, 29, 33; 8:1-4)
I hear folks say today, “Well, its not easy to witness in the days we live in and in our culture the way things are.”
Well, look at the early Church! Can we honestly think they had it easy? They were constantly being harassed, persecuted, and on the run for their lives, yet they found time to witness!
There are three things we need to understand about our witnessing:
A. Our witnessing should be the natural outflow of Christ living in us! (Acts 4:7-8; 4:31)
The key phrase is “filled with the Holy Ghost.”
When you’re filled with the Holy Ghost, witnessing comes naturally!
Our biggest problem most of the time is that we are not filled with the Holy Ghost! In order to be filled with the Holy Ghost, we must be empty of sin and self!
Being filled with self is one of the biggest hindrances to witnessing! In our pride we are worried about what someone might think of us!
B. Our witnessing should be spontaneous and Spirit led rather than forced and unnatural!
We see believers witnessing to all kinds of folks in the book of Acts–Male and female, Jew and Gentile, Those in high places and those in low places, bondmen and freemen.
Discrimination was cast out the door!
C. Witnessing is a command we have been given of the Lord!
The folks in the book of Acts were just being obedient to the command they had been given from the Lord!
V. THE ENEMY OF GIVING WITH A WRONG SPIRIT MUST BE RECKONED WITH! (Acts 4:34-37; 5:1-5)
A. Our Giving Must First Involve The Giving Of Ourselves!
1. We Are Not Our Own To Keep!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20–“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
2. We Are To Give Back To God That Which Is Rightfully His–And All Of What We Have Is His!
Romans 12:1–“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
3. We Are To Give Of Ourselves Before We Give Anything Else!
2 Corinthians 8:5–“And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”
Our Giving Must First Involve The Giving Of Ourselves!
B. Our Giving Must Never Be Done To Impress Others Or In Competition With Others!
(Example– Barnabas vs Ananias & Sapphira)
C. Our Giving Must Always Be Done As An Act Of Love To God And In Accordance With His Word!
THE ENEMY OF WAITING. . .OF DOUBTING OR DOWN PLAYING THE WORD OF GOD. . .OF CARELESS LIVING. . .
OF INDIFFERENCE TO WITNESSING. . .OF GIVING WITH THE WRONG SPIRIT. . .
VI. THE ENEMY OF MISPLACED PRIORITIES MUST BE RECKONED WITH! (Acts 6:1-4)
A. The day to day problems of life should not interfere with the work of the Lord.
B. Envy and jealousy have no place in a Christian's life.
James 3:14-16–“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
C. Glorifying God should be our number one priority.
1 Corinthians 10:31–“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Colossians 3:17–“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
1 Peter 4:10-11– “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
THE ENEMY OF MISPLACED PRIORITIES MUST BE RECKONED WITH!
VII. THE ENEMY OF OPPOSITION AND OPPRESSION FROM UNGODLY MEN, EVEN RELIGIOUS UNGODLY MEN MUST BE RECKONED WITH!
(Acts 4:1-4, 15-18; 6:9-15; 7:54-60; 8:3; 12:1-5)
What are believers to do in the face of opposition and oppression?
A. Be. Filled! (Acts 4:8)
B. Be Faithful! (Acts 4:19-20; 8:4)
C. Be Fervent! (Acts 4:24-31)
VIII. THE ENEMY OF MISUSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MUST BE RECKONED WITH! (Acts 8:14-20)
A. The Holy Spirit has the most vital ministry among Christians in this age.
1. He is the Comforter!
John 14:16-17–“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
2. He is the Empowerer!
Acts 1:8–“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
3. He is the Embolderer!
Acts 4:31–“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
4. He is the Leader and Guide of Christians!
(Acts 8:26-40; 13:2-4; 16:6-10)
B. What Satan can not stop, he seeks to pervert!
Satan seeks to get folks to misuse and fake gifts and seek their own interest and gain rather than God’s.
We too must be careful of those who would misuse the Holy Spirit and His gifts to us!
IX. THE ENEMY OF OUR OWN PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS MUST BE RECKONED WITH!
The Disciple Ananias Had Preconceived Notions About Saul And His Conversion. (Acts 9:10-21)
Peter Had Preconceived Notions About Gentiles And Their Conversion. (Acts 10-11)
We need to understand that some of our preconceived notions can also be wrong and keep us from being fully obedient to the Lord!
Conclusion
These are just some of the many enemies in this world that we must reckon with as believers.
Understand that whatever there is in our lives that would take anything away from Jesus being first place in our lives, that is an enemy that we must reckon with!
Let me ask you this, what enemies are keeping you from being all that Christ would have you to be? Aren’t you tired of being bogged down in a mediocre type of Christianity? Why not deal with those things today?
Maybe you’re not a believer. If you’ve never been saved, you too have some great enemies.
Satan is your enemy! He wants to keep you from coming to Christ!
2 Corinthians 4:3-4--“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Unbelief is your enemy! It will keep you under the condemnation of God!
John 3:18–“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!