| Overcoming Spiritual Opposition Part 1 |
Pastor Steve Holt
|
Mountain Springs Church
|
| Download Notes |
Listen to Sermon --> |
|
| 04/29/2007 |
Overcoming Spiritual Opposition (Part I)
Nehemiah 4
Introduction:
- In Chapters 4-6 we look at the opposition that Nehemiah will face in rebuilding the walls.
- When you make a decision to rebuild the spiritual walls of your life, expect opposition.
- Opposition will come from both the 3rd dimensional world of man, but will often be empowered from the 4th dimensional world of demonic spirits.
- Satan was Jesus’ main opponent, taking Him on during the 40 days of prayer before His ministry even began.
- As you read the gospels, virtually in every town that Jesus entered He cast out demons.
- Peter was used by Satan to oppose the plan of Jesus, and Jesus had to say to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!”
- Demonic forces are arrayed to stop your progress in Christ.
1 John 2:14
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
- We are overcomers in Christ! Our faith makes us overcomers.
- God will give you the victory!
Just because we are growing through great difficulties doesn’t mean we are out of God’s will. Understand that Nehemiah and the Jews are in the center of God’s will! Jesus sent the disciples into a storm on a lake and they were in the center of the will of God.
4:1-3
· Sanballat, the governor of Samaria, is the leader of the opposition. He has an army; Nehemiah does not! He has no army, only a ragtag group of poor Jews working together.
· Satan has “heard” that you are building Jerusalem in your life!
· They know that you are setting a vision to change your life.
· Satan and demons often use people to oppose the expansion of the kingdom of God in our lives or even in the life of a city.
- Why is there such opposition to pro-life issues?
- Why is there such issues with having the Bible in our schools?
- Why is there such issues related to abstinence?
…Because all of these causes promote and encourage the kingdom of God and Satan hates that.
· I want you to notice how the enemy attacks us:
- Mocking! The voice of the critic.
- “You’re gonna do what? You’re not qualified to do that!” There is a traitor within that echoes this.
- This is what the Pharisees did with Jesus.
- Ex. Critics need a circle of friends…critics flock together and it is the territory…they love gossip, accusing and ridiculing.
Revelation 12:10
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
- The goal is to erode your faith!
But let’s watch how Nehemiah handles the opposition…he never enters the ring. If you enter the ring you will lose, but he stays in the corner with Jesus.
Nehemiah acts instead of reacting! He doesn’t even answer their accusations.
Vs. 4-5
Our Response to Opposition: Call Out to God in Prayer
- Instead of getting into a verbal fight, share your heart with the Lord.
- Ask the Lord to reveal their motives and strategies.
Vs. 6
Our Response to Opposition: Stay Focused and Keep Building
- Nehemiah doesn’t lose his focus.
- The goal of the enemy is to distract us from what God has called us to do.
- Keep building! Don’t give in.
- You must have a mind to work!
Vs. 7-8
- Sanballat was from Samaria, in the north; the Arabs were from the south; the Ammonites were from the east; the Ashdodites were from the west.
- Opposition and demons always need a group to “gang up” with.
- The objective is “confusion”.
- Ex. I know how warfare can be…and you start to get cranky and upset, but it feels like it is coming from everywhere…everything is bad.
Vs. 9
Our Response to Opposition: Watchful Prayer
- This is both spiritual and practical.
- Jesus said, “Watch and pray, for you know not when the Lord comes.”
- Jesus tells Peter in the garden, “Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation.”
Ephesians 6:18
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints--
- This is why we need personal “intercessors” who will man the watch towers with us.
- Ex. I have a group of about 10 intercessors who daily pray for me…
- MSC needs “Watchmen” on the walls of this church who will pray…24/7.
- I think because of all that God is doing and is going to do, we must have prayer happening constantly here!
So the enemy has been using mockery, fear, intimidation and accusations from without. Now the problems come from within.
This can be crushing and so difficult to handle.
Paul said to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 on the beach of Milatus,
Acts 20:29-30
“For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.”
Vs. 10-12
- Judah is one of Nehemiah’s men: Discouragement is creeping in.
- Ex. Some people have the discouragement gene…they just get discouraged really easily.
- The enemy plays off of their weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
- Nehemiah doesn’t have an army; he doesn’t have generals and military men in place…he knows and so do the people that this is his vulnerable area.
- Demons go after our vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
- Again the goal is to play into our fears.
- Rumors: 10x they said it…the tongue is a powerful thing! The tongue is like a spark that burn down a church, a company…James says that it is a dangerous thing!
- “Eeyor” Christians: “We’re gonna die; all is hopeless.”
- Ex. The enemy of our souls knows our weaknesses and wants to use them to leverage his diabolical work in our lives.
- Our speech should be seasoned with salt and full of grace.
Vs. 13
Our Response to Opposition: Get Dressed for Battle
- Do you know your armor? Do you know how to put on the armor of God?
Ephesians 6:10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
Vs. 14
Our Response to Opposition: Fight for Those you Love
- It’s not about you…it’s about them!
- Get your act together for them.
- Fight for your “brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your home”.
- Do not fear! God is with you!
Vs. 15-18
Our Response to Opposition: Build and Battle!
James 4:7
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
- Our church is called to build the walls and do battle in the Spirit.
- Charles Spurgeon’s famous publication was called “The Sword and the Trowel”, named after this passage.
- Each of us are called to build, disciple and grow in our faith with others, but at the same time we are to protect and battle against the enemy.
- You must do both simultaneously.
- You must plan the work and work the plan.
Acts 17:11
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
- You must know this Book! You build with this Book! This is the Sword of the Spirit.
- If you are building on this, you will be stable, you will have a solid foundation for building your life.
Vs. 19-23
- I am waiting for that trumpet when the Lord comes back! Wouldn’t that be exciting?
Our Response to Opposition: Work Hard in the Work
- They had a mind to work…it is not the issue of wanting to be in the ministry but is the ministry in you!
- They had a heart to pray! You must be regularly in prayer.
- A mind to work and a heart to pray.
- They were vigilant and watchful.
Join us at MSC as we build a great work for God
- Let me challenge some of you to start new Life Groups.
- Let me challenge some of you to serve in Children’s Ministry.
- Let me challenge some of you to serve as greeters and ushers.
This sermon was produced at Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs, with Senior Pastor Steve Holt. www.mountainsprings.org
|
Email This Page