Enemies on SermonAudio

The Psalmist expresses praise to Yahweh for giving victory over his enemies because He is the righteous Judge and cares for His own.

Tonight…we pick up where we left off. God is gonna show Gideon… that peace with the LORD… is not permission to make peace with idols. Before Gideon can confront Midian in the valley… he must confront Baal… in his own backyard.

God condemns both the justification of the wicked and the condemnation of the innocent. An accusation is not proof, and accepting one person's account without hearing the other side can destroy reputations, families, and even ministries. Throughout Scripture, righteous men such as Joseph, David, Naboth, and Stephen were falsely accused, and even Jesus Christ was condemned through false testimony. Righteous judgment requires honesty, impartiality, reliable evidence, and a diligent search for the whole truth. Those who willingly listen to gossip or repeat unverified accusations share responsibility for the harm they cause. Protecting the innocent is more important than satisfying the desire to punish the guilty. When the truth cannot be established, we must refrain from condemning others and trust God, who knows all things and will judge every matter justly.

(Sunday Service) The Gospel of Glory Philippians 3:17-21: "Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.."

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through [b]the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [c]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

When the Shepherd-King comes, he will save a remnant of his people from something and for something. Importantly, they will be saved not only from oppressive enemies "without," they will also be saved from their own idolatrous enemies "within." They must be delivered from both external and internal threats. The result is that they can then live among the nations, paradoxically, as both a force of renewal and a force of destroying evil.

Why does God ask questions He already knows the answers to? In this sermon from Jonah 4, we look at the Lord's question to an angry prophet: "Do you do well to be angry?" God is not gathering information. He is a Father who refuses to walk away from His hard-hearted people and a Judge who finds them wanting so that He can still show mercy. From Adam and Cain to Peter and Jonah, Scripture shows a consistent pattern. The Lord draws sin into the light, exposes the heart, and invites confession and trust rather than handing people over to the judgment they think they want. Knowledge of God's character is not enough if it has not reordered our affections. We often reverse the question, put God on trial with His own Word, or treat every difficulty as a reason to quit. This is not endless negotiation. The questions are the Father's work while there is still time to answer. Jonah wanted death. God gave mercy—to the sailors, to Nineveh, and even to the prophet who resented it. Christ is the greater Jonah who bore the judgment we deserved so that mercy could reach us. Examine the places where you have decided what others deserve, where Scripture remains only in your mind, and where you have preferred your own judgment to the Lord's. Answer while the question is still being asked. Confess the anger. Trust the One who asks. Come to the Son who stayed under the cross for enemies and still asks His people, "Do you love Me?"

Sermon | Esther 9:1-16 | Sunday Evening Service, October 18 2026. Preacher: Rocky Stevenson The sermon explores the dual themes of divine reversal and human restraint found in Esther 9, highlighting how God flips the fate of His people from destruction to victory. It connects this event to the historical disobedience of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15, arguing that the Jews' refusal to plunder their enemies, despite having legal right to do so, completes a cycle of obedience that was failed five centuries prior. Ps Rocky emphasizes that God's covenant faithfulness remains irrevocable even amidst Israel's disobedience, using this narrative to illustrate the broader theological truth that God's grace is displayed against the backdrop of human sin. By referencing Romans 11 and 12, the message concludes that the appropriate response to God's mercy is not entitlement or greed, but a transformed life characterized by holy restraint and gratitude. #reversal #restraint #obedience #covenant #grace Visit Benoni Bible Church: www.benonibiblechurch.co.za Address: 149 President Brand Rd, Rynfield, Benoni - view on Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oag383xq3U2b7RQN6 Copyright © 2026, Benoni Bible Church. All rights reserved.

This is part two of a powerful testimony by Debbie Newhouse on how she overcame so many obstacles in her life with God's grace, perseverance, and help from trusted friends. It is an interview that will encourage everyone to deal with the past so you can move forward in your lives. The Spiritual Warfare teaching comes from years of research, personal involvement and commitment to see others released from the grips of the enemy. This is the audio content from the radio program called The Invisible War.