Enemies on SermonAudio

Why, when we are surrounded (North, South, East and West) by hostile forces why do WE have to become our own enemy. It's like an autoimmune disease; the Body attacks itself. We think of modern parallels as the Christian Church is fragmented - not only the Big Three Traditions (RCC, Protestant and EOC) but also the hundreds of little sects and splinter groups and differences even in our own congregation. Are WE getting along? Are WE UNIFIED? Are differences impeding our progress? Let's look at this painful episode and its redemptive end: 1) Truth Will Out 2) What's Good for the Goose… 3) Business as UN-usual

The sermon rightly interprets the Beatitudes in Luke 6 by arguing that Jesus' pronouncements of blessing and woe are not based on economic status but on one's faith in Christ and persecution for His sake. It contends that material poverty is not inherently virtuous, nor is wealth sinful, but rather that believers are blessed when they endure hatred and loss for the Gospel, while unbelievers face judgment for their opposition. The message emphasizes that the solution to societal issues like hunger and homelessness is spiritual redemption through faith in Jesus, which grants believers the status of Abraham's heirs. Finally, the preacher calls for a radical imitation of God's character by extending kindness and mercy to enemies, asserting that such actions reflect the nature of the Heavenly Father and demonstrate true discipleship.

Many people today have settled the matter: Jesus, yes; the church, no thank you. In Matthew 16, Jesus refuses to let us separate Him from His church, and Pastor John Samson opens up what "this rock" really means, why even death cannot stand against Christ's people, and what Jesus meant when He promised, "I will build my church." You'll hear how a church conceived in eternity joins Abraham, Moses, and David with believers today, and how the Savior who bought His church with His own blood turned a ferocious enemy, Saul of Tarsus, into one of its builders. Whether you have been hurt, have drifted, or are simply too busy, this message presses the question every Christian must answer: What does the church have to do with me?

Five Always of the Revived — Part 2 Delivered to Death, Yet Always Confident | 2 Corinthians 4:7–12; 5:1–8 This message continues exploring the five always of a revived life, concentrating on two essential realities: believers are always being delivered to death so that the life of Jesus may be manifested through them, and they can always be confident because their lives and eternal future are secured in Christ. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4, the message emphasizes that God has entrusted the glorious treasure of the gospel to frail earthen vessels so that the excellence of the power will be recognized as His and not ours. Through difficulties, weaknesses, persecution, and circumstances beyond our control, God graciously brings us to the end of ourselves so that the character, sufficiency, and life of Jesus become evident. Our trials are not necessarily evidence of God's absence; they may be the very means He uses to refine us, remove our independence, and prepare us to minister life to others. Paul's declaration, "Death is working in us, but life in you," reveals how God transforms personal suffering into testimonies that strengthen, encourage, and help others see His faithfulness. Through personal experiences with leukemia, encounters with others facing similar struggles, and the illustration of David's smooth stones, the message demonstrates how God uses what He brings us through to smooth our rough edges and place something valuable into another person's life. Our testimonies become songs of deliverance, giving glory to God, encouraging His people, and silencing the enemy through praise. The message then turns to 2 Corinthians 5, where Paul declares that we are alw

The church and city of Sardis was safe from all its enemies, but failed to watch and protect their own spiritual heart and their relationship to the Lord. Their reputation gave them a sense of false reality of themselves. Please join us in part 1 of the Church of Sardis, one of the seven churches of the book of Revelation. Part 2 will be available in the next seven days. 0:0 History of the City 7:00 Revelation 3:1 - The Seven Spirits of God 13:30 Sardis' Reputation: Reality Hurts 18:15 A Reminder from the Lord - Definition of to Remember 21:00 Remember Therefore - Rev. 3:2, 3

An Extraordinary Enemy 31:22-55 An Expected Enmity 32:1-23 An Existential Exchange 32:24-32 An Eye-Opening Encounter 33:1-20 Next Week's Reading: Genesis 34

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This sermon examines Psalm 44 as a corporate lament that contrasts God's past mercies with the present suffering of His people, who feel abandoned despite their covenant fidelity. The text argues that such hardships are not necessarily direct chastisements for sin but are permitted to deepen trust, expose the wickedness of enemies, and allow believers to share in Christ's sufferings. By connecting the psalmist's plea for redemption to the New Testament context of Romans 8, the message emphasizes that salvation rests entirely on God's mercy and the work of Jesus rather than human performance. The preacher encourages the congregation to remember God's past faithfulness, cling to Him during seasons of apparent silence, and persist in prayer, trusting that His covenant guarantees the completion of His redemptive work.

God has established moral and spiritual landmarks that must not be moved or changed to suit the opinions and desires of men. Just as landmarks and road signs provide direction, the unchanging truth of God's Word establishes the boundaries of right and wrong and gives order to life, family, and society. When those boundaries are removed and everyone decides for themselves what is right, confusion, division, and moral collapse follow. The answer is to seek the old paths, return to the standards God has established, and walk faithfully in them. Even when the majority turns away, a faithful remnant can restore what has been broken and preserve the truth for future generations. God's people must remain distinct from the world, raising their children with respect, discipline, and kindness, and living as the salt of the earth and the light of the world.