Enemies on SermonAudio

This sermon expounds on Deuteronomy 20, illustrating how believers must rely on God's infinite power rather than their own limited resources when facing spiritual warfare. It emphasizes that true victory comes through faith, which allows Christians to see beyond the overwhelming size and strength of their enemies. The message highlights the role of divine instruction in preparing the church for battle while warning against the destructive impact of sin within the community. Furthermore, it offers pastoral comfort by reminding listeners that God actively fights on behalf of His people, ensuring their ultimate salvation from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. This enduring trust in God's faithfulness provides the courage needed to persevere through trials without fear or retreat.

Pastor Brian continues his challenge and encouragement as we fight the Spiritual battle we are all in.

Is God unjust? Is He unjust for telling us to love our enemies while He is love, yet being willing to punish the wicked? This is a question that has been raised on social media this week and Luke 19 answers it. God is good, but as a good judge he must judge in righteousness. Join us as we look at the peace that God offers to us and how this peace and God's justice go together.

Cyrus is the Lord's Anointed (Is. 45:1), who receives the "treasures of darkness" (Is 45:3) rather than "the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12); and the Morning Star, who may be Jesus (Rev 22:16) or Satan (Is 14:12). Similarly, our text this evening applies four different titles or attributes of Christ to . . . Nebuchadnezzar. In their dominion all kings image to us something of Christ the King. The greatest earthly monarchs are the ones whose glory comes closest to that of the Son of Man. Daniel, and the rest of Scripture, are not afraid to say that all the glory of Nebuchadnezzar, all the glory of the serpent, all the glory of the morning star, really and truly belongs to Jesus Christ. It's actually His, rightfully speaking. The enemies may have borrowed it, or even been loaned it, for a time. But by right of begetting, by right of nature, by right of victory, His is the kingdom, power, and glory forever. He is the morning star and the Lord's Anointed and the king of kings. Others may enact a similitude of those roles for a time. Only Jesus enacts the reality of those things. This evening, I hope to show you simply this: The glory of Nebuchadnezzar is great, but the glory of Christ is far greater, infinitely greater.

The real struggle in life is living out Christianity day by day. 1. Draw near 2. Stop living as an enemy 3. Stand your ground

This sermon encourages believers to remain steadfast and unmovable in their faith by focusing on the ultimate victory over death and corruption promised in 1 Corinthians 15. It addresses the pervasive corruption in the world and within human nature, contrasting it with the hope of a future resurrection where the corruptible puts on incorruption. The message emphasizes that Christian labor is not in vain, countering the lies of discouragement and futility often whispered by the enemy, as illustrated by the example of Job. Listeners are urged to keep their eyes fixed on Christ rather than the distractions of this life, ensuring that their service and devotion are grounded in the certainty of God's promises. The tone is pastoral and exhortative, calling for a deep, absolute knowledge that one's efforts for the Lord are fruitful and secure.

Think back to a time when things were really bad. Perhaps your bank account balance was very low and all of your bills were due. Perhaps you weren't feeling well and your doctor gave you a bad report. Perhaps you had a difficult relationship that just seemed to be getting worse. What would you want someone to tell you? You would want him to tell you that your finances would be taken care of, your health would get better, and your relationship would be mended. When bad things are happening, we want hope more than reality. As Jesus was talking to the disciples, He knew that they were discouraged by what they had heard. One of them would betray Him, Jesus was going away, and He would be killed by His enemies. If their hearts could be represented by a water pitcher, it would be full of sadness. So, what did Jesus tell them to give them hope? Surprisingly, He didn't give them hope. Instead, He told them about the troubles they would soon face. But He also told them about someone who would help them through all of it.

What Seems Right or What God Says? This message presents the opening chapters of Numbers as God's careful preparation of a redeemed people to move from Sinai toward His promised land. Israel had been out of Egypt only a little over a year when God numbered the fighting men, arranged the tribes around the tabernacle, assigned the Levites their responsibilities, required purity within the camp, called His people to consecration, and placed His blessing upon them. Everything centered around one great reality: God was dwelling in their midst. Their strength was not in their numbers, organization, or military ability, but in the presence, provision, Word, and promises of the Lord. The message then looks ahead to Kadesh Barnea, where the preparation of Numbers 1–10 is tested by the report of the twelve spies. All twelve saw the same fruitful land, fortified cities, powerful enemies, and giants, but they interpreted what they saw differently. Ten allowed circumstances to interpret God's promise, while Joshua and Caleb allowed God's promise to interpret their circumstances. This becomes the central contrast between Proverbs 14:12—the way that seems right to a man—and Proverbs 3:5–6—trusting the Lord rather than leaning on our own understanding. Faith does not deny difficulties; it simply refuses to give difficulties more authority than what God has said. Israel's unbelief ultimately became disobedience. Though God had delivered, fed, protected, instructed, and led them, they refused to trust Him at the threshold of the promise. Their forty days of spying became forty years of wilderness judgment, and the numbered generation died without entering the land. The tragedy was not t