Enemies on SermonAudio

Are you surprised by hardship and suffering? Do you view struggle and discomfort in this life as attack from an enemy or necessary discipline from a loving Father?

Sunday Service at Sparrow Baptist Church, Toronto

In this sermon, "What Is Love?" we learn that biblical love is more than affection, emotion, or sentimentality—it is obedient submission to God's will. Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment: "Love one another: just as I have loved you" (John 13:34). He demonstrated this love by laying down His life, surrendering His own will to the Father's plan, and refusing to retaliate against those who hated, mistreated, and crucified Him. Therefore, to love as Jesus loved means obeying God even when obedience is difficult, laying down our rights and self-will for the good of others, and responding to our enemies with forgiveness and blessing rather than revenge.

The Israelites have survived one life-threatening challenge after another. They are now entering a quieter season in which they will enjoy a semblance of relief from the surrounding threats. They have food; they have water; and they are not currently under attack. For a time, all too brief, they celebrate the goodness of God to them in providing for their needs and protecting them from their enemies. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brings Moses' wife and children to rejoin them at the camp, and he and Moses enjoy a time of worship together as they reflect togheter on all God has done to redeem His people. Sadly, even as the external stresses are easing, the Israelites immediately begin experiencing internal, intracommunal stresses of personal conflicts with one another. As for Moses, he finds himself in another difficult predicament as he is tasked with presiding over these quarrels. From morning till evening, the people bring their greivances to Moses. It goes on and on. Seeing the taxation this was already inflicting upon Moses, Jethro pleads with him to divide up the work of judgment. Through all this, God is introducing a new challenge. Even when our circumstances are favorable, humans will find reasons to be discontent and to fight with one another. The hardships of life in a fallen world are seemingly limitless. Meanwhile, God remains devoted to His people and will once again provide for them in His way and time, by providing help for Moses, by giving the Law on Mt. Sinai, and by eventually rescuing His people from their inability to fulfill the Law...through Christ. It is another beautiful picture of our need for the Gospel.

The sermon explores the biblical call for Christian unity found in Philippians 2:1-4, emphasizing that true fellowship stems from the consolation and love experienced in Christ. It contrasts this spiritual reality with modern divisions caused by political strife and personal pride, urging believers to reject selfish ambition and conceit. The text highlights humility as the antidote to division, instructing individuals to esteem others above themselves and prioritize their interests alongside their own. By grounding communal harmony in Trinitarian grace rather than superficial feelings, the message challenges the church to model a counter-cultural love that reflects Christ's self-sacrifice. Ultimately, maintaining unity requires actively suppressing pride and cultivating deep, genuine care for fellow believers.

The radical power of the Gospel confronts the values, priorities, and sins of this present world. When the enemies of the early Christians cried, "These that have turned the world upside down" they were unwittingly testifying to the transforming impact of Christ's message. The Gospel does not just improve lives, it brings sinners from darkness to light, death to life, rebellion to surrender, and self-rule to the lordship of Christ. The Gospel shook cities then and still changes hearts today. It challenges false worship, calls us to repent, believe, and live under the reign of the risen King.

The sermon examines the biblical basis for ancestral and cultural bondage, arguing that sin opens doors to demonic influence across generations. It challenges secular worldviews by asserting that evil stems from a combination of human free will, satanic deception, and systemic cultural patterns rather than divine predestination or mere psychological factors. The speaker emphasizes that while guilt is not inherited, the consequences of sin manifest physically, emotionally, and spiritually within families and societies. Through Old Testament covenant curses and New Testament teachings on spiritual warfare, the text illustrates how unconfessed sin allows enemies to maintain control over descendants. Ultimately, the message calls for a shift in worldview to recognize spiritual realities and actively break these bondages through confession and reliance on Christ's authority.