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SERIES: Moving Forward (2 of 5)

TITLE: Enemies to Defeat
TEXT: Revelation 3:15-16
PROPOSITION: As we move forward, we must defeat the enemies that hinder us.
QUESTION: Which?
KEY WORD: Enemies
SCRIPTURE READING: Same

INTRODUCTION:

  1. The church is a body

  2. But the body can become sick, diseased, accidents

  3. It can be under attack – internally and externally

  4. Enemies can cripple, damage and even kill the church

  5. Think about 4 enemies that must be defeated

Ignorance

  1. Ignorance comes in many forms

  2. Isaiah 45:20

    1. Religious ignorance – pagans make god from a tree

    2. Today – same ignorance – crystals, idols

  3. Jeremiah 5:21

    1. Stubborn ignorance

    2. Refuse to see, hear, think

  4. We can be destroyed by our own ignorance

    1. Miss salvation, joy, forgiveness, eternal life

    2. Miss power of prayer, faith, and hope

Unbelief

  1. Not just a problem for the atheist – saved as well

  2. John 8:24 – not believe – die in your sins

  3. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – many are spiritually blind

  4. Hebrews 3:12 – unbelief in departing from God

  5. Can unbelief prevent the church from moving forward?

    1. Do you know God, God's Word?

    2. Do you believe God cares how you live?

    3. Do you believe that God has a plan of salvation?

    4. Doe sit matter how we worship?

  6. Mark 9:24 – Lord, help my unbelief.

  7. Charles Spurgeon, “Be great believers. Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls."

Apathy

  1. Are world problems caused by ignorance or apathy? - I don't know and I don't care.

  2. Apathy is the attitude of Laodicea

  3. Revelation 3:15-16 – not cold, not hot, lukewarm

  4. Is this church lukewarm?

    1. Lacking passion, drive, desire

    2. Got the BLAHS

  5. There is a real danger – we will not move forward, we will go backwards

Sin

  1. Most obvious enemy of the church

  2. Ignorance, Unbelief and Apathy – lead to SIN

  3. Hebrews 12:1 – lay aside the sin that ensnares us

  4. Hebrews 3:12-13 – Hard heart – depart from God

  5. James 5:19-20 – turn a sinner from the error of his way

  6. We need to help each other stay on track

Conclusion

  1. We must defeat our enemies to move forward

  2. Old comic strip – Pogo, “We have seen the enemy, and he is us.”

  3. We can blame others – world, TV, government, economy

  4. All of these enemies can be defeated

 

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