R320 How To Handle The Enemy, Pt.1

We are facing an enemy power, good and evil is always a struggle. How do we deal with the next few days… Talking about how to handle unity your own The Encouraging Word we love to pray with you as you do that and 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 and now with Austin Nehemiah chapter full of friends we going to be looking at the subject into parts.

Part one this morning and then talk to next Sunday morning I'm going to say to you that the subject that we look at today is of vital vital significance to each one of us as we begin to try to understand what it is that God would teach us through the life and experience of Nehemiah and his people. We going to discover that there are some basic issues that confronted Nehemiah that are identical to the same things that we confront in our own lives to the I don't believe that there is anyone here who would doubt the fact that we face unprecedented struggles in life, we see the enemy of work. Everywhere we turn he's on the loose. In fact, the Bible says this Peter put it like this in his epistle he said we need to be slow but and we need to be on the walk because the devil is as a roaring lion, seeking whom he might've the devil is at work to the he's at work in our home lives he's at work in our work lives he's at work in our social lives. He's at work. Everywhere we turn around every corner.

I think that a lot of very nice things being said cards have been sent. But you know friends. The reality of it is that Satan is in the middle of breaking up families.

If Satan can break up the family he has accomplished.

One of these major goals. He's doing that all over America. But you know something folks. Satan is out to destroy our families. Satan is getting hold of our young people. You can see it in some of their eyes. I know this should never be said from the pulpit but sometimes even from the pool but I can look out across the congregation and I look into the eyes of the teenager and I can see the hostility, I can see the day because there's no life they don't they don't sing a hymn, they just stand there.

They don't smile.

They do nothing. There's just that there's just the sadness in the eyes of some about teenagers. There's no response by becoming like computers. I look out across our world today, and I see parents like that. I see husbands leaving their families. I see parents becoming angry with one another. The family is at wall die, but such good news for you today my friends no matter where you been in no matter what you've done today can be the first day of the rest of your life and if you as a congregation believe that Jesus Christ makes the difference and that Jesus Christ can help us to handle and overcome the enemy.

I want you to say amen that was a pretty weak I made do you believe that Jesus Christ can help us to overcome the enemy. If you believe that, would you say amen I went to watch a boss good bull going one of my sons was in the championship going.

I tell you what cloaks we have no problem looping you want to see us be included. I hope you and watching me.

I mean here.

It is unbelievable how badly we believe, I mean I've seen parents with posters.

I watched people doing disappointing and getting fired up and getting cracked up. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and that Jesus Christ can restore families and that Jesus Christ can make a difference and that Jesus Christ can enable us to overcome the enemy.

Would you let it be known by saying amen how to handle the enemy how to handle the enemy. All we talk a lot about I do I hear myself. We very good theorizing. We very good in Valentine's Day of sending the right kind of picture with the right kind of flowers, but I tell you I'm going to be the first one. The volunteer folks. It takes me sometimes less than 24 hours that I start making the same was right that I've made before. Sometimes it takes us even less than that.

We coming to the book of Nehemiah we going to discover some staggering things. You see, the issue is this what are the practical resources that we can appropriate in our own lives to full post) of the enemy. What can I do what must I say, starkly, how can I handle the enemy are subject this morning. Part one. How to handle the enemy turn with me in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter full. I want to read a passage just to illustrate, because we still doing an overview this week and next week of Nehemiah and then we got to go back to chapter 1 and we going to start to really study the book of Nehemiah. You see folks you cannot make a resolution concerning your marriage or your family or your relationship or your behavior until you willing to come to grips with the issues that you are confronted. If you are a selfish person in your marriage. No matter how many times you apologize to your wife, your husband until you understand the issue. Your apology is never going to lost until you come to the point at which you understand the issues that are confronting you well. Let's try and discover this in the book of Nehemiah. So I'm reading Nehemiah chapter 4 beginning at verse 10 and on my stock once across. Meanwhile the people in Judah said the strength of the laborers is giving up.

Would you mind if I just stop there for sick that'll preach by Conway to come back to that verse.

The strengths of the laborers is giving up I wanted. Is anyone here don't raise your hand. This morning, but I wonder if there's any mom or dad teenager son or daughter grandparent that you can honestly say that there are times at which your strength is just giving your resolve is giving out your 12 is no longer there. Your resolution is going out the back door you need to decide with your washing machine is a male or female. I decided 20 years ago that things are primo I tell you what. When he got all over me. Yesterday I decided to myself at that. Things neuter Johnny and he told me exactly what I was doing. He said listen, buddy. You say you want both the ladies first says that and you tell a honey you go to ladies first is that you have a good time.

I'll take care of everything so mom gets. Already she goes to ladies first says that she has a wonderful time she comes back to see who's taken care of everything and she walks in and the place looks like a jungle gym.

She knows that because everything is upside down and hasn't been taken care of.

You see that's doing something with strings attached, see friends. Sometimes you just want to give up say what's the use of try my marriage will never come back together again. I've messed up. I'm out on the limb. Listen to what the Bible says. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said the strength of the laborers is giving and there is so much in rubble that we cannot read build the wall while how much in rubble is there in your life. Also, this is interesting. Verse 11. Our enemies said before they know it or see us. We will be right there among them and will kill them and will put an end to the work then the Jews who live near them came and told us 10 times over. Wherever you turn, they will attack us. Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places posting them by families with their swords and spears and bows off dry look things over our stood up and I said to the nobles, the officials into the rest of the people. Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives in your home when our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated.

We all return to the wall, each to his own work, and from that day on half my men did the work while the other half were equipment, spears shields, bows, and all the officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah brother Larry, you get that part they missed the chairman of Beacon's officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah, who were building the wall. Those who carried materials that they work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wall his sword and he sighed as he worked, but the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me and I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. The work is extensive and spread out and we all widely separated from each other along the wall whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Join us there. God will fight for us, so we continued the work with half the men holding spears from the first light of dawn so the stars came out. At that time. I also said to the people have every man and he's help her stay inside Jerusalem at night so they can serve us as God's by day and workmen bond day by Martin workmen by day. Neither I nor my brothers nor my men molded God's with me took off our clothes each had his weapon, even when he went for water by the Lord writing his word upon our hearts this morning. How to handle the enemy. I wonder what you would say if someone awesome you who your enemy wall. I think that would be rather interesting. It would be rather interesting to see friends. The devil is alive and will and he is infiltrating every corner of God's people. There are at least seven principles this week and next week part one and part two that I want us to look at very carefully related to this issue of how to handle the enemy.

What can we do write these down like biblical principles. This is not something that the Pope is saying to us this is not something that preposterous find us. This is not something that a marriage and family counselor is saying to us this is not something that a psychiatrist or a social worker is saying to us what is the Bible teachers. One of the principles that all laid before us. Principle number one how to handle the enemy know who God is. That's principle number one know God is look at chapter 4 verse 14 oh look with me that chapter 4 in verse 14 we rented a moment ago. After I looked things over and I wanted just pours there for a month because that is a very interesting statement of monumental significance, may I suggest to you that it sometime this year.

If we haven't already. We are going to have politicians in the primaries presidential election from all persuasions going to stand up.

Basically they going to say I have looked things over and I have got the onset that's right I get to say vote for me.

I bought the track record. I've looked things over. I've served my country beating place. I understand the needs I bought a plan of action vote for me that's basically what happens in politics well it's rather interesting how my friends that they killed Nehemiah confronted by unprecedented obstacles and circumstances here writing verse 14 he says off dry look things over off-track, analyzed, authorized, subjected myself to a marriage renewing same in all authorized had come together with my wife off guard sat down and looked at my family off-track trying to understand the busyness of my schedule. You can never build a list on a moving train.

Often we understand the depth of the escape to which we are in bold. The battle that presents itself to us. He says off dry look things over.

I stood up. By the way that standing up is very significant frame. You will never make a resolution that will follow through in handling the enemy until you prepared to stand up and become man I want all the fathers to look at me all across your man. You will never and I will never be the man God wants me to be until you are not willing to take a stand until you're willing to step out and be counted, challenged, are we willing you been listening to Dr. Don Wilton our teacher here on The Encouraging Word. Perhaps the Lord is stirred your heart with questions we'd love to go with you and find the answer to those questions in the Bible itself guides Encouraging Word we can do that keyboard keyboard on our website right now@twonline.org would love to meet you there. It's also the place you get a copy of the brand-new book from Dr. Wilton about his years of 25 years pastoring Dr. Billy Graham is call Saturdays with Billy again online to find all the details@tewonline.org.

There's also another resource that we consider one of the most important resources of The Encouraging Word. Did you know that the Bible tells us to pray. Ephesians 618 says on all occasions with kind of prayers in mind the alerts only keep on praying for the Lord's people. We would love to pray with you The Encouraging Word for our life. For airline you can call 866899 and talk to a real person and you will be glad to pray with you The Encouraging Word is a dealer and listener supported ministry. Thank you for listening today. Now back to today's teaching as we study on how to handle the enemy Dr. Don Wilton on The Encouraging Word but I tell you something friends. There is no problem in America today, the average man can gun sitting a football he can get whipped topping. Despite of cosmic frenzy. He can going to another planet. He didn't yell and scream and burst blood vessels. He can give high fives and low fives and every other kind of five piquant barbecuing and put all the chicken in South Carolina into the Ministry of fear is a minister he could do all kinds of things that you could ever imagine. But what Nehemiah is trying to say here my friend is that unless you are willing to stand up unless we willing to stand up. We we going to be able to carry through with the resolution that all is placed in a hall. You will never serve God sitting my brother will never serve God and be silent at the same time, you'll never serve God unless you're willing to get in the forefront of the action.

I miss you willing to be men and women of conviction. Here we read very simply of this 14 off dry look things over.

I stood up and I said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people.

Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome.

Oh yes, he knew exactly who God was, well, therefore, things that he knew about God. I want to share them with you. Number one God is create will we never going to handle the enemy my friends unless we know that God is well who is God, according to Nehemiah God is create tool chapter 9 go to chapter 9 let's hear those pages rush chapter 9 chapter 9 and verse six.

Mob this passage listen to this chapter 9 and verse six, you alone are the Lord you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on the seas and all that is in them, you give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you wanted Nehemiah site. What was he reiterating at this juncture. What Nehemiah was saying is listen. I can never handle the enemy that confronts me unless I know who God is and when I come to understand who God is.

Guess what I discover I guess.

First find out that he is create toll. He has learned everything he is in charge of everything he has made everything everything that ever existed belongs to him to begin everything.

Everything I wonder if there's anyone here this morning who says well you know my bank balances my bank balance. I give what ever I decide to go frameless and according to Nehemiah, you don't give to God, you borrowed from God because it belongs to him. To begin with. I wonder how many of us out everything that is so important to us.

Homes that we live in the motorcar that we drive the food that we eat the close upon our backs. This beautiful place. One of my favorite radio programs. I tried listen to every noise is Bill Drake. Speaking of Spartanburg. I love it just it's just so rich and I'm always reminded of how special our city is our community people are church, but you know what folks everything that we have these beautiful mountains and these trees and these rivers and the snow that falls in the homes that we live in this beautiful sanctuary called God's house this all belongs to God. Why because he is create tool he made us, we never gonna handle the enemy folks until we understand who we belong to is not any create toll, but he is competent. Micah is competent to make a go back to chapter 1 what I love about being in a short book. We can get to these passages easily go back to chapter 1 and verse site God is not any create toll, but he is covenant Micah verse site.

Listen to what he says in his prayer, he says remember the instruction you gave to your servant Moses, saying, if you are unfaithful. What will happen then anyone here tonight has been unfaithful to God's know what the Bible itself tells anyone here is been unfaithful to God. Listen to what the Bible tells your reduce.

If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the nations. Now that word scattering the Hebrew text is a very interesting word. You know what it means. It means literally to rip asunder.

That's what it means.

It means that if you are unfaithful to God.

You know he'll take you and he will rip you apart. He will started to God because he's a Micah, but you see that's not where it stops if it stopped at the covenant. I'm ready to get out of here. I'm out again by you need to get another pasta because it that's where the covenant stops. I'm dead. I'm outta your brother you come and preach but covenant doesn't stop there. That's the one side of covenant it is tied into the sin of man.

It is the academic side of the top dog in Adam all die, but in Christ Jesus.

We are what we are all made alive. So let's read on. Let's read on verse nine but if you return to me. I love this and obey my commands, then even your exiled people are after the rooster lies how wow wow can you manage and father's side gone down. He says no matter what you've done, no matter where you even if you were told.

My heart go because I'm going because I'm covenant Micah look what happens here then even if your exiled people are at the father's horizon. I will gather them from day and I will bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling place for my mother. Is that wonderful does anyone find a little glimmer of hope they just might be a little smidgen of anything they calls us want to stand up so I think you will create covenant Micah there's another thing about God that we discover he is character Buddha. All he is character building turnover. The chapter 5 just quickly in chapter 5 chapter 5 now don't have time to get in the background. I'm in a do that little bit like chapter 5 in verse 12. Now these people were faced with a tremendous predicament cannot just say this to each one of us folks listen to me as God's people. We are going to constantly and continually be faced with character building predicaments and look what happened. Sharon chapter 5 in verse 12, they being an believable predicament they had been involved in things that are not right and gets a hold of them and invest 25.

Look what happens. We give back they said and we knocked him on any more from them. We will do as you say God is character, Buddha, there's 1/4 thing that the Bible tells us about him.

He is caretaker years can't take a look at chapter 4 we read it to begin with. In verse 20. Perhaps the central part of this passage. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Join us today.

Why, because God will fight for us. I love that you know that tells me about this, God tells me that he is caretaker it means he takes care of me.

It means that when I place those struggles in my marriage and my home, at work, at school or play with my finances with my help with my material, spiritual and emotional well-being. I can always know who is takes care and is a glorious joy to know that he takes care of us.

God takes care of his children. His family are you part of the family of God you listen to The Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and you've heard of teaching, but now as he come to the studio. Listen to him as he shares from his heart. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right. Dear God, I know that I miss and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my awful in Jesus night, my friend.

I welcome you today into the family of God.

This is exciting news. Perhaps you just prayed with Dr. Wilton.

Moments ago and gave your life to Jesus Christ. Welcome to the family got maybe you were praying along to rededicate your life or maybe you have been saying I know I need to do something I need to make some sort of course correction but I'm not sure what we would love to pray with you in all three situations at the other end of 866899 word that's 866899673 not just doubting the broadcast anytime to talk with you, pray, Dr. Don has wonderful resources he wants to give you absolutely for free, just rededicate your life to Christ gave your life to Jesus Christ. Please call us at 866-899-9673. Rather, let's connect on our website at tewonline.org G that's tewonline.org G will meet you there like