R321 How To Handle The Enemy Pt.2

Welcome to the Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based reading of Dr. Don Wilton as we continue the series on how to handle the enemy were headed to God's word will come in just a moment, but notably here for you right now that 866-899-WORD 866-899-9673 or online at tewonline.org with Dr. Don Wilton, please strike a copy of God's word and together with me and each one of us to the book of Nehemiah chapter 4 the Old Testament the book of Nehemiah in chapter 4. The second part of my message on how to handle the enemy not go to confession to make to you as a congregation. I remember when I was about 16 or 17 years of age.

I had a motorbike many of you today would say well your parents must of lost something to have given your motorbike will. I had a motorbike.

My father used to race motorbike. Some of you didn't know that but he did for many years and I guess motorbikes were part of our family and I had a motorbike it was my motorbike and I was 16 years of age and I came home from high school 1 billion Road my motorbike into the backyard just before I got to the house. It suddenly conked out. There was no other word to describe it just stopped coming just right there with me on top right. Can you believe that in general I am. So I push the soul away up the hill where we lived in East London and I went back into my home went around the back and I looked at this motorbike and I stated it and I considered it I contemplated it I knew one thing it installed and so I said so you need to fix this motorbike and so I began I took the wheels off. I took a seat off I began to type this off I began unscrewing but some parts of the engine and my father arrived from one of the meetings that he was in and he said to me son.

What seems to be the problem. I said dad my motorbike start it's broken, it just stopped on me just like that and I'm dismantling it and I'm going to find out exactly what's wrong with it, to which he said to me, and I will never forget he said son did you check the gas tank.

I said thank you very much, dad, and of course all, let it happen was that yes I have run out of gas. I'm going to confess to you that if ever you see me broken down in some way in striped I'll probably have the hood up and I'll probably be walking around and doing what Michelin says you should never do.

I'll be kicking some tires, but I want know how to fix the problem you know in life we many, many times have to raise the hood. We recognize that something is broken. We understand that we are being confronted by the enemy.

We recognize that things are not what they ought to be that we are facing an onslaught. And yet we don't know how to handle it. We can go to seminars we can renew our vows. We can recognize that we need to do what ever it is that we need to do what I think if we were honest with one another. Sometimes all we end up doing is kicking the time we don't know how to handle the enemy. Nehemiah's experience was no different to ours in 1996, Gary was a man of God among the people of God being blessed of God in an unprecedented way.

Being faced by all kinds of challenges and today was the enemy. The enemy came in the form of different people in different circumstances on different occasions and yet the enemy was there at the word of God affirms that the word of God tells us that the devil is alive and he's will and he's out to seek to destroy into my name and to alter Annie's out to bring us down to around me. We recognize that most Christian people to die in the world would rise up and they would say will foster there is no doubt about it whatsoever. We recognize the onslaught of the enemy he's at work in our families. He's at work in our nation. He's at work in our schools. He's at work in our community. He's at work everywhere. We recognize that, but how can I handle the enemy. I want you to follow with me again in Nehemiah chapter 4 and verse 10. The Bible says. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said the strength of the laborers is giving often there is so much trouble that we cannot rebuild the wall that is a monumentally significant statement, don't you think you been married for 15 years. There's so much trouble. How can I remove the wool. Maybe you've made many mistakes in your life. Maybe you're a teenager here this morning and you're saying pasta.

I have spoken ill of my parents. I have bought something inside of me that is a fire that won't go out there is so much trouble cannot ever remove the wool. Listen to what happens verse 11. Also, if this was not enough, our enemies said before they know it will see us. We will be right there among them, and we will kill them and put them into the work then the Jews who live near them came and told us how many times 10 times over where ever you turn they will attack us 10 times over the relentless onslaught of the enemy. Therefore, speaking in the first person, God's prophet.

Nehemiah said, therefore, in verse 13, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places. Let me just stop there for a minute. I love that word exposed places do not. That means I want to insert our own modern-day terminology in the I would put the word Achilles' heel you not out Achilles' heel is all about seven Achilles' heel its weakest point. It's the point at which Satan is going to aim his dog.

It is the point at which he's going to bring us down.

It's the point at which he knows he can get us better than any other place it supported would she know that he can cause us to crumble. He knows that we point out Achilles point in this church. He knows out Achilles point as the United States of America. He knows our Achilles point as individual people.

Satan knows every detail about us. He is an absolute loss of deception. He wants to destroy us so badly. Look what Nehemiah did. Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wool at the Achilles' heel at the exposed places posting them by families with their swords and spears and bows off dry look things over. I stood up and I said to the nobles, the officials and 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 hose when our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it. We returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on half of my men did the work while the other half were equipped with spears, seals, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah, who were building the wool. Those who carried materials did they work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked, but the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people.

The work is extensive and spread out than we are 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 to work with half the main holding spears from the first light of dawn till the stars came out that time I also said to the people have every Mama needs help her stay inside Jerusalem at night so they can service serve as God's by Nitin workman by day. Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the gods with me took off our clothes. Each had his Ripper even when he went for water by the Lord righties word upon our hearts. Seven principles biblical principles on how to handle the enemy argues the first to his introduction because we covered them lost Creek number one no God is no God is chapter 4 and verse 14 in chapter 4 verse 20. It is apparently clear that Nehemiah understood exactly who God is. There were four things he discovered number one that God is create tool in chapter 9 and verse six, number two, that God's covenant maker that he makes a covenant with us and God never changes his mind. Number three that he is character builder in chapter 5 in verse 12 he booms out character. He's in the business of processing us.

He's in the business of refining us. He's in the business of us of conforming us to the image of these own son and number four.

He is caretaker chapter 4 verse 20 he takes care of the back he's ahead of us. He's in charge.

I said some time ago, I stated you had 65 seconds to tell somebody something before you died, what would you till if God said to you right now you've got 65 seconds left to lose.

And I want you to talk to your son and your daughter and your wife and your husband. What would you cite in 65 seconds be a man. My son make sure you build up a good bank balance when you retire. Invest wisely, Mary will my daughter by good motorcar that'll never break down each right stay alive. What would you say if you had 65 seconds.

I believe what Nehemiah would've said my friend is number one. First and foremost know who God is, why because friends unless we understand who this creator is this Micah this caretaker. This character builder you and I can never ever be able to handle the onslaught of the enemy. If we don't know God is man has proved over and over again that man cannot handle the enemy number to identify the enemy identify the enemy. Chapter 6 and verse 14. You can look at it with me identify the enemy. What is he saying that he says remember Tovar and sand ballot.

Oh my God because of what they have done. Remember also the prophetess Noah Dyer and the rest of the prophets who have been trying to intimidate me. There was no question about it. This man believed that first and foremost, under God, he had to identify the enemy. Some of us think the enemy is our job. Some of us think the enemy is world. Some of us think the enemy is the environment.

Some of us think the enemy is Congress. Some of us think the enemy is the IRA are some of us think the enemy is not in those or close some of us think the enemy are our children. But the Bible says my friend public enemy number one is also the wool that goes on within us will put a practice he said the good that I would that I do love the evil that I would not that I do and there was a proverbial struggle, a tug-of-war going on within himself.

Why, because the devil is alive and well, you and I need to on NT far the enemy Garrett is what is it in your life that is causing you to stumble, what is it where is your Achilles' heel. Identify the enemy. There is a process by which we can go five points number one, namely nine that's what Nehemiah did. He named it there was an enemy in the campaign name. Then he said, remember Tovar and sand ballot and Noah died, the other prophets. He named it he identified them. He pointed them out.

He said you know what he knew my there was no apology in him whatsoever name the enemy number two claim them, claim them, you notice your in verse 14 that the profit director. He's whole prayer concerning this. Named enemy toward God. He claimed them for God. You know why because I believe this man understood that vengeance is mine saith the Lord, and what Nehemiah did together with those people. When these people began to oppose the work of God, even in this subtle undercurrent kinds of ways. He named them, and any claim them for the coals of God, Jehovah, he presented them before the throne of grace, but there's 1/3 thing.

Challenge them already name them and claim them. You need to challenge them. You say to me today pasta. Why do I need to challenge the enemy.

You see friend only or criminal is afraid of a policeman. If you are living according to God's standards and you are moving in the direction that God has placed you, and all of a sudden Satan begins to use people to trip you up and drag you out.

You must not only name them and claim them. You need to challenge that you need to get up. I will travel one on one limb in the and say what you doing is not of the Lord, you need to challenge that weak point in your own life.

It might be lost may be something you looking at it might be something you're saying it might be someplace you're going it may be the manner with which you conduct yourself.

It might be the company you keep.

You not only need to name it and claim it you need to challenge otherwise, you will never identify the enemy, but there's 1/4 thing that you need to do you need a push on the spot. Name them, claim them, challenge them, and then push on the spot them. See what Satan wants us to do as a church. My friends is to stop doing what we're doing, you know, it would give them great joy is God's church all over America just stopped. You know how he's going to try and get God's work to stop. He's gonna raise up the enemy he's gonna use people and he's gonna use circumstances and he's going to use government and he's gonna use education and he's gonna use children he's gonna use husbands and wives and preachers and pastas and priests and deacons and elders in Sunday school teachers. He's going to use whatever he can get his hands on and he's going to get those people to do his dirty work and he wants the Church of God to stop it in its tracks. You can identify these people. Usually they will tell you that they been saying for the special mission from God as their most earnest job description to set the record straight, to do whatever needs to be done. We need to name them and claim them. We need to challenge the longest pipe. But there's 1/5 process in the identification process we need to win them. How do you win the enemy you want when you cite my friend, you will use IP by virtue of the victory that Jesus has already claimed upon the cross ON how we need to claim that victory don't we sometimes refund difficult especially when were by ourselves. Dr. Wilton has insisted I interrupt so that I can let you know we are here to pray with you and for you about the way maybe you are handling your enemy right now.

Our phone number is 866899 word that's 866899673 available not just now during the broadcast for 24 hours a day as Dr. Don would say we would be honored to be one of your 2 AM friends if you need someone to pray with her need some help connecting with great resources as a matter fact we have a remarkable resource just released its new book from Dr. Don Wilton call Saturdays with Billy. Here's Dr. Don with what an incredible privilege to be framed and foster Billy Graham so many. That's why I have just written Saturdays with Billy. This is not a biography.

It is my experience this most precious man who has changed my life and the lives of thousands of people around the world you want to get a copy right now. Saturdays another way to get your copy is calling right now with 866-899-WORD. That's 866-899-9673 or you can order one online at our website, TW online.org that's TE W the Encouraging Word online.org.

What's more, tewonline.org you connected with not only that resource.

The new book about Dr. Billy Graham. With so many more other resources including the free daily email. Dr. Don sends out every morning you can sign up again online@twonline.org. Now back to today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton friend. If there is an individual or a situation in your life and you are a Christian person.

What I mean by winning the enemy through the identification process, I mean gaining the victory over that situation if it is something that you are looking at stop looking at it is something that you are saying stop sign. If it is someplace you're going to stop going there. I was counseling with a couple this man said I know what's wrong this is wrong that's wrong that's wrong with me and I looked at him and I said brother do I love you. He said yes sir.

I said what if you done about. You can sit there until you're blue in the face and tell me or tell your wife that you did this and that and the next thing the issue is this know who God is number two.

Identify the enemy number three. Pray for God's protection. Pray for God's protection. Look at chapter 4 and verse nine Magnus passage chapter 4 and verse nine but we pray to God. Go back to their site.

Let's go back to verse seven. Just look at this, but when they are identifying the enemy again. Remember point number two by Queen Sam Ballack told by the Arabs that I am a nights and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls and gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they will walk. What were the by Wang. They were very angry.

Now, folks. These were not people outside these were people inside. They were part of the status quo. They sang in the choir scares me. I shouldn't say that while I was pricing. That's why they sang in the choir.

They sat in the pews. They preached from the pulpit. You know that some of the greatest opposition to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ comes from preachers from ministers of the gospel from churches. That's right. Look what happened.

Look at this site and so what happened they plotted together to come and find against Jerusalem is what's it coming and to stir up trouble is not just marks.

I think I'm just going to go then I'm an adjuster that old product ban on God's personal gift to mankind.

I'm just getting him stirred up I'm understanding the Cardinals and I'm going to start rumors and I'm going to be doing innuendo and I'm going and I'm going to? I'm going to do this.

I'm just going to stir up the pot. That's what Satan does. He's doing it in our education system.

Folks he's doing it for the mass murder of children all across America, freedom of choice, like cold when it comes to sexual matters. It's called safe sex. I'm just going to stir up the pot. I'm going to give it a nice night I'm going to talk about the rights of people.

Everybody's got a ride today. It's a matter of sexual preference is what God's word say here. It is nice stirred up trouble against adverse none, but we pray to God in that incredible. There is pray for God's protection site pasta. How simplistic could they be pray for God's protection. Peter put it like this in first Peter chapter 1 he said we must not only God, the gospel, but we are shielded by God's power. There is a garrison that is placed around about us, we are completely overtaken by God. Armaments by God's battlements.

God is John the Baptist.

I should and he says if you want to handle the enemy in your life. Playful bonds protection do we really pray for our children. We really pray for one another.

Number four type practical action take practical action.

The fourth principle on how to handle the enemy.

I want to look at the second part of verse nine. You see, they didn't just stop at pray. I call that the God bless you my brother's and I picked it up when I was at seminary in New Orleans.

We were all so good. We used to walk around those hallowed holes in we would hear about needs and we would site will God bless you my brother. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe we should pray. I believe we need to be in the forefront of pray, but sometimes we go to put out prayer and action. You see, it's no good just for the church to talk about moral decay.

We go to do something about tomorrow because it's not good for us to just get up.

My friend inside God's word says that abortion is an abomination in the nostril of God. We've got to do something about. It's no good getting up and saying that the world is in such trouble and that we need to give to our people.

I haven of rest and a fellowship of encouragement. We've got to do something about. You see, they took practical action.

What happened verse nine but we pray to God and posted a God. How often day and night to meet this threat. Indeed, we do need to be active got to start doing things and one of the things you talk to will to reminds us often is God can't steer a bicycle. It's not moving a card is not moving. You need to be in motion. Are we in motion in the right way know that we are to pray with you and for you about what God's dealing with in your life is you been hearing The Encouraging Word of God, the Bible itself. Dr. Don Wilton connect with us at 866-899-WORD.

That's 866-899-9673 or online@twonline.org that's TEW online.org before get away.

The closing thoughts from a pastor and chief encourager Dr. Don Wilton are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that I and I know that Jesus died for me today. I repainted 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. If you just prayed to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior with Dr. Wilton. Moments ago. Welcome to the family of God.

Maybe you were praying to rededicate your life and if so, welcome home. Want to encourage you that effect. Dr. Don has some specific resources that he wants to put in your hands if you gave your life to Christ to rededicate your life you can call for those resources at 866-899-WORD. There absolutely free 866-899-9673 number to call email us at online@tewonline.org eight that's TE W online.org while you're there, discover all the resources like Dr. Don's book on Billy Graham, mentioned earlier today and so many other opportunities to just grow closer in her face that's online@tewonline.org