My Worst Enemy
My Worst Enemy • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.
PRAY
Throughout Scripture you will find courageous people who had to defy authority in order to obey God, and in every case, they took the wise and gentle approach. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12:18, niv).
Warren W. Wiersbe
It’s important to show love to everyone, but it’s hard sometimes.
Enemies: difficult people, circumstances, evil forces
Just because you are saved doesn’t mean you will not struggle with enemies in your life
God’s Word speaks on these moments and how to overcome them
Nature of Our Enemies
Nature of Our Enemies
For I have heard the slander of many,
Terror is on every side;
While they took counsel together against me,
They schemed to take away my life.
Enemies love to talk about us, slander us, lie about us, and twist our words
This is their way to damage our faith, spirit, mind, etc.
Do not use their tactics. We are above that
Live with integrity that will overtake any lies or rumors about you
God will lead you if you live for Him. He will fight this battle for you
Weapon of the Enemy
Weapon of the Enemy
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
Our enemies lie about us in order to hurt us
They will twist the truth to serve them
Have the discernment to live in God’s will
Pray for wisdom to do the right thing
Be in the company of godly people and mentors
The Christian Response
The Christian Response
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Thus he teaches us, if our enemy hunger, to feed him, and if he thirst, as Israel did now, to give him drink, Rom. 12:20; Mt. 5:44, 45.
Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)
Our Lord tells us to love our enemies. This is contrary to our ways of thinking.
This command and type of love isn’t based on feelings. It’s based on a decision to show grace
Instead of hating and wishing ill toward your enemies, pray for them
Find opportunities to show love. Even when it’s hard
Forgive. This is for us, not the ones who did us wrong.
Don’t let it fester in your soul
The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
When our enemies seemingly surround us, we need to rely on God’s strength and protection.
He is our refuge in troubled times
Give God your fears and anxieties through prayer
Remember that He is in control. Not you or your enemies
His timing is perfect. His Will. His ways. His time
We Are Our Worst Enemy
We Are Our Worst Enemy
For I do not understand what I am doing; for I am not practicing what I want to do, but I do the very thing I hate.
There is a great conflict between the flesh (the old nature) and the Spirit (the new nature) going on in every believer. Paul spoke in detail of this conflict in Romans 7:15–25).
John G. Butler
Out of all the enemies we face in life, we are the worst
We know our weaknesses better than anyone in the world
Our own thoughts, doubts, fears, low self esteem, stress, etc. can stunt our Faith
Take time to examine yourself. Your heart, mind, body, and faith
Seek God’s help to fix the weaknesses in your life
Speak life and not death
Pray for you and your growth in your faith
Ask for forgiveness of your sins and shortcomings.
Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
As Christians, we are to love our enemies, pray for them, and forgive them.
Find peace with everyone even when it’s hard.
Forgive, not forget.
Remember to do these things to you as well.
After all, you are your own worst enemy
INVITATION
