Enemies at Bay

As we go through our daily lives we are going to face temptation and stumbling blocks. There will be things that are going to cause us to stray from our walk. No matter where we go. No matter what we do we will have enemies trying to make us stumble in our walk. I'm not talking about how Batman and the Joker are enemies or how Palpatine was an enemy to the Jedi and led Anakin astray to the Dark side. Tonight were going to be talking about the spiritual enemies that we face that much of the time we create for ourselves. We tend to lead ourselves astray.

Envy

1 Samuel 18:7–16 ESV

And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on. The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

David had just gotten back from fighting the Philistine and all these women came to see King Saul. They were having a party and all the girls that came out started singing a song about King Saul and about David. This was a joyous occasion for everyone except for Saul. He became angered at their song and he directed his anger onto David. His anger turned into envy.

Can anyone describe envy?

A grudging regard for the advantages seen to be enjoyed by others. To look closely at then to look with malicious intent.

Saul was envious of David. Saul had once been anointed by God to be the King of Isreal. The king of God’s people. Saul turned from God and disobeyed his command. During a battle with the Amalekites Saul was told to destroy them all and not take any spoils. So no gold, no livestock, no prisoners. Saul didn’t listen He kept their king alive and the best of their animals. Because of his actions God revoked his blessing from Saul.

After all of that transpired David steps onto the scene. He kills Goliath and is making a name for himself and Saul cannot stand it.

At the party here we see Saul lashes out and chunks spears at David but David has the favour of the Lord and his spears miss both times. Because he couldn’t kill him that made him want to kill David even more so he sent him back to war. The spirit of envy had taken a hold of Saul and was able to take a dwelling in him because the Lord had departed from Saul due to his disobedience.

Selfishness

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV

Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Selfishness- a self centered concern for oneself without due regard to the needs of others.

As we go through life we are going to come into times when we are tested to give and put others first. If we had to give up somethings to serve others some of us couldn't do it. Our selfishness would get in the way.

Being selfish isn’t just about giving up your possessions. There are multiple things that we are selfish with.

We are selfish with our time, our finances, our food, our relationships...

We don’t want to give things up or go without. We put ourselves first. And that is human nature to do so. We see it as self preservation. But in reality its our sin nature going to war with us.

How often do we have people ask us for help and we tell them Sorry I cant I have something else going on. But in reality the other thing that you have going on is either nothing or something that isn’t critical to get done at that moment. But the thing we were just asked to do sounds boring or inconveniences us so we make excuses to get out of doing things. Our selfishness will drive a wedge in our faith. We value ourselves so much more than we do spending time in the word, So much more than serving the community, so much more than feeding and clothing the hungry.

Un-Forgiveness

Colossians 3:13 ESV

bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Due to our sin nature we are all known to hold grudges towards each other for one thing or another. Our brother/sister wrongs us and we hold onto that and we become bitter and angry.

Our friends may not even know that we have grudges against them. They may not think that they've done anything wrong. But in our hearts we are blaming them for something they did or said that likely we've misunderstood. We let our pride get in the way of forgiving them for whatever it may be. We hold onto this frustration and it’ll drive us mad like we saw with Saul earlier.

We don't deserve to hold grudges against anyone.

God could have such a big grudge against us. And we would deserve that. But he doesn’t God forgives us no matter how many times we wrong him. No matter what we do. No matter how bad it is he looks at us and forgives us. If God can forgive us for all the wrong that we continue to do against him then how can we not forgive our friends for petty drama, or for the things of this world that in the end don’t matter. We let our emotions get in the way and drive a wedge in our friendships and our relationships.

Maybe you can’t forgive others because you've never experienced forgiveness from God. You haven’t had it modeled in your life.

Maybe you’re holding onto your selfishness because that's all you know.

Maybe your envious of those around you for the things that they have going on or the things they have.

Don’t let these things drive a wedge in your relationship with God. Don’t let our common enemies win. God has already won the battle all you have to do is put your faith in him and rely on him.

If you need to put any of these enemies to death tonight is the night to do that.

If you need to seek forgiveness for grudges you've been holding onto I encourage you to seek out those relationships and give that to God.