Overcoming Obstacles to God's Work Together! Part 1

Welcome

Good Morning! I’m Pastor Wayne and I’d like to welcome you all to the gathering of Ephesus Baptist Church.

Why did you choose to gather today? We believe we are a called people! Called to worship and exalt our God among the nations in order that His glory may be spread over all the earth!

If you are visiting with us this morning, we want you to know that ...

We are all one family of faith: “giving our all to love God, love people, proclaim Jesus, and make disciples in our generation.”

We have a connect card in the pew in front of you. I invite you to take one and fill it out! If you have prayer needs, you can let us know about those as well.

I promise, our prayer team will lift you up soon. You can place those cards in the offering plate when it comes around.

Scripture Memory

Romans 8:32 ESV

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Opening Scripture Reading

John 15:1–17 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Introduction

Next week we are going to continue our study in Nehemiah, chapter 4. Remember that I told you that Nehemiah, chapters 4-6 were primarily about spiritual warfare. Today’s brief message will serve as an introduction of sorts to our sermon next week where we will look at “Overcoming Obstacles to God’s Work Together!”

Have you ever heard of the The Battle of Krojanty?

The Battle of Krojanty occurred on September 1st, 1939, as part of the much larger Battle of Tuchola Forest.

Krojanty, was a small village in northern Poland that became an initial theater of battle at the onset of World War II, as Nazi Germany invaded Poland.

The Polish army was renowned for its skilled Cavalry. Their horsemen were well-trained and their horses were among Europe’s finest.

When it was learned that German forces were advancing, twelve brigades of their finest were prepared for battle. Armed with lances, the officers sounded the charge and their horses surged forward with powerful strides.

The initial charge proved to be successful. The German infantry dispersed as the Polish Calvary chased them across the field of battle.

But then, suddenly, unexpectedly, and tragically, German armored vehicles, known as Panzers joined the fight, advancing through the nearby forest. They fired a machine gun barrage which decimated the Polish horsemen.

Unfortunately for these brave men, horses and lances were no match for armored vehicles with machine guns.

As Germany began what they called their Blitzkrieg, the world watched as a new era of warfare emerged.

I am without a doubt that many believers today attempt to take on the forces of sin and darkness with weapons the are vastly inferior to that of the prince of hell.

Unlike Jesus, who is on a mission to seek and save the lost. Satan is on a mission to seek and devour the lost and destroy the witness of the saved.

His weapons are state of the art. His objective is to divide and squash any attempt to advance the Kingdom of Christ on earth.

He would love nothing more than for Christians to go on thinking we can resist him on our own, according to our own rules.

The Apostle Paul instructs us to be prepared for battle. To be arrayed for war with the best weaponry heaven provides.

Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

In preparation for next week, we need to see that one of the weapons that Nehemiah has polished and ready to go in his arsenal against the evil one is what the Apostle Paul called the Shield of Faith.

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Our shield of faith provides us with four primary realities to rely on when we are tested in spiritual warfare.

1. The Reality of God’s Person and Nature.

Psalm 3:3 ESV

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

2. The Reality of God’s Promise.

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

3. The Reality of God’s Providence.

Romans 8:28–29 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

4. The Reality of God’s People.

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

God is indeed behind every scene, engineering every detail and aspect of life toward the praise of His glory.

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

A. What does “shield of faith” mean?

Ephesians 6:16 ESV

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

There were two kinds of shields used by Roman soldiers. They used a small circular shield during hand-to-hand combat and a large oblong shield which completely covered the body of the soldier during large scale offensive and defensive battles.

It is the large oblong shield (thyreon in the Greek language) that Paul is referring to in Ephesians 6:16.

The Roman Shield had three primary uses.

1. The Roman Shield Unified the Army.

The Romans invented this large oblong shield which completely covered the body of the soldier with the intention that it could be used collectively.

The edges of the shields were beveled and notched so that they could be locked into place uniting a row of soldiers into a fierce wall of metal that could advance against the enemy.

This is a tremendous illustration of what the Church should be. United by our faith and marching together with a unified purpose, passion, and heart.

The shields of our hearts joined together in the great cause of advancing the Gospel throughout enemy territory.

2. The Roman Shield protected the soldier against the enemies flaming arrows.

The large oblong Roman shield could be planted in the ground in such a way that the soldier could hide behind it.

It was overlapped with seven layers of oxhide leather and soaked with water so flaming arrows from enemy archers would hit the shield and simply fizzle out. It protected the soldier and his armor.

Our confidence in God’s person, promise, and providence protects us as believers from the flaming arrows launched at us by Satan.

3. The Roman Shield Reflected the Sun.

In the middle of each shield was a round center-piece of polished brass. Before going into battle, the soldiers would polish it so that it would shine with the brilliance of a mirror.

As they walked into battle, they could reflect the light of the sun into the eyes of their enemies causing them to be stunned by the glory of the Sun and rendered blind in the heat of battle.

As believers we should polish our mirrors of faith so as to reflect the Lord Jesus Christ by how we live our lives.

Satan hates the reflection of Christ’s Gospel in God’s people. He can’t stand for us to proclaim that Jesus died and was buried but rose again on the third day.

The brilliance of the Gospel, dispels his darkness. So when the serpent approaches, hide behind the shield while linking it to another believer’s shield.

Reflect on the attributes of God’s person, the light of God’s promises, and the security of God’s providence.

B. What difference does the shield of faith make?

The apostle knew that only faith’s reliance on God could quench and deflect the evil one’s weapons whenever they were hurled at the believer.

The Christian soldier is defended by the shield of his faith. Whatever Satan throws at us can be successfully deflected by complete trust in God.

Whether the onslaught comes in a heavy barrage of temptation or as an isolated dart of discouragement, depression, or despair, faith is our victory (1 John 5:4).

1 John 5:4 ESV

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Faith, by the way, is trust, a confident reliance on God and on what He has said. Faith is always, in one way or another, a believing response to the “word” of God (Rom. 10:17).

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Confidence in God’s word is a great source of strength, as well as protection, for the Christian.

Though Satan would have us throw down our shields of faith and flee in panic, we can have complete confidence that God is present and able to protect and provide help for us in all circumstances.

God has also blessed us with each other. As we link our shields of faith together in unity we can press forward into the darkness together allowing our mirrors to reflect the light of the world before us.

In spiritual warfare, the shield of faith is greater than any weapon Satan can utilize against us, so we must keep it polished and ready, never lay it down, never set it aside. Stand firm church.

One of the ways we get to use our shields is when we polish them up real good and link them with our brothers and sisters in unity as we come to the Lord’s Table together.

Today, we have the joy and privilege of partaking the Lord’s Supper together as a church family.

Andrew Blackwood once said,

“The Lord’s Supper should be the crowning service in the church, and thus be earth’s nearest approach to heaven.” - Andrew Blackwood

The Lord’s Supper provides us an opportunity to reflect upon the work of Christ on our behalf as we remember the sacrifice He offered for our salvation.

It reminds us to be thankful for God’s provision as we fellowship around the table together.

The Lord’s Table gives us an opportunity to corporately proclaim the good new of the Gospel together while we look forward to His second coming.

The Lord’s Supper can be a time of rededication and renewal within the church provided we examine our hearts as it requires us to do.

Let’s be reminded by the Apostle Paul concerning the importance of this great memorial to our Lord!

1 Corinthians 11:23–34 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

Prayer and Personal Examination