R333 Portrait of and Enemy Attack

The portrait of an enemy attack.

That's today's message as we open God's Encouraging Word together with Dr. Don Wilton.

It's a powerful message on the way and we're here in power to pray with you and 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 online@gwonline.org now I don't want to preach this message.

I'm nervous about preaching this message.

I believe Satan doesn't want to hear this message. I believe that there are people in this congregation who don't want to hear this message. I believe there are politicians you don't want to hear this message. I believe the White House doesn't want to hear this message, Congress doesn't want educators don't want to hear this message. Newspaper editors don't want to hear this message church people don't want to hear this message and I don't want to preach this message. I'm here. Reluctantly this morning.

I'm not your today to preach something that I feel good about. I'm not yet a paper over the cracks or to pander to anybody's preferences, but this is the word of God, and I must preach God's word lives are being traitors. People have come to know Christ missionaries are being sent out. God has been glorified for over 150 years and it is no less true of these United States of America. But I'm going to say to you, beloved friends that we had better wake up. We better wake up to what the enemy is trying to do. I want to read you something this morning and I cut this out of a newspaper article itself or anyone would like to see it. Listen to this as members of the Kansas House of Representatives stood and bowed in prayer at the opening of a recent session somewhere shocked and offended by what they heard a heartfelt prayer of corporate confession forgiveness and divine guidance.

One representative walked out and another sat down in protest. The Wichita Eagle.

The newspaper reported quote and the house came alive with the flutter of agitation that comes from offense and it's often loud response. I have never heard in 10 years as divisive, sanctimonious, self-serving, overbearing prayer is.

I've heard this morning. One representative said.

However, the Rev. Joe Reich who offered the prayer said quote. Prayer is prayer. I am praying to God when I'm praying, I'm not up there to put on a show. I'm there and get to play. I don't do it any differently in public, then I do in private. Here is the full text of Rev. Wright's prayer. Heavenly father, we come before you today to Austro forgiveness and seek your direction and guidance. We know your word says woe to those who call evil good, but that's exactly what we've done, we have lost our spiritual equilibrium and inverted all value week on face that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word and called it moral pluralism. We have worshiped other gods and we called multi cultural is we have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle we have exploited the poor and called it the lottery we have neglected the needy and called it self-preservation, we have rewarded laziness and called welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called the choice we have sharp abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building a steam we have abused power and called it political savvy. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition, we have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed time honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment searcher so God know our hearts today. Try us and see if there be some wicked way in us, claims us from every sin and set us free guide and bless these men and women who have been saved here by the people of Kansas and have been ordained by you to govern this great story grown continual wisdom to room and made a decision is direct us to the central you will ask it in the name of your son, the living Savior Jesus Christ. This Bible that I hold in my hand this morning is filled from Genesis to Revelation. On the portrait of a Christian. The Bible tells us that you and I can know that we know that we know that we know the precise, it's not a full process.

It's not if by poor and it is a biblical fact, the Bible says that you can know whether a person is a believer, or whether they not salvation is a personal private matter because salvation is tied into the sovereign work of God but out Christianity, working of our salvation is a public mad recording to God's word and it is therefore everyone to see.

And so it is beloved friends this morning that just as we have the portrait of a believer in the crew in the Bible. The Bible also tells us from the fall of man, that there is a portrait of the enemy in the Bible and I want to speak this morning on a portrait of an enemy attack. It is possible according to God's word to identify when you and I are being faced by an enemy attack now want to say this before I read Nehemiah chapter 6, I'm convinced today beloved friends that the time is come in three areas that we need to wake up. We need to stop this messing around that's going on in society today our nation is in very serious trouble.

Everywhere the onslaught of the enemy is evident. We see it in programs receiving legislation.

We see it in action. We see it in comments receiving political parties. We see it in the jailers and platforms on relation is under the attack of the enemy, Satan does not want the United States of America to be a nation under God safely wants to bring this nation to her knees. Folks and Satan is doing it and he's doing it right in front of our very eyes. But secondly, all churches are on the tech you could come with me for a journey across America today and I will guarantee you that the one comment that you will make more about evangelical churches today than anything else, is that that church used to be a great church that church used to be on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ.

That church used to be a place where people play into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of lords that used to be a church you going to be one of those people going around so I remember back then how it happened. Remember when all those people got say remember when all those children were coming to Christ. Remember when that quiet used to sing like that. Remember that open and old it is today is a monument, a social club, a country club ice tower a steeple with walls that is a museum to an unknown God, folks, I'm going to say to you today beloved friends if we don't think that that can happen to this church.

We don't understand Scripture.

It can happen to this church.

It can happen to our neighboring church. It can happen to any church you know why because Satan wants to divide and destroy God's church. He wants to take God's people. He wants to scatter them to the four winds he wants to destroy the church and the Bible says the gates of hell will not prevail against my church. Our nation is under attack. The evangelical church is under attack but are Christian men and women, boys and goals are under attack. I don't believe I've ever seen. It is much as I am these days. There is hardly a week goes by that I'm not called a gun minister to some precious family somewhere in this community facing all kinds of problems marriages breaking down gross immorality and adultery. People living exactly the way they want to live without any fear of any kind of discipline or standing up to the righteousness of the principles of Almighty God.

Children being disobedient to their parents. Families splitting apart of the four corners of the earth, and people walking out on one another in unprecedented numbers, it's got so bad that even if the town Council dares to get up and challenge traditional family values that are brought to bear upon that counsel in unprecedented warfare that comes from every corner of the vineyard and I'm going to say to you, my friends, that our nation and our towns and our families and our churches and our institutions are under an enemy attack. I want you to read God's word with me this morning.

Nehemiah chapter 6 when word came to sand, violet probiotic dish from the Arab and the rest of the enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it though. Up to that time I did not say if the doors in the gates sand ballot and guestroom sent me this message, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plane of a remote, but they were scheming to harm me. So I sent messengers to them with this reply I'm carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave him the same Onset then the fifth time sand ballot. Cindy's aid to me with the same message in his hand was an unsealed lesson which was written. It is reported among all the nations and district says it's true that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports, you are about to become their king and even appointed prophets to make this proclamation. About three in Jerusalem there is a king in Judah. Now, this report will get back to the king. So come let us convert together. I sent him this reply. Nothing like what you are saying is happening.

You are just making it up out of your head. They were all trying to frighten us, thinking their hands will get to week for the work and it will not be completed but I pray now strengthen my hand.

One day I went to the house of Sumaya son of Delilah, the son of my head to book who was shot in at home. He said let us meet in the house of God inside the temple and let us close the temple goals because men are coming to kill you by maniacally coming to kill you but I said, should a man like me run away. Should one like me going to the temple to save his life.

I will not go.

I realized that God had not saved him but that he had prophesied against me because told via an sand ballot had hired him. He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me remember turbine sand ballot.

Oh my God because of what they have done.

Remember also the prophet to snow would die and the rest of the prophets who been trying to intimidate me. So the wall was completed on the 25th of the loan in 52 days when all our enemies heard about this all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence because they realize that this work had been done with the help of our God. Also, in those days the nobles of Judah were sending many letters to Tobiah and replies from Tobiah kept coming from to the full.

Many in Judah were under oath to him since he was the son-in-law to shake Anaya, the son of a wrong and he's son Joe, her man had married the daughter of Mr. Lamb, son of Barrick Kia. Moreover, they kept reporting to me, his good deeds and then telling him what I said and Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me by the Lord varieties word upon our hearts this morning a portrait of an enemy attack. First Peter chapter 5 the Bible says be sober and be vigilant because the devil is a roaring lion is seeking whom he may devour. How can we identify an enemy attack. How do you know if the enemy gives Satan is coming against you.

How do you know if in your family that you are under us a tannic attack.

How do you know in the city that you run the risk tannic attack. How do you know foundation is unobtrusive tannic attack. How do you know about churches on Housatonic attack.

How do you know these things would you pray with me Lord I cannot preach this message because I know that Satan does not want anybody to dig it up and calling what is so I invoke the power and the spirit of God upon this place. I call upon the name of Jesus. And I pray because of the blood of the Lamb that you would come upon not only this preacher in all of these weakness but upon God's people of God, not any of this place, but all across our nation. For the time is come that we mountaintop when we stand up and we understand though God that you alone are God in Jesus name, amen. The first way in which you can know if it's an enemy attack number one. The enemy has a track record. The enemy has a track record now from this passage of Nehemiah chapter 6, it becomes apparent immediately that the enemy has a track record. If you want to know whether or not what is happening to you is something that is coming from the pit of hell. Try and go back and trace the track record of the person involved or the things that are happening related to the issues that are involved, you will nearly always find a track record. If a person is behaving in a certain way and they behave in a certain way, like that for years and years. It is almost over 70 that we are under an enemy attack folks listen to me in your families if you start feeling the crunch in your family or in your business or in the fabric of your lives. What ever it is. Go back and check the track record to find out whether these things be of God, the Bible says test and try my spirit. You see beloved friends. Just as God and his ways, have never change, so it is that Satan and his ways, have never trying he still uses the same devices, he still does the same thing, he still behaves in the same way and guess what, he's not going to change that either. The Bible says Jesus Christ yesterday today and forever. The Bible teaches. My friend Satan and his devices yesterday. Today and forever. And we need to understand them. Number two. Second way you can determine anatomy enemy attack is that the enemy sneaks in the back door. The enemy sneaks in the back door.

Look at verse two sand ballot condition right from the beginning of the book of Nehemiah. These men were always there.

They were always trying to do what they were trying to do.

They had a track record.

There was no doubt about it whatsoever. The proof was in the pudding, but I want you to notice how they tried to sneak in the back door sand ballot condition sent me this message, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono. It's amazing the subtlety of the manner with which they sneaked in the back door I'm going to say to you friends that the enemy sneaks in the back door. We better sit up and type the we can get up and talk about tolerance. That's not the issue.

We can get up and talk about my mind how terrible it is that our children will never ever see the Olympic flame come walking through the streets of Spartanburg. But that's not the issue. You see, my friends, we can talk about it and we can write about it, but when not prepared to stand upon the word of God, and upon his principal. The principles of morality and I thank God for men and women who are prepared to take a stand. What is Jude for Telus Jude 4 tells us that certain men have crept in on notice into the church.

What is that word crept in mean it means they have slipped in secretly undercover. That's what the word says Matthew seven says be careful why because wolves in sheep's clothing are going to be trying to devalue life crept into our denomination they scripting to our education systems they scripting to our newspapers and into the media they scripting to the Congress and the White House. They scripting to our state and local governments.

They scripting everywhere, and the result is destruction, according to God's will give you corruption. But as we think about the destruction to be around us. You need to know we're here to pray with you against the destruction. We encourage you at the other end of 866-899-WORD anytime day or night. That's 866-899-WORD 9673 and we have a resource to Dr. Don can tell you about the health launcher date of encouragement and love to be a part of daily devotional love to be able to sing The Encouraging Word daily devotional you would call ceased to each one of us through his word every day.

You can become part of that and received one your self from me just go online to TW online.org XTW online.org and get your copy of The Encouraging Word vital devotion today. Again, you can sign up online TW online.org will see at the website. Back to the days teaching with Dr. Don. People say my my what's happening to America folks we know what's happening.

My mom what happened to my church. We know what's happening to the church. My my what's happening to the family system and values in this country we know exactly what is happening to the family system in this country. Number three. The third way in which you can identify an enemy attack is that the enemy always diverse attention away from the main thing.

Listen to me. People were not playing directors listen to what the word says the enemy always diverse attention away from the main thing.

Look at verse three. So I sent messengers to them with this reply I'm carrying on a great project and I cannot go down. Why should the work stop and I leave it while sand ballot.

The sewer rat and told by the thick black are constantly wanting to draw blood, distract attention and take things away from the centrality of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nehemiah said I will not, I will not stand for that you want to know whether Satan is at work in your home.

Ask yourself the question is he diverging attention away from the real thing. Now what's the real thing. Mom and dad not real thing is it's love you can give your children listen, you can give them anything under the sun. But if you don't give them love you've given enough you know how Satan's gonna destroy your marriage. He's going to divert attention away from the real thing. He's gonna diminish your love practical outgoing demonstrable love. He's going to take it away from you, and when he takes it away from you.

He's going to collapse your marriage. Folks in churches, Satan will dive good attention away from the main thing he will distract attention hillside with this is important. The color of these carpets are important where the old and is important where you hang a window. How many boxes you got this budget to do so.

This budget that somehow done that and why do this and how much that and I want you to know he will do anything you possibly can in God's church to diverse attention away from the real thing. The rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was God's Kaman and Neil mind, these people said about it and sand ballot and towbar – and they just didn't want to do anything but to diverse attention away from what God had called the people to do number four. The enemy persists in his attacks the enemy persists in his attacks. Look at verse four and five. Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same onset. Can you believe look at verse five. Then the fifth time sand ballot seemed desired with the same message the enemy persists. He's not gonna let you go. Listen, you can send a delegation to the enemy and in the enemy's gonna say I'm not interested you can you can stand on your head friend you can do whatever you want to, but the enemy is going to be absolutely relentless in trying to destroy your home and your nation and your education board and your philosophy and your church and everything that you got he's going to do everything you can, and he's not going to give up. I don't know where we get it in God's word that we can get to a point that we can sit back and relax and say well that's it. Satan is not going to worry me anymore. No, sir, let me guarantee when he's finished watering in one place. He's gonna start in another and he's gonna do until he can get you and he's gonna dutifully break you down and it is only because of God that we are able to stand up. Number five, the enemy sends others to do his dirty work for him. Look at verse five. You want identify the enemy auspice question is the enemy recruit other people to do his work.

The onset yes. Look at verse five. Then the fifth time sand ballot same tease aid to me. You want to try and test the enemy's activities my friend auspice question. Is he a recruiter does he enlist others. Does the enemy get allies and no doubt about it.

You bring up a controversial issue in the community and I will guarantee you there will be people at that meeting, you have never seen before. The guarantee I will guarantee you, even in this great church friends. I will guarantee you if there is a controversial issue that comes up in this body of Christ. I will guarantee you some people will show up to church that you have never seen before. You know why because the enemy is a recruiter.

That's what he does. You go to Congress today and see them working on the abortion issue and you see a group of men who understand the horror of abortion and they get together and they are about to legislate and I ring the conference room look out across the conference room and see her sitting there folk some of the strangest people you've ever seen in your life you know why the enemy knows who to go off. He knows who to recruit. He knows who the weaker brethren all number six. The enemy is usually actively engaged in the work he is attacked, God wants to see the church, purified God wants to see society purified God wants to see individual Christians purified God wants to see the family purified. Now what does the Bible say the Bible says the purest gold comes out of the hardest part.

That's an incredible full. You see, as these things happen in your own life. Always remember that what God is doing is he just making you a whole lot.

Perhaps just doing that in this time of teaching from the pulpit with Dr. Don Wilton God's purifying each of us, but he also pressed to be challenging us. You open your heart to what Dr. Don wants to share next are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right there gone.

I knows that on this and I know that Jesus died for me cross the day I repainted my faith I receive you into my Jesus and I my friend. I would welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting you give your life to Christ, to be dedicated to Dr. Don has resources want to put in your hands right now at 866899 word 866899967, three notches now with 24 hours a day, 86689996730 online at tewonline.org G that's DEW online.org