The Enemies of God Unmasked
Renew
May 3, 2020
Rev. Gabe Sylvia
Believers must recognize that spiritual opponents — and some organizations — seek to suppress the Church through bold antagonism, willful blindness, and bullying, and therefore we must persevere with courage, mercy, and steadfastness.
Summary
The sermon warns that in our country some organizations profit from opposing the Church and promoting freedom from religion rather than religious freedom, but government does not dictate faith and discrimination cannot be justified by religion. Drawing on Ezra 4, it teaches that spiritual opponents are often bold (openly antagonistic), blind (suppressing truth and unable to see their place outside the kingdom), and bullies (relentless in opposing the Church). Christians are called to recognize these realities, respond with mercy and compassion toward the blinded, confront bullying with decisive spiritual power, and persist in kingdom work through prayer, courage, faith, and steadfastness — exemplified by those who stay the course even when it takes longer than others.
Key Points
- Some organizations work to suppress the Church, favoring freedom from religion over true religious liberty.
- The government does not dictate personal faith, and religious discrimination is unjustified.
- Every Christian lives among spiritual opponents and must understand them to persevere.
- Ezra 4 gives three descriptors of opponents: bold (antagonize, mock, persecute), blind (suppress truth, unable to see their status before God), and bullies (will stop at nothing to halt the Church).
- Even subtle claims can deceive the devout; vigilance is required.
- We must show mercy to the blinded while confronting bullies with decisive spiritual power.
- The proper Christian response is perseverance: courage, faith, compassion, mercy, and steadfastness in prayer.
- Anecdote: persistence matters — some stay longer in the struggle (e.g., "staying at Liberty") and endure.
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