Join speaker Jeff Archie in an enlightening episode that not only identifies but thoroughly examines the philosophical and spiritual adversaries confronting Christians today. The discussion opens with a powerful reminder of our daily spiritual warfare against Satan, the foremost adversary of good. The session progresses into a compelling analysis of atheism, posited as a conspicuously growing enemy that challenges Christians’ belief in divine creation and God’s role as the ultimate builder of life and the universe. Furthermore, listeners are encouraged to reconsider the impact of modernist and liberal ideologies that attempt to dilute core biblical principles. This episode is
It was James who said, Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Ooh, that is serious, friends. And it’s worthy of our study today about the enemies of the cross and God. Coming up from the International Gospel Hour.
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Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. For 90 years, churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through International Gospel Hour. You are about to listen to another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, starting now.
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I am bound for the promised land.
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Well, greetings, everyone. Hello, and grateful to have you with us, and thank you for choosing to listen to us here on International Gospel Hour. We are encouraged with the radio stations, the podcast options. There are a number of ways that people hear our broadcast, and we appreciate you very much. If you are a podcast listener, please know that we’re probably on your favorite podcast platform. Just look up International Gospel Hour and tune in and listen to our podcast. We’d like for you to encourage your friends, and matter of fact, if you are Spanish, you’re bilingual, we’d like to encourage you to hear our Hispanic podcast with our brother Marlon Ratana, Cristiano Spileas, that you can find in the same place as International Gospel Hour. It is our podcast for our Spanish friends from International Gospel Hour. You know, friends, an enemy is defined, according to Webster’s dictionary, as a person who bears another ill will and actively works for fights against him. It’s someone who opposes or disapproves or works against such ideas and beliefs. You know, to be an enemy of the cross is to be an enemy of God and His plan of redemption. We noted earlier our reading from James 4 and verse 4, Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Some are open enemies while others are enemies and they don’t know it. Today we want to consider who are the enemies of the cross and of God. Please know this is part one of two lessons of this title, The Enemies of the Cross and God. We’ll come back in a moment to our study, but first, a few words from our J-Web.
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Did you know since 1934 the IGH has been heard over the radio? We are one of the longest running weekly religious programs in the history of American radio. We are blessed to remain on the air through gracious giving of congregations of Churches of Christ, faithful Christians, and devoted friends. That’s why you will never hear us asking for money from you, our listeners. Our study material is free, always has been, always will be. Thank you for listening.
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Let’s begin, friends, that the devil is an enemy of the cross and God. our number one public enemy. He is the adversary of all that is good, as Peter says in 1 Peter 5 and verse 8. Your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Oh my, I think about what Ananias was told by Peter in Acts 5 and verse 3, how that Satan had entered his heart. Was that not the words of Jesus at the Last Supper? Or the words of the writer of the Gospels that stated that Satan had entered into the heart of Judas when he left to betray Christ? You see, Satan has an advantage. He will work to get that advantage of us, 2 Corinthians 2 and verse 11. He doesn’t always show his true colors either. Listen to how Paul describes him in 2 Corinthians 11 verses 13 through 15. referring to those who were causing problems then and even now, for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ, and no wonder, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. He is a deceiver of the entire world as defined from Revelation 12 and verse 9. Dear friends, the devil is truly an enemy of the cross and God. And he wants the very worst for our lives. And if we fail to follow God, he will get a greater grip upon us. And we need to make certain that we’re following God and not the devil. And not to be deceived by those false apostles. Those deceitful workers. Those that appear to be apostles of Christ, but are not. And we think, well, my… Brother Jeff, how do you know? Because we take the Bible and we put it up against their teachings and see what is said. Here’s another enemy of the cross and of God. What about atheism? Do you suppose in this country of the United States of America that we’ll often say in God we trust that atheism is alive and well without a doubt? To our friends in England who would say, God saved the Queen. You think atheism is alive and running in England? Friends, it’s throughout the whole world. But let’s be reminded of the following. Psalm 19 verse 1 reminds us that the heavens declare the glory and the existence of God. And one is foolish to deny the existence of God. Psalm 14 verse 1, the fool has said in his heart, there is no God. When we think about how this universe exists because of God, we are brought to mind Hebrews 3 verse 4 that every house is built by someone, but he who builds all things is God. When you and I see a house that is finished, when you and I see an apartment complex completed, when we see a duplex that is put together, every house is built by someone. It took people to put it together. And He who built all things is God. When we look at the Bible and its answers to the origin of things, from Genesis 1 and verse 1 where God created the heavens and the earth, His creation of man in Genesis 1, 26 and 27, Genesis 2 and verse 7, Genesis 2 and verse 22, in Acts 17 and verse 28, in Him, that is God, we live and move and have our being here. And you know that was penned by inspiration, but the credit was given to a Grecian poet who acknowledged the greatness of God. To deny the very existence of God, friends, is to be an enemy of the cross and of God. Remember James 4 and verse 4. Whosoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Here’s a third one. And actually, we could do a 3A, 3B here, because they’re tag-team partners, if you will. Modernism and liberalism, well, they’re enemies of the cross and of God. When we think about modernism, that, well, one thing denies the very miracles of the Bible. Miracles, the signs of Jesus that prompted us to believe John 20, 30, and 31. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that believing you might have life in his name. Friends, modernism does not need to take that from us. It indeed is an enemy. What about liberalism that tries to loose what God has bound, as Jesus said in Matthew 16 and verse 19, that whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven, whatsoever is loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. In other words, it is the decision of heaven. It’s God, through His Son Jesus, the head of all things. Ephesians 1, 19-22 and Colossians 1, verse 18 say, And when we think of how liberalism tries to loose what God has bound, then we need to draw those lines. Any attempt to explain away the gospel of Christ will make one the enemy of the cross and of God. You know, friends, when we look how serious this is, there are enemies who are fighting God, but there are friends who are fighting Satan. Listen to Jesus in John 15, 13 and 14. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you. Friends, there’s no doubt the devil, atheism, modernism, liberalism, these are enemies of the cross and of God, and we need to stand against our enemies, but we can only do so with the strength of God. Friends, have we given you some things to think about? We love to prompt with our broadcast further Bible study. We are delighted of the number of people that will study online with us, will study through the mail of our mailing Bible study. We’re going to pause as our J-Web will share with you a free Bible study through our friends at World Bible School.
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How about an online study of the Bible? That’s right. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. A study helper will assist you in answering questions and provide feedback for your lessons. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour has sent you.
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And friends, a quick reminder. We realize a lot of you may not have the online capabilities. A lot of people do not have internet. We can offer you our free Bible course by mail. If you call us at 855-444-6988. Leave us your name and address and just say Home Study. We’ll put you on that mailing list for the Bible course that will come to your house. Again, 855-444-6988. And just leave your name and address and say Home Study, and we will take it from there. We love our students of the Bible. We love to help you grow in the knowledge of God. A special thank you today to my friend Phil Leonard and the gift that he granted unto me, 60 Years in the Pulpit. This is a book about his late father, Charles Leonard, whom I was privileged to know as well. Brother Leonard preached from Michigan to Mississippi in the States, and we are honored to use his work on International Gospel Hour. So what you heard today is part of a lesson that he brought forth many years ago, and we’re going to continue with part two of that lesson in our next broadcast. Let’s always stand against the enemies of the cross and of God. and know that the devil, atheism, modernism, and liberalism is not for us, and let us stand for the truth according to the word of God, which is truth, John 17, verse 17, and 2 Timothy 3, verses 16 and 17. We’d like to also remind you from time to time that the International Gospel Hour is under the oversight of the elders of the West Fayetteville, Tennessee, Church of Christ. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. And once again, our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. And we’ll continue these studies together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
