BBodies are designed to live, to act and to work IIt is natural for the body to function so that life today promotes life tomorrow TThe same is true for the Church; Life today promotes life tomorrow

EEnemies that can damage or cripple the church EEnemies that can kill the church TTherefore, to move forward in 2016 and beyond as a church, we must be ready to fight the enemies of this church

MOVING FORWARD IN 2016: ENEMIES TO DEFEAT 1 PETER 5:8-9

I. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED WORLDLINESS WORLDLINESS, as it is set forth in the NT, it is any conduct or thought which is hostile to and/or antagonistic toward God.

When we engage in or long for anything in this world which is hostile toward God, we are guilty of worldliness. I. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED WORLDLINESS

We should be able to discern to know the difference between right and wrong, worldly and godly (Heb. 5:12-14) I. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED WORLDLINESS

According To Luke 9:62, Anyone Who Longingly Looks To The World Is Unfit For The Kingdom Of God I. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED WORLDLINESS

SOME GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WORLDLINESS 1. REVELATION 2. Is this obviously wrong according to Bible?1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Col 3:5-9 I. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED WORLDLINESS

SOME GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WORLDLINESS CONT’D 2. IDENTITY IIf I do this will it make me look worldly? (Rom. 12:1-2) IIf I do this will I appear before others as a devoted Christian or a person of the world?

SOME GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WORLDLINESS 3. D OUBT IIf I do this, will it leave me with a clear conscience? (Rom 14:23)

SOME GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WORLDLINESS 4. INFLUENCE IIf I do this will it likely have a weakening influence upon others? IIf my conduct is likely to weaken others or cause them to stray, I better not engage in it.

SOME GUIDELINES TO DETERMINE WORLDLINESS 5. CONTROL IIf I do this will it produce in me an inordinate fleshly appetite? IIf I partake of this, am I likely to lose proper control of my thoughts and actions? Will I act in a way that is unbecoming to a Christian?

“It Thrust Nebuchadnezzar Out Of Men’s Society, Saul Out Of His Kingdom, Adam Out Of Paradise, Haman Out Of Court, And Lucifer Out Of Heaven” II. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED PRIDE AND ARROGANCE

For Osu Congregation To Strive And Move Forward In 2016, We Need To Defeat Our Enemy Called PRIDE AND ARROGANCE II. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED PRIDE AND ARROGANCE CONT’D

1) Pride And Arrogance Are Sins: Pro. 21:4 2) Pride and Arrogance are things God hates: Pr. 6:16-19 II. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED PRIDE AND ARROGANCE CONT’D

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on thing and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity II. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED PRIDE AND ARROGANCE CONT’D

The Various Forms Of Pride And Arrogance And Where They Operate: 1. SPIRITUAL PRIDE 2. INTELLECTUAL PRIDE 3. THE MATERIAL THINGS PRIDE 4. SOCIAL PRIDE 5. PRIDE OF PLACE II. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED PRIDE AND ARROGANCE CONT’D

i. God’s Word condemned dishonesty in the Law of Moses - Lev 19:11 ii. God hates it– Pro 6:17- 19; 12:22; Pro 11:1; 20:23 III. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED DISHONESTY

3. Liars (Dishonest Persons) will have their place in the lake of fire – Rev. 21:8 III. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED DISHONESTY

“False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil” Socrates III. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED DISHONESTY

AREAS WE DEMONSTRATE DISHONESTY IN THE CHURCH 1. GIVING 2. ATTENDANCE 3. WHAT WE SAY ABOUT BRETHREN III. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED DISHONESTY

DISHONESTY: 1. Destroys reputations 2. Destroys families 3. Disrupts workplaces III. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED DISHONESTY

1. “Do you think the world's problems are caused by ignorance or apathy?” 2. His wife replied, ‚I don't know and I don't care.‛ IV. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED APATHY APATHY “Lack of interest or concern”

1. Apathy affected the church in Laodicea, for which Jesus soundly condemned them. Rev. 3: Apathy destroys because it makes us lukewarm about the church, the lost, etc. IV. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED APATHY

ARES WE DEMONSTRATE THE SPIRIT OF APATHY 1. ATTENDANCE 2. RESPONSIBILITIES (WORK) IV. TO MOVE FORWARD IN 2016, WE MUST KILL THE ENEMY CALLED APATHY

CONCLUSION For Osu church to move forward, we must recognize and defeat our enemies. a) WORLDLINESS b) PRIDE AND ARROGANCE c) DISHONESTY d) APATHY