Sermons on Defeating Obstacles:

The Holy Spirit's First Work

Contributed by Richard Bowman on May 27, 2025

To win a person to faith, there will be three steps. Faith in Jesus, accept the righteousness of Christ, and believe the devil has been defeated.

THE HOLY SPIRIT’S FIRST WORK (How He Works in Unbelievers) Warsaw Christian Church, Pentecost 2025 Richard Bowman, Pastor Emeritus Primary text: John 16:7-11. Today, we celebrate Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit was given to the church. He is given to you if you have true faith in Jesus. ...read more

Scripture: John 16:7-11

It Is Finished PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Feb 19, 2024

Explores the significance of Jesus' words "It is finished," emphasizing the fulfillment of His mission, the defeat of evil, and our resulting freedom.

Beloved friends, as we gather in this sacred space, I am reminded of the words of Martin Luther, who once said, "Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning and is coming back tomorrow." This profound statement encapsulates the essence of our faith, a faith that is centered on the redeeming ...read more

Scripture: John 19:30

Topics: Enemy, Finished

This Is The Lord's Battle Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Sep 15, 2020

In this message we will look at the very familiar story of David and Goliath and in the process grab 3 takeaways that will help us to defeat the giants in our life.

“This Is The Lord’s Battle…” OKAY, WELCOME – to week 2 of our series, ‘Such Things were written, the theme verse for this series is… ‘Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises. – Romans 15:4 THIS ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Series: Limiting The Holy One Of Israel (Part 2: Jesus Could Do Not Much Miracles In His Own Hometown Except... Why?)

Contributed by Jeremiah Menyongai on Mar 10, 2020

Jesus, the local boy, leaves town and makes it big in the world - and returns with great following. He has shaken the religious establishment, nation & Roman world. You would expect his own to applaud him & see God's work displayed through Him. But no - He does few miracles. Why?

DO NOT LIMIT THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL (PART 2) JESUS COULD DO NOT MUCH MIRACLES IN HIS OWN HOMETOWN EXCEPT... 1. Mark 6:1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where ...read more

Scripture: Mark 6:1-6, Psalm 78:41

Denomination: Charismatic

Conquering Mountains

Contributed by Norbert Garcia on Oct 23, 2009

In life we are faced with obstacles on a daily basis. Many times we cannot conquer them on our own. With God’s help mountains will become molehills.

CONQUERING MOUNTAINS Peaks and valleys. Ups and downs. Mountains and molehills. We use different euphemisms to explain how our life progresses such as peaks and valleys or ups and downs. Life is never simple we all have our good days and our bad days. If we were to plot our life on a graph it ...read more

Scripture: Numbers 13:30

Denomination: Adventist

Leave Your Horeb

Contributed by Jose Imperial on Jan 7, 2008

One of the great obstacles for the christian to advance in his faith, ministry, or church is when the time he begin to think that he had already arrived in his destination....

God said to the Israelites after long stay at Horeb..."you have stayed here long enough. Leave this place and go"……Deut 1:6-7 One of the great obstacles for the christian to advance in his faith, ministry, or church is when the time he begin to think that he had already arrived on his ...read more

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:6-8

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Finding Christ In Spite Of The Barriers

Contributed by Brian La Croix on Feb 20, 2008

Christmas sermon discussing how the Magi overcame many obstacles to find and worship Christ and how we can help others overcome barriers to Him as well.

Finding Christ in Spite of the Barriers Matthew 2:1-12 December 16, 2007 NOTE: THE ME/WE/GOD/YOU/WE FORMAT USED IN MY MESSAGES IS BORROWED FROM ANDY STANLEY’S BOOK, "COMMUNICATING FOR A CHANGE." Me/We: Top 10 Reasons why there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the Inn. 10. The Roman Government’s ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12

Denomination: Wesleyan

Striving To Pass Into The Narrow Gate

Contributed by Tristan Jether Orpiada on Jul 17, 2018

“IT IS NOT EASY TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. BEFORE YOU REACH HEAVEN YOU HAVE TO ENDURE MANY OBSTACLES YOU WERE TO PASS THROUGH THE ETERNAL LIFE."

INTRODUCTION: “ ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE; FOR WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, AND MANY THERE BE WHICH GO IN THEREAT. BECAUSE STRAIT IS THE GATE, AND NARROW IS THE WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE AND FEW THERE BE THAT FIND IT.” MATTHEW 7:13-14 (KJV) “STRIVE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:13-14

Denomination: Apostolic

Paul's Work In The Synagogue Series

Contributed by John Lowe on May 3, 2017

The obstacle he had to overcome, in the case of the Corinthians may well have been the distrust they had for those who went about making profit from their message.

April 3, 2015 By: Tom Lowe Lesson: IV.C.8.a: Paul's Work in the Synagogue (18:16) ...read more

Scripture: Acts 18:1-6

Denomination: Baptist

The Impossible Dream Series

Contributed by D Marion Clark on Oct 30, 2012

Nothing is easier than entering the kingdom of God; nothing is more difficult. Nothing is simpler than receiving eternal life; nothing has greater obstacles to overcome.

Introduction Nothing is easier than entering the kingdom of God; nothing is more difficult. Nothing is simpler than receiving eternal life; nothing has greater obstacles to overcome. Entering the kingdom, receiving eternal life – both mean salvation. It is a salvation that requires ...read more

Scripture: Mark 10:13-31

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Failure, The Backdoor To Victory Series

Contributed by David Welch on Jun 27, 2018

Message 11 in our journey with Joshua into the Promised Land. This message explores principles leaned from Israel's eventual victory over Ai after a humiliating defeat.

Joshua Series #11 The Amazing Race to Rest & Reward “Failure: the Backdoor to Victory” We have been following the trail of the new generation of Israelites all under 40 except for two old guys, Joshua and Caleb. All the rest died in the 40 year wandering in the wilderness because they failed to ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Psalm 32:9-11

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Making A Comeback Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Apr 10, 2001

God’s people in our text found themselves; defeated, discouraged and hopeless. Our goal today - is to study these chapters and learn what we as God’s people need to do to turn our defeats around, to learn how to make a Comeback (real people true stories - part seven).

"Joshua; Coming Back...." Real People - TRUE Stories Part 7 TEXT: JOSHUA 7 & 8 Every once in a while God’s people find themselves sliding down the dark corridor of defeat and failure. And when they do, 1 or 2 things usually happens - they either just keep on sliding down that dark shadowy ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Retaking Our Safe Spaces

Contributed by Ernie Arnold on Jan 3, 2019

Theme: Victory Over Evil - What do you do when your safe space has been invaded? What do you do when you are ambushed or face defeat? In this story about Ziklag, David shows us how to turn our(s) defeat into victory/victories.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30: 1 - 31 Theme: Victory Over Evil Title: Retaking Your Safe Space What do you do when your safe space has been invaded? What do you do when you are ambushed or face defeat? In this story about Ziklag, David shows us how to turn our(s) defeat into victory/victories. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 30:1-31

Denomination: Nazarene

We Have Met The Enemy!

Contributed by James Groce on Jun 16, 2002

Much of the time we prove Pogo right. It is the enemy within who defeats us more often than the foe without.

"We have met the enemy, and he is us." --Pogo Much of the time we prove Pogo right. It is the enemy within who defeats us more often than the foe without. Distorted and inaccurate concepts of ourselves result in failure. Sometimes we value our own ideas too highly; at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:14

Denomination: Pentecostal

Strategy Series

Contributed by A. Todd Coget on Aug 22, 2003

The aim of this word is to enable people who are involved in the work of the Lord to recognize and understand the enemy’s schemes and how to defeat him!

Nehemiah Strategy Nehemiah 4 August 24, 2003 Intro: A. A Son’s Best Friend, Citation: Jeanette Naaktgeboren, Maple Lake, MN. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare." My three-year-old grandson obviously had food on his mind when he headed for the church kitchen, leading his father by the hand. However, ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:1-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational