Sermons on Human Opposition:

Close The Gaps - Circle The Wagons

Contributed by Val Black on Oct 21, 2019

God's work never goes forward without opposition from the enemy. In fact, opposition is almost always caused by success and not failure. In building the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah faced much opposition but he knew what to do and now we can know also.

Nehemiah 4:7-23 (NLT) “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 4:7-23

Denomination: Charismatic

Lessons In Courage Part 2 Series

Contributed by Thomas Bartlett on Oct 25, 2019

From Paul’s interactions with the opposition, we can see no less than 6 key ways to respond to opposition.

ACTS Lessons in Courage Dr. Tom Bartlett September 29, 2019 Acts 22 OUTLINE A Faith That Is D.A.R.I.N.G. Dignified respect for opposition “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.” And when they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew language, they became even ...read more

Denomination: Other

The Gift Of Thick Skin Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Mar 13, 2024

This peculiar passage gives us a poignant picture of the need for tenacity and determination in the face of opposition to the message of God.

THAT'S A SURPRISE: Sometimes God needs His people to be hardheaded. - Ezekiel 3:8-9. - This passage continues the ideas we discussed in the last sermon about God’s messengers. It had a warning from God that the Israelites claimed to be God’s people but they weren’t listening to what God had ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

Embracing God's Opportunities SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Sep 9, 2023

God knows how to open the door of opportunity to us to do his work. And though there are many that oppose his work, none can impede it. Even the gates of hell cannot prevail against it! I Cor 16:9, "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."

In his letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus, Paul expresses his desire to reunite with the Corinthian converts and spend significant time with them. However, he acknowledges that he must wait until God completes His work in Ephesus, where a great and effective opportunity has been opened for him. ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16:9

Topics: God's Provision, Overcoming Opposition

Attacks Against Your Work Lesson 4 Series

Contributed by Elmer Towns on Feb 17, 2026

There will always be opposition to God’s work.

A. INTRODUCTION 1. Where does opposition come from? a. Satan hates you. “The Devil as a roaring lion . . . seeking whom he may destroy” (I Peter 5:2). b. The principle of deterioration. c. The principle of sinful nature. d. You may be your worst obstacle. 2. How does opposition come? a. Subtle ...read more

Scripture: Nehemiah 2:10

Denomination: Baptist

Persecution And Renewal: Why Opposition To The Church Could Signal Revival

Contributed by Ronald Moore on Jun 22, 2025

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom.

Recent years have witnessed a troubling rise in the persecution of Christians across the globe. In some countries, believers face brutal oppression — imprisonment, physical violence, even martyrdom. Even in Western societies that pride themselves on tolerance and pluralism, there is an escalating ...read more

Scripture: Ephesians 6:12, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 5:11-12, Acts 5:41, John 15:20, Matthew 28:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Anglican

Why Abraham's Faith Was Superior To Human Reasoning

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Oct 18, 2000

Why Abraham’s Faith Was Superior to Human Reasoning (Rom. 4:10-12)

Why Abraham’s Faith Was Superior to Human Reasoning (Rom. 4:10-12) Illustration:The more we know of God, the more unreservedly we will trust him; the greater our progress in theology, the simpler and more childlike will be our faith. J. G. Machen. 1. Why do you suppose that Abraham’s faith ...read more

Scripture: Romans 4:10-12

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Christ Who Accepted Every Human Weakness

Contributed by William Baeta on Dec 1, 2000

Obedience

Theme: Christ who accepted every human weakness Text: Isaiah50:5-9; James 2:14-18; Mk. 8:27-35 God’s Word has priority over everything else but many Christians are not prepared to accept this. This is the main reason why many Christians feel frustrated and inadequate even though they read the ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:27-35, Isaiah 50:5-9

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Human Responsibility And Israel: The Other Side Of The Coin Series

Contributed by Ed Vasicek on Sep 10, 2004

Although God’s Sovereign Grace is a sure thing, it is also true that we are responsible for all of our decisions. We can look at the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by most of the Jews as a choice they made, even though this was in the plan of God.

Human Responsibility and Israel: The Other Side of the Coin (Romans 9:30-10:13) 1. I love British English, particularly their figures of speech. 2. Some friend of ours leant us some DVD’s of "Jeeves and Wooster." We love that show. 3. Anyhow, in one episode, they referred to marriage as "both ...read more

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What Adam Did To The Human Race Is Reversible Series

Contributed by Ed Taylor on Dec 23, 2008

So what happened with Adam and Eve in the Garden?

1. Imagine a time when sin doesn’t exist. Wouldn’t that be great! • A time really, of perfection and beauty. • No sin. No sinful nature directing to sin. No flesh/spirit struggle. • Everything is just perfect, exactly as it was meant to be! • Immediately we think forward don’t we? 1 John 3:1-2 ...read more

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Reaches Out, Beyond Human Boundaries

Contributed by Ronald Harbaugh on Feb 23, 2008

A sermon for the Third Sunday in Lent, series A.

3rd Sunday in Lent, February 24, 2008 “Series A” Grace be unto you and peace, from God our Father and from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen. Let us pray: Dear Heavenly Father, through your Son, Jesus the Christ, you have revealed your will and grace for all people. Through the power of your Holy ...read more

Scripture: John 4:5-42

Denomination: Lutheran

The Human Spirit Fails, But The Holy Spirit Prevails

Contributed by Gregg Bitter on May 24, 2010

Where are you on the line between optimism and pessimism? What is the right balance? Let's see what we learn from the tower of Babel. A. The human spirit triumphs. Not! B. Like at Babel, so still today C. The Holy Spirit centers us on Jesus and his cross

Text: Genesis 11:1-9 Theme: The Human Spirit Fails, But the Holy Spirit Prevails A. The human spirit triumphs. Not! B. Like at Babel, so still today C. The Holy Spirit centers us on Jesus and his cross Season: Pentecost - c Date: May 23, 2010 Web page: ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 11:1-9

Denomination: Lutheran

Promoting Authentic Human Development In An Outsourced World Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Oct 10, 2009

New social justice problems have emerged in recent years, straining systems of insurance and welfare. How shall we as Christians respond?

Monday of 28th week in course October 12, 2009 Caritas in Veritate The queen of the South and the men of Nineveh will rise up and condemn the generation of pharisees for not believing in Jesus. At the end of time, they will also condemn the pharisees of our day for not believing in Jesus or His ...read more

Scripture: Luke 11:29-32

Denomination: Catholic

We Must Protect Innocent Human Life

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Nov 1, 2008

The call of Christ and St. Paul to serve the poor and powerless is most pronounced in the matter of protecting human life from conception to natural death.

November 3, 2008 St. Martin de Porres How shall we serve the poor? How shall we balance off attention to our own interests, as well as the interests of others? How shall we give a feast and invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind–in short, the marginalized and powerless who have not ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Denomination: Catholic

Humanity's Greatest Folly - God's Great Gift Series

Contributed by Tom Fuller on Feb 8, 2009

Do you know what are human’s three great faults? It leads us to know why we can never reach God ourselves. But we also see in chapter three how God does what we cannot.

There are three great faults in humanity—three great reasons why we have such a hard time as a race accepting the good news of Jesus Christ. Those reasons are that we are self sufficient, self justifying, and self focused. Self sufficient means we can do it ourselves, we can create goodness, we can ...read more

Scripture: Romans 3:1-31

Denomination: Calvary Chapel