When God calls an individual or a people to a Kingdom mission, it is always the case that the enemy will oppose the work. Satan hates Kingdom advancement, and he is a committed foe as he seeks to undermine whatever God’s people are doing for the glory of God. Relentlessly, the enemy uses any means available to bring a halt to the work. He seeks to intimidate, debilitate and frustrate the people and the mission. In this message, we see two humans who are raised up to oppose the mission of Nehemiah. From their tactics we are made aware of how our enemy fights us today. From Nehemiah’s response to the opposition, we learn how to resist, respond and endure until the work is completed. When the enemy fights you, it is not game-over. It’s game-on. And God has determined a breakthrough for you. Whoever chooses not to quit is the one who wins.
Courage Under Fire
Nehemiah 4:4-14
July 6, 2021 • Jeff Lyle • Nehemiah 4:4–14
Hard Words for Unhealthy Leaders
May 7, 2024 • Jeff Lyle
Jesus wasn’t always polite. He did not always speak with gentle tones. He was not committed to making conversations easy on people. Jesus said the hard things…and sometimes He said the hard things in a hard manner. This episode of Truth Shots takes us through six separate and intense statements that Jesus made against the religious leaders of His day. Rarely do we stop and recognize how offensive these statements would have been to the Pharisees. In fact, when He delivered all six of his indictments against them, they looked for rocks to use to stone Him to death on the spot. When confronting the religious spirit, Jesus did not hold back. If we are to be like Him, there will be times when we will need to be as direct as He was.
Battle Gear
April 30, 2024 • Jeff Lyle • Ephesians 6:10–18
Most people think about what they wear at the beginning of the day. We dress for school, work, the gym, or maybe a ballgame or job interview. When special occasions arise, we are more intentional about what we put on. A fancy dinner, a costume party, or a dance require us to be a little more thoughtful about our attire. The United States armed forces all have strict requirements for how military dress is displayed. Did you know that God’s word teaches us all how to dress for the occasion when it comes to spiritual war? God expects us to put on the proper battle gear so we can fight well and win. This familiar passage from Ephesians 6 calls us all to check our armor and discern if we have put on what it takes to win the battle against the intensifying forces of darkness coming against us. Armoring up in the Spirit is not a suggestion for a certain set of elite saints. It is a requirement for all Christians to withstand the assaults of the enemy and to put them in the place of defeat.
What Pressing On Looks Like
April 2, 2024 • Jeff Lyle • 2 Corinthians 4:7
When you commit your life as a follower of Jesus Christ, you are saying yes to a life of paradox. You will win, but only after battling. You will live in the Spirit, but only as you die to the flesh. You will experience God’s glory through your own groans. The Christian is called to a life of resurrection triumph, but the Christian only experiences that by first submitting to a crucifixion death. Jesus declared amazing victory, reward, and glory for those who endure unto the end. What then is it precisely that w must endure to receive the full reward? This episode of Truth Shots reminds you that though the life of the Christian is not easy, it is absolutely breathtaking when lived out by pressing on in the pose row the Spirit.