All Thine Enemies Shall Be Cut Off

Q: What does the Bible say about overcoming our enemies?

The Bible promises that God will continually cut off our enemies, both spiritual and worldly, giving us victory through faith in Christ. Scripture teaches that since the fall, the world has been hostile to the gospel, and believers are often in conflict with their surroundings. In Micah 5:9, the promise is that all enemies shall be cut off, highlighting a continuous action of God in our lives. 1 John 5 reminds us that those born of God overcome the world through faith. As we face tribulations, we are encouraged to rely on God's promise of deliverance, as demonstrated in Psalms where David calls for God's help against stronger enemies.

Q: How do we know God's promises are true?

We know God's promises are true because they are based on His character and they are fulfilled in Christ. God's promises are true and reliable because they stem from His sovereign nature. Micah's proclamation that God will cut off our enemies is not a one-time event, but a continual assurance of His intervention in the lives of believers. This reflection points us to the ultimate victory Christ achieved at the cross, which secures our faith. The continuity of God’s deliverance in our lives, as seen in the narrative of David and his cries for assistance, illustrates that God's fidelity to His promises is constant. Trusting in these truths builds our faith, allowing us to stand firm in God's assurances.

Q: Why is faith important for Christians facing trials?

Faith is crucial for Christians because it enables us to overcome the world's tribulations and to rely on God's strength. Faith is the foundation upon which Christians stand, especially in times of trial and adversity. As expressed in Micah 5, Christians are like a remnant in a hostile world, yet with faith, they can confront their enemies with confidence. This faith is not merely belief in an abstract sense; it is a faith that actively relies on Christ’s victory over the world, enabling believers to stand firm amid persecution. 1 John 5 notes that our victory over the world is through our faith, reminding us that it is through Christ that we have the strength to endure and persevere. This understanding allows believers to approach trials not with fear, but with boldness, knowing God works for their good.

Q: How does God cut off our enemies?

God cuts off our enemies by continually delivering us from spiritual and worldly adversities through His power. In Micah 5:9, the phrase 'cut off' indicates an ongoing action, suggesting that God is actively involved in the lives of His people, providing continual deliverance from enemies. This deliverance is not just physical but spiritual, addressing fears, doubts, and worldly pressures that seek to undermine Christians. David’s pleas in the Psalms further illustrate this need for divine intervention. God equips believers with faith to confront challenges, empowering them to reject carnal means of defense, such as worldly wisdom and strength. Instead, believers are encouraged to trust in God as their warrior who fights on their behalf, ensuring that they are spiritually fortified against adversities.

Q: What does it mean to be a remnant in a hostile world?

Being a remnant means living as a minority among those who oppose the gospel, but with God's assurance of strength and victory. The term 'remnant' refers to the faithful followers of Christ who exist in a world often contrary to the teachings of the gospel. As indicated in Micah 5, the remnant of Jacob is not only a minority but also a group with divine promise and strength. This concept serves as a reminder that while societal opposition may be strong, God has equipped His people to stand confidently as lions among goats. The promise of God to cut off enemies reassures the remnant that they can continue to proclaim the gospel boldly, knowing that God protects and empowers them. This narrative encourages believers to be steadfast in their faith amidst adversity, recognizing their identity in Christ.

Let's open our Bibles to Micah chapter five, Micah chapter five. If you'll notice at the end of verse nine, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. It's almost embarrassing to compare ourselves to men like Martin Luther and the enemies that he suffered in this world and so many other believers over the ages. And yet, ever since the fall, this world and all that is in this world has been hostile to the gospel. And anyone who believes the gospel is in conflict with this world.

And our Lord's promise is, in our text, that he will cut off all our enemies. And I want to begin by pointing out the fact that this is not a one-time event. The verb cut off is actually in the imperfect tense, which means it's a continual action. Yes, the Lord defeated sin and Satan and the grave at the cross and settled once and for all our greatest enemy. And yet, as we walk in this world, we find that those enemies are often very real and in need again and again and again of being cut off. And this is the promise of our Lord in this passage of scripture tonight.

John says, 1 John chapter 5, whosoever or whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. To overcome the world means to get out of the world alive. And the Lord Jesus said in this world you shall have tribulation but be of good cheer because I have overcome the world. And John goes on to say whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

And so it's our faith in Christ, looking to Christ as we walk in this world that is in conflict with everything that we know to be true and everything that we love. John goes on to say, who is he that overcometh the world? He that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. He's the one. This having the enemy defeated and overcoming the adversities and the evils and the trials and troubles and temptations of this world. has everything to do with our faith in Christ.

We just read in Psalm 142, deliver me, David said this, deliver me from my persecutors for they are stronger than I. If the Lord doesn't, if he doesn't, cut off our enemies, they will surely overtake us. In Psalm 18, David went on to say, he delivered me from my strong enemy, which hated me, for they are too strong for me. They're too strong for me. They persecute me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. And he brought me forth into a large place. I was in a very narrow place. I was in a pressed place because of my enemies. When I was able to cry out to the only one who could cut off my enemies, he put me in a large place, a place of safety and freedom and peace and joy. all thine enemies shall be cut off.

This word, let's read these two verses together, verse eight and nine, and then we'll follow through with the rest of them. But I wanna separate verse eight and nine from the rest of this chapter, because I believe they're talking about two different enemies. And the remnant of Jacob, verse eight, shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people. That's where we are. Revelation speaks of the woman being cast out into the wilderness. And now the Lord is saying that the remnant of Jacob, we know who that is, that's the church.

That's the minority in this world. Usually a minority group has reason to feel somewhat intimidated or insecure in their place, whatever it might be? Is there any group of people that is in more of a minority than the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? Is there a smaller remnant that is living among another people more than the Church of Christ?

The remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people. But now there's something very strange about this verse that seems different from so many other places where the Lord speaks of his people being in a hostile world. And here he says that the remnant of Jacob that is out among the Gentiles in the midst of surrounded by many people, I'm reminded what the Lord said when he told the disciples, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. And we often think of the church that way, but here just the opposite. In the midst of many people, as a lion among the beast of the forest, as a young lion among the flock of, now that word sheep, is a word that also is used to describe goats. And I believe that's a better translation here. So describing the church surrounded by Gentiles in a hostile world as a lion among goats.

Who, if he goes through, Both treadeth down and teareth in pieces and none can deliver. Thine hands shall be lifted upon thine adversaries and thine enemies shall be cut off. David said in Psalm 25, consider my enemies for they are many. They are many. and our enemies are many.

All that's contrary to the gospel, all that's hateful towards Christ, all that appeals to the flesh, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, all that is in the world. So, many enemies believers have in this world. But here the Lord says that amongst their enemies, unlike what he said in Matthew chapter five, when he said, they will revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Unlike what we read in Hebrews chapter 11 about those Old Testament believers, Those Old Testament saints that of whom the world was not worthy and yet they were martyred and persecuted and pursued to death. Unlike the Apostle Paul who said in 1 Corinthians chapter 4, we are defamed, we have been made the filth of the earth and the offscouring of all things. That's the description of these believers. A very small minority, pilgrims always on the move, unwelcome strangers and aliens in a strange land.

And yet the Lord says here, they're going to be like a lion among goats and their enemies are going to be cut off. And we know the Lord told us to love our enemies, do good unto them who despitefully use you, forgive. We are to seek to be at peace with all men whenever possible. We don't go about stirring up trouble.

I believe what the Lord is telling us here about this world in which we live is that the world will not keep you from your boldness in taking a stand for the gospel. all these adversaries. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew chapter 28, he said, all power has been given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always. though we live in a hostile world, though we live in a world that hates Christ and hates the gospel, we're not intimidated by that world. We're not kept from continuing to believe and to preach what we know to be true.

What great courage, what great confidence there is in knowing what we know and knowing who we know and believing who we believe. I believe that's what the Lord is saying here. These enemies are gonna be cut off in terms of all that they will try to do to shut you up and shut you down.

Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail against it. Years ago, I used to think about the church as a defensive fortress up on a hill, kind of like a castle surrounded with a moat. But that's not the imagery here, is it? The Lord said the gates of hell shall not be able to prevail against it. The church is not on the defense. The church is on the offense. Now, we don't go around beating people over the head with the gospel.

We're to be ready always to give an answer to anyone that asks us for the faith that's within us, the hope that's within us, and do it with meekness and do it with fear, do it gently, do it lovingly. Nevertheless, who we know and what God has given us is not to be hit under a basket. It's a light that's to be put on a hill. that all men might see. It's a message that's to be shouted from the rooftops. And we have no reason to apologize. We sang that hymn that Martin Luther wrote.

And when they brought him before the council and threatened him with his life, what did he say? Here I must stand. The same thing that Peter said when they brought the apostles into the Sanhedrin in Acts chapter in Acts chapter four and told them to quit preaching this gospel. And Peter basically said, you decide whether it be right for us to hearken unto you or to God, but as for us, we cannot but speak the things that we've heard and the things that we've seen. We've got to speak them. Daniel refused to submit to the king and ended up in the lion's den. The three Hebrew children refused to bow to the statue and ended up in the fiery furnace. And what did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego say? We know that our God can deliver us from this fire. We know that he can, whether he will or not, we don't know, but he will deliver us from you one way or the other. I believe that's what the Lord's telling us here, brother.

When he says that I'm going to cut off your enemies and that they're by nature, they would be stronger than you. By nature, you're but a small remnant in a hostile world against the gospel. But I'm gonna do such a work of grace in your heart and give you such liberty and give you such confidence and give you such assurance that though they tell you to stop, you're not gonna be You're not going to be silenced. You're not going to be intimidated.

You're going to know. You may have to shake the dust from off your feet. You may get to a place where you can't throw your pearls before swine. And we should be wise enough not to do that. But you walk away confident. You walk away as a lion among goats. Paul stood before Felix. He stood before Agrippa. Ultimately, he stood before Caesar. John the Baptist lost his head because he stood up to Herod. You see, this is what the Lord does. This is how sure we are.

There are a lot of things in this world we're not sure about. A lot of things that we're open to be taught otherwise. But what a blessing it is to be closed-minded when it comes to the gospel. I'm not open-minded about this thing. You know, we're not saying, well, you know, it could be this way, it could be that way, or let's consider something different. No, they shall all be taught of God. And when God teaches you something, no man can unteach you. And I believe that's the spiritual application of this. The Lord has cut off our enemies in this world and made us as lions among goats. Certainly it was true of Moses standing before Pharaoh. Certainly it's true of Elijah on Mount Carmel standing before those What was it? 600 prophets of Baal? King Ahab and Jezebel? And all the opposition that he had?

And yet he said, let fire come down. That'll be the God that answereth by fire. That'll be the God. And he was confident that his God was the one that wins. He mocked them. He did. They were dancing around their altar. and trying to get their God to answer, and he actually mocked them. He said, well, maybe he's gone on a journey. Maybe he's gone, you know, some have said that what he was actually saying, maybe your God's gone to relieve himself, you know, just wait, he'll be back. In our hearts, in our minds, We mock the gods of this world. And we know that our God is God. And here we must stand. And here we will stand. Because in light of all the enemies of this world has against the gospel, the Lord has made us to be lions among goats.

Now, I said that verses 8 and 9, I believe, deal with a different enemy than the following verses. And I do believe they do. Because those enemies in verse 8 and 9 is the opposition of this world that hates Christ and hates God. And remember, the cutting off is not a one-time thing, it's a continual event.

It's something that the Lord has to continue to do in our hearts. In verses 10 through 15, I believe the Lord is talking about more of those enemies that are within. The enemies of our own mind, the enemies of our own hearts. Verse 10, and it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots. Psalm 20, verse 7. says some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Horses and chariots, those are weapons of warfare. We have to have the weapons of our warfare cut off continually, don't we? We have to be reminded that there is, but One weapon. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and wickedness in high places.

And the Lord brings our thoughts. Let's turn to that passage of 1 Corinthians 10. 1 Corinthians 10. I want you to see something. I believe I brought this out recently. 2 Corinthians chapter 10, forgive me. 2 Corinthians chapter 10. Verse three, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. What are the weapons of the flesh?

Well, the wisdom of man. 1 Corinthians 1, God has made foolish the wisdom of this world. Christ is our wisdom. We can't defeat the enemies from within or without with human wisdom, worldly wisdom. We have to look to Christ. God made him to be our wisdom. and our righteousness and our sanctification and our redemption. But we're prone to try to employ the wisdom of this world in order to try to solve our sin problems, our doubts and our fears and all the enemies that are so prone to attack us. The cares of this world and the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, all those things. that the wisdom of man can't defeat. That's a weapon of the flesh. That's a horse or a chariot. I'm going to cut off your horses and your chariots. I'm going to bring your wisdom to naught. What about the will of man? That's another weapon of the flesh.

Well, I'll just be more committed. I'll be more determined. I can make my will stronger. And then you come to the conclusion, oh, Lord, my enemies are stronger than me. I don't have the will or the wisdom to defeat this problem that I have, this sin problem, this spiritual problem, this demonic problem, the accuser of the brethren, all the inward. Lord, slay my horses and chariots. The wisdom of man, the will of man, the works of man. Well, I'll just try a little harder. I'll do more. and then you do more and you still can't find yourself in that large place. You're still pressed. You're still facing the enemy trying to do more and trying to figure it out.

And so the Lord says, for though we walk in the flesh, and as we walk in this flesh, we have to deal with these enemies. We do not war after the flesh. We don't war with horses and chariots. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they're not fleshly, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

There's the spiritual weapon. It's not my obedience to Christ. It's bringing my thoughts and my imaginations to look to Christ. He's the one that kept the law of God. He's my righteousness. He's my wisdom. He's my rule of life. You know, is the The moral standards of the law of God, the Ten Commandments, applicable to our lives?

Of course they are. Of course they are. Murdering's always been murdering. Lying's always been lying. Keeping holy the Sabbath, looking to Christ. But the law is not our rule of life. Christ is our rule of life. He's the one we follow. My obedience to the law is not gonna be my rule of life. Christ, who is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. He's my rule of life. He's the one that I look to and he's the one that I follow.

Oh Lord, I need you to slay my horses and chariots. I got plenty of them. I'm always trying to win this war with carnal weapons I need a spiritual weapon. That weapon is only found in Christ. Paul said in Ephesians chapter six, put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Take your loins gird about with truth.

That's the truth. That's Christ. That's Christ. I am the way, the truth, and the life. All truth is seen and known in him. The breastplate of righteousness protecting my heart. Christ Jesus the Lord is my righteousness before God. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel. We stand upon that rock. The firm standing. The lions among goats in a hostile world, standing on the gospel. Here I must stand.

The shield of faith, looking to Christ, which is able to quench the fiery darts of the devil, having the helmet of salvation. Salvation is of the Lord. My thoughts to be on Him. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are good, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue in them, think on these things. Think on these things. Here's the weapon. Here's the spiritual weapon. Here's what the Lord says.

I'm gonna cut off those enemies in the world by giving you such a confidence and such a conviction in the gospel that You're not going to be tempted to not believe the gospel because the whole world, you're gonna be able to say at the end of the day, God before me, who can be against me? The whole world doesn't believe what I believe, it's okay. I'm gonna cut that enemy off in their ability to defeat you. I'm gonna cut off your horses and chariots and cause you to look to Christ. Look at verse 11. And I will cut off the cities out of thy land and throw down thy strongholds.

City is a place of safety. The Lord is not gonna let us feel safe anywhere outside of Christ. You know, there's a part of every one of us that wants to be in control all the time. Why do we want to be in control? Because that's where we feel safe. We feel if I can control things, then I'm safe.

What a blessing it is when the Lord shows you you have no control. You have no power except for that. The Lord says to us what he said to Pilate. Don't you know that I have the The authority to crucify you, to let you go, you have no authority at all except for that which is given to you from heaven. A man can receive nothing unless it be given to him from God.

It's a false peace. It's a false security. It's a false safety. When we think, well, I understand these situations and I've got things under control. And then the Lord puts us in that place. where he cuts off our cities and he cuts off our strongholds. We look back to those places that we once felt safe, past experiences.

The Lord said of those Pharisees, that they garnish the tombs of the prophets. They build sepulchers and then they garnish the tombs of the prophets. I actually used to belong to a group of seminary students called the Dead Theologians Society. And we took great pride in being able to debate what some dead theologian had to say about something. And that was a safe place to be. It felt like we were in control. We don't look back to those things. We don't look back to our experiences. We don't look back to our knowledge.

And in religion also, there's great safety in the affirmation that one who might have doubts gets from the other believers, the other church members. If you come to me and say to me, you know, I just don't know if I'm saved. And I start trying to convince you that you are, you need to rebuke me. That's the last thing you wanna do, is try to convince somebody that they're saved if they're having doubts about their salvation. Now, talk to them about Christ and who he is, but we don't, we don't try to affirm one another's, one another's salvation in that way, not the way, do you understand what I'm saying?

That's a work of grace that God has to do for each one of us in our hearts. But in religion, it's very popular. It's a very strong thing. You know, one person will be struggling and, oh, remember when you did this? Remember when you had that? You know, you're a believer, you're a believer. It's a safe place.

Cut off my cities, Lord. Strongholds. Look at verse 12, cut off all witchcraft out of thy land and thou shall have no more soothsaying. All the superstition and tradition, all the creeds and confessions and institutions of religion. The Lord cuts them all off. And he continues to, he continues to cut off all our enemies. And it's only when all our enemies are cut off that we're able to find all our hope in Christ. All. This is a great blessing that the Lord's saying here.

Verse 13, thy graven images also will I cut off and thy standing images out of the midst of thee. And that's how no more worship the works of thine hands. You're not going to look in satisfaction and pride to something that you've done. You're not going to look to your works.

Lord, I'm a profitable servant. What do the sheep say when the Lord says, I was hungry and you fed me and I was naked and you clothed me and I was in prison and you visited me and I was a stranger and you took me in. and the believers in glory and said, Lord, when did we do that? We're not keeping a record of that.

And that you did it to the least of these, my brethren, you did it unto me. You ministered the gospel to one another. You clothed the naked, you fed the hungry. You gave them the message of truth that delivered them from the prison. And we do this together. You say, well, I haven't been called to preach. This is a work that the church is doing.

Verse 14. and I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee, so I will destroy thy, and that word cities is the word enemies. It's the word enemies. I don't know why the translators put cities. Well, it can be translated city, but it's in the context of what I'm gonna cut off your enemies. Now, the grove was the place where people would set up altars and go worship in the groves. And the Lord says, I'm going to pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee. And I'm going to destroy those. You're not going to be able to go back. You're not going to be able to go back to that. Verse 15, and I will execute vengeance and anger and fury upon the heathen such as they have not heard.

You remember when Korah in the wilderness stood up to Moses and challenged his authority. And Moses said, anybody on Korah's side, get over there with Korah. And there were a lot of Israelites that distanced themselves from Korah because they knew what was about to happen. But those that associated themselves with Korah ended up being swallowed up by the earth along with Korah. And when the Lord says to me and you, I will execute vengeance and anger and fury against the heathen such as they have never heard. He's saying to us what Moses said to the children of Israel. You wanna stand with Korah?

We stand with Christ. Now I don't wanna be anywhere near him. Because I know when the wrath and judgment of God comes, I don't wanna have anything to do with that. I wanna be with Christ. The Lord says, I cut off and will continue to cut off all of your enemies, and you'll have many, and they'll be stronger than you. But his strength is made perfect in your weakness. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for these precious promises and how mindful we are of how needy we are that you would continue to cut off our enemies, for they are many. We ask it in Christ's name, amen. Number 10 in the hardback ten, now let's stand together.

All Thine Enemies Shall Be Cut Off

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about overcoming our enemies?

How do we know God's promises are true?

Why is faith important for Christians facing trials?

How does God cut off our enemies?

What does it mean to be a remnant in a hostile world?

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About Greg Elmquist

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All Thine Enemies Shall Be Cut Off

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about overcoming our enemies?

How do we know God's promises are true?

Why is faith important for Christians facing trials?

How does God cut off our enemies?

What does it mean to be a remnant in a hostile world?

Sermon Transcript

About Greg Elmquist

Comments

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