GOD’S TROUBLE MAKERS

 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” 18“I have not made trouble for Israel,”Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. I Kings 18.

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. James 5

“When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and when they pray toward this place and give praise to your name and turn from their sin because you have afflicted them, 27 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live, and send rain on the land you gave your people for an inheritance. II Chron 6

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Deut 11

1. THE ENEMY DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE UP CONTROL.

Acts 16 16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly [d] annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

20And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;  21and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.”  Acts 16

They say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Job 21

There was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24Saying, Let usalone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Mark 1

1. THE ENEMY DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE UP TERRITORY.

As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. 5But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. ^a6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees,saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil.  Acts 17

III. THE ENEMY DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13“This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” Acts 18

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17

1. THE ENEMY DOES NOT WANT CHANGE.

At that time there was serious trouble because of the Lord's Way.24A silversmith named Demetrius had a business that made silver models of the temple of the goddess Artemis. Those who worked for him earned a lot of money. 25Demetrius brought together everyone who was in the same business and said: Friends, you know we make a good living at this. 26But you have surely seen and heard how this man Paul is upsetting a lot of people, not only in Ephesus, but almost everywhere in Asia. Acts 19

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changingthe way you think. Romans 12

10When Achish asked, “Where did you go raiding today?”  I Samuel 27

The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. II Timothy 2

Pray for our President and all leaders.

Pray for the healing of our nation, state and city.

Pray for revival in our churches.

Pray for those who are in bondage.

Pray for the healing of the sick