Many of my friends are going through particularly hard things right now. You know how those seasons go: and then this happened, and then this, and on top of it all, now this! So we pray along with them “My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:3).

Sometimes in the midst of our trials we don’t factor in that we have an enemy. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) It’s not something that gets preached on Sundays very much, as if it’s just for exceptional circumstances.

But almost 75% of the chapters in the Bible mention some sort of opposition. In one survey I found (below) only 1 in 75 sermons in American churches has anything to do with that (The Armor of God). So we may find ourselves ill-prepared when opposition comes.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. – 1 Peter 4:12-13

I include the whole list here so that you can see for yourself that experiencing actual, targeted opposition is normal for the people of God, not the exception.

Opposition in the Bible

Genesis
1, 2, 3 Snake, 4 Murder, 5, 6 Wickedness, 7, 8, 9 Disrespect, 10, 11, 12 Pharaoh, 13 Sodom, 14 Enemies, 15 Enslavement, 16 Conflict, 17, 18 Sodom, 19 Sodom, 20 Abimelech, 21 Ishmael, 22 Offspring, 23, 24, 25 Conflict, 26 Quarrels, 27 Deception, 28 Threat, 29 Laban, 30 Rivalry, 31 Laban, 32 Esau, 33, 34 Shechem, 35 Idols, 36, 37 Brothers, 38 Immorality, 39 Potiphar’s wife, 40, 41, 42 Accusation, 43, 44 Accusation, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 Violence, 50

Exodus 1 Pharaoh, 2 Pharaoh, 3 Pharaoh, 4 Pharaoh, 5 Pharaoh, 6 Pharaoh, 7 Magicians, 8 Pharaoh, 9 Pharaoh, 10 Pharaoh, 11 Pharaoh, 12 Egyptians, 13 Conflict, 14 Pharaoh, 15 Egyptians, 16, 17 Amalekites, 18, 19, 20 Idols, 21 Violence, 22 Witchcraft, 23 Idols, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 Golden Calf, 33 Rebellion, 34 Idols, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. Leviticus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Nadab & Abihu, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Devils, 18 Molech, 19 Idols, 20 Mediums, 21, 22, 23, 24 Blasphemer, 25, 26 Enemies, 27. Numbers 1 Armies, 2 Armies, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Enemies, 11 Murmuring, 12 Miriam & Aaron, 13 Giants, 14 Rebellion, 15, 16 Korah, 17 Rebellion, 18, 19, 20 Edom, 21 Arad, 22 Balak, 23 Balaam, 24 Balaam, 25 Midianites, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 Midianites, 32 War, 33 Idols, 34, 35, 36. Deuteronomy 1 Amorites, 2 Sihon, 3 Og, 4 Idolatry, 5 Idols, 6, 7 Canaanites, 8 Enemies, 9 Idolatry, 10, 11 Dathan, 12 Idols, 13 False prophets, 14, 15, 16, 17 Idolaters, 18 Witchcraft, 19, 20 Enemies, 21 Rebellious son, 22, 23 Ammonites, 24, 25 Amalek, 26, 27 Idols, 28 Enemies, 29 Idols, 30 Enemies, 31 Idolatry, 32 Enemies, 33 Enemies, 34.

Joshua 1 Enemies, 2 Jericho, 3, 4, 5 Warfare, 6 Jericho, 7 Ai, 8 Ai, 9 Gibeonites, 10 Amorites, 11 Canaanites, 12 Enemies, 13 Philistines, 14 Enemies, 15 Jebusites, 16 Canaanites, 17 Canaanites, 18, 19, 20, 21 Enemies, 22 Conflict, 23 Nations, 24 Egyptians. Judges 1 Canaanites, 2 Oppressors, 3 Philistines, 4 Sisera, 5 Sisera, 6 Midianites, 7 Midianites, 8 Zebah, 9 Abimelech, 10 Philistines, 11 Ammonites, 12 Ephraimites, 13 Philistines, 14 Philistines, 15 Philistines, 16 Delilah, 17 Idols, 18 Idols, 19 Gibeah, 20, 21 Jabesh-gilead. Ruth 1, 2, 3, 4.

1 Samuel 1 Peninnah, 2 Hophni & Phinehas, 3, 4 Philistines, 5 Philistines, 6, 7 Philistines, 8 Rejection, 9, 10 Opposition, 11 Nahash, 12, 13 Philistines, 14 Philistines, 15 Amalekites, 16 Evil spirit, 17 Goliath, 18 Saul, 19 Saul, 20 Saul, 21 Doeg, 22 Doeg, 23 Philistines, 24 Saul, 25 Nabal, 26 Saul, 27 Enemies, 28 Witch, 29 Philistines, 30 Amalekites, 31 Philistines. 2 Samuel 1 Amalekite, 2 Abner, 3 Joab, 4 Baanah, 5 Jebusites, 6 Michal, 7 Enemies, 8 Philistines, 9, 10 Syrians, 11, 12 Enemies, 13 Amnon, 14 Deception, 15 Absalom, 16 Ziba, 17 Ahithophel, 18 Absalom, 19 Conflict, 20 Sheba, 21 Giants, 22 Enemies, 23 Philistines, 24

1 Kings 1 Adonijah, 2 Shimei, 3, 4, 5 Enemies, 6, 7, 8, 9 Warning, 10, 11 Idolatry, 12 Jeroboam, 13, 14 Shishak, 15 Ben-Hadad, 16 Jezebel, 17 Ahab, 18 Prophets of Baal, 19 Jezebel, 20 Ben-Hadad, 21 Jezebel, 22 Ahab. 2 Kings 1 Baal-zebub, 2 Mockers, 3 Moabites, 4, 5 Gehazi, 6 Syrians, 7 Syrians, 8 Edomites, 9 Jezebel, 10 Ahab’s sons, 11 Athaliah, 12 Hazael, 13 Ben-Hadad, 14 Edomites, 15 Shallum, 16 Rezin, 17 Assyria, 18 Sennacherib, 19 Sennacherib, 20 Babylonians, 21 Amon, 22, 23 Pharaoh, 24 Nebuchadnezzar, 25 Nebuchadnezzar.

1 Chronicles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Hagrites, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Philistines, 11 Jebusites, 12 Armies, 13 Uzzah, 14 Philistines, 15 Michal, 16 Enemies, 17 Enemies, 18 Moabites, 19 Hanun & Syrians, 20 Giants, 21 Satan, 22 War, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Armies, 28, 29. 2 Chronicles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Canaanites, 9, 10 Jeroboam, 11 Jeroboam, 12 Shishak, 13 Jeroboam, 14 Zerah, 15 War, 16 Baasha, 17 Armies, 18 Ahab, 19, 20 Edomites, 21 Arabians, 22 Athaliah, 23 Mattan, 24 Idolatry, 25 Edomites & Joash, 26 Philistines, 27 Ammonites, 28 Edomites, 29, 30 Scorners, 31 Idols, 32 Sennacherib, 33 Manasseh, 34 Idols, 35 Pharaoh, 36 Nebuchadnezzar.

Ezra 1, 2, 3, 4 Samaritans, 5 Tattenai, 6 Enemies, 7, 8, 9, 10. Nehemiah 1, 2 Sanballat, 3, 4 Ashdodites, 5 Nobles, 6 Tobiah, 7, 8, 9 Pharaoh, 10, 11, 12, 13 Tobiah. Esther 1, 2 Bigthan, 3 Haman, 4 Haman, 5 Haman, 6 Haman, 7 Haman, 8 War, 9 Enemies, 10. Job 1 Satan, 2 Satan, 3, 4 Eliphaz, 5 Eliphaz, 6 Accusation, 7, 8 Bildad, 9, 10, 11 Zophar, 12, 13 Falsehood, 14, 15 Eliphaz, 16 Slanderers, 17 Mockers, 18 Bildad, 19 Persecution, 20 Zophar, 21 Wicked, 22 Eliphaz, 23, 24 Oppressors, 25 Bildad, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 Mockery, 31, 32 Elihu, 33 Elihu, 34 Elihu, 35 Elihu, 36 Elihu, 37 Elihu, 38, 39, 40 Behemoth, 41 Leviathan, 42 Eliphaz.

Psalms
1 Wicked, 2 Rulers, 3 Enemies, 4 Slanderers, 5 Wicked, 6 Enemies, 7 Persecutors, 8, 9 Enemies, 10 Wicked, 11 Wicked, 12 Wicked, 13 Enemy, 14 Evildoers, 15, 16, 17 Enemies, 18 Enemies, 19, 20 Enemies, 21 Enemies, 22 Persecutors, 23 Enemies, 24, 25 Enemies, 26 Evildoers, 27 Enemies, 28 Wicked, 29, 30 Foes, 31 Slanderers, 32, 33, 34 Haters, 35 Accusers, 36 Wicked, 37 Evildoers, 38 Enemies, 39, 40 Enemies, 41 Treacherous, 42 Enemy, 43 Enemy, 44 Enemies, 45 Enemies, 46 Heathen, 47 Enemies, 48 Enemies, 49, 50 Wicked, 51, 52 Doeg, 53 Evildoers, 54 Oppressors, 55 Betrayer, 56 Enemies, 57 Enemies, 58 Wicked judges, 59 Bloodthirsty men, 60 Moab, 61, 62 Evil, 63 Enemies, 64 Conspirators, 65, 66 Enemies, 67, 68 Enemies, 69 Haters, 70 Enemies, 71 Enemies, 72 Oppressors, 73 Wicked, 74 Enemies, 75 Wicked, 76 Warriors, 77, 78 Egyptians, 79 Heathen, 80 Enemies, 81 Strange gods, 82 Wicked judges, 83 Assyria, 84, 85, 86 Violent men, 87, 88 Enemies, 89 Enemies, 90, 91 Serpent, 92 Enemies, 93, 94 Oppressors, 95, 96 Idols, 97 Idolaters, 98, 99, 100, 101 Wicked, 102 Enemies, 103 Armies, 104, 105 Egyptians, 106 Enemies, 107, 108 Moab & Philistia, 109 Accuser, 110 Enemies, 111, 112 Wicked, 113, 114, 115 Idols, 116, 117, 118 Enemies, 119 Persecutors, 120 Enemies, 121, 122, 123 Scorners, 124 Enemies, 125 Wicked, 126, 127, 128, 129 Haters, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 Canaanites, 136 Pharaoh, 137 Babylon, 138 Enemies, 139 Enemies, 140 Violent men, 141 Wicked, 142 Persecutors, 143 Enemy, 144 Foes, 145 Wicked, 146 Oppressors, 147, 148 Armies, 149 Heathens, 150

Proverbs 1, 2 Evil men, 3 Oppressor, 4 Wicked, 5 Adulteress, 6 Wicked, 7 Adulteress, 8 Evil, 9, 10 Wicked, 11 Wicked, 12 Liars, 13 Scorner, 14 Scorner, 15 Scorner, 16 Wicked, 17 Evildoer, 18 Wicked, 19 Scorner, 20 Fraudulent, 21 Proud, 22 Oppressor, 23, 24 Evil men, 25 Enemy, 26 Liar, 27 Enemy, 28 Oppressors, 29 Thief, 30 Evil, 31. Ecclesiastes 1, 2, 3, 4 Oppressors, 5 Oppression, 6, 7, 8 Wicked, 9 Evil men, 10, 11, 12. Song of Solomon 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Watchmen, 6, 7, 8.

Isaiah
1 Rebels, 2 Idols, 3 Oppressors, 4, 5 Unjust men, 6 Seraphim, 7 Rezin, 8 Wizards, 9 Oppressor, 10 Assyria, 11 Ammon, 12, 13 Babylon, 14 Babylon, 15 Moab, 16 Moab, 17 Damascus, 18 Cush, 19 Egypt, 20 Egypt, 21 Babylon, 22 Shebna, 23 Tyre, 24 Wicked, 25 Terrible nations, 26 Oppressor, 27 Leviathan, 28 Scoffers, 29 Hypocrites, 30 Egypt, 31 Egypt, 32 Vile persons, 33 Assyria, 34 Edom, 35, 36 Sennacherib, 37 Assyrians, 38, 39 Babylonians, 40 Idols, 41 Idols, 42 Idols, 43, 44 Idols, 45 Idols, 46 Nebo, 47 Babylon, 48 Idols, 49 Oppressors, 50 Smiters, 51 Oppressor, 52, 53 Oppressors, 54 Oppressors, 55, 56 Watchmen, 57 Sorceress, 58 Oppressors, 59 Sinners, 60, 61 Oppressors, 62, 63 Edom, 64, 65 Idolaters, 66 Idolaters

Jeremiah
1 Idolatry, 2 Idolatry, 3 Idolatry, 4 Babylon, 5 False prophets, 6 Babylon, 7 Idols, 8 Idolatry, 9 Slanderers, 10 Idols, 11 Anathoth, 12 Wicked, 13, 14 False prophets, 15 Persecutors, 16 Idolatry, 17 Idolatry, 18 Plotters, 19 Idolatry, 20 Pashur, 21 Nebuchadnezzar, 22 Shallum, 23 False prophets, 24 Officials, 25 Nebuchadnezzar, 26, 27 False prophets, 28 Hananiah, 29 Ahab, 30 Oppressors, 31, 32 Chaldeans, 33, 34 Nebuchadnezzar, 35 Armies, 36, 37 Princes of Judah, 38 Princes of Judah, 39 Nebuchadnezzar, 40 Ishmael, 41 Ishmael, 42, 43 Pharaoh, 44 Idolatry, 45, 46 Egypt, 47 Philistines, 48 Moab, 49 Ammon, 50 Babylon, 51 Babylon, 52 Nebuchadnezzar

Lamentations 1 Enemies, 2, 3 Enemies, 4 Persecutors, 5 Oppressors. Ezekiel 1, 2 Rebellious, 3 Rebellious, 4 Siege, 5 Rebellion, 6 Idols, 7 Violence, 8 Idolatry, 9 Idolaters, 10, 11 Wicked, 12, 13 False prophets, 14 Idolaters, 15, 16 Idolatry, 17 Babylon, 18, 19, 20 Idolatry, 21 Babylon, 22 Murderers, 23 Invaders, 24, 25 Philistia, 26 Tyre, 27 Tyre, 28 Sidon, 29 Pharaoh, 30 Egypt, 31 Assyria, 32 Pharaoh, 33 Watchmen, 34 False shepherds, 35 Edom, 36 Enemies, 37, 38 Gog, 39 Gog. Daniel 1 Nebuchadnezzar, 2 Kingdoms, 3 Executioners, 4 Nebuchadnezzar, 5 Belshazzar, 6 Officials, 7 Beasts, 8 Horn, 9 Oppressors, 10 Prince of Persia, 11 Vile king, 12.

Hosea 1 Enemies, 2 Idolatry, 3 Idolatry, 4 Idolatry, 5 Princes, 6 Priests, 7 Princes, 8 Idols, 9 False prophets, 10 Idols, 11 Assyria, 12 Oppressors, 13 Idols, 14 Idols. Joel 1 Nation, 2 Army, 3 Nations. Amos 1 Damascus, 2 Moab, 3 Oppressor, 4 Bashan, 5 Oppressors, 6 Rulers, 7 Amaziah, 8 Merchants, 9. Obadiah 1 Edom. Jonah 1, 2, 3, 4. Micah 1 Idolatry, 2 Oppressors, 3 False prophets, 4, 5 Assyrians, 6 Oppressors, 7 Treacherous people. Nahum 1 Nineveh, 2 Nineveh, 3 Nineveh. Habakkuk 1 Chaldeans, 2 Babylon, 3 Wicked. Zephaniah 1 Idols, 2 Philistia, 3 Oppressors. Haggai 1 Armies, 2. Zechariah 1, 2, 3 Satan, 4 Armies, 5 Thieves, 6, 7 Oppressors, 8, 9 Syria, 10 Idol s, 11 Wicked, 12, 13 False prophets, 14 Nations. Malachi 1 Edom, 2 Treacherous people, 3 Sorcerers, 4 Wicked.

Matthew 1, 2 Herod, 3 Pharisees, 4 Devil, 5 Persecution, 6, 7 False prophets, 8 Demons, 9 Pharisees, 10 Persecutors, 11 Opposition, 12 Pharisees, 13 Devil, 14 Herod, 15 Pharisees, 16 Pharisees, 17 Demon, 18, 19 Pharisees, 20, 21 Chief priests, 22 Pharisees, 23 Pharisees, 24 False prophets, 25, 26 Judas, 27 Romans, 28 Guards. Mark 1 Demon, 2 Pharisees, 3 Pharisees, 4 Satan, 5 Demons, 6 Herod, 7 Pharisees, 8 Pharisees, 9 Demon, 10 Pharisees, 11 Chief priests, 12 Pharisees, 13 False prophets, 14 Judas, 15 Pilate, 16. Luke 1, 2, 3 Herod, 4 Mob, 5 Pharisees, 6 Pharisees, 7 Pharisees, 8 Demons, 9 Demon, 10 Robbers, 11 Pharisees, 12 Pharisees, 13 Herod, 14 Pharisees, 15 Pharisees, 16, 17, 18, 19 Chief priests, 20 Elders, 21 Persecutors, 22 Judas, 23 Pilate, 24. John 1 Opposition, 2, 3, 4, 5 Jewish leaders, 6, 7 Authorities, 8 Opponents, 9 Pharisees, 10 Jews, 11 Pharisees, 12 Judas, 13 Devil , 14 Satan, 15 World, 16 Persecutors, 17 Evil one, 18 Judas, 19 Soldiers, 20, 21.

Acts
1, 2, 3, 4 Priests, 5 High priest, 6 False witnesses, 7 Sanhedrin, 8 Sorcerer, 9 Saul, 10, 11 Circumcision party, 12 Herod, 13 Elymas, 14 Jews, 15 Judaizers, 16 Philippian magistrates, 17 Mob, 18 Jews, 19 Demetrius, 20 Jews, 21 Jews, 22 Mob, 23 Conspirators, 24 Tertullus, 25 Jews, 26 Opposition, 27 Soldiers, 28

Romans 1 Idolaters, 2 Hypocrites, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 Pharaoh, 10, 11 Baal worshipers, 12 Enemies, 13 Evildoers, 14, 15, 16 Satan. 1 Corinthians 1 Factions, 2, 3, 4 Opposition, 5 Satan, 6 Thieves, 7, 8 Idols, 9, 10 Demons, 11 Divisions, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 Adversaries. 2 Corinthians 1, 2 Satan, 3, 4 Satan, 5, 6 Belial, 7, 8, 9, 10 False apostles, 11 Satan, 12 Satan, 13. Galatians 1 False teachers, 2 False brethren, 3, 4 Idols, 5 Witchcraft, 6. Ephesians 1, 2 Satan, 3, 4 Devil, 5 Deceivers, 6 Devil. Philippians 1 Envious, 2, 3 Judaizers, 4. Colossians 1, 2 Principalities and powers, 3, 4. 1 Thessalonians 1, 2 Persecutors, 3 Satan, 4, 5. 2 Thessalonians 1 Persecutors, 2 Satan, 3 Evil men. 1 Timothy 1 Hymenaeus 2, 3 Devil, 4 Demons, 5 Satan, 6 False teachers. 2 Timothy 1, 2 False teachers, 3 Jannes, 4 Alexander. Titus 1 False teachers, 2, 3 Divisive person. Philemon 1.

Hebrews 1, 2 Devil, 3 Rebels, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Adversaries, 11, 12 Esau, 13. James 1, 2 Oppressive, 3 Demonic, 4 Devil, 5 Oppressors. 1 Peter 1, 2 Evildoers, 3 Slanderers, 4 Abusers, 5 Devil. 2 Peter 1, 2 False teachers, 3 Scoffers. 1 John 1, 2 Antichrists, 3 Devil, 4 False prophets, 5 Evil one. 2 John 1 Antichrist. 3 John 1 Diotrephes. Jude 1 False teachers. Revelation 1, 2 Satan, 3 Satan, 4, 5, 6 Persecutors, 7, 8 Wormwood, 9 Demonic army, 10, 11 Beast, 12 Dragon, 13 Beast, 14 Babylon, 15, 16 Kings of the earth, 17 Babylon, 18 Babylon, 19 Beast, 20 Satan, 21 Wicked, 22 Wicked.

75 Most Popular Sermon Topics

(from a survey of American churches)

Bible-Based Topics
Revelation, Psalms, The Gospels, Romans, Proverbs, Philippians, Job, James, Peter’s Epistles, Nehemiah

Spiritual Themes
The Armor of God, The Beatitudes, The Fruit of the Spirit, The Gifts of the Spirit, The Good Shepherd, The “I Am” Statements of Jesus, The Names of the Lord, The Parables of Jesus, Love

Felt-Needs Topics
Anxiety, Anger, Depression, Fear, Stress, Loss and Grief, Friendship, Forgiveness, Addiction, Purpose, Leadership, Suffering, Finances

Theological Topics
The Trinity, Salvation, The Cross, Justification, Sanctification, God’s Character, The Person of Jesus, The Holy Spirit, The Church, Communion, Baptism, Grace, Sin

Christian Practices
Prayer Life, Fasting, Bible Reading, Relationships, Dating, and Marriage, Temptation, Sexuality, Outreach, Evangelism, Tithing, Gifts, Faith and Trust

Character-Based Topics
Adam and Eve, Abraham, Joseph, David, Solomon, Elijah, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, Daniel, Jesus

Seasonal & Holiday Topics
New Year’s Eve, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, At the Movies Sermon Series, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas