Introduction of this topic
1. Satan Takes Advantage
2. Carnal Terror Is a Tool of Evil
3. Kingdom of Christ Is A Fortress---
Conclusion: Doing Good and Being Happy
basically the sermon which I delivered on August 9,1998. When it comes to terrorism,
there are 101 different angles that could be pursued, However, that is a temptation that
I have resisted. Why? Because, whatever took place between 1998 and 2005; or
whatever takes place from 2005 onward, divine principles are the same. The truth of
Christ is timeless, Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day,
and for ever. It is worth mentioning that during early 2005, several times on the
internet I read a comment about terrorism: "Terrorism is the tool of the weak, to fight
against the strong." The idea was that since the small cannot head on match the big ,
they sneak under cover and surprise. Well, that fits into the first point in that, Satan
tempts people to choose weakness.
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made
manifest in your consciences. That divine terror is a means by which the Lord
subdues wickedness, and keeps godly fear in the righteous. The terror of the Lord
helps propel the preaching of the gospel and the work of the church.
In Genesis 3:5 the serpent (devil) said to the woman, "and ye shall be as gods..." The
devil tries to imitate God, even the Lord's terror. Satan tempts the weak to use a lying,
counterfeit type of carnal terrorism, telling weaklings that they can "be as gods."
Weaklings, instead of confronting the corrupt in power who are really at fault in their
condition, use sniping tactics against some imagined scapegoats. Instead of clean
debate out in the open, they fight dirty in secret against those who will not fight back
dirty. Instead of speaking truth to power, Satan gets the weak to deceive themselves
that their evil is power, and deceive themselves that the kindness of the good is
"weakness" to be torn and trampled.
honest gain, dishonestly used violent oppression. Notice that the violent oppression
that they committed out in the fields, they had "devised ... on their beds." They had
planned their evil in hiding, but carried it out in broad daylight.
the great possessions of Isaac. The water wells dug by the servants of his father
Abraham, the Philistines "had stopped them, and filled them with earth." So Isaac
went to the valley of Gerar and digged wells of water there. There they "found a well
of springing water." The herdmen of Gerar argued with them, as also in Sitnah. But
in Rehoboth, the striving ceased because, "now the Lord hath made room for us, and
we shall be fruitful in the land." The enemies may operate in secret, and then may
rant and complain, but God's answer can be very public, for those who obey the Lord,
as did Abraham and Isaac.
crimes and arrests of those who turned on their own citizens. Included were shootings
in high schools, bombings of targets, subway rampage, homocide among celebrities,
disgruntled worker revenges, and attacks in public places. Just as tragic are the sorry
excuses voiced by the perpetrators. Bullied at school, rejected by peers, alienated from
inn-crowd, frustration at society, jealousy and envy. And so trouble from home leads
to killing at large, and rejection from society. A lot of prevention happens when
parents teach the Proverbs to their children. Thus, people will learn early in life that
brute force and mayhem will not give them "rule" over people (like God). It will not
even give them relief, but more sorrow. Proverbs 1:10-19 says, My son, if sinners
entice thee, consent thou not. 11. If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for
blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12. Let us swallow them up
alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13. We shall find
all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14. Cast in thy lot
among us; let us all have one purse: 15. My son, walk not thou in the way with
them; refrain thy foot from their path: 16. For their feet run to evil, and make haste
to shed blood. 17. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. 18.
And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives. 19. So
are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the
owners thereof.
Consider the effects of land mines. First of all, if people had rejoiced that "The earth
is the Lord's and the fullness thereof" (Psalm 24:1), there would not be killing over
land in the first place. But where people have booby trapped the place, the evidence
remains. Lost limbs and altered lives. And how any so-called sane person can with a
straight face, praise suicide bombers, even among their own children, is cut off from
what it means to be human.
will, he shall know of the doctrine ..." (John 7:17). That key to success is in man's
will. So, obviously Satan wants to break down a good will. Then the devil would
replace it with a passive acceptance of evil, then an active part in evil. However, the
devil does not need to recruit the masses, but just make them passive, non-reactive,
desensitized. What the Bible calls "lukewarm", makes even God want to vomit at the
mouth, Revelation 3:16. The devil knows he can always get a few impressionable
bozos to coordinate the evil, if he can just get the multitude to shut up and go along.
So terror is used to get people to accept and react, instead of defend and act. But
James 4:6-7 shows the necessity of keeping resistance: But he giveth more grace.
Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. One
of the reasons the founders of America wrote up the Declaration of Independence,
was because they realized that England was trying to "fatigue them into compliance."
Get them too tired to do anything about "taxation without representation." Well the
founding fathers threw off the old yoke, wrote up our own constitution, and charted a
new course to be our own sovereign nation. Likewise, believers in Christ cannot afford
to just go along with those who would steal their future and their freedom.
runneth into it, and is safe.
his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20. Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the
world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always
resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21. Why askest thou me? ask them which
heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.
and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. 13. Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with
whom we have to do.
me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss
for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly,
and from house to house, 21. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. Of Weapons Mighty Through
God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but
mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5. Casting down
imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God,
and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6. And having
in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
gospel of Christ. It is also the way to do good and be happy at the same time. Nothing
blunts the mongers of terror more than when people obey Christ, and at the same time
are more happy and fearless in standing as one.
10. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11. Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their
prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
14. But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of
their terror, neither be troubled;
15. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with
meekness and fear:
16. Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers,
they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I
come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in
one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token
of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.