Fw: "STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT REMAIN!" Pastor Dick Kenney
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
[email protected]
Jun 4, 2002
In the past few days we have heard the media report that the CIA had exact knowledge of two of the terrorists that were responsible for the events of September 11, 2001. They were living in America, coming and going as they pleased, mixing with American neighbors, and living a normal life in this country! The problem is that evidently their findings about meetings in Maylasia with Osama Bin Laden and other questionable activities like taking lessons to fly big commercial planes, were never reported to the FBI. Maybe if these things had been reported and dealt with, 9/11/01 could have been avoided, we are not sure. But now that it has happened what do we do? We cannot reverse the clock!
Years from now, we will look back to September 11, 2001, and realize that it was the defining moment of our lives. For Christians, I believe it was a wake up call. Yet, as the days pass into months, and seasons, slowly the horror will begin to fade. How long I wonder before we are lulled back to sleep, and into a false sense of security....perhaps until the next catastrophe occurs? WE must realize that the enemy is no longer at the gates; he has breached the walls, and entered our very door and is working and living right next door to us! If it is not yet time to wake up, then we must ask just when, and just what will it take?
President Bush has reassured the Muslim community that America's war is against terrorism, not the Arab people, and rightly so.. But from a Biblical perspective, there is no denying the spiritual dimension to this war.....and the battle has already been joined. Yet, we know: "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places."
Muslim fanatics worldwide have proclaimed a "jihad" or holy war against the free world until all are in submission to Allah. Mullahs and Imams in schools and mosques continue to call the sons of Islam to join the battle.. The basis for their inflammatory rhetoric is strict interpretation of the Koran and the Hadath, the sacred books of Islam as handed down by Allah...{Despite conventional belief, Allah is not the Arabic word for the Judeo/Christian "G-d", Yahweh or Jehovah. The name "Allah" was used as the personal name of the moon god, whose symbol in Arabian culture, was the crescent moon, long before Mohammed....
Do not doubt for one minute, brothers and sisters, whether or not we are engaged in a spiritual war. The mask is off the evil one, and the gauntlet has been thrown down.... For those that have ears to hear, the sons of G-d are being called to wake up and strengthen the things that remain....The questions are: who will wage this war and what should our response be?
Now here it comes: Listen clearly, The words of Y'shua tell us quite clearly, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." We need to understand that these most all of these people have never heard the love of G-d. Our message to them should not be that they are evil but that we all are evil. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of G-d." Because He knew man would be incapable of achieving a righteousness of his own, G-d sent His son as the perfect sacrifice for sin, for all who would what? Believe in Him! Y';shua then came to preach the gospel to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, and set free the downtrodden.." Isn't this an accurate description of the people of the Middle East, trapped and deceived by false prophets and corrupt regimes? Many are sincere zealots who mistakenly believe that they can storm the gates of heaven through martyrdom...
Against the backdrop of Islam's message of fear and hatred, our message of love and joy, peace and life is a beacon of hope! We must continue as long as we have breath to shine forth that light, to dispel the approaching darkness. Yet, how can they believe, if they have never heard the good news; "Whoever calls upon the name of the L-rd shall be saved." {But} How shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?
In the 1800's there was a vision and determined effort to bring the gospel to the dark continent of Africa. Churches all over Europe sent their best and brightest to what was then the most dangerous place on the globe. Unaccustomed to the diseases in that part of the world, the original team of missionaries died of malaria, dysentery, or other causes, shortly after arriving. Not to be dissuaded, the church continued to send out more brave souls to the same perilous region. Those who volunteered for succeeding missions carried their belongings in coffins~~~In anticipation of shipping their bodies back home....
How long has it been since we have heard of anyone in our time, willing to make that kind of sacrifice? Who among us is willing to go into battle for the souls of lost humanity and possibly die for them in a war for spiritual truth? I wonder, will there be any martyrs of the faith of Jesus in our generation? The Bible tells us that "a disciple is not above his master." And we know the sacrifice that our Messiah Y'shua was called upon to make. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." Jo-ann aid to me a moment or so ago: "Wouldn't it be a Holy Moment if we actually began to believe what we say we believe, and then acted upon it?"
WE have arrived at a crucial time in our history...WE need to wake up, reprioritize our lives, and seize the moment..As the days grow darker, Jo-ann and I truly believe that the L-rd has ordained a particular role and a special assignment for each of us! Not all of us are able to go to the frontlines of the battlefield, for a variety of reasons. In our case it is our ages. But that does not rate us 4F! We are, however, called to support those who are able to go, with our resources.. Not all of us have the means to make significant financial contributions; But we can all pray diligently for the lost and for the ones that the L-rd is sending! There is much, much work to be done before the L-rd comes! And the night is fast approaching! Are we doing all that we can to stem the tide of the most rapidly growing religion in the world?
Soon and very soon, we are going to be meeting our wonderful Messiah Y'shua, face to face! Will He say to us; "Well done, my good and faithful servant?"
His bondservants, Pastor Dick & Jo-ann
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