How Can The Debris Of Our 911 Be Cleaned Up In Our Lives?
INTRO: I want to parallel the tragedy of 911 to our own lives.
Psalms 27:1-5 KJV 1 The LORD
is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon
me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek
after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to
behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in
the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
Tragedy of our nation’s 911
Enemies willing to attack & harm us
Victims unaware of danger
Victims unprepared
Vast destruction
Great confusion
Death
Debris
When we look at our nation, we see the twin towers…
Standing alone
We’re easy targets for Satan when we stand alone
Represented all that radical Islamists hate about us
The cross represents all that Satan abhors and fears about us
Satan hates not only Jesus our Lord, but us as well
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Unaware
Many stand alone, unaware of the danger that awaits them in this life
Unprepared
Many stand unprepared for the answer they must give at the end of life
They have put off preparing
They plan to get ready
They see no need to get ready
They are just as prepared as their friends seem to be
Many face great destruction in life
Sin cripples their life
Marriages are devastated by Satan’s tricks an attacks
Assault on marriage is an ongoing attack in our society today
Habits of all sorts slam (like the airplanes) into us in a dangerous way
Satan attacks our weaknesses we may not even know about
Satan’s attacks can be often seen by those around us (towers with smoke streaming)
Injuries happen to those around us as well
Satan’s attacks can cause great confusion
Satan would like for us to spend our life confused
Confused about salvation
About the price
Great cost?
Free?
About application
Whosoever?
A few?
John 3:15-18 KJV 15That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but
that the world through him might be saved.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God.
Matthew 7:13-16 KJV 13Enter ye
in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the
way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing,
but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of
thorns, or figs of thistles?
Confused about time
Wait or no?
Wait or serve?
Hebrews 3:6-19 KJV 6But
Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.
7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his
voice,
8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of
temptation in the wilderness:
9When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty
years.
10Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do
alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.
11So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)
12Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any
of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of
our confidence stedfast unto the end;
15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not
your hearts, as in the provocation.
16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came out of Egypt by Moses.
17But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with
them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
18And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but
to them that believed not?
19So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Confused about safety
We’ll live forever?
No promise of tomorrow
Ephesians 5:16 KJV Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Satan’s attacks bring death (without the remedy of God)
Death is physical
Death is also seen as spiritual in Rev. 20:6
6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the
first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
For many in the towers, they chose to leave at the first sing of attack
They lived
Could our choice of the moment bring or prevent destruction?
Debris
Can we clean up the mess?
We need help
We have sin and destruction collected in our lives
The Lord can help rid us of sin and it’s consequences
The Lord can bring the victory we need in life
The Lord Jesus is the answer we all need
Psalms 27:6-9 KJV 6 And now
shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will
I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing
praises unto the LORD.
7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also
upon me, and answer me.
8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee,
Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in
anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my
salvation.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 091408am