An Enemy Hath Done This

(Matt. 13:24-29) "An enemy hath done this..."

We have lived in one of the most extraordinary weeks of our lives.

Our nation has experienced things that I have never seen the like of, in my lifetime.

Those that went through Pearl Harbor, and Vietnam may feel somewhat different; but it is certainly the most disturbing National event in my lifetime.

I have spoken with many people about these events; It is certainly the topic on everyone’s mind...

Tragic events always bring about very somber, soul searching questions.

When we hear of great tragedies it makes us hold our children closer, and hug our wives tighter, and wonder why such terrible things happen.

I cannot believe the horror, and sorrow that has occurred in our nation.

Thousand’s of families mourning...

Tragic events make us question the works of God.

Does not God govern the affairs of men? And, if He does; Why does He allow such things to happen?

I don’t believe God caused this wicked event! I Don’t believe it was God’s judgement...

Even, though I believe we deserve judgement, I don’t believe that it is the case here...

I want to preach about my thoughts on the events of this week; by preaching on a message I titled:

An Enemy Hath Done This

I. America Is Not Without Fault.

A. God has every right to judge America.

1. The Psalmist said, "That thou mayest be clear when thou judgest..."

> God is clear when He judges.

> No one can accuse God of not having a just cause to judge America.

> God has every right to judge!

2. We have "called evil good and good evil."

> We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

> We have endorsed homosexual perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.

> We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

> We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

> In the name of choice we have killed our unborn.

> In the name of right to life we have killed abortionists.

> We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building esteem.

> We have abused power and called it politics.

> We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.

> We have ridiculed the time honored values of our fore-fathers and called it modern thinking.

B. America has let many of our time honored values slip.

1. (v. 25) "...while men slept..."

> We’ve just let things slip.

> It isn’t that we are not against these things, but we are just not ready to do anything about them...

2. We have let a lot of things slip.

> America needed a wake up call!

> Please, understand, I am not saying that God is judging America.

> I am saying that He has every right to judge!

> And, I am saying that we needed a wake up call!

> It was WHILE MEN SLEPT that the enemy came...

3. This evil group has been operating in our country for many months.

> This siege was planned and devised months ago.

> They went through months of flight training in preparation.

> They checked and mapped out commercial airline flight schedules.

> They traveled extensively across our country, setting the stage.

> I’m saying its WHILE MEN SLEPT that the enemy came...

I realize that America deserves much more than it gets...

And, I realize that we have been asleep at the wheel...

We have let things slip, and needed a wake up call...

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT...

AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS!

II. Turning the Other Cheek.

A. Some think that being a Christian means we are to be sweet and nice all the time...

1. But, a careful study of the Scriptures will make this passage, and others like it, clearer...

> (Rom. 12:18) "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."

2. First, the apostle says, "If it be possible..."

> Which leads me to believe, that its not always possible...

3. Second, he says, "as much as lieth in you..."

> Which means, there’s only so much you can take.

4. There is a time for every purpose!

> [Ecl. 3:1-8] A time for peace... and a time for War!

B. God has ordained governments for the punishment of evil men.

1. (Rom. 13:1-4) "BUT IF THOU DO THAT WHICH IS EVIL, BE AFRAID...

> FOR HE BEARETH NOT THE SWORD IN VAIN: FOR HE IS THE MINISTER OF GOD, A REVENGER TO EXECUTE WRATH UPON HIM THAT DOETH EVIL.

2. As, I saw the misery of those poor people jumping out of the 80-100th floor...

> I asked a co-worker what would compel someone to jump to what they knew was certain death?