How To Identify Terrorist Groups In The Church

"How To Identify Terrorist Groups In The Church"

November 25, 2001 FBC, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

1 It is an awesome job being a pastor.

A I have had people come to me and say "Pastor, I’ve had trouble with our last four pastors. Why does he keep sending us poor shepherds?"

a Do you know what the statistical odds are of God sending four "poor shepherds" to one church....in a row?

b Astronomical!!!!

B I’m going to share today a message that may not be the best timed.

a In December I’ll be preaching Xmas. (No brainer)

In January I’ll be zeroing in on Stewardship. (No brainer)

It would put this message back to February.

b I can either do this message with bad timing or even worse timing. I’ve chosen to have bad timing.

2 How to identify terrorist groups in the church.

A It’s not a new threat....at all. (2 Cor. 11:13/15)

a 2CO 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. [14] And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. [15] It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

b Paul stressed to the church at Corinth to be sensitive to Satans schemes. (ETS)

B Satan is waging an all out war against the body of Christ. (ESS)

a I want you to be an anti-terrorist commando for Christ. (Obj.)

b What will you do to fight demonic terrorism at FBC?

T.S.: Let’s look at two strategic steps we can take to thwart the devils schemes at FBC.

I The first step we can take is to......know the aggressor.

A Paul told the Corinthian churc that Satan’s soldiers had great camouflage. (2 Cor. 11:15, Matt. 13:24-30)

MT 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. MT 13:27 "The owner’s servants came to him and said, `Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’28 " `An enemy did this,’ he replied. "The servants asked him, `Do you want us to go and pull them up?’29 " `No,’ he answered, `because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ "

a The bad seeds of Matt. 13 and bad members of 2 Cor. 11 had the same objective. (To have a negative impact on the harvest.)

b Weeds: (1) Took Water, minerals, space the wheat could have used to flourish/excel. (2) The workers who had the job of bringing in the harvest had to waste time dealing with weeds when they should have been bringing in the harvest.

Members: (1) The pastor had to spend exhorberant amount of time dealing with disruptive, destructive and disgruntled people instead of reaching the lost.

"BOTH HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE HARVEST! That’s What Satan Wants."

B Satan puts his "highly gifted" people into every church.

(God puts highly gifted people into every church to build and grow people/body. Satan puts his gifted people in every church to tear down and destroy people/body.)

a These gifted terrorists names are.....

Bin Arguin’, Bin Fightin’ & Bin Complainin’....their leader is Osama Bin Lucifer.

b JAS 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. [14] But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. [15] Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. [16] For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [18] Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Their job is to discourage, disrupt and destroy the pastor, church, witness of both...which has a negative effect on the harvest.

C On Sept. 11, 2001 a picture was taken of smoke bellowing out of the WTC.

AP Photo Editor, Vin Alabi confirmed a picture many claimed to have seen Satan in the smoke was untouched/undoctored. "It was just people reacting to the natural indentions in the smoke cloud.