(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?
> He said, "When your skin starts to boil right off your body..."
> I saw the second plane driven deliberately into the second tower...
> Beside my genuine horror at the suffering...
> I was angered; that anyone could be so diabolical; and evil!
3. Its not that I love the thought of war; I surely do not (Psa. 120:6-7).
> I do not want to see my country men go to war.
> I am for peace, but they are for war!
> This group killed a 10 year old boy, and left a note for the leaders of India.
4. This is the kind of cowardly, evil people we are dealing with...
> It is not wicked America that is to blame for this.
> It is an evil, wicked group of people filled with devilish hatred!
> AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS!
C. America does not need to cower at the criticism of fools!
1. We have a great track record.
> We are the most charitable people on earth.
> We give more to needy causes than any other country in the world...
> We are the first to rise to a national disaster; for almost any country...
2. Yet it has been amazing to see the response we are getting from our friends...
England: Queen Elizabeth II attended a memorial service in honor of our dead. Over 3 million attended...
They played our "National Anthem" at the changing of the guard; An unprecedented event...
France: Stopped the subway for a three minute moment of silence in honor of our lost loved ones.
French President Jacques Chirac, in a live broadcast condemned the attacks.
Germany: Hundreds of thousands gathered at the Berlin wall to mourn for our countrymen.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder called it "an attack not only on the United States, but an attack on the whole civilized world."
Italy: Flew its flags at half-mast at the office of the Prime Minister.
Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi said he "joined the United States in condemning these monstrous criminals who have demonstrated a vile and brutal affront against humanity."
Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien said, "It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that would have conjured up such a cowardly and depraved assault upon thousands of innocent people."
Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said: "The fight against terrorism is an international struggle of the free world against the forces of darkness."
He said Israel was standing by to provide the United States with any help it may need.
> Even Russian President Valdimir Putin said, "Such an inhumane act must not go unpunished."
> There is no question but that we are right in our choice to seek and to punish those who have brought this evil upon us...
> I can’t understand what they would have to gain by this!
> How can this possibly help there cause?
III. (2 Chr 7:11-14) "...and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land..."
A. We need God to Heal Our Land!!!
1. Perhaps this wake up call is God’s way of bringing us back.
> There has been a national awaking to the need of prayer.
2. America needs revival.
> And, sometimes tragedy is the only thing that wakes us out of our stupor.
> I have been to the funeral parlor enough to know what sorrow does...
I walked a mile with pleasure, she chattered all the way...
But, I was none the wiser, for what she had to say.
I walked a mile with sorrow, and not a word said she.
But, oh the things I learned from her, when sorrow walked with me.
3. I put all the blame on the cowards that did this awful thing.
> AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS!
> But, perhaps God will use it to bring America back to its knees in prayer.
B. (Ezek 22:30) Is there any one ready to stand in the gap for our LAND?
1. God said "IF MY PEOPLE..."
> If God is going to help America it will be because the people which are called by His name.
2. This is the time for the people of God to act.
> I tell you the world is looking for men and women with faith.
> ...are in the throws of despair, and are looking for help...
3. It was WHILE MEN SLEPT that the enemy came.
> The Bible says, "Its high time to awake out of sleep..."
> If there ever was a time to fight, its now...
> Someone wisely wrote, "The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
Oh that God, would hear from heaven, and forgive our sins, and heal our land!
