9/11 10th Anniversary Sermon
9/11/11Chester FBC Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
A We honor our local heros today against a backdrop of the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy.
1 Why do we connect the two?
a Because we remember the images of 9/11 with vivid recollection.
b We remember the terror, shock, horror, tremendous loss of life that was perpetrated by our nations enemies.
c We also remember the bravery, nobility, tremendous effort to save lives that was performed by our nations heros.
2 Our nations first responders are those who run in to the tragedy while others are running away from it and this was put on display for the world to see ten years ago.
a The tragedy of 9/11 is so massive that it is hard to understand until measured against the most precious of commodities, lives.
aa 2, 819: The # killed on 9/11
bb 3,051: The # of kids who lost a parent in 9/11
cc 1,609: The # of those who lost a spouse on 9/11
dd 343: The # of firefighters & Paramedics died.
ee 23: The #of NYPD who died on 9/11
b Only 289 intact bodies were taken from the rubble of the Twin Towers, nearly 20K body parts: Nearly 1,700 families received no remains of their loved ones.
c Each number representing a life interrupted by tragedy/ cut short by evil.
B Some would ask “Where was God on 9/11?”
1 Some ask “Where was God when Joplin was ravaged by a tornado? East Coast was hit by Irene? Why doesn’t God do something about the fires in Texas? Etc.”
a Some people reach a false conclusion then there must not be a God or there is then He must not care.
b I think people are just looking for God in the wrong spot: He’s not in calamity, He’s in the remedy!
2 He’s there when you look for Him when the times get dark.
a Thank God! He’s there in the thousands of volunteers who showed up help clean up and rebuild Joplin.
aa Thank God! He’s in the classrooms of students in Red Bud who collected clothes to send to New Jersey.
bb Thank God! He’s in the firefighters who risked their lives to go into the Twin Towers that day that lead survivors out.
cc Thank God! He’s there when an Policeman enters a residence to stop a husband from hitting his wife one more time.
dd Thank God! He’s in the mission minded Christians who collect money & resources for the orphans.
b I thank God these heros have been
aa where we fear to be...
bb Seen what we fear to see;
cc Done what we fear to do.
dd for us to lean/depend on in times of trouble.
c The oath taken by Policemen, Firemen, Paramedics, Military reflect the heart of God.
aa Ps. 86.7
bb Ps. 9.4
cc 2 Thess. 3.3
dd “ . . .for He Himself has said, " I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say,
" THE Lord IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"
Heb 13:5-6 (NASB)
C I’m telling you while humanity was in the darkness of sin (darker than any cave could ever be), God provided a remedy/rescue by sending His Son Jesus to save us from our sins.
1 1 John 4.10, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
a The Message Translation puts it like this, “This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.” 1 John 4:10 (MSG)
b The most horrific, terrifying thing any person could ever face is dying in the disease of sin, without a Savior.
2 Jesus w/ His heroic display of love by laying down His own life on calvary has made a way for us to escape sin penalty (death), hell and the grave forever.
a We become benefactors of this rescue mission not because . . .
aa We’re good people, we’re sorry for our sins ...
bb Not even because we love God.
b We are rescued, saved because Jesus died to save us.
c Through His death we can live if we accept His gift of saving & rescuing us by . . .
aa Admit we need rescued . . .
bb Believe He is the only way to be rescued . . .
cc Committing our lives to Him . . .
3 Every man in uniform today has on a badge, we respect the badge.
a On every one of those badges there is an insignia of the organization they serve. (Police, Fire, Paramedic)
aa It is a symbol of the authority granted unto them because they’ve taken an oath.
bb To protect, rescue, serve . . . that’s what the badge stands for . . . a promise they made when they took the badge.
b For as much as we preach about not dwelling on the past, do not look back (and similar sentiments) God’s Word is filled with appointed times and customs so His people would remember His power, strength and works of mercy & grace.
aa Passover (Ex. 12.14)
bb Communion ( Luke 22.19)
cc God is big on not wanting us to forget how He came to our rescue in the past.
dd One purpose behind this special service is to remember heros (fallen and are still serving)
c The cross, like a badge, reminds us of the one who promised to protect, save, rescue and kept His promise by dying on the cross.
aa Keeps His promise still by continually sending the remedy.
bb Will faithful do so forever because He promised to do so.
Conclusion:
A Our special guests today have chosen to be first responders (either by career choice or by volunteering . . . they have chosen to be there for you and me when we need them most.)
1 They don’t start trouble but never run from it.
a When we need them there only minutes away.
b Calm us, help up, protect us, rescue us, mend us.
c Il. On August 2, my nana was having a stroke at my house and I had no idea what to do. “Pam, call 9-1-1. Get help, quick.”
aa Within minutes Chief McKinney was beside me just being there. Held me, held nana . . . just cool.
bb Made everything better/less scary just by being there until the EMT’s arrived . . . then another layer of calm was there.
d I remember watching News reports this last April and how the Randolph County Sheriffs department had paged out CFD to rescue an elderly woman out on County Farm Road.
aa Proud! Those are my guys.
bb Nothing compared to how thankful the woman was, her children were . . . very cool.
2 Being a first responder is hard, and often thankless job.
a Thanks for keeping our residents safe and meeting their immediate needs.
b Today we honor our First Responder.
aa I am going to call each orginazation’s top leader and then we will call their organizations members one-by-one.
*Sheriff Mike Holzier (RCSD)
*Chief Mike Lochead (CFPD)
*Chief Don McKinney (CPD)
*Medistar?
bb Give our first responders a hand of appreciation.
3 All of our first responders in uniform (and their families), lunch is on us & Reid’s Harvest House.
a The Upper Banquet Room is reserved for you and your families and the bill is already picked up.
b Thank you.
4 We appreciate you men for always being around for us when we need you, surrounding us with protection.
a I want to close the service by surrounding you with our prayers and encouragement.
b I am going to lead in a prayer of blessing and I ask the people in the church to raise their hands toward our first responders and just for God to bless them, keep them, protect them, speed, safety.
SING “GOD BLESS AMERICA”
CLOSE WITH A BLESSING!
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
