I need to speak with you for a moment to give you a word of caution regarding the recent events. I am hoping you will not misunderstand what I am about to say. I think it is important for each of us to stay informed to what is going in our world from a godly perspective.
I hope each of you are praying for our nation, and our men and women serving in our armed forces. The War on Terrorism continues to bring more chaos, confusion and fear to our nation. You need to be prepared for whatever happens, both mentally and spiritually.
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that we need to guard ourselves from the false religion of Islam. Many of the people of the Islam Religion are good people. They are misinformed and need the Gospel of Christ to deliver them from the bondage their religion causes.
Some of the followers of Islam are not good people. They are dangerous with their beliefs and are a genuine threat to Christianity. I believe that the greatest threat to our nation is not terrorism.
Rather we should concern ourselves with the persecution that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24.
I am concerned that our Christian nation is faced with an attack of religious persecution. Many Christians do not understand the threat of things like the Antichrist, and persecution, are really about. I want to give you some information that I believe will help you.
Some would have us to believe that we should be more tolerant of the Islam Religion, but the mad men that orchestrated and succeeded with the recent attacks on our nation were fulfilling the doctrines of their religion. They were true followers of their religion with what the killing of innocent people.
There are many well-meaning followers of the Koran that are horrified with what happened in NY and DC and PA. But many of them have not fully understood the doctrines of Islam.
Allow me to read to you a few passages from their Koran:
[9.29] Fight those who do not believe in Allah… nor follow the religion of truth….
[9.30] And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; ….
[3.56] Then as to those who disbelieve, I will chastise them with severe chastisement in this world and the hereafter….
[5.14] And with those who say, We are Christians, We made a covenant, but they neglected a portion of what they were reminded of, therefore We excited among them enmity and hatred to the day of resurrection; and Allah will inform them of what they did.
8.39] … fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; ….
And what about the treatment of women?
4.34] Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend out of their property; the good women are therefore obedient, guarding the unseen as Allah has guarded; and (as to) those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them, and leave them alone in the sleeping-places and beat them
We should love all people of all faiths and religions, as they all need Christ as their Savior. But we must take care not to be fooled by those who hold to the Islam faith. There is a good reason why only 25% of the Muslims living in Afghanistan can read and write. It is so they are kept under the bondage of fanaticism.
If more Christians would read and study their Bibles, we would have more sincere and committed believers.
Likewise, if more Muslims would read their Quren more of them would leave their religion.
It is disheartening how their hearts and minds are distorted with the oppression of their religion. We need to pray for -
1. The Muslim people suffering under this oppression.
2. The threat the Islamic Religion has on all Christians.
I want to read a passage. But before I do, allow me to reiterate what I have said on several occasions.
By now most of you know that I firmly believe the importance of the story of the Garden of Eden.
Man was created to have authority over this earth and all of the creation of God. Man’s purpose for being was to glorify his Creator.
If Adam and Eve had not fallen to sin, man would have demonstrated the greatness of God in everything he did. Whether man built a barn or an entire metropolitan city, it would have been to exalt the one and only King.
Unfortunately for man, Adam and Eve deliberately betrayed God. They ate of the tree that God had told them not to eat of. It wasn’t a misunderstanding between man and God. Although man tried to justify his act of disobedience, he was wrong.
Consequently, the divine destiny of man was thwarted.
Text: Luke 4:5 thru 7
Prayer:
Our text gives a look at the continuing story of the Garden of Eden. In verse 6, Satan declares to the Son of God something that is overlooked by many Christians. The devil says that the authority of the entire earth was given to him.
What is interesting is that Jesus does not argue the point with the devil. Jesus was especially offended when the devil reminded Him that even the glory (NIV – “splendor”) belonged to the devil. Think about this, everything that man was created for had been put on hold from God enjoying for thousands of years.
Jesus knows what the devil was saying was the way it was, but He also knew the devil’s days were numbered.
Jesus knew two things –
1. The only reason the devil was in charge was because man had fallen to sin in the G. of Eden.
2. The sins of the world would soon be put entirely on the shoulders of Jesus.
It is sin that once gave the devil authority over mankind. And to this day, it is only sin that enables the devil to dictate his wickedness and evil in this world.
Well my friend that is the way it used to be. One day Jesus gave Himself unconditionally on a hill called Mt. Calvary. He conquered sin once and for all. A few days later He went to another hill called the Mt. of Olives, and told His disciples something that would change the world forever. There Jesus said,
“All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth!”
