We Are Soldiers For Christ

It is fitting that we start this sermon by coming to an understanding of just who we are. Put in its simplest terms, we are soldiers of Jesus Christ. No Christian should ever doubt that. And, as soldiers, we must have certain knowledge and perform certain duties.

2 TIMOTHY 2:3 states,

‘Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.’

It is also fitting that, at this time that I tell you that this is not a sermon built upon hatred, but one built upon knowledge. No matter what side the soldier is on, to keep safe, that soldier must know enough about the opposition to be able to guard against it.

2 TIMOTHY 1:14 states,

‘Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.’

In other words, we were given something very valuable. We were given salvation through Jesus the Redeemer. And, we were given the ability to help others come to the knowledge of the saving grace of Christ. And that is what we are to guard.

America suffered a shocking and horrific mass murder on 9/11. It was shocking because of the boldness in how it was carried out, and it was shocking because of the number of deaths and fatalities, and it shocked us because of the evil hatred that initiated it in the first place. September 11th is the day America woke up, but I agree with British Prime Minister Tony Blair when he said that even though we woke up, many of us just turned over and went back to sleep again.

Since that awful day, Spain has been the target of the same kind of hateful attack. And, in the last few weeks, we have seen two such attacks in England, one in Lebanon, and of course, the ongoing mass murders in Israel.

The question that comes to all civilized people’s mind is: “Why?” What could possibly spark such evil hatred that you would have a burning desire to kill innocent people?

Today, we are going to explore this question, and we are going to do it in the format of comparing our beliefs against the beliefs of those who committed those crimes.

1. JUST WHO IS IT THAT IS DOING THESE THINGS?

Salmon Rushdie is a Muslim author who was sentenced to death by Muslim clerics over his book, “The Satanic Verses.” Rushdie said, “The trouble with Muslims saying Islam is peaceful is that it isn’t true.”

Franklin Graham, the son of Billy Graham, said of Islam, "I don’t believe this is a wonderful, peaceful religion. When you read the Koran and you read the verses from the Koran, it instructs the brutal killing of the infidel, in other words, all those who are non-Muslim."

It was not the Baptists that flew planes into the Twin towers. It was not the Catholics who bombed the trains in Spain. It was not the Hindus who killed those people in the British subways.

The people that carried out these mass murders are the same people who are killing the Israelites every chance they get. They are the followers of Islam. They are all Muslims.

The word ‘Islam’ means ‘to submit’. Those that follow Islam, or the ones who have submitted to it are called ‘Muslims.’ Worldwide, one out of every five people is a Muslim. Islam is the fasted growing religion in the world. It is estimated that in ten short years, one out of every four people will be a Muslim.

In America, there are more mosques being built that any other place of worship. There are currently more Muslims in America than there are members of the Assembly of God churches. It is expected that within ten short years, there will be more Muslims in America than members of the Assembly of God churches and all Church of God church members combined.

Does that represent a problem for America? In my opinion, it represents the biggest problem America has ever faced. Contrary to what some ill-advised and misinformed people may say today, America was built upon the standards of God and our founding fathers put God over this country – intentionally!

We are now on the verge of having to fight a spiritual warfare that will try and keep us from worshiping our God. If you doubt that for one minute, I encourage you to go back just ten years and see what kinds of laws our federal government has passed that limits us in worship so that others might not have to be offended. It would seem to me that those who deny Christ might not just be the Muslims. Some might be in our own midst.

One noticeable difference between Islam and Christianity is that their Allah says kill everyone who does not submit to him, and our God says love and pray for all who do not accept His Son as their Redeemer.