Terrorism Continues

No doubt you have read, seen or heard some reporting remembering 911. Much has changed and little has changed! We still have enemies - people who will not stop until they can ruin, destroy and infiltrate that which they do not believe in or value. As a nation, we are not valued by many in the rest of the world and by some we are hated, simply due to the fact we are a nation founded (though we have drifted) as One Nation Under God. Psalm 33:12Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. (NIV)
Some simply hate us and long to destroy us because our God is the Lord. Recently Osama Bin Laden was reported as saying: "If America wants to stop the war in Iraq and be safe, they need to turn to the Islamic Religion." The L.A. Times reported today:
WASHINGTON -- -- Six years after the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil, the United States is in many ways unprepared to stop another major strike against the homeland, which Al Qaeda appears intent on carrying out in the near future, four of the nation's top counter- terrorism officials told a Senate panel Monday. Al Qaeda's intentions have been underscored in recent days by the disruption of suspected terrorist plots in Germany and Denmark, the first propaganda video by Osama bin Laden in three years, and persistent intelligence showing that Al Qaeda has regrouped in a Pakistan haven and is training operatives there for attacks worldwide. Al Qaeda's media arm said Monday that it was preparing to release a second Bin Laden tape. He is expected to again taunt President Bush and other pursuers, and praise those responsible for the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "Our counter-terrorism efforts have disrupted some of the enemy's plans and diminished certain capabilities," John Scott Redd, the director of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "But the events of the last days and the last weeks clearly demonstrate the clear and present danger which continues to exist."So what has changed? We are still fighting the Global War on Terror - the brave men and woman in uniform who represent various branches of the arm forces of the United States - the bravest and brightest are willing to give their all for us. These true servants must be applauded, supported and most of all prayed for - as their mission is not over. And even when troops come home there is much to do here to keep our homeland secure. The recent terrorist plots (as reported above) remind us that little has changed. Our enemy is lurking and desirous of bringing us down.
Jesus reminds us that spiritual warfare and terrorism are not hyper-spiritual figments of imagination. It is reality!
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Make no mistake: Satan has a plan and he is a terrorist. Although sinful, he is not stupid. He does not act haphazardly or without a goal in view. In Ephesians 6:11 Paul referred to the “schemes” (“methods”) of the Devil. He has cunning stratagems not only for the individual believer but also for the corporate body of Christ. We need a Global War on Terror - in the spiritual as well as physical. Your prayers and willingness to stand strong are the "spiritual security" that we need. My old pastor used to say: You give the devil an inch and he will take a mile - no, no, he will take you." If you give the devil a beachhead he will invade your territory and if you give him a foothold (Ephesians 4:27) he will scale the wall of your heart.
Listed below are areas in which we know the devils terror strikes.The enemy of our soul is a terrorist that never sleeps and is always LOOKING for ways to get at us:

He is often (but not always) the source of sickness (cf. Acts 10:38; Mt. 8:16; Mark 9:17-18; Luke 13:10-17).

He can inflict death as well as provoke the paralyzing fear of it (Heb. 2:14; see Job 1:13-19; John 10:10).

He plants sinful plans and purposes in the minds of men (Acts 5:3; John 13:2; Mt. 16:21-23).

On occasion, Satan will himself indwell a person (John 13:27).

He sets a snare or trap for people, perhaps with a view to exploiting and intensifying their sinful inclinations. He infiltrates the church and plants within it his own people (Mt. 13:37-39).

He tests or tries Christians, the malicious “sifting” “like wheat” of Peter’s faith being an excellent example (Luke 22:31).

He incites persecution, imprisonment, and the political oppression of believers (1 Pt. 5:8-9; Rev. 2:10).

He is the accuser of the Christian (Rev. 12:10).

He performs signs and wonders to deceive the nations (Exodus; 2 Thess. 2:9-11).

He seeks to silence the witness of the church (Rev. 12:10-12).

He promotes false doctrine (1 Tim. 4:1-3; Rev. 2:24; 2 Cor. 11:1ff.).

He influences the thoughts and actions of unbelievers (Eph. 2:1-2).

He attacks married believers in regard to their sexual relationship (1 Cor. 7:5).

He exploits our sinful decisions, (Eph. 4:26-27).

He confronts us with various temptations (1 Chron. 21:1; Mt. 6:13; 1 Thess. 3:5).

He works in active opposition to the gospel, blinding the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the truth about Christ (2 Cor. 4:4).

The devil is looking for weakness in you and me, in our system, in our relationships, in our church. We must stand strong and not act as he would want us to. Not putting others down, gossiping, holding grudges and being offended. Standing by not allowing for people to leave without us expressing care and love - and not allowing the day to end with our hearts in wrath and anger.
I Peter 5:8, gives us a great warning.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (NIV)
Just as the terrorists in the past have done and are currently doing, they look for an area of weakness. No one expected commercial aircraft to be used in the bringing down of buildings and the ending of lives. Yet, terrorists who hated the United States were allowed the benefit of being in our country and training among our people to fly aircraft. Hindsight shows us we should have used better constraint and wisdom in allowing this to take place. But like the devil "prowling" they looked for the weakness in the guard and found it. We must be self-controlled and alert as a country and as God's people to not allow a devouring to take place.
Would you join in praying for the fallen - the victims of 911, their families and those in our nation touched in these days by the memory of that horrific day? Will you join me in praying for the families of LFC, our children and youth - our singles and our seniors? Would you pray for protection, guarding of hearts and a strength to stand firm and strong. Will you pray for our President, our leaders, our military and all who are serving to keep us safe and free. Our enemy will not stop - we must not stop praying and standing strong.
God bless you and God bless America,
Pastor Bernie