Tuesday, November 8, 2016

9-11 - September the Eleventh, a Day of Terror!


9-11 - September the Eleventh, a Day of Terror!          September 10, 2016 

Tomorrow is 9-11, the 15th year anniversary.  The United States was attack, our way of life was attacked.  I know it affected us all differently 

Discuss  

·      Where were you when this happen

·      Did you see the airplanes crash into the twin towers on TV

·      Has it affected you in any way 

Fifteen years ago, the United States wasn’t officially engaged in any wars.  

Few of us had ever heard of Osama bin Laden or ISIS didn’t exist.  Now ISIS is now the main threat to America. 

America’s involvement in the War on Terror — prompted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks — resulted in a dramatic change in our nation’s attitudes and concerns about safety and vigilance. It ushered in a new generation of policies like the USA Patriot Act concerning national security and defense, often at the expense of civil liberties. 

What changes have we seen in our lives. 

Ongoing wars 

Our Military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan

nearly 2 million were deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq. In that time, more than 6,000 American troops have been killed, and roughly 44,000 wounded.  

Of returning service members, more than 18 percent have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, and almost 20 percent have reported suffering from the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Today, around 20 veterans commit suicide daily. 

Terrorist groups, ISIS, 

·      Immigration and deportation

·      Created the Department of Homeland Security in 2002

·      Tasked with the protection of the U.S. and its borders 

The friendly skies 

Nov. 19, 2001, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act 

·      This is why we have Long airport lines,

·      Full body scans,

·      The occasional pat-down

·      Having to show an ID.,

·      Show up at the airport a few hours before your flight,

·      Take your shoes off as you pass security and

·      Can’t bring liquids on the plane.

·      Solid bulletproof doors protect the cockpit of all commercial aircraft.

·      Only ticketed passengers may pass through security. 

Big surveillance, Domestic Spying 

·      Growth resulted in a marked increase in government oversight,

primarily through a vast,

·      Secret network of phone and web surveillance

·      Expanded the ability of the National Security Agency (NSA) to collect data on U.S. citizens, foreign nationals and governments

·      Postal workers now always ask, “Does this parcel contain anything fragile, liquid, perishable, or potentially hazardous?”

·      Beef up security, from phones to computers to buildings, to homes. 

Trust In the Government 

·      We are now aware of foreign threats or the idea that the U.S. is not completely safe and a bit of fear.

·      Fears and anxiety have risen with a feeling of loss of safety and security

·      We can’t help but look at everyone with a skeptical eye

·      Christians being slaughter in the middle east, Europe and now in the United States. 

·      We as a nation were threatened with biological and germ warfare as cases of Anthrax surfaced on the heels of the assault

·      Protect America infrastructure, water, electric grids, 

What does all this mean 

As Christians, we knew that we could only trust in God, therefore many individuals are starting to seek Him again as we see the end coming closer. 

This end time period we are in should be approached in prayer and humility 

What are we to do as a follower of Jesus, Paul tells us 

1Timothy 4:13 Until I arrive, give your full concentration to the public reading of Scripture, to exhorting, and to teaching. 

Revelation 1:3 How blessed is the one who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy and obey what is written in it, for the time is near! 

Yes, the time is near as we see the day approaching. 

Disciples wanted to know about the end of the age 

Matthew 24:3-13 While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"  (4)  Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you,  (5)  because many will come in my name and say, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people. 

(6)  You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet,  (7)  because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  (8)  But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains."  (9)  "Then they will hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name.  (10)  Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another.  (11)  Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people,  (12)  and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold.  (13)  But the person who endures to the end will be saved. 

Luke 21:7-19  Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?"  (8)  He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, 'I AM' and 'The time has come.' Don't follow them.  (9)  When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away."  (10)  Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  (11)  There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven."  (12)  "But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.  (13)  It will give you an opportunity to testify.  (14)  So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time,  (15)  because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.  (16)  "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death.  (17)  You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name.  (18)  And yet not a hair on your head will be lost.  (19)  By your endurance you will protect your lives."

Was 9-11 A Wakeup Call  

 Why, we were asleep, Jesus said, 

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

The way Jesus wakes us up is by speaking to us through His Word and by His Holy Spirit.   

Jesus from the Scriptures gives us a warning to repent and change our direction of life and how we live.   

We have been warned that if we force God out of our homes, schools, businesses, and government, it will allow the enemy (Satan) to come in and wreak havoc in our lives. God wants us to turn to Him before we experience any destruction, not be driven to Him through the destruction that comes as a result of disobeying Him. 

Ephesians 5:14-18 for the light is making everything visible. That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper! Arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.''  (15)  So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise,  (16)  making the best use of your time because the times are evil.  (17)  Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.  (18)  Stop getting drunk with wine, which leads to wild living, but keep on being filled with the Spirit. 

We are warned in this scripture to “wake up” and be filled with the spirit so that we can understand what the will of God is. Because the Lord is a merciful God 

Evil men who followed Satan did these evil deeds. What is a believer to do. 

2 Chronicles 7:14  when my people humble themselves—the ones who are called by my name—and pray, seek me, and turn away from their evil practices, I myself will listen from heaven, I will pardon their sins, and I will restore their land. 

Jesus allows the enemy to exist, but we are told how to overcome him.  

1 John 5:1-5  Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child.  (2)  This is how we know that we love God's children: we love God and keep his commandments.  (3)  For this demonstrates our love for God: We keep his commandments, and his commandments are not difficult,  (4)  because everyone who is born from God has overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world.  (5)  Who overcomes the world? Is it not the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 

We believe from the deepest of our heart, that Jesus will return shortly to the earth, set up His government and all mankind will submit to His rule.  We will be change at His coming.   

Isaiah 2:4  He will judge between the nations, and will render verdicts for the benefit of many. "They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nations will not raise swords against nations, and they will not learn warfare anymore. 

A place of safety, security and the Word of God will be everywhere.  This is what the fall feast is all about.  We will cover them in the next few weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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