Always Remember

As we enter this day let us pause with somber remembrance to pray not so much for those lost, but for those left behind.  Those for whom this day will be ever fresh because there is void where once loved ones dwelt.  Time may ease the pain, but healing wounds is work that may not take place for some on this side of eternity.  It may indeed turn out that the final healing touch will be available only when a person kneels before their sovereign Lord Jesus and blatantly reach out to grasp the hem of His robe.  Not only for the wounds made on this day in our nation, but for many life altering experiences that beloved creations of God have suffered throughout the world.  Hatreds and hurts, perpetrated by the free will of those who blatantly surrendered to the destructive, deceptive voices of the princes of the air and the father of lies wooing their souls unto perdition.  The Apostle Paul was inspired to give us instruction, to encapsulate in one place warnings and advice that had been rendered throughout the warnings of the Prophet Isaiah:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...  Ephesians 6:10-18

Though we suffer at the hands of humans hurting humans, let us look beyond and realize that the ultimate battle is fought for Truth and the freedom from spiritual oppression that is only available in Christ Jesus, the revealed Messiah promised from the beginning of our present Creation.  Let us realize in truth, that it is the free will choices of humanity that cause our pains and travails, and that those free will choices of poor stewardship are informed, influenced, manipulated by principalities, and powers in the spiritual realm.  So while we stand in the physical realm and lay down our temporal lives to fight against the evils of this age, the real battle must be fought on our knees before the throne of God first.  It is Jesus, our victorious commander, the very author and finisher of our faith, emptying out the armory of heaven to equip us for very real battle beloved.

It is this above all that draws the hatred of Islam for the United States of America.  Our very foundations were based in the wholly and holy informed tenets of the only true God revealed in nature, in the factual history of a living redemptive relationship with His chosen nation Israel, in the incarnation of the Holy Messiah Jesus Christ, and recorded and propagated through His written word, the Holy Bible.  Have no doubts beloved, the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John 15:18 are fulfilled in the tragic events of 9-11-01

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you

Regardless of what witness or character our nation shows forth in regard to Christianity today, our foundation was based wholly on righteous principle found only in the redemptive character of God as He is revealed to all humanity.  We still stand as the single brightest beacon of liberty in the world.  Our experiment in self governance has produced more nationally attributive good works than any other nation in history.  We have been a resource or light throughout the nations, even when our motivations weren't wholly motivated by righteousness.  This comes from the root truths of who Jesus revealed the Almighty Father God to be when He stated in the Gospel of John:

I am the way, the truth, and the life... if you had known Me, you would have known My Father also, and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. (14:6-7)

and earlier than that when He stated before an angry crowd of Jewish religious leaders:

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. (10:10)

and earlier than that when He stated:

If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (8:31-32)

This beloved is the essence of, the source of true liberty - and that is why even in our fallen, debauched, hypocritical state of affairs we are still hated to this day.  We are still coasting on the inertia created by the blessings endowed by the Holiness of our foundation in the eternally righteous God of creation.  We are still experiencing the blessings to the thousand generations of those who love the Lord.

Beloved, walk in Truth, walk in the Light, surrender to the author and founder of abundant life, rebuke the enemy and declare your freedom from his wiles by the righteous blood of Jesus shed on the Cross of Calvary for your sake.  Then take your stand washed in His blood, restored to fellowship with God and those of His children who have taken up the authority granted when they became his sons and daughters.  Gird yourself in Truth, put on the whole armor of God and stand.

Always remember.  Always combat the forces of darkness.  Always recognize the fruit of the tree and call the root for what it is.  Do not be deceived, this life is a constant battle, only as it is fought in His clothing of righteousness can we experience victory.  I believe it was pastor Tony Evans who reminded me recently "we do not fight FOR victory, we fight FROM victory already won for us by the resurrection of Christ."

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  1Peter5:8

Do not be deceived, do not be confused,

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment. (John 7:24)

Do not be afraid,

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2Timothy1:7)

Jesus left His peace with us, to spread to the uttermost ends of the earth, let's go.  Walk in Truth, show forth Love, do not be deceived, and always remember, for many will never forget this day while we walk this side of eternity.  Others rejoice... having called good evil and evil good.