Held In Slavery By Their Fear Of Death

Ø  The goal of this terrorist!

John 10:10 The thief (terrorist) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (NIV)

Ø  The main weapons that the devil (terrorist) uses is FEAR!

o   Fear for the devil is what faith is to God!

Ø  The tactics of the Terrorist (Devil)

1. They disguise themselves. Sometimes they will dwell among us for a long time till they find the greatest advantage. They are wearing sheep clothing, they are disguised. Matt 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 2 Cor 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

1. Empty and distorted Words.  Terrorists use endless empty words. They cannot do all that they say that they can. Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words… Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Rom 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.  18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Acts 20:29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  (2 Pet 2:1-3, 2 Pet 2:18-19)

Some of you have been or are under terrorist attack right now. The Devil wants to make you a SLAVE! A slave to the fear of death!

Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. (NIV)

Ø  It’s one thing to tell people not to be afraid, but why shouldn’t we be afraid?

o   Jesus has destroyed the power of death.

§  What is the power of death? The power of death is not the power to end your life here in the natural. The power of death is to determine where you will spend eternity. The fear says that when you die it is all over!

Matt 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Tim 1:10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Ø  I heard a statement from the President of the United States, he said” You can’t stop the spirit of America because it is not contained in Steel and glass, but in the hearts of her people”

You can touch my body, but you can’t touch my soul. “You can’t stop the spirit of life because it is not contained in this natural flesh but in the hearts of her people!

Rom 8:35-39

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eph 3:16-20

16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Ø  How do we attack and destroy terrorism?

Love – I have seen the love all over the world.

Ø  People pulling together

o   Giving, helping, everywhere. We are seeing the principles of the Bible working before our eyes.

Ø  Bringing good news!

o   The media is only good news when it is bad news. Be careful about what you hear, the media is sensationalism. They create news and follow trails of fear to keep your attention. But one of the things that has captured my attention is the amount of good news that is being forced to be broadcast.

Unity – there has been a calling together of all nations against this terrorist theology. Put away the baby differences and come together. We are starting new home groups so that we can come together more as a family. Together we are strong. The devil wants to separate us and make us think we are alone.

Resolve – Don’t give up when it gets hard. Don’t be fooled into to thinking that this will be easy. We have no other choice if we want to live. Live a life worth living, live with purpose. Know that this is a process that will take a while.

If you are under terrorist attack, let us pray for you.

Ø  This sickness is not unto death!

Ø  This set back is not forever.

Ø  This betrayal is not everyone.

Ø  Your past and present are not your future.

Grab onto Jesus and defeat the power of this terrorist of the soul!