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9/11 Remembrances Introduction: Do you remember where you were on 9/11? The date 9/11 itself needs no explanation to us today. We know what happened that day. Do you remember what you were doing? Do you remember who you were with and their reaction? This has been called this generation's "Pearl Harbor" or JFK shooting. I) What Should We Remember? A) How the Trade Towers fell. 1. That which was considered permanent was proved to be temporary. a. Great Cities that no longer exist -- Babylon (Isaiah 13.17-22; Jer. 50-51), Tyre (Ezekiel 26), Nineveh(Isaiah 10.12-14, Zeph. 2.13-15, Nahum), etc. b. Solomon described his works of building and acquiring as "vanity" 2. The reason the Trade Towers, the Pentagon, and perhaps the White House were targeted is because they represented the power of the United States. 3. We understand that very little is permanent except the word of God, 1 Peter 1.23. a. It has endured the sands of time, the efforts of man to destroy it b. It will judge us on the last Day, John 12.48. B) Why the Trade Towers Fell. 1. Most us were introduced to new terms that either we had not heard before or lacked relevance to us. a. Al Qaeda, Taliban, Osama Bin Laden were new to us. b. The idea that we could be attacked because of religious views were different. 2. The religion of Islam suddenly became more relevant to us. a. Their teachings on Jesus being a prophet of God but Mohammad being the prophet of God. b. Their views toward other religions and waging a "holy war" against those who believed differently. Bombings in Ireland due to the Protestants and Catholics, or Israel and terrorists were things we saw on TV. c. Their size and influence throughout the world as this is perhaps the largest religion in the world. 3. We are in a religious war but not with guns and tanks, 2 Corinthians 10.3-4. a. We know that Satan will use false religions, carnal tactics to try and stop the Gospel of Christ. The wiles of the devil, Ephesians 6.11 b. We know who will win in this religious battle, Revelation 12.10-12. C) How People Reacted On That Day 1. All planes were grounded, 24 hour coverage on television, repeated stories of who survived, who were killed, who were responsible for this deed. 2. Suddenly people started to remember God. a. Singing of "God Bless America" on the capitol steps. b. Church attendance was up that next Sunday, as it was during the Cuban Missile crisis. c. People flew the American flag, even driving in major cities changed. d. National pride was at a all time high as people actually sang along with the "Star Spangled Banner," and chanted U.S.A. at sporting events. 3. People often turn to God when there is a national or personal tragedy. a. The term "When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord" is used numerous times in Judges. b. When we are in distress we often turn to God for aid and comfort, Matthew 7.24-27. Which one are you building your life upon? II) Important To Remember Events and Lessons, Ecc. 1.11 A) God gave the Passover as a remembrance, Ex. 12.14; 13.3. B) Crossing over the Jordan River to the land of Canaan, Joshua 4.1-7 C) The Lord's Supper, 1 Cor. 11.23-26 D) The scriptures, 2 Peter 3.1-2 E) Why? 1. Because that which we do not remember we forget. 2. Have we forgotten God? a. Have we forgotten our calling as Christians? b. Have we forgotten the spiritual war? c. Have we forgotten God's word? Hosea 13.4-6 Conclusion: When we speak of "remembering" we mean more than the facts we mean the lessons. It should stir us to action, to think about Jesus' death, about what we should be doing in service to God. |