"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
-Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)
28"I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
-Joel 2:28 & 29 (NASB)
I Think as Christians we do well to look at the War on Terrorism just as we should anything else on in this temporary life... with an eternal perspective. Jesus has already won! We have victory in Him! While radicalized Islam is a real threat to our country and this world, our first response should be to pray. Pray for our enemies, as Jesus said.
Then we should act with the Love of Christ! One great example of that is the Joshua Fund. A ministry started by best selling author, Joel Rosenberg.
Joel Rosenberg was on FOXNews Easter morning. He talked about how God IS pouring out His Spirit and how thousands upon thousands are coming to Christ.
I had the great privilege of interviewing Joel Rosenberg in late March of 2008. Actually it was just three days before his appearance on FOXNews above. You can listen to the entire interview here, on Family Life Radio's web site. I will post this portion here where Joel talked about how God is pouring out His Spirit and Muslims are coming to Christ in large numbers through visions and dreams!
It's amazing to me. While I was yet a sinner, Jesus gave His life for mine!
8"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
-Romans 5:8 & 9
Yes, wrath is coming for those who don't believe. When Jesus returns, it ain't gonna be for a picnic. He says that when He returns, it will be to judge all the nations. But, because Jesus died, those who have accepted His gift will be spared the wrath that is coming. And Jesus didn't just die for you and me. Jesus died for THE WHOLE WORLD!
16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
The emphasis is mine, but the sacrifice Jesus made was for everybody! A free gift paid at a high price. The shedding of God's innocent blood! Amazing. Knowing that God Himself who created all things, and through who's power all things are being held together, has all of this deadly serious nonsense under control. We can rest in Him, even while the world yells and screams and burns and smolders, because when you come right down to it, our home is in Heaven, not here.
The bottom line? Pray for the lost. Whether they be al-Qaeda or family members. Jesus is coming soon. We need to be ready, and we want as many others as is possible to be ready too!
