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PROGRAM outline is transcribed below.
This is based on a short article
MUSIC: Few bars of "Agnus Dei" from Terry MacAlmon's "Live Worship"
DOREEN:
You are listening to ComfortForToday.com, a radio program with articles from the website of the same name - ComfortForToday.com.
Today the threat of war hovers over our world like an evil omen. As we reel in horror at the scenes we see every day on our television screens, fear grips our hearts. What does the future hold? The prophets in the Bible, including Jesus, foretold that such troublesome times would appear on the earth in the end-times. But not only are we involved in a physical time of turmoil, we are also fighting a spiritual battle. We know that the threat of terrorism is the physical threat we face, but the spiritual battle we face is to stand fast in our Christian faith. We must know for what we stand, and then fight for it.
My husband, Neville, is a veteran of World War II. Several years ago I wrote the following article about war. If engaged in a war, we must know what we are fighting for!
While discussing the possibility of another war, I remarked to my husband that I feared our younger people don't have the self-discipline and fortitude to stand up to its demands. I feared they just wouldn't be able to handle it.
The answer my husband gave me was a surprise. Having lived through World War II both as an citizen in war-torn England and as a Royal Marine commando throughout the Middle East, I realized he knew what he was talking about.
My husband replied, "Oh yes, I am sure they would. It would be the answer to the very thing they lack today--a purpose in life. They need a leader like Winston Churchill to challenge them with a goal to be attained."
Perhaps this is one reason true Christians are happy people. They have a goal. They know that end-times are here, and that while theologians differ about the order of events, they all agree that in the end God will have His way and sin will be destroyed forever. Much suffering will take place in order that the war can be won, but in the end "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil.2:10). When we pray the prayer Jesus told us to pray "Thy Kingdom come" (Matt.6:10), we are praying that the days be hastened for this to take place. We are praying for the war to be speeded up.
God would be very happy to speed this day, as this is also what He desires. There is only one problem: God gave man a free will to choose how he wants to live and He is giving him time to see the folly of his own attempts to change the world with his governments and institutions. He is showing us these just won't work as long as man insists on leadership without His guidance.
Divine judgment is falling today. Only in the midst of famines, earthquakes, and wars can people be brought to their knees because when all is going well, we see no need for God.
God's nature is all love and, because of this, He has been delaying our just rewards for our arrogance and rebellion against Him. He is giving us a few short years to repent, and to tell the whole world the Good News of salvation and of His soon return. The Bible tells us the gospel will first be preached to all nations, and then the end will come (Matt 24:14).
There is a war to be fought. We do have a goal. This war is not one of guns and bombs; it is a spiritual war to win the world for Jesus Christ. We become faint-hearted thinking about the hordes massed against us, and we are so few, but the Almighty God of the universe has always won the battles of His own people. In the end He will establish an earthly society where "there shall be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Rev 21:2-4 NIV).
The good news that Jesus Christ is Lord must be carried to the ends of the earth. We need something worth fighting for. Let us get on with it!
NEVILLE READS Ephesians 6:10-17:
"Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith wherewith you shall be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God."
PRAYER: "Lord, we thank you for Neville. We thank you for bringing him home safely from that war in the Far East where it was very dangerous and people were dying all around him, where he made that promise that he would serve you the rest of his life if you would bring him home safely - and You did. You brought him home without a scratch on him. We thank You for that, and we thank You that he is still able to serve You.
We ask that You bless all those who have fought in wars in the physical sense, but that You bless all those who are in a spiritual war - that all Christians may be overcomers to keep the faith. The devil wants us to fall away from the truth that You are our Saviour, Redeemer, and Provider - the Jewish Messiah, the Yeshua - the Christ, Son of the living God. We honour and praise You because You are the King of kings and Lord of lords.........keep our ears covered so we won't hear the lies of the devil.....that we be overcomers, free from sin and guilt....VICTORY.....etc. etc.
MUSIC:
Let us listen to "St. Patrick's Breastplate" by David Ruiss from CD "Live Worship from the Heart of Ireland" - a powerful proclamation of the Christian faith, the accompaniment sounding like the drum-beats of war. Listen carefully to the words and you will be blessed and encouraged to persevere in the Christian faith.
Short ending.