The Greatest Terror
Rev. Kenneth Redmann Sept 6 15PentAO
Fear is something every person understands. Whether it comes from world events, personal loss, uncertainty, illness, or the future, fear has a way of pressing heavily on the heart. In this message, we consider an even deeper question: What is the greatest terror? Scripture gives us a clear answer and points us beyond fear to the hope, mercy, and victory we have in Jesus Christ.
If you are looking for a conservative church in Tampa that faithfully teaches God’s Word and keeps Christ at the center, we invite you to learn more about Zion Lutheran Church. For those searching for a conservative church near me in Downtown Tampa, we welcome you to worship with us and hear the promises of God proclaimed.
Opening Prayer
May the meditations of our hearts and the words of my lips be acceptable to You, O,
Lord. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
What Is Your Greatest Fear?
What is your greatest fear? Is it the fear of dying—or that a loved one may die? The
fear of intruders in your home? The fear of a son or daughter being called to the
battlefield? The fear of a broken relationship? All these fears—dare I say,
“terrors”—and more are legitimate and REAL fears. Dear friends in Christ, what
is THE GREATEST TERROR?
The War on Terror
On September 11, 2001, America was thrust into the “War on Terror.”
- 8:45 AM, Eastern Standard Time: American Airlines flight 11 burst into the north
tower of the World Trade Center in New York City, New York. - 9:13 AM, United Airlines flight 175 ruptured into the south tower of the World Trade
Center - 9:40 AM, American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon
- 10:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time: United Airlines flight 93 exploded into flames in
the field 80 miles southeast of Pittsburg, PA.
President Bush addressed the people of America at 8:30 PM on the evening that will live
in infamy. In part, President Bush reflected: “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came
under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims
were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, businessmen and women,
military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors.”
The President continued: “Thousands of lives
were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.”
Dear friends in Christ, on this Sunday before the 25th anniversary of
what is now known simply as, “9-11” we ponder the depth and breadth of
“terror.” FEAR may be the most frequently-used-tool by Satan and his minions against
God’s redeemed people.
Fear: One of Satan’s Greatest Weapons
Make no mistake, the devil has many, many tools at his disposal. He will use
temptation and tribulation. He will use apathy and agony. He will use success
and fame. We know that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil”
(I Tim 6:10). Satan will use lies and deceit. “Did God really say…” (Gen
3.1). In Satan’s vicious efforts to separate you and me from the love of God he
does not play fair. Jesus teaches us that Satan is a liar and a murderer from
the beginning (Cf Jn 8:44).
This morning we will draw a distinction between crippling, debilitating, stifling
fear, used by Satan—and healthy constructive, motivating, fear, the type of
fear we understand in the First Commandment, used by our loving God.
The Fear of the Lord
You shall have no other
gods before Me. . . for I the Lord your God am a jealous God
(Exodus 20.3, 5b). And Luther asks, What does this mean? You should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
In the subsequent years after 9-11, in what in general, is called the War on
Terror, we have become familiar with ISIS and ISIS-K. We have Operation
Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel and
today, Operation Epic Fury. According to theworlddata.com, over 7,000 American
service members have lost their lives in the War Against Terror.
What Is THE GREATEST TERROR?
It begs the question, “What is THE GREATEST TERROR?”
A Nation Ravaged and Demolished
Another nation of another time was not only attacked, but they were ravaged and
demolished. Ezekiel, the watchman for the Lord, lived during the devastation of
Jerusalem in 586 B.C. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon sent his army who
destroyed the city walls, desecrated God’s holy Temple, and depleted the once
abundant treasury. The Babylonian army captured King Zedekiah of Judah and his
family. They killed his sons before his eyes and other horrendous torture too
graphic to mention in public.
The entire nation of Israel, God’s Chosen People, whose ancestors were miraculously
rescued out of Egypt are now once again enslaved. Oh, my! Can you imagine the
fear they were experiencing?
God Calls Us to Be Watchmen
YET, the Lord God Almighty, who promises never to leave us or forsake us, revealed
Himself to His servant Ezekiel. God raises up watchmen in every age for ALL
people. Dear Christian, YOU are God’s watchman! Watchmen, are commanded to
uphold God’s twofold directive:
1) Hear the Word I speak
2) Proclaim the Word I speak and make
disciples of all nations
Did you hear the Gospel reading? So it is NOT the will of my Father who is in heaven
that one of these little ones should perish (Mt 18.14).
Notice, please, that God does not ask our permission if we would like to be His
watchmen. God simply calls us and sends us out to be His mouthpiece. Hear the
Word of the Lord, Jesus is praying to God the Father, …as You sent me into
the world, so I have sent them (John 17:18).
The Watchman’s Warning
Did you catch the warning that God issued the watchmen?
8 If . . . you do not speak to warn the
wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but
his blood I will require at your hand (Ezekiel 33.8).
The Lord God was speaking to Ezekiel… and the prophets, to Peter and the apostles,
to faithful priests and pastors and missionaries, and to YOU! The Lord was
saying, “You are My watchmen! I have given you precious Words of salvation
to speak. If you do not speak them, the wicked will die for his or her sin and
I will hold YOU accountable for his blood.”
And with this ominous warning, the Lord also issues His promise: But if you do warn the wicked man to turn
from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have
saved yourself (Ezekiel 33.9).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord calls you and me to be HIS watchmen
and HIS witnesses. We are to boldly speak forth the holy and true Word of God
that declares that His One and only Son, Jesus Christ, is the ONLY way to
heavenly salvation.
Salvation Is Found in Christ Alone
Hear the Word of the Lord: 12 And
there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4.12).
This morning we are talking about THE GREATEST TERROR. We have rehearsed terrors in
the world and terrors in our lives. Yet, we have not clearly identified THE
GREATEST TERROR. Not surprising, Holy Scripture, reveals in precise Word, THE
GREATEST TERROR.
Whom Should We Fear?
Hear the Words of Jesus:
4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear
those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5 But
I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority
to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12.4-5).
Jesus is not speaking of terrorists. Jesus is not speaking of cancer or heart
decease. Jesus is not even speaking of the old evil foe, the devil. Jesus is
speaking of the proper and right “fear of God.” We said earlier that we will be
talking about the distinction between crippling, debilitating stifling fear,
used by Satan—and healthy constructive motivating fear, the type of fear we
understand in the First Commandment, used by our loving God.
The Proper Fear of God
THE GREATEST TERROR, therefore, is our just, holy, righteous, and loving God.
Satan, that power craved fallen angel, inflicts his outrage upon us poor sinners and
intends that we will curse the Lord. Satan delights when we cry out, “Why me, O Lord! What have I done to deserve
this?” Satan drives the wedge between you and the Lord seeking to separate us
from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
We must NOT LET HIM DO IT! We must claim the promises of our Baptism!
It has been said, “God did not design Hell for men.” Correct! God prepared
Hell for that fallen angel, Satan, and all his evil minions. In fact, God so
loved His created mankind, (you!), that in order to prevent you and me from
falling into Hell, God sent His only-begotten Son.
Bring Your Fear to the Cross
So here is the truth! In this world we shall have fear. But our Almighty, loving
God, wants us to properly fear HIM above all things. That way, when you stumble
into your worst nightmare you may carry that trembling fear with you to the
Cross of Christ and lay it at His bloody feet. You may properly call out to
Jesus to take away your fear because Jesus has endured the pains of Hell for
you and for me.
Jesus Has Conquered It All
Here is the truth! Jesus has taken upon Himself all the terrorism, all the sin, all
the injustice, all the sickness, death, and war and Jesus has conquered it ALL.
Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them for
they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23.34). Jesus died. Jesus
journeyed to Hell and pronounced His victory. Jesus rose again on the third
day—just as He said He would.
Jesus Took the Wrath of God for Us
Here is the truth! Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (Cf Jn
1.29), took upon Himself your greatest fear! BUT MORE THAN THAT! Jesus took
upon Himself the entire WRATH of God. Theologians call this propitiation.
What is THE GREATEST TERROR? A wrath-filled Almighty God who convicts unrepentant
sinners into condemnation is THE GREATEST TERROR. But not to worry—Jesus has
satisfied ALL that terror and wrath.
Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of Christ
Hear the Word of the Lord: 35 Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or
persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? (Here I might
add: Shall terrorism, or 9-11, or Al-Qaida, or ISIS, or cancer, or stroke, or
surgery, or financial hardship, or marriage messes, or, or, or…) ** 37 No,
in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us** (Romans
8.35, 37).
God grant it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Death Shall Be No More
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither
shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things
have passed away (Rev
Fear may be a part of life in this fallen world, but it does not have the final word. Jesus Christ has conquered sin, death, and the grave, and nothing can separate those who trust in Him from the love of God. That is the hope we gather around each week at Zion Lutheran Church.
If you are searching for a conservative church in Tampa or a conservative church near me in Downtown Tampa, we invite you to join us for worship and Bible study as we grow together in God’s Word and in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Sunday Divine Service — 8:00 AMv
Bible Study — 9:15 AM Sunday
Bible Study — 7:00 PM Monday
We would love to have you with us! You can also download the worship folder and follow along with the service.
Zion Lutheran Church — A Christian Family Who Cares for You!