Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Oct. 28, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

WINNING THE WAR WITH TERROR

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Genesis 35:1-7

Text: Genesis 35:5

Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

Introduction: Usama Bin Laden, with the help of others who are in sympathy with him, has launched an attack of terror upon the United States. By the way, we just had four suspected terrorists identified right here in our own church. Only three of the four have been apprehended. Bin Sleepin, Bin Loafin and Bin Blabbin have been taken into custody. The security advisors have advised us that they could not find anyone fitting the description of the fourth cell member, BIN WORKIN. But they are confident that anyone who looks like he’s Bin Workin will be easily identified. 🙂

Bin Laden and his followers and sympathizers have not disrupted or destroyed our nation, but they have caused problems. Make no mistake about it; we ARE in a WAR.

Our nation has responded by inflicting its own terror upon Bin Laden and the Taliban, in that we are responding with bombs, guns, tanks, and infantry. Do you know how you play Taliban bingo? B-52 … F-16 … B-1 … 🙂

Let me ask you another question. Do you know that you have been in a spiritual war with terror since the day you got saved? That’s right. The DEVIL is our enemy, and he is trying to scare you away from doing the will of God. I want to talk to you more tonight about that war, but this morning I want to shift toward and emphasis on how WE can use TERROR as a good thing.

The word, “terror,” shows up in 29 verses of the Bible. The first time it occurs is in Genesis:

Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

There the terror of God helped the people of God against their adversaries. I want to look at terror from a positive standpoint, and show you how the terror of GOD can be a GOOD thing.

I believe that a Christian should fear GOD. I believe that we should TREMBLE at His word. If you fear GOD, you don’t have to fear anyone or anything else! Let me show you a few things from the Bible that show how the terror of the Lord can actually help you WIN some battles!

I. THE TERROR OF THE LORD CAN HELP WITH SENSE AND WISDOM

Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

A. Don’t fear the scoffers

B. Don’t fear the seducers

Jehovah’s Witnesses study, but they are fools. Don’t fear them when you meet them.

C. Don’t fear the “scholars”

A man may think that he is smarter than you because he is able to make a reference to Greek or Hebrew, but he is a FOOL to try to “correct” your King James Bible.
You fear God, and He will teach you heavenly wisdom that He HIDES from the intellectuals!

II. THE TERROR OF THE LORD CAN HELP WITH SALVATION

Jude 1:22-23 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

A. Lost people need to be alarmed about their sin

B. Lost people need to be alarmed about their standing before God

C. Lost people need to be alarmed about their sentence at the Great White Throne Judgment

III. THE TERROR OF THE LORD CAN HELP WITH SOUL-WINNING

2 Corinthians 5:11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

he terror of the Lord can make us better soul-winners as we think about

A. The fact that we must give account to Him some day

B. The future of those who die without Christ

C. The folly we will regret through eternity because we did not think enough about the terror of the Lord in order to persuade men

IV. THE TERROR OF THE LORD CAN HELP WITH SERVICE

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

If you fear God properly, you will

A. Serve Him in the right place

B. Serve Him perseveringly

You won’t be frightened away from serving God because of opposition or obstacles

C. Serve Him persistently

Those who continue to fear God will serve Him all their lives.

DO YOU FEAR GOD?

If you don’t, that may be the reason why you are losing the war:

In your home with your marital relationship
In your home with your children
In your heart with peace and contentment
In the world in not having the courage to talk to people about salvation through Christ.

I urge you today to fear GOD! It can be a positive, wonderful thing in your life!