Hmmmm . . . That word - creature - obviously even includes "animals" like Osama bin Laden, et al., eh???

I asked if you wanted an aswer, you said:

Well, I consider OBL to be a beast . . . an animal . . . something less than human!!! But if that's argumentative in your opinion, then so be it !!!

Answer if you desire . . .

I'll try, it is lengthy, but it may answer yur question.

Monday, November 5th, 2001

Paul's three years in the desert

This morning we will be looking in the Book of Acts and Paul's letter to the Galatians.

First let us look at how Paul, a chief sinner, a man determined to eliminate Christianity from the face of the earth, became the world's greatest disciple. How the Apostle Paul became a Born Again Christian.

¶ And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"

And he said, "Who art thou, Lord?"

And the Lord said, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."

And Saul trembling and astonished said, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?"

And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

And the men which journeyed with Saul stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, "Ananias". And he said, "Behold, I am here, Lord."

And the Lord said unto him, "Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."

Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name."

But the Lord said unto him, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake."

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on Saul said, "Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost".

And immediately there fell from Saul's eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; "Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?" But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that Jesus is very Christ. Acts 9:1-22

But where did Paul get this Knowledge? Did he immediately go out and start preaching? It would appear so, until you read his letter to the Galatians. For then you see that Paul went to seminary so to speak, it would appear that Paul attended a one on one seminary with him as the student and the Lord as the teacher.

¶ For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

But I assure you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

But when it pleased God, He who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. Galatians 1:10-18

Do you see where Paul is saying that the gospel he preached, he didn't learn from men, he didn't go to the Apostles in Jerusalem and have them teach him. But instead, he went into Arabia, which would be the desert for three years, and if you look back to the beginning of the letter, you'll see that he was taught by revelation of God " but by the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Saul, the agent of the chief priest in eliminating the Christian church, was Saved by the Blood of Jesus, Saul went on to become the Apostle Paul. If Jesus could use the chief agent of the chief priest can He not do the same with those who serve and preach islam?

Was Saul doing any different than bin laden is today? As Saul could go into the synagogues and preach, so could bin laden go into the mosque and preach the truth of Christ. As Paul was protected by the Lord so could bin laden be protected as well. For like Saul, bin laden appears to be no more than a lackey of todays high priest of islam. And like Saul, there does not appear to be any brave enough or able to go preach the good news of Christ to bin laden, but as that did not stop the Lord with Saul, if it pleases Him to do so, it will not prevent the Lord from reaching out to bin laden either.

Pray to the Lord that He will reach out to a muslim that can reach out to the muslim community. Pray that the Lord will do to a muslim of high rank what He did to Saul. For the only way we will have peace with those who worship allah is if they learn the truth about allah and turn to the only true God, the God of Creation, the Lord Jesus, the Christ.

And as for us, here in the USA. Think about this.

Unlike individuals who are judged after they die, nations must be judged here on earth. Over the past six thousand years we have seen God time and time again use the heathen and the natural forces of the earth to discipline His children and society as a whole. We as individual Born Again Christians are safe. Yes we will suffer from what ever punishment the Lord chooses to use on the USA along with the heathens, but we, because of the Blood of the Lord, are eternally safe. As a nation though, I firmly believe that we aint seen nothing yet. Four things we must do immediately to stop, what I believe is just the beginning of God's getting of our attention. For I do not think that we are seeing His punishment or his judgement yet, I honestly believe that all we are seeing is His trying to get our attention.

First, turn from worshiping everything but JESUS to worshiping Jesus first and foremost.

Second, stop abortion.

Third, get back to the roles of man and woman as outlined in His Holy Word.

Fourth, become a Christian nation lead by the teachings of the Word of God, passing laws against obscenity, prostitution, gambling, homosexuality, political correctness, etc.

Let us, the Born Again Christian community start with prayer and preaching.

The Lord be with you all, may He bless and protect you and yours.

Amen.

I hope this helps, cause I sure am going to get flamed over it.

Alas