THE POWER OF THE BIG LIE
Mark 11:7-26
Preached at Christian Life Worship Center
Sunday morning April 13, 2003
By John W. Ingham
Introduction:
1. Read Scripture Text.
2. The Road to Baghdad began on April fool’s day, April one, but Saddams’ forces had no idea the joke was on them.
· The Marine attack against the Republican Guard’s Baghdad Division was in fact a well-choreographed feint, with one regiment of the 1st marine Division moving north toward Kut under a blanket of stars to draw Iraqi fire. Meanwhile, the rest of the division did an end around the city, using an intact bridge in the town of Numiniyah to put thousands of troops over the Tigris Rive. An entire Republican Guard division was encircled, paving the way for the Marines to launch an all-out assault on the Baghdad Division’s western flank.
· The original plan had called for the Marines to attack first, allowing them to secure Highway 6 before the Army advanced against the Medina Division. Yet Central Command opted for a synchronized, two-division punch that would simultaneously knock out an entire layer of defense around Baghdad. The Army and Marine attack was even moved forward by 24 hours, as satellites monitoring Iraqi radio traffic intercepted an order to pull back Republican Guard forces into the friendly confines of Baghdad’s streets. There just was no time to wait.
· Behind the firepower of more than 200 M1 Abrams tanks, the 3rd I.D pushed north through the Karala Gap, engaging Iraqi units along the way and clearing a path toward the final ring of defenses protecting Baghdad. Their initial assault on Saddam International Airport, now Baghdad International Airport, was nearly unopposed. Subsequent waves of Iraqi fighters staged daring, suicidal raids in which a ZU’S commander estimated that some 1,000 Iraqi fighters were killed.
· Their paths had been paved by a punishing weeklong air assault. “My objective, if possible, is to kill every one of them.” Says Air Force Lt. Gen. T. Michael Mosely, the coalition air commander. The Medina and Baghdad divisions had been judged “combat ineffective” by the Pentagon, meaning that their combat capabilities had been cut below 50 percent. Nevertheless, top officers seemed surprised when the first Republican Guard units confronted appeared completely overwhelmed by the two-division attack.
· When the shooting stopped, marine tanks drove along Highway 6 past the flaming wrecks of what had been the vaunted Republican Guard Division. Most of the division’s soldiers had already fled into Kut, where the Marines were happy to leave them for a later date. Now they have all surrendered.
3. What stories we see and hear today!
· A picture of a Marine being kissed by a citizen of Baghdad.
· The large statue of Saddam Hussein being pulled
down in the center of downtown Baghdad by a
frenzied screaming mob of citizens.
· A little girl holding a envelope to her car window
that read “Thank you Mr. George Bush.”
· A soldier and an elderly gentleman shaking
hands.
· A Soldier holding a little boy on his shoulders.
· A Robed businessman giving a red carnation to a Marine.
· And the one I will never forget is when I had gotten up at 1:30 A.M. to pray for our soldiers and I turned on the TV just as the 3rd Mechanized division had pulled up to Saddam’s Main Palace. The news commentator asked him if he was going to put an American flag over the palace. He said, “No but I do have a flag for his palace.” And of course the rest is history as he took out a Georgia Bulldog banner to take inside. I understand that soldier is from Watkinsville.
4. I can’t help but think of these scenes as I think this year of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
5. Today we know that victory is at hand as elements of the 73rd Airborne out of Vinenza, Italy come down from the north and the 3rd mechanized Infantry Division of the Army come up from the south along with the Marines to meet the other coalition forces to overtake the last stronghold of Iraq, Saddam’s home city, Tikrit.
6. One retired general who came through the Second World War said, “I have not felt this kind feeling of great joy for over 40 years when we won World War 2.”
7. But one of the most amazing things I will remember about this war was the power of the Big lie in Baghdad.
· Saddam Hussein in no uncertain terms told the Arab world that his troops would run the Americans out of Iraq. But then of course he has been lying since 1991, we know about not having weapons of mass destruction. The Big Lie has stymied the French, Russians and Germans and thousands of others demonstrating around the world thinking that they could get Saddam Hussein to destroy his weapons of mass destruction.
· A humorous aside from the War for Iraqi freedom was the newscasts of Baghdad Bob. Have you heard of him. He was the Minister of Information or misinformation for the Hussein regime. When the 3rd Mechanized Division was driving through Baghdad he said, ”Do not worry, we have the coalition forces surrounded. Do not believe what you see on television that is just Hollywood reporting.“ He said, “The Americans have paid peasants to dress up like Iraqi soldiers and they have lined them up like they have captured them.” That is Baghdad Bob. The Big lie. emp;yed during World War 2. THE BIG LIE IS A PSYCHOLIGICAL FORM OF PROPAGANDA THAT SAYS IF YOU TELL A LIE BIG ENOUGH AND TELL IT LONG ENOUGH AND DON’T BACK DOWN THE PEOPLE WILL COME TO BELIEVE IT!
SERMON BODY:
The question is what are the lessons we can learn from the “Big Lie” on this Palm Sunday?
You learned about the power of the “Big Lie.”
Following Jesus’ Triumphal entry He went to the Temple
to look around and left for the night. On the following
morning He returned and as He was coming down the
Mount of Olives He thought He would pick up some
breakfast from a fig tree. Now that would have turned
my stomach to think of eating figs for breakfast or for
that matter any other time. Now Rita likes them all right.
She asked me about this passage a few days ago while
she was reading. Now you have to understand, Rita likes
to have fun. She said, ”John, was Jesus having a bad
day. After He cursed the fig tree he went into the
Temple and turned over the table of the money
changers?”
A. I will have to admit it does look suspicious on the
surface, But I can assure you Jesus did not have a
bad day.
B. What happened is that Jesus was hungry. He had a
real need for physical nourishment. That makes me
feel good. When we come to the Marriage Supper
of the Lamb, Jesus will be really eating with us. He
won’t be just watching us making us feel
embarrassed that we are eating.
C. He saw that this fig tree was covered with leaves as
to have fruit on it. But as the story goes the tree
was lying. It did not have any fruit on it at all!
I. The Big Lie was told by Satan to Jesus in the
wilderness to try to keep Jesus from the cross in Matt. 4.
A. Vs. 4 Satan’s First Big Lie:
1. Lie: “Change stones into bread to satisfy
hunger.” In other words: “You do not have to
go to the cross to satisfy the hunger of
mankind.”
2. Jesus’ Response: ”Man Shall not live by bread alone but by God’s words.”
B. Vs. 5: Satan’s Second Big Lie:
1. Lie: “Cast thyself from the Temple for a
spectacle that will keep you from having to go
to the cross.” In other words: ”Use the
spectacular to avoid the cross.”
2. Jesus’ Response: “Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God.”
C. Vs. 8: Satan’s Third Big Lie:
1. Lie: “I will give you all the kingdoms of the
world if you will just bow down to me.” In
other words: “In other words compromise
the message of lordship I your life to achieve
power; not the cross.”
2. Jesus Response: “Thou shalt worship only the
Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve.”
D. Jesus achieved power over Satan through the Word
of God. When this was done Satan left Him and the
angels ministered Him. What an example of how to
gain victory over Satan, to stay in God’s will and
receive spiritual ministry! To day the cross is a
historical powerful fact because Jesus conquered
Satan’s “Big Lie!”
II. There is a Church that told the “Big Lie” mentioned
in Revelation 3:14, “And unto the angel (Pastor) of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and the true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” (15) “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I wouldthat thou wert cold or hot.” (16) “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.” (17) “Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked:” (18) “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried
in the fire, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint
thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (19)
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent.” (20) “Behold, I stand at the
door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me.” (21) “To him that overcometh
I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I
overcame and am sat down with my Father in his
throne.” (22) “He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
A. What is interesting is that the church mentioned
before the Laodicean church is the church in
Philadelphia and this church is characteristic of
the Bride of Christ. The church that will go up in
the Rapture. Jesus is telling us that this church has an open door before it. A door that he has opened
and a door that will stay open for them because
what God opens no man can shut. Why? He says,
“Because I know you will persevere.” Saints,
God blesses those who put their shoulder to the
wheel and get the job done. We pittle around with
the work of God and wonder why He doesn’t
bless. He is calling us to work in the open areas He
has placed before us. This is the number one
church growth principle of God.
B. Another interesting difference in these (2)-two
churches is given in the preposition that precedes
the name of the churches. Revelation 3:7 says,
“And to the church in Philadelphia…” But in
verse 14 we read, “And unto the angel of the
church of the Laodiceans write…” In the first
instance Jesus is saying this church is in
Philadelphia, it is an evil place all right, but it
certainly doesn’t have it’s plans and programs tied
up with the spirit of the culture of that city. You
say Philadelphia means “City of love.” That is
what it means but you must realize the largest crop
of Philadelphia was opium. What you have here
is the Columbian Cartel of Asia Minor. But God
says, “You are in a tough place but I will
bless you if you persevere.” Laodiciea on the
other hand the had allowed the culture and mores
of the city to become their own. Therefore the
preposition “of Laodicea.” Jesus is telling the
pastor Archepas and his entire congregation that
they are wretched. Now they did not get this from
a church report. It came from Jesus. They did not
know that God could talk so mean. He said,
“You are shallow. You have empty values. You
are hypocrites.” This rich congregation was
called poor. They were the best dressed but He
called them naked. These church members who
had doctors in their city who had discovered an
eye salve for Ophalmia were called blind. Now I
don’t want you to get the wrong idea. There is no
sin in luxury. I mean Stephanie and Greg Morgan
stayed in the Waldorf Astoria when they went to
New York last week. When I go I have to stay in
the Hampton Inn. The sin is in treating the things
of God with lukewarmness!! It took 13 years to
build the house of Solomon. God loved him so
much for his dedication as a youth that he
changed his name to Jedadia, “The Beloved of
The Lord.” Solomon received great wealth but
he also worshipped in a lavish fashion. No
lukewarmness! He gave a $9,550,000.00 building
fund gift to God. The work in constructing the
Temple took 163, 850 workers. Charlie and Jeff
and I needed a few of those workers Saturday
morning to finish the Youth Hut roof. Well maybe
next Saturday someone will help. Solomon’s
prayer had 1,050 words in it. He offered 142, 000
animals to God. Huge chor. And when he was
dedicating it in response the glory of God came
down and filled the place and the priests were
slain in the spirit and could not move. The glory
of the Holy Spirit was so powerful it was like
smoke that filled the place. Wow!! Lord I pray for
that kind of anointing here in Christian Life
Worship Center today!
D.The point is the PR of the Leadicean Church was
a “BIG LIE!”
II. Also, the father of the Big Lie is Satan himself.
Revelation 12:10-12 (Read)
A. I want you to repeat something that will break every shackle of doubt and defeat from your life!! Repeat after me:
1.“This morning I tell you God is who He says
He is.
2. “I am what the Word of God says I am.
3. “I can do what the Word of God says I can
do.
4. “God’s word is alive and active in me!
5. ”And my future is what God’s Word says it is
going to be. Amen.”
B. What is Satan’s Big Lie?
1. It is when he tells you that you cannot
change! The truth is that he is the only one
who can’t chasnge. You can and he can’t stand
it! (2 Cor, 5:17)
2. You have a HABIT that you have had since you
were a boy or a girl and Satan is telling you
there is nothing you can do about it.Well,
blow me down. The Word of God says that we are
more than conquerers through Jesus Christ our
Lord! (John 8:36; Romans 6:22; Romans 6:17&18)
3. He is tellling you that God will never help
you!(Isaiah 50:7; Psalm 46:1&2; Hebrews 13:5)
4. He is telling you that you have no power over
him. (Luke 10:19)
5. He is telling you that you must struggle with
your finances. (Philippians 4:19)
6. He is telling you that God will never answer
your prayers! (1 John 5:14&15)
7. He is telling you that you will never be
healed. (James 5:15)
8. He is telling you that you have no after life
with Jesus. (John 14:1-4)
9. He is telling you that you must be unhappy.
(John 10:10)
III. In Hebrews 11 is a group of men and women who
refused to believe the Big Lie of satan.
A. Abel continued to worship God when satan
said "Stop worshipping God it isn’t popular."
B. Enoch had faith to be pre raptured even though
he left everyoneelse behind.
C. By faith Noah preached the message of the coming
flood when satan said it wasn’t coming.
D. Sara belielved God when Satan whispered to her
that she would never have the child God
promised.
E. Amram and Jocabed trusted God when Satan told
them they were crazy for setting sail thier son
Moses onto the huge Nile River because God told
them that was the way to save him. (That is the
way to savwe our youth)
F. Jacob left home broke and Satan told him that he
would neve amount to anything but he told God
that he would return and give a tenth of all he
had to Him. Hey, it happened. God blessed Jacob
and he will bless you when you tithe.
G. What is Satan telling you today that is keeping
you from victory in some area of your life?
CONCLUSION:
1. Oh. The spirit of Saddam Hussein has not died! he may be dead. But the spirit of Antichrist will come to this earth at least onemore time.
2. The Anitchrist will once again tell the BIG LIE. He will come by subterfuge and cunning:The BIG LIE.
3. He will convince the world that Christians are worthy of death.
4. He will convince the Jeews that he should be thier leader for 3 1/2 years.
5. He will take over country after country once and for all attempting to be the only didtator to gain worldwide dominance. Hitler tried and failed. Saddam tied and failed.
6. But guess what is going to happen?
7. No, it won’t be the 3rd mdchanized Divison of the U.S. Army, but it will be you and I riding behind Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords as He consumes the entire army of Antichrist with the power of His coming!
8. The Bible says He is coming with 10,000s of His saints in Jude 14. And the Bible says in Rev. 19 that His angels will be with Him, so what we see here is an unstoppable army that never fires a shot. Hey, that is a record even Operation Iraqi Freedom can’t beat!
9. Let’s close by reading Rev. 19:11-21
