Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Truth or Dare (08/28/08)
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TITLE: The wolf | Previous Challenge Entry
By Scott Burch
09/01/08 -
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Many in the place were in tears and others were just plain angry. The congregation had undergone a storm. Yes, just as in many other churches the proverbial ‘wolf’ had come in and tried to divide the church. A few smiles and kind words in the right ears were all that was needed to start the phone ministry. Pastor Scott knew division was the agenda of the wolf. He had seen it many times. While some Pastors get upset and nervous about the wolf, Pastor Scott knew that being nervous about the wolf was no way to hunt. Hunters call it “buck fever”. The wolf had to be given enough rope to hang himself, but not so much rope that he could hurt others. The wolf had spoken into the gossip chain that Pastor Scott was being too religious, and was not allowing God to move.
Pastor was ready and had been hunting the wolf for the past couple of weeks. The worship was good, it really seemed to touch the heart of God. The Pastor had been in prayer for several days and had done all of the spiritual warfare needed to take the wolf down.
Taking the pulpit Pastor Scott began. “Good morning! Welcome to First Love Fellowship! Today my message is one of utmost importance. I will start with a few questions. Would you rob a bank? What about steal a car? Would you willingly disobey a police officers order? As your Pastor I do not believe you would do those things. I have known you for many years and helped all of you through many troubles. That is what a family does. We help each other. We are one, one group moving towards intimacy with God in a single motion.” The congregation responded with an “amen” now and then. The pastor continued, “Just as none of you would commit a crime against the laws of man, I also believe none of you would commit a crime against the laws of God. The word of God says in John 8:32 ‘You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’ (KJV). Knowing the truth is what sets you free. Living according to your own rules will bring death. It will steal your freedom, and it will eventually destroy your relationship with God. Freedom is a great gift given by a loving God. You would not break the laws of men because it can destroy your life here on this planet. You would not break the laws of God because it would destroy your relationship with Him. Will you believe the truth or will you dare to live according to your own rules? Truth, some say, is “subjective” or it is “only what you want it to be”. I ask you this, is gravity truth? If you jump you will come back down. If you throw a rock up it will come back to earth. Just as gravity is a law so is the truth. Truth can not be “subjective”. The law of gravity and other laws are not something to be fooled around with. If you try to break the law of gravity you will pay the price. Breaking the laws of God are the same. If you break them you must pay the consequences. Romans 3:23 says ‘the wages of sin in death’. I ask you to consider this, what led Satan astray? Going by his own rules. We as Christians are committed to living the way God wants us to. We are to act like Him and sound like Him. As children we all played the game “truth or dare” I ask you to not play truth or dare with the things of God. The truth is I love you and you know that. The truth is I want the best for you and your family. The truth is we must follow rules in life or we end up in prison. Walking in the truth will only bring joy and freedom. Daring to walk according to your own path will only bring prison.”
After the service the wolf came to the Pastor and asked his forgiveness. The freedom in this church was not stolen and the wolf was really a wounded sheep. After some healing the ‘would be’ wolf was embraced into the fold and that’s the truth.
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