Run for your life

At a youth camp called Centrifuge, I remember a horrible game we played. The entire camp was involved. The adults were either Christians or enforcers. The enforcers out numbered the Christians. When we exited the building to begin, we were no longer at a church camp in California but in a country where being a Christian was not allowed. Our goal was to find The Church without getting caught and taken to jail. To make it harder they planted a few false churches where if you weren’t careful spies would kidnap you and then take you to jail.

When we walked outside there was someone talking over the loud speakers. They were saying over and over again that there was no God and that Christians would not find mercy if they were found. In the background were sirens and shouting. It was a very scary atmosphere.

Kids were running everywhere. The girls were really scared and few searched alone. Enforcers were everywhere and you could not know who to trust. I ran into a lady counselor from our church. I began talking to her, trying to feel her out and not be obvious about my intentions. She grabbed me by the arm and began pulling me yelling “Christian!” I was wearing a Christian shirt all that day and now that I was in this game it had exposed me.

She took me to the jail. She checked me in with the guard and left to go capture more Christians. I talked to some of the other kids. I found out that some were caught by spies in the false churches. Others had been led into an ambush by enforcers disguised as Christians. Close by an adult was yelling insults to some kids that were on their knees in front of him trying to pray. Also close by a group had gathered to sing and try to drown out the person on the loud speaker. I did not know what to do. I was angry. I was hurt. I was confused. I decided to kneel down by one of the girls that were crying and just wrapped my arms around her. I stayed like that for about 15-20 minutes before the speakers went silent and we were instructed to go back to the chapel.

Everyone walked in silence. Some cried but most just stared at the ground. Once we all sat down in the chapel the chapel host explained that this was time to speak on the microphones that had been placed around the room and express our thoughts and feelings about what had just happened.

I remember hearing one of the adults that was a jailer, he was the man that had been yelling insults at a group of kids. He was crying and took his time to speak. He said that a girl there had asked him what it would take for him to leave them alone, what would it take for him to believe. Then he yelled at her saying that he would not except her god and that she was foolish to do so herself. At this point the girl screamed at him, “I hate you!” and began sobbing. He asked us, “If this were real, how could your persecutors come to know the love of Christ if we ourselves can not love them?”

I also remember an adult that was a pastor in one of the false churches who had gotten up to speak. Through his tears he explained that many kids had been brought in to the false church. He preached simple messages to those that gathered. He incorrectly recited scripture to see who would actually be listening. He had recited “I am a way, a life, and a truth” many times. Some did not catch it and stayed. Others caught it and left. He said that his observation was heart breaking and almost caused him to expose who he was. He explained that those that left his church left with those they came with or by themselves, they did not take others with them.

May we be bold and fearless against men
who threaten to kill the body

and obedient to Him who commands our soul.

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Run for your life because this is about your life. This is not just about an opposing theology or conflicted viewpoint on Jesus. This is about your life.

My mind is forever branded with the story that I heard of police officers from the city of New York. As people were fleeing from a crumbling building there were police officers and firemen and others that were running towards the building. They were saying “Run for your life!” at their own peril. And in some cases I believe they knew that they were going to die but there was a sense of duty. I was crying out to God saying “God! Oh, Jesus, don’t let my sense of duty be less for your kingdom than these beloved firemen and policemen were for those who were perishing in a falling tower. "

We are living in a generation where truth is falling into the streets. I want to be among those that are not running away from the conflict but are running into the conflict and saying, “Run for your life!” Run from gospels that only focus on success and prosperity. Run! Run from those that use the name of Christ only for personal gain. Run from those that are picking your pockets in the name of Jesus. Run! Run from gospels that only focus on self improvement. Run! Run from churches were men and not Christ are glorified. Run, run! Get out! Don’t touch the unclean thing. Run from churches in America and Canada where there is no bible. There’s no cross in the theology. There’s no soul searching words. There’s no repentance of sin. There’s no mention of the blood of Jesus. Run! It is unclean! Run! Run from churches where the worship leaves you cold. There is no sense of God because they do not know God. Run! Run from churches were you are comfortable in your sin. That’s a table of devils when you come into the house of God and you’ve got sin in your life and you are not convicted of it. You’re at a table of devils. Run from pulpits that are run by political men who are using the pulpit of God for a personal and political agenda. Run! Run from those who speak of divisions between races and cultures. Run! Run! Get out! Turn it off. Get away from it. They know nothing of God. Run from ungodly spasmodic movements and empty endless prophesying. Beloved church, run for your life. Run from preachers that stand and tell stories and jokes. Run like you’ve never run before. Run from those who are only after your money and they use one gimmick after another. One foolish thing after another to get your money. Run!

Sermon Index mp3 audio
Title: Do you have the real thing?
Compilation of various preachers, speakers, and teachers