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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Discern (08/12/10)
Three A.M, my husband and I were enjoying our late night movie together as the dogs began to bark.

“What in the world are they barking at?” He asked as he began to slip halfway into his gym shoes that were cock-eyed in front of him.

“I am not sure”, I replied as I began to hunt for the controller to pause the movie.

Usually I am the only one home at that time due to the fact that he works the graveyard shift. It was nice to have him to deal with them that night. We love them and all but they can be somewhat annoying at times. Especially when people are trying to sleep.

I went into the kitchen to get something to drink, while he huffed and puffed his way out into the star filled night to see what the ruckus was about.

“Sparky!” I heard him sternly say as he tried to quiet him down. That was followed shortly by a horrified, “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, Oh God NOOOOOOO”

Next thing I know my husband comes running into the house ripping his clothes off throwing them on the floor. From room to room he traveled carrying the scent of peppy le pew with him everywhere he went. The trail of the stinky one began to set sail into the walls, into the carpet, and into my nostrils.

I had smelled the effects of peppy several times before, but not so much that fresh. It was at that time I heard my poor husband in the shower laughing one minute and gagging the next. He stayed in the shower for at least an hour as I walked through the house spraying febreeze on everything. I tied his clothes up in a plastic bag and took them outside by the trash.

I think God has to do the same thing with us. A lot of times the Holy Spirit will warn us of an intruder in our spiritual life. We often keep walking right into the battle ignoring the warning and doing what we want, instead of listening to the voice of God. When we choose to turn from discernment, we walk right into a spiritual peppy le pew.

We begin running back the other direction pulling off the sin, throwing a shirt of fornication on the floor. Stripping off our jeans of disobedience. Ripping off our socks of judgment. Pulling and stripping off our undergarments of alcohol and gambling and pornography and scattering them around our feet.

We then run to the cleansing and refreshing power of repentance and bathe in His presence until we feel refreshed and renewed, striving to create a fresh aroma in the nostrils of God.

Just as I tied my husband’s stinky garments in a bag and set them next to the garbage, Jesus Christ sets at the right hand of the Father to tie our sin up in a bag and discard of it as well.

Several weeks passed and the smell continued to linger through our house, so we continued to spray febreeze and burn candles into the midnight hour. We were trying to get the smell completely gone and it took some time and effort but eventually it disappeared.

The same goes for strongholds and temptations in our lives as Christians. Some may still have desires and temptations lingering from past sin that used to stink up their life. Yet, if one keeps fighting it and spraying prayer around his spiritual house God will provide an air purifier by extinguishing that sin and that desire forever. The Bible says in James 4:7 (KJV) “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

A dogs sniffing ability is a God given gift, but they learn to ascertain who and what are enemies in their territory and it takes time and patience to respond correctly in different situations. They have learned to discern the situation and act accordingly. The Bible says that we are the same way. Romans 11:29 (KJV), “For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.”

God wants us not to only use discernment to protect ourselves, but also to minister and to help others. We need to open our spiritual noses and began learning how to spot enemy territory even when we are surrounded by darkness.

Malachi 3:18 (KJV) “Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.”
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Member Comments
Member
Date
AnneRene' Capp
08/19/10
Truly excellent! Absolutely love your analogies and strong yet gentle inspiration to pursue the righteous discernment of God, that IS within us all. Your message to overcome peeling off our continued sin and then running to bathe in God's presence of refreshment is powerful.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/20/10
This is a wonderful story with a great message. Small editing note Jesus sits not sets. I liked how the scripture you chose goes with your message.
Tina Leonard
08/20/10
Ahh yes, sits thank you! Sometimes I get caught up and stuff like that slips through the cracks! Thanks for commenting!! :)
Ruth Brown
08/20/10
Great examples, excellent message. Bless you, Ruth
Amanda Brogan
08/21/10
Had to laugh at this one! At first I was concerned for the husband with his, "NOOOOOO!" I was on the edge of my seat and then . . . the fact that it turned out to be a skunk was hilarious! Great job with the spiritual comparison too.
Tina Leonard
08/22/10
Yes, Amanda I too felt sorry for my husband but I was also buckled over cracking up as well. The smell was truly horrible. I was glad when the house was finally aired out. :) Thanks for taking the time to read my entry. I am glad it made you laugh and think! :)