Lessons from Oz: Living like a scarecrow John 8:32, 36
John 8:32-36
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Living like a scarecrow:
As she begins her journey to Oz, Dorothy first encounters the scarecrow.
Characteristics of the Scarecrow:
Going through life just hanging around.
No Joy, no excitement
Cannot even live and fulfill the purpose for which he was created.
He was “just there.”
A life changing encounter:
An Encounter with Dorothy changed his life:
Dorothy freed him from the stake.
The Wizard of Oz did not give the scarecrow a brain.
Dorothy gave him freedom.
It was his encounter with Dorothy that allowed him to walk, dance, and think.
An encounter with Jesus Christ changes us forever:
Christ gives us true freedom.
In Christ we are free to run, walk, dance, live.
There is joy, excitement and fulfillment.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
People with life changing encounters from the New Testament:
Jarius’ daughter
Gadarene Demoniac
Lazarus
One thankful Leper
The Truth about Truth:
The Scarecrow represents truth:
The scarecrow wanted a brain.
Not so he could talk, he could already do that.
Not so he could think, he was already doing that.
He wanted a brain so he could know truth.
There is such a thing as truth.
Our world says truth is relative, changing from generation to generation and from person to person.
What is right for you might not be right for me.
What is wrong to you might not be wrong to me.
The sanctify of life.
Marriage
Faith in God/Religion
No matter what our opinions are on these issues, God’s Word is truth!
If God’s Word says killing the unborn is wrong- that is truth!
If God’s Word says that marriage is between one man and woman for life-
that is truth!
Jesus is the truth.
Truth is found in no other source.
Jesus never changes from generation to generation or person to person.
Jesus is truth because he is perfect.
If the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (John 8:36)
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
We have been created by God with purpose.
God created us for a relationship with him.
He created us with a God-shaped hole that only he can fill.
He created us to desire Him and He created us to worship Him.
He created us to live with him forever.
We can experience freedom when we live by the truth.
Anything that is not of His truth will imprison us.
When we live like the world we become enslaved to the world.
When we create our own truth we give ourselves over to bondage.
There is a choice to be made:
We can live like a scarecrow hanging on a stake.
We can experience freedom through a Savior who hung on a cross.
If you are a Christian:
How many “scarecrows” are there in your life?
Who in your life is living unfilled and without real purpose?
Who do you know that is living according the world and not the truth?
What can you do to be like Dorothy and help free them through an encounter with Jesus Christ?
If you are not a Christian:
Will you begin living by truth?
Truth is that God created you for a purpose.
Truth is that God loves you so much he sent His Son to die for you.
Truth is that you will never be good enough on your own.
Truth is that when you:
believe in Jesus as Lord
confess Jesus as Savior
repent of your sinful life
are immersed into Christ
Your sins will be forgiven and God’s Holy Spirit will come to live inside you!
