External Evidences of the Abundant Life 3

External Evidences of the Abundant Life 3
Brad Reiches
Feb 22 2007 10:59PM

FINAL DAY OF OFFER

ANOTHER FREE OFFER FROM THE AUTHOR OF GODTHOUGHTS!

"Brad, this is the best message I have ever heard!"    -Barb Hightower, Moraga, California

"You hit a home-run today, pastor Brad."         -John Diestler, Lafayette, California

"That's it!  That's it!  Preach that message every Sunday and we'll have to get a bigger church!    -Bill Roth, Moraga, California

"Pastor Brad, I pray that the whole world will get hold of that message!"    -Patty Roth, Moraga, California

"You were on fire today, man."    -Kevin Ryan, San Ramon, California

"These were just a few of the comments that I received a few weeks ago after preaching the message entitled, GRACE & TRUTH.  It may have been the most annointed message I have ever had the privilege to give.  It literally felt at times like I was taking dictation from God."    Pastor Brad

Most preachers fall into one of two extreme categories.  They are either big on "truth" and often found to be "legalistic."  Or they are big on "grace" and leave out 90% of the whole gospel.  But the Bible says, "Grace AND truth were realized through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17, bold mine).

Please order your FREE copy of Grace & Truth (simply send me an e-mail with "Grace & Truth" in the subject box, along with your snail mail address).  All I ask is that after you listen to it, you are obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading in how He would use you to best to support this ministry.

-Pastor Brad

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Friday, February 23, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

"External Evidences of the Abundant Life"

Part 3

"I (Jesus) came that they might have life

and might have it abundantly.."

John 10:10

The External Evidence of the Abundant Life.

4.  FREEDOM FROM FEAR. 

"Do not fear for I am with you...

the one who fears has not been perfected in love."

Isaiah 41:10a; 1 John 4:18

On more than one occaision I've been accused of being "wreckless," and perhaps, on occaision, that has been true.  Nonetheless, freedom from fear is a WONDERFUL thing.  It has become one of my favorite "perks" of the abundant life.  To be quite honest, having begun a relationship with Jesus at age 5, I've seldom related to the fear(s) that the majority appear to live with.  Fear of death, fear of life, fear of not having enough money, fear of injury, fear of loss, fear of...fear?  As one who lives this life with at least a measure of understanding what the Bible means when it says, "If God is for us who can be against us?" (Romans 8:39), I have only two fears:* 

1.  The fear of the devil should I ever choose to live outside the shelter of God.  2.  The fear of the consequences of sin.

Having said that... "They may come against me, but they will not overcome me, for the Lord is with me to deliver me" (see Jeremiah 1:19).  HALLELUIAH!

5.  FREEDOM FROM ANXIETY. 

"Do not look anxiously about you for I am your God...

Be anxious for nothing."

Isaiah 41:10b; Philippians 4:7

Peace like a river!  The abundant "well-being of the soul!  Every time I merge onto the freeway, I immediately become aware of the "other-world" nature of an anxiety free life.  "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:29).  Oh, what a blessing - THE FREEDOM FROM WORRY!  Anybody remember this:

 "5 Keys to a Worry-Free Lifestyle"

"Do not fret...Do not fret...Do not fret."

Psalm 37:1, 7, 8

An interesting word, "fret."  It means, "to gnaw, wear away, worry."  God says, "DON'T DO IT!"  Don't fret because of others.  Don't fret over things.  Don't fret about circumstances.  Sure it's easier said than done, but God gives us 5 keys to a "fret-less" life from Psalm 37.

Instead of fretting...Trust in the Lord.                             -see verse 3.

Instead of fretting...Delight yourself in the Lord.           -see verse 4. 

Instead of fretting...Commit your ways to the Lord.       -see verse 5.

Instead of fretting...Rest in the Lord.                              -see verse 7.

Instead of fretting...Wait for the Lord.                            -see verse 34.

Trust, delight, commit, rest, wait.  The 5 keys to a worry-free lifestyle.  The paraphrased version goes like this:

"Set your mind on the things above,

not on the things that are on earth...

Fix your eyes on Jesus."

Colossians 3:2; Hebrews 12:2

Losing the "T" and adding an "E" changes fret...to FREE!

And finally...

6.  ZEAL, ENTHUSIASM & PURPOSE FOR LIFE!

I'll talk more about this one next week!

*For those who would suggest the "fear of God" as a third, I generally prefer the term "reverence."