Wednesday, February 23, 2011

"Devils in the Pulpit"


GodThoughtsWired!          Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
"DEVILS IN THE PULPIT"
"You say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy,
and have need of nothing,' and you do not know
that you are wretched and miserable and poor
and blind and naked."

-Revelation 3:17
Jesus speaks this to the church, but who in this church could possibly hear? How is it possible to be "blind and naked" and not be aware of it?
 "The church of Laodicea has prepared
the way for the great apostasy.
It has kept Christ out of the Church
and from His people.
It has stood for nothing for so long
that it has little effect on society,

while at the same time it has allowed
anything contrary to Christ’s teachings
to come in.  This Church became lukewarm,
seeking unity with everyone,

showing tolerance for any doctrinal
aberration and interpreting it as love."

-A.W. Tozer, bold mine
"Many will say to Me on that day..." (see Matthew 7:21-23). The Bible says that "many" think they are going to Heaven but are not. These "many," the Bible says, ARE IN THE CHURCH! They do not know...
"The apostasy of professing Christianity
has increased with a momentum
that is stunning to those watching its growth.
It has gone off the Richter scale.
In the absence of the lampstand
( the presence of Christ),
devils have stepped in and
taken over in many churches
."
-A.W. Tozer, bold mine
That's not a very nice thing to say...

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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

JESUS DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE! 5


GodThoughtsWired!              Tuesday, February 22, 2011
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JESUS DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE!

5

"The God of peace will soon crush Satan 
under your feet."

Romans 16:20,
bold & underline mine


Again, "The God of peace will soon CRUSH SATAN! under your feet."  Wow!  A sincere and comprehensive study of the Bible reveals to all who would receive it that:

1.  Indeed, Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).  However,

2.  There will not be peace upon the earth until Jesus Himself returns to establish it!
  WHY?  Because,

3.  Jesus is also the truth!  If everyone on the earth received and submitted to the truth that Jesus represents, then THERE WOULD BE peace upon the earth.  Sadly, however, everyone in the world DOES NOT submit to who Jesus is, nor do they follow what He says.  Thus, chaos is ever-increasing.

4.  Jesus came to set mankind free! (see Galatians 5:1).  But the freedom Jesus offers only comes from practicing the truth that Jesus preaches.   Practically, the road to freedom is paved with truth.  Jesus put it this way,
"You will know the truth,
and the truth will make you free."

-John 8:32, bold mine


5.  The rejection of the truth that Jesus offers ALWAYS LEADS TO BONDAGE!  Today's United States of America is a CLASSIC EXAMPLE.  Generally, the USA has rejected Jesus for so long, that our freedom continues to dissipate like the morning dew
Outside of widespread repentance
and a return to what made this country
"exceptional," bondage (at best),
or complete destruction (at worst),
is inevitable for the United States of America.

Thus,

"The kingdom of God is not
eating and drinking, but righteousness and

peace
 and joy in the Holy Spirit."

-Romans 14:17, bold mine

The "peace" of the Holy Spirit is only found in the "kingdom of God."  And the "kingdom of God" exists only in those places, and among those people who submit to the King of the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ.
and,
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God."

-Matthew 5:9, bold mine

and,
"If possible, so far as it depends on you,
be at peace with all men."

-Romans 12:18, bold mine

Unfortunately, it isn't always possible.  Thus, chaos will reign until the return of Jesus Christ!
The quest for unity is noble,
but when the cost is
a compromise of the truth,
it becomes fodder for the Devil.

For further study
, click on:  The Truth about Freedom.
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Friday, February 18, 2011

JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE" 4


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JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE"
4
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword."

-Matthew 10:34, bold mine
So, "How can 'the God of Peace' not come to bring peace?"  First let's take a look at some more scripture:
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you, do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."-John 14:27
Hmmm...it seems clear that the "Peace I leave with you" and the "Peace I give to you" is an INNER-PEACE that Jesus is refering to.
"The things you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me,
practice these things, and
the God of peace will be with you."
-Philippians 4:9, bold mine
Again, the context of this statement by Paul, "The God of peace will be with you," is clearly speaking to theINNER-PEACE that comes with a right relationship with God (see Philippians 4:7-9).
And so on.
So as we can see, when it comes to a biblical study of "peace," we need to first discern whether or not the Bible is referring to an "inner peace," or an external "peace on the earth."
On Monday we will conclude this study by grappling with three more verses:
"For the kingdom of God is not
eating and drinking, but righteousness and
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
-Romans 14:17, bold mine
and,
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called sons of God."
-
Matthew 5:9, bold mine
and,
"If possible, so far as it depends on you,
be at peace with all men."
-Romans 12:18, bold mine

For additional study, click on pastor Brad's video entitled, THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM!

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Thursday, February 17, 2011

JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE" 3


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JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE"

3
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword."

-Matthew 10:34, bold mine
WHEW!  After reading some of your responses to parts 1 & 2 of this series, I feel like Rocky Balboa after 15 rounds with Apollo Creed in Rocky 1! :)  Ok, so let's get started.  One subscriber lamented,
"I'm SO FRUSTRATED right now,
I'm on the verge of unsubscribing!
One of God's name is Jehovah Shalom!
which means, 'The God of Peace.'
You're obviously taking scripture
out of context..."
Well, I sincerely appreciate this response, I really do.  So let's take a look at the primary context:
"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men,
I will also confess him before My Father
who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me
before men, I will also deny him
before My Father who is in heaven. 
Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth; 

I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword
.  For I came to set a man
against his father, and a daughter against
her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies
will be the members of his household.  
He who loves father or mother more than
Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves
son or daughter more than Me
is not worthy of Me.  And he who
does not take his cross and follow
after Me is not worthy of Me."
-Matthew 10:32-38, bold mine
And the greater context of Matthew chapter 10 is in response to the certain "persecution" and "hatred" that all true followers of Jesus will encounter as they seek to shine the light of Christ in an ever-increasingly dark world.
So, actually, no, it doesn't appear that I've taken the words of Jesus "out of context."  In fact, I would suggest that we have presented what Jesus said well within the context of how Jesus intended His words to be understood.
Tomorrow we will answer another sincere subscribers question:  "How can 'the God of Peace' not come to bring peace?"
Stay tuned!

For additional study, click on pastor Brad's video entitled, THE TRUTH ABOUT FREEDOM!

PLEASE READ!
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Wednesday, February 16, 2011

JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE!" 2


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Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE!"
2
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth;
I did not come to bring peace,
but a sword."

-Matthew 10:34, bold mine
Please note what the Bible teaches about the true followers of Jesus in the days prior to His return:
"I saw underneath the altar the souls
of those who had been slain
because of the word of God
,
and because of the testimony
which they had maintained."
-Revelation 6:9, bold mine
It's getting harder and harder to "maintain the testimony" of Jesus without compromise, isn't it?  It seems that the world has grown tolerant* of any and all beliefs except one...Biblically defined Christianity.
"And I saw the souls of those
who had been beheaded because
of their testimony of Jesus
and because of the word of God
..."
-Revelation 20:4, bold mine
In the above verses, we see a "life and death" difference between those who truly teach and live the "word of God" and those who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him" (see Titus 1:16).  
PLEASE UNDERSTAND:  Those who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him" areNOT CHRISTIANS and WILL NOT go to Heaven.
"Whoever denies Me before men,
I will also deny him 
before My Father who is in heaven."
-Matthew 10:33, bold mine
Remember...We live in the "age of delusion."

*For an in-depth study on "Tolerance," Please click on,The Bible Says Series:  Tolerance.

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE!" 1


GodThoughtsWired!                Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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JESUS "DID NOT COME TO BRING PEACE!"

1

One of the primary reasons for GodThoughtsWired! isto combat the biblical illiteracy that engulfs the Church today.  Biblical ignorance is pandemic in this "Age of Delusion."

While it is most certainly true that Jesus said,


"Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you
Do not let your heart be troubled,
nor let it be fearful."
-John 14:27, bold mine
He also said,
"Do not think that I came
to bring peace on the earth; 
I did not come to bring peace
,
but a sword."
-
Matthew 10:34bold mine
What initially appears to be a contradiction is easily reconciled when we understand that  the peace that Jesus gives is an  "inner peace" to His followers,knowing that the world will hate them.

To the contrary, Jesus did not come to bring peace on the earth, but rather a "sword."  What kind of "sword?"  The "sword of the Spirit which is the word of God" (see Ephesians 6:17).

Please track with me here:  The "sword" that Jesus brings is the "word of God."  The "word of God" is the Bible.  The Bible is the "truth."  And THE TRUTH ALWAYS DIVIDES!  ALWAYS.  How so?  The truth divides that which is "true," from that which is "false."
Please note:  I did not say that the truth is divisive.  The truth only becomes divisive when people choose to reject it.  Thus,
"Indeed, all who desire to live godly
in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
2 Timothy 3:12, bold mine
More tomorrow.

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Friday, February 11, 2011

A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT


GodThoughtsWired!           Bonus Weekend Edition                                                                            February 11-13, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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From the Congressional Prayer Caucus

December 6, 2010


Dear Mr. President,

We write today in response to a speech given on November 10, 2010...in Jakarta, Indonesia, in which you state, "But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia should give us hope.  It is a story written into our national mottos.  In the United States, our motto is E pluribus unum - out of many one...our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag."


E pluribus unum is not our national motto.  In 1956, Congress passed and President Eisenhower approved the law establishing "In God We Trust" as the offical national motto of the United States.  This motto is also referenced in our national anthem and is engraved on our coins and currency.


Additionally, during three separate events this fall, when quoting from the Declaration of Independence, you mentioned that we have inalienable rights, but consistently failed to mention the source of the rights.  The Declaration of Independence definitively recognizes God, our Creator, as the source of our rights.  Omitting the word "Creator" once was a mistake; but twice establishes a pattern.

In your speech in Indonesia, you mentioned being unified under one flag.  The Pleadge of Allegiance to our flag says that we are "one nation under God."  As President of the United States, you are our representative to the rest of the world.  By misrepresenting things as foundational as the Declaration of Independence and our national motto, you are not only doing a disservice to the people you represent you are casting aside an integral part of American society...

If we pull the thread of religious conviction out of the marketplace of ideas, we unravel the tapestry of freedom that birthed America...
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God,
then we will be one nation gone under."
-President Ronald Reagan

Signed,

68 members of The United States House of Representatives




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Tuesday, February 8, 2011

POLITICAL MAN!


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Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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POLITICAL MAN!

"But let your statement be,
'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; 
anything beyond these is of evil.*
-Matthew 5:37, bold mine
You'll find him behind the pulpit and in the pew.  Yes, in virtually every field of endeavor from the president to the prophet to the professional - "Political Man!"  There is no black and white for the "Political Man," only shades of gray.  No absolute standards, moral or otherwise...only political correctness.

He tells you what he thinks you want to hear.

There is no such thing as "lying" for the "Political Man"- only "diplomacy."  After all...everything is "perception."  If caught in a lie, the "Political Man" simply "mis-spoke."  If caught in a "contradiction," "Political Man" has two options:

1.  Denial, (i.e. "I never said that!" or "That was taken out of context!") or,
2. Sudden loss of memory, (i.e. "I don't remember  saying that!").
"Remind them of these things,
and solemnly charge them
in the presence of God
not to wrangle about words, 
which...leads to the ruin of the hearers."
-2 Timothy 2:14, bold mine
A "wrangler" in this context is someone who, "disputes over words and trivial matters."  You see, the "Political Man" "wrangles" words to suit hs needs at the time.  If his needs change, then definitions change.

Jesus has a word for it...

EVIL.

*Literally, "from the evil one."


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Thursday, February 3, 2011

AMERICA HAS BECOME AN...OBAMANATION!


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AMERICA HAS BECOME AN...OBAMANATION!
abomination:  "a vile, shameful, or detestable action, condition, habit, etc."
Barak Obama's unwillingness to denounce the Muslim Brotherhood is despicable evil that is utterly and absolutely received by the God of the Bible as a complete rejection of Him.
"He who is not with Me (God) is against Me."
-Matthew 12:30
Obama's rhetoric regarding current events in Egypt iscondemned by the God of the Bible as "pure evil."
"Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No';
anything more than this comes from evil."
-Matthew 5:37, English Standard Version
Real men have the guts to say what they mean and mean what they say.  True leaders lead by principle  no matter the cost.  "If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ"(Galatians 1:10).
The Devil himself is flaunting his power and authority upon the earth (see 1 John 5:19), in these "last of the last days" prior to the return of Jesus Christ, and it's HIGH TIME that Christian leaders started standing up and speaking out for what is right and STOP PROSTITUTING THEMSELVES for the purpose of moneyfame and power!
"If you were of the world,
the world would love its own;
but because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
because of this the world hates you."
-John 15:19
Men and women of God RISE UP!  It won't be Rick Warren or Joel Osteen or Oprah that you'll be standing before on Judgement Day!

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Tuesday, February 1, 2011

THE DICTATORSHIP OF RELATIVISM


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THE DICTATORSHIP OF RELATIVISM

"For the day of the Lord draws near
on the United States of America.
As you have done, it will be done to you.
Your dealings will return on your own head."

-Obadiah 15, paraphrase mine


"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.  For whatever a nation sows, this it will also reap"(Galatians 6:7, paraphrase mine).

"At what point then is the approach of danger
to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us,
it must spring up amongst us...
If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves
be its author and finisher. As a nation
of freemen, we must live through all time,
or die by suicide."
-Abraham Lincoln, Lyceum Address 1838

And just how does a country craft its own demise? History shouts from the rooftops that the "toleration of what the Bible calls sin" is the surest way for a nation to "die by suicide."


"America is deeply mired in a
dictatorship of relativism...We call
it diversity-and it represents a
death wish for civilized life."
-Tom Paulkin,
Bringing America Home, p.107


I have heard it said that Sunday mornings at Willow Spring Church reflects the greatest diversity in our community on any given week.  White people, black people, brown people, old people, young people, blondes, brunettes, redheads, grayheads, baldheads...You want to talk about diversity? We celebrate it every day of the year!

But there's another kind of diversity now embraced by the United States:
"Immoral men and  homosexuals
and kidnappers and liars and perjurers..."

-1 Timothy 1:10


America calls it diversity, God calls it...sin.

And "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, bold mine).

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