Wednesday, July 27, 2011

SALVATION... ACCORDING TO JESUS 2


GodThoughtsWired!              Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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SALVATION...
ACCORDING TO JESUS

2
SOME OF MY NOTES:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples,
'If anyone wishes to come after Me,
he must deny himself, and take up
his cross and follow Me
. For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose it;
but whoever loses his life for My sake
will find it. For what will it profit
a man if he gains the whole world
and forfeits his soul? Or what will
a man give in exchange for his soul?"

-Matthew 16:24-26 (bold mine,
see also Mark 8:34-37;
Luke 9:23-25 & John 12:24-26)

Jesus never gave the same answer twice and yet
the principle of followership, the way of salvation,
the prerequisite of discipleship...is the same for everybody.  And the false religion of "Popular Christianity
is no better (or no different for that matter)
than any other cult that the "angel of light"
has cooked up for this 21st century's "age of delusion."

-pastor Brad, GTWired!, July 26, 2011
-"Deny myself.  Take up my cross (see Galatians 2:20;5:24).  Follow Jesus."  It's all the same thing!  Following Jesus as opposed to doing my own thing and going my own way. The cult of modern "Popular Christianity" looks like this:  
"I live my life pretty much like everyone
else in the world lives accept for three things.
1.  I go to church occasionally. 
 2.  I do my own thing and go my
own way...but I ask God to bless me.
    3.  When I get in a bind I ask God
to get me out
.
-But Jesus said that serving two masters is a part of the great delusion (see Matthew 6:24).  It's either me or Him.  My kingdom or His.  Satan and today's false gospel say I can do both, but one's a liar and the other's a thief!
IN EVERY CASE (see Nicodemus (see John 3:1-8), the rich young ruler* (see Luke 18:18-30), the woman at the well (see John 4:7-26), the lawyer (see Luke 10:25-37), the thief on the cross (see Luke 23:39-43), when someone asked what the prerequisite was to "inherit eternal life," the answer was unique to the individual, but always the same...
"Deny yourself, take up the cross of self-denial, and follow Me."
*EXAMPLE #1THE STORY OF THE RICH YOU RULER.  
Didn't you ever wonder about this?  They guy asks Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life," and Jesus says, "SELL EVERYTHING AND GIVE IT TO THE POOR!" Isn't that the wrong answer?  I thought it wasn't about works?  I thought it was all about grace!  Wasn't Jesus supposed to say, "believe in Me," or "Recieve Me," or "Just say this simple prayer?"
No, actually, Jesus says, and the Bible clearly teaches, that it's all about "kingdoms."  Mine or His.  Their can't be two Kings.  Either God's in charge...or I am.  I can't have both.  There's only one King in Heaven.  Nobody and nothing else is in charge.  Not money.  Not you...
not even me.

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Get Your Eyes OFF Yourself!


Get Your Eyes OFF Yourself!
Brad Reiches
Sep 7 2006 01:27AM

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Thursday, September 7, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"Get Your Eyes OFF Yourself!"

"Do nothing from selfishness..."
Philippians 2:3
Self-pity doesn't fly in the kingdom of God, nor does it go over well with your Heavenly Father.  It didn't work for Job:
Job:  "Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.  And Job said, 'Let the day perish on which I was to be born..." (Job 3:1-2).
God:  "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty" (Job 40:1).     See especially, Job, chapters 1-3, 38-42.
It didn't work for Jeremiah:
Jeremiah:  "Remember me, take notice of me...Because of Your hand upon me, I sat alone...Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?" (see Jeremiah 15:15-19).
God:  "If you return, then I will restore you..." Jermiah 15:19 (see also, verses 15-20).

And it REALLY didn't work for Elijah!  In fact, it may have resulted in an early "retirement:"

Elijah
"It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life..." (1 Kings 19:4).
God"You shall appoint a prophet (Elisha) in your place" (1 Kings 19:16).  See 1 Kings, chapter 19 for entire story.

The reason "self-pity" is ALWAYS inappropriate is because it is an indictment against the God whos love and care and mercy and grace and power are ALWAYS "sufficient for you" (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Though you may not sense His presence, GET YOUR EYES OFF YOURSELF!  "Set your mind on the things above..." (Colossians 3:2).  Though you don't currently see His hand, GET YOUR EYES OFF YOURSELF!  "Fixing your eyes upon Jesus..." (Hebrews 12:2).
"These things I have spoken to you,
so that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

"SALVATION... ACCORDING TO JESUS" 1


GodThoughtsWired!                   Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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"SALVATION...
ACCORDING TO JESUS"

1
SOME OF MY NOTES:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples,
'If anyone wishes to come after Me,
he must deny himself, and take up
his cross
 and follow Me. For whoever
wishes to save his life will lose it
;
but whoever loses his life for My sake
 will find it
.  For what will it profit
a man if he gains the whole world
and forfeits his soul? Or what will
a man give in exchange for his soul?"

-Matthew 16:24-26 (bold mine,
see also Mark 8:34-37;
Luk
9:23-25 & John 12:24-26).
-Wow!  One of the very few statements of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels.  Must be extremely important stuff!
-Here we have the definiton of what it means to be a Christian from Jesus Himelf...and it's so clear and concise.  And not only that, but it's what Jesus  taught and modeled...in every single case!  From Nicodemus(see John 3:1-8), to the rich young ruler (see Luke 18:18-30), to the woman at the well (see John 4:7-26), to the lawyer (see Luke 10:25-37), to the thief on the cross (see Luke 23:39-43).
-Jesus never gave the same answer twice and yet the principle of followership, the way of salvation, the prerequisite of discipleship...
is the same for everybody.
-And the false religion of "Popular Christianity" is no better (or no different for that matter) than any other cult that the "angel of light" has created for this 21st century's "age of delusion."
Today's GodThoughts come to you from Redondo Beach at Half Moon Bay, California. My other most favorite devotional place in the whole world. Last night in the gym somebody asked me why I felt the need to write GodThoughtsWired! on my vacation.  My response was, "I don't have to...I get to!  When your soul is FULL, it's simply the nature of the Holy Spirit within to want to share."  And she went away perplexed.


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Friday, July 22, 2011

THE FATAL FLAW OF ATHEISTS & PROGRESSIVES 2


GodThoughtsWired!                    Friday, July 22, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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THE FATAL FLAW
OF
ATHEISTS
&
PROGRESSIVES
2
"The key is history.  Terrific energy
expended-civilizations are built up
-excellent institutions devised;
but each time something goes wrong.
Some fatal flaw always brings
the selfish and cruel people
to the top and it all slides back
into misery and ruin..."
-C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, p.43
And the "fatal flaw" is simply this, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (see Romans 3:23).  As C.S. Lewis brilliantly points out, 
"Two odd things about the human race.
  First, that they were haunted by the idea
of a sort of behavior they ought to
practice, what you might call fair play,
or decency, or morality, or the Law of Nature.  Second, that they didn't in fact, do so."
-Case for Christianity, p.13
And I would be so bold as to declare here that anyone who has ever had the honesty and humility to access themselves truthfully would wholeheartedly agree that their dilemma in life has been the descrepancy between what the felt they ought to do, and what in fact, they did do.  This harsh reality is what the Bible describes as "sin" (see James 4:17).
"It seems to start up all right and runs
a few yards, and then it breaks down. 
They're trying to run it on the wrong juice. 
That's what Satan has done to humans."

-C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, pp.44
Indeed, the history of mankind is replete with the unending cyclical nature of man's folly.  Crisis or tragedy or simple need prompts the man (or nation) to cry out to God.  God's everlasting love and mercy lifts the man (or nation) out of the filthy mirk and mire that he has created for himself.  
At some point during the restoration-renewal process the man (or nation) says, "Thanks God, I've got it from here," and the man (or nation) returns to the self-reliance that history shows always has one possible outcome.  It applies to every person.  Every nation.  Everywhere.  Every time...
x's 1000!

Today's GodThoughts come to you from the majestic shores of Edgewood, South Lake Tahoe. One of my two most favorite devotional places in the whole world. Technology is amazing, isn't it?
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

THE FATAL FLAW OF ATHEISTS & PROGRESSIVES 1


GodThoughtsWired!                 Thursday, July 21, 2011
(originally published September 17, 2007)
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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THE FATAL FLAW

OF

ATHEISTS

&

PROGRESSIVES

1

"The moment you have a self at all, there is a
possibility of putting yourself first-wanting to
be the center-wanting to be God, in fact.
That was the sin of Satan; and that was the
sin he taught the human race..."

-C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, p.43


There is one question in this life that must, and ultimately will be answered by every single one of us:  "Will you live this life for the glory of God (the purpose for which we were created, see Isaiah 43:7), or for your own glory?"

"What Satan put into the heads of
our remote ancestors was the idea
that they could "be like gods" -
could set up on their own as if
they had created themselves-
be their own masters-invent some
sort of happiness for themselves
outside God, apart from God."

C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, p.43

The United States was originally established for the glory of God, thus it became the most blessed country the world has ever known...but no longer.

"And out of that hopeless attempt
has come nearly all that we call
human history-money, poverty,
ambition, war, prostitution, classes,
slavery-the long terrible story
of man trying to find something
other than God which will make
him happy.  The reason why it
can never succeed is this.  God
made us...A car is made to run
on petrol, and it won't run
properly on anything else...
God can't give us happiness and
peace apart from Himself, because
it isn't there.  There's no such thing."
-C.S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, p.43

Karl Marx was wrong.


Today's GodThoughts come to you from the majestic shores of Edgewood, South Lake Tahoe. One of my two most favorite devotional places in the whole world. Technology is amazing, isn't it?

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

THOUGHTS ON FAITH


GodThoughtsWired!                     Thursday, July 14, 2011
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THOUGHTS ON FAITH

Faith & Doubt
Faith is believing in the trustworthiness of God
even when circumstances appear to contradict it.
-pastor Brad
I have a question for you...is yours a life of faith diversified by doubt?  Or, is yours a life of doubt...diversified by faith?  In other words, do you basically walk by faith...or sight? (see 2 Corinthians 5:7).  Do you generally put your trust in God's word and thereby act?  Or do you generally do your own thing and ask God to bless it?

Please notice that the subtitle is, "Faith AND Doubt," as opposed to "faith OR doubt."  You see, I believe thatbiblical faith is not necessarily the absence of doubt, but the ability to act on our beliefs despite the doubt.  So...back to the original question.

Faith is the ability to act on
your belief in spite of your doubt.
-pastor Brad
The Bible teaches that we cannot please God without faith (see Hebrews 11:6).  And Jesus queried whether or not there would actually be any real faith left on the earth upon His return (see Luke 18:8).  How sad.
Faith is the belief that God is good
in spite of apparent contradictions.

-pastor Brad
Biblical faith is not the blind leading the blind or vain superstition.  Christian faith is a willingness to believe (put your trust in), based on the sufficiency of the evidence (see Hebrews 11:1, KJV).  The man says, "I do believe; help my unbelief" (see Mark 9:24), and God honors his request!  I love it!  God never asks us to be perfect...just willing.

Remember the words of Billy Graham,

"Have you ever seen God?
I've never seen God.
I've never seen the wind.
I've felt the effects of the wind.
But I've never SEEN the wind.
There's a mystey to it.
"

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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS


GodThoughtsWired!               Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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ONE OF LIFE'S GREATEST LESSONS

I believe that one of life's greatest lessons is:

You can learn whatever you need to learn
to become whatever you want to be.

While it's true that there are exceptions (i.e. at 6'6" - 250lbs. I was never going to become a jockey no matter how much I learned), the principle itself is generally true.  Thus, I have become a student of those things that are most important to me.

Thus, first and foremost, I am a student of the Bible:


"Be diligent to present yourself
approved to God as a workman
who does not need to be ashamed,
accurately handling the word of truth."
-2 Timothy 2:15

Secondly, I am a student of God:

"That I may know Him..."
-Philippians 3:10

Thirdly, I am a student of myself:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else
And is desperately sick; who can understand it? ...He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but he who walks wisely will be delivered."

-Jeremiah 17:9Proverbs 28:26
In addition, I have become a student of "the schemes of the devil,"
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil...and do not give the devil an opportunity."
-Ephesians 6:114:27
Along with being a student of my wife and children, there are several other things in life that I also study.
I'm curious...
What are you a student of?

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Friday, July 8, 2011

ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?


GodThoughtsWired!                   Friday, July 8, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?
WRONG QUESTION!
"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith;
examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this
about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—
unless indeed you fail the test?"

-2 Corinthians 13:5
I think the biggest problem in the world today is:
Jesus Himself said, "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters"(Luke 11:23).  So, are you "with Jesus," or against Him?  How do you know?  How can you tell?
Jesus also said that "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).  Sowhen was the last time you were persecutedbecause of your relationship with Jesus?
"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
Can you give, oh, let's say, three quick examples of how the above verse applies in your life?  At one point in Jesus' ministry He asked the question, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' but don't do what I say" (see Luke 6:46).  Would Jesus have reason to ask you the same question?  
Jesus also said that "many" call themselves Chrisians who are not (see Matthew 7:21-27).  What makes you think that you are not among those "many?"
Ultimately, the Bible teaches us that who you think you are isn't nearly as significant as what the"fruit" of your life says about you.
"By this we know that we have
come to know Him,
if we keep His commandments.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,”
and does not keep His commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

-1 John 2:3-4

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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

100% PROOF OF ALIENS... ON THE EARTH TODAY! 4


GodThoughtsWired!             Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion
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100% PROOF OF ALIENS...
ON THE EARTH TODAY!

4
Peter had come to grips with the reality that as a follower of Jesus, he was a stranger on the earth.  His citizenship was now in Heaven.  Is it any wonder then, that it was Peter that God used to describe the disciple of Christ as an "alien?"

In reference to the Hebrews of the Old Testament, God says in Acts 7:6 that, "His offspring would be aliens in a foreign land."  Indeed the bondage of the Israelites in Egypt for more than four hundred years provides a vivid illustration for the modern disciple in the world today.  Just as the Israelites in Egypt were, "aliens in a foreign land," so the modern day disciple is no different.  Consider the following "alien" behaviors:
"Love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you...
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you...
bless those who persecute you.
Bless and curse not."
-Matthew 5:44Luke 6:28Romans 12:14
Furthermore, 2 Timothy 3:12 warns, "All who desire to live godly in Chirst Jesus will be persecuted,"and the response of Jesus to this harsh reality is simply,"blessed are you" (see Matthew 5:10-12).
"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,
therefore the world hates you."

-John 15:19
Yes, one who considers himself a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, is one who will live his life on the earth as,"an alien in a foreign land."


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Tuesday, July 5, 2011

100% PROOF OF ALIENS... ON THE EARTH TODAY! 3


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100% PROOF OF ALIENS...
ON THE EARTH TODAY!

3

Actually, one who participates in the sinful ways of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  He is, according to the Bible, an adulteress (see James 4:4).  Until the would-be follower of Jesus comes to grip with the reality that he is not of this world, he is relegated to live a life of denial, fear, timidity, and compromise; outside of, and separate from, a right relationship with God.
In fact, this is precisely the process that we can see in the life of Peter.  Prior to Pentecost Peter talked a good game.  He claimed that he would never deny Chirst (seeMatthew 26:34).  Well, talk is cheap.  Matthew 26:69-75 exposes Peter as a timid, fearful man, filled with compromise and contradictions.  Before the cock crowed Peter had indeed, denied Jesus three times.

But something powerful happened in the life of Peter subsequent to his denials.  He came to accept and even embrace his status as someone who was in the world but not of the world.  By Acts chapter 4, Peter had been mocked, persecuted, and beaten because of his faith and loyalty to Christ.  The association with Jesus that he was once ashamed of, was now counted as a high privilege...

more tomorrow!


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