GodThoughtsWired! Archives

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

Speaking of Tests...

Speaking of Tests...
Brad Reiches
Nov 7 2006 12:12AM

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Tuesday, Noveber 7, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"Speaking of Tests..."

CHRISTIANITY'S CHECKLIST
Taken from 2 Peter 1:5-11

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!"

-2 Corinthians 13:5

The following is a marvelous little test to help us practice the biblical admonishon to "examine yourselves!" It is not intended to be comprehensive or exhaustive...just helpful. When your finished, add up your total and evaluate it in light of the verse explanations below:

1. DILIGENT FAITH. Proactive lifestyle that manifests the fruit of a relationship with Jesus in a variety of ways. “Prove yourselves doers of the word.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

2. MORAL EXCELLENCE. Righteous behavior and exemplary character both privately and publically.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

3. BIBLE KNOWLEDGE. Consistent reading, study, meditation & memorization of the word of God, for the purpose of practice.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

4. SELF-CONTROL. The ability and willingness to restrain our thoughts, words & actions. “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

5. PERSISTENCE. Able to display patience and the enduring spirit that does not give up. “You will reap...if you do not grow weary & lose heart.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

6. GODLINESS. Representing Jesus is ALL areas of life. Submission to the will, way & word of God. “Walk by the Spirit…”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

7. BROTHERLY KINDNESS. “If someone says, ’I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar: for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has seen” (1 John 4:20).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

8. LOVE. The willingness to forgive when wounded, bless when cursed, give sacrificially and care unconditionally. “This is love, that we live His commandments.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

STRUGGLING EXCELLING

8-24: “Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude theselves.”“Therefore, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.”

25-40:“Keep fighting the good fight...lay hold of the eternal life to which you’ve been called.”“Pay close attention to yourself...Each one must examine his own work.”

41-56: “Let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall...Well done!”

Sunday, November 5, 2006

This Is A Test!

This Is A Test!
Brad Reiches
Nov 5 2006 10:50PM

Monday, Noveber 6, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"This Is A Test!"

There is a EXTREMELY IMPORTANT discipleship concept found throughout the New Testament that is largely overlooked in today's church culture because its application contradicts the theology of cheap grace so prominent in modern teaching. It is the concept of self-examination. Consider the following verses:

"A man must examine himself...if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged." ( 1 Corinthians 11:28, 31).

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recongnize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - unless indeed you fail the test?" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5).

"Each one must examine his own work..." ( Galatians 6:4).

"Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching" ( 1 Timothy 4:16).

"Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you..." ( 2 Peter 1:10).

Clearly, the practice of self-evaluation is intended to be an integral part of the successful Christian walk. Why?

Well, we have several answers directly found within the context of the aforementioned scriptures themselves:

1. To avoid judgement.
2. To determine the status of our faith.

3. To guard against self-deception.
4. To verify and affirm God's leading and direction in our lives.

The Bible warns us that "In these last days" (see Hebrews 1:2), many will fall away because of deception and delusion. One of the reasons for such tragedy is the unwillingness to "examine ourselves."

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Hearing the Voice of God: Part 1

Hearing the Voice of God: Part 1
Brad Reiches
Nov 2 2006 10:23PM

Friday, November 3, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"Hearing the Voice of God"

PART 1

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me."

John 10:27

As a Christian, there is nothing more important than hearing the voice of God. Nothing. It was the key to Jesus' success. It was the key to EVERY major Bible character's success. And it will be the key to yours as well. The most important thing I heard myself say during a recent sermon on "Hearing the Voice of God" was the following:

IT'S NOT A CHARASMATIC THING.

AND IT'S NOT A PENTECOSTAL THING...
IT'S A BIBLICAL THING.

Jesus indicates in the above passage of scripture, John 10:27, that the first and foremost evidence of Jesus' sheep is that they "hear His voice." Why do they "hear His voice?" Because they know Him. How do they "hear His voice?" Because they follow Him. It's called "voice recognition." The more time we spend with our Lord, the more our relationship grows. The greater the growth in the relationship, the more recognizable the voice of God becomes.

I gave three different options for sermon titles that Sunday. 1. Your role in the building of Jesus' Church, or 2. How God Fulfills His Purposes in Your Life, or 3. How to Achieve Your Destiny. YOU PICK!

The thesis, of course, is that the key to Jesus' success was contained in His statements, "I only do what I see the Father doing...I do nothing on My own initiative...What I see the Father doing, these things I do in like manner" (see John 5:19; 30; 6:28, etc.) And, of course, the #1 success statement in ALL the Bible (my opinion) was Jesus' comment to the Father, "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work that You gave Me to do" (John 17:4). How did Jesus know the work that God gave Him to do? He heard His voice!

The #1 priority in Jesus' life was His relationship with His heavenly Father. This should be our emphasis as well. Learning to hear and identify the "voice of God" is not nearly as mystical as many make it out to be. It begins by familiarizing yourself with what He has already spoken. Namely, the Bible. To think that we will be able to hear the voice of God without knowledge of the word of God is folly. "Faithful in little, faithful in much" (Luke 16:10-11).

Successfully learning to hear the voice of God
begins with the reading, study,
meditation and memorization of the Bible.

The Bible is the very words of God. We learn to identify the voice of God by familiarizing ourselves with the word of God. Learning the voice of God begins with knowldege of the Bible. My very best advice to those who burn with desire to hear the voice of God as the great saints of old...

Begin by memorizing a few hundred of your most favorite verses.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

9/11

9/11
Brad Reiches
Nov 1 2006 12:16AM

Wednesday, November 1, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"9-1-1"
THE UNITED STATES EMERGENCY HOTLINE

"Son of man, go to the house of Israel
and speak with My words to them..."

Ezekiel 3:4

September 11, 2001. It is a day that is forever etched in the minds of most Americans. Until that year, September 11th was only significant to the few of us whose birthday's or anniversaries are celebrated on that date. But on that day, in that year...

Is it fair to say that 9/11 was a day of national emergency? If so, have you considered yet, that 9-1-1 is the "Emergency Hotline" for the United States of America? Is it possible that 9/11 was an emergency call placed by God Himself to all Americans bringing warning of the impending and inevitable judgement headed our way if we don't repent?

Or was it just a coincidence?

Well, let me ask you this. Would it be fair to describe September 11, 2001 as a day of trouble and distress? A day of destruction and desolation? A day of darkness and gloom? If so, here's an interesting Bible verse that starts out, "Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming quickly..."

"A day of wrath is that day,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness,
a day of trumpet and battle cry

against the fortified cities and the high corner TOWERS!"
Zephaniah 1:14-16 (all caps, mine)

Coincidence? Are these just the babblings of a crazy preacher?

You know, the Bible does say, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By it the men of old gained approval...and without faith it is impossible to please God...My righteous ones live by faith" ( Hebrews 11:1-2,6; 10:38).

"In case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'" (Mark 13:36-37).

How Do You Define...Belief?

How Do You Define...Belief?
Brad Reiches
Nov 1 2006 10:15PM

Thursday, November 2, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"How Do You Define...Belief?"
YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION WILL BE DETERMINED BY IT

"The demons also believe..."

James 2:19

TRIVIA QUESTION: Who said the following?

"You are the Son of God...

I know who You are - the Holy One of God...

They knew who He was."

-Mark 1:24, 34; 3:11, see also, 5:7

That's right...DEMONS! Curious, isn't it? Disturbing? It is to me! In truth, "demons" are among the most "believing" groups in all the Bible. So what's the answer? "Is Belief...Enough?" Are we going to find demons in Heaven? How do we explain this apparent contradiction?

Thankfully, the answer is found in scripture, and it is clear and definitive. A careful study of the definition(s) of the word "belief" will give us the answer. Biblically, there are two different definitions that are pertinent to our study.

BELIEF: Definition A. "Congnitive assent," "Acknowledge as true." i.e. "I 'believe' that you are who you say you are.

BELIEF: Definition B. "have faith in," "be conviced of," "trust, rely on, have confidence in." i.e. "I 'believe' in You as my Lord and Savior."

The demons have "Definition A Belief," as do all persons who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him" (see Titus 1:15-16). The "Laodicean Church" (see Revelation 3:14-22), The "Apostate Church" of these last days, (see 2 Thessalonians 2; Hebrews 1:1-3), along with the "many" that Jesus refers to in Matthew 7:13-27, are also carriers of this, "Definition A Belief."

It is only the "Definition B Belief," that saves us. It is only the "Definition B Belief," that leads to salvation and eternal life with God. It is the "Definition B Belief" that Jesus refers to in John 3:15-16 and 6:47. The belief that saves us is a belief that puts it's trust in God and submits to Him as Lord and Savior. In perfection? No, that's why Jesus had to die. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). But, in willingness? Absolutely!

So, back to the original question: "Is Belief in God...Enough?" And the answer? "It all depends on your definition."

Well, I think that's "enough" for today...however, I STILL HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. In fact, the ramifications of this question, along with your answer, are the very reason that the GodThoughts Ministry exists. The question is this:

"Which do you have?
Definition A? Or, Definition B?