How To Have Your Best Year...EVER!

How To Have Your Best Year...EVER!
Brad Reiches
Jan 8 2007 12:14PM

Attention Partners:  You do not need to respond to this offer.  As a GT Partner, you will receive this sermon automatically...I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT TO YOU, and to hear back from you (it is your Partnership that makes the proceeding offer possible).

FREE SERMON OFFER:  On Sunday, December 31st, we recorded my sermon entitled, How to Have Your Greatest Year...EVER!  I'd love to send it to you for free if you will make the following commitment.  After you listen to it, send a donation to the GodThoughts Ministry in the amount of what the message was worth to you.  If it was of no value, then send nothing, no obligation.  On the other hand, if it changes your life for the better, please do 2 things:  1.  Share it with somebody else, and  2.  Make a contribution worthy of the value.

If you would like an audio-cassette copy of this sermon:  e-mail me your snail-mail address.  This offer is valid until January 15th.

---

---

Monday, January 8, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

 

"How to Have Your Greatest Year...EVER!"

"If God is with us, who can be against us?"

Romans 8:37

2004 was my greatest year ever!  2005 was even better.  But I have to say, those years didn't come close to 2006.  2006 was SENSATIONAL!  In all seriousness, I've discovered some things about life, and the way God intended life to be lived, that I'm delighted to share with you.  I don't claim to know what's in store for me in 2007, however, there is one thing that I do know...It's going to be the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE!  Here are some reasons why:

-The desires of my heart will again be fulfilled in 2007, just as they have been since 2004.

-The plans that God has for me will again be realized in 2007, just ast they were in '04, '05, & '06.

-The Devourer will be rebuked in my life again this year, just as he has been the past 3 years.

-The nations will call me "blessed" in 2007, as they have since GodThoughts began more than 6 years ago.

-I will be cursed in 2007 (see 2 Timothy 3:12; Jeremiah 1:19; Joshua 1:5)...and God will turn those "curses" into BLESSINGS just as He has been doing since 2004 (note:  This dynamic is, perhaps, the most FUN part of my relationship with God.  Since, at long last, I have learned to love in such a way that "does not take into account a wrong suffered," and embraced the power to "bless those who curse me," an entire new realm of BLESSING has become a marvelous part of my life).

-And most significantly, I will see God's hand, hear God's voice, and sense God's presence consistently throughout the entire year, just as I have the past several years.

If you're interested in joining me in making 2007 YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!, I invite you to take me up on my offer (see above).*

*Partners:  You do not need to respond to this offer.  As a GT Partner, you will receive this sermon automatically...I CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT TO YOU, and to hear back from you (it is your Partnership that makes the proceeding offer possible).

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! Conclusion

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! Conclusion
Brad Reiches
Jan 4 2007 10:51PM

---

---

Friday, January 5, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influential.  It's impact transcends the Church community as a significant portion of both the secular and the religious communities have embraced it.  Indeed, The Purpose Driven Life has become one of the best selling non-fiction books in the history of the universe, second only to the Bible.  As  reviewed last week, I have benefitted from this book in many ways, however, it is now time to examine Warren's work in light of scripture, to be like the Bereans (see Acts 17:11), and only "hold fast to that which is good" (see 1 Thess. 5:20-21).  This week:  "The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life."

THE DARK SIDE OF...
"The Purpose Driven Life"

PART 3 CONCLUSION :  Truth, Unity & Compromise 

"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace

on the earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division...

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;

I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke 12:51; Matthew 10:34

Jesus came to bring peace on the inside and division on the outside.  When the Old Testament refers to God as Jehovah Shalom, "the God of peace," it is a reference to the "inner-peace" that God provides as a part of the "abundant life" and "prosperity of the soul" (see John 10:10; Psalm 25:13) that is offered to those who receive Him.  Jesus makes it clear:

"These things I have spoken to you,

that in Me you may have peace,

In the world you have tribulation, but take

courage; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

Do you see it?  Peace on the inside, conflict on the outside.  "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12).  Not "might"...WILL!  That tells me that if a "follower of Christ" lives an entire lifetime without conflict or turmoil because of his or her beliefs, then they have compromised the truth somewhere along the line.  Jesus said, "If the world hates Me they will also hate you" (see John 15:19-20).  That tells me that if a pastor or preacher or Christian teacher is loved by the world (which many are today), then they are preaching what Jesus calls a "different gospel."

"For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.  And they have healed the brokenness of My people superficially saying, 'Peace, peace, but there is no peace.  Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done?  They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush" Jeremiah 6:14, bold mine; see also, Jeremiah 8:11; 23:17; Ezekiel 13:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! C

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! C
Brad Reiches
Jan 2 2007 11:29PM

---

---

Wednesday, January 3, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influential.  It's impact transcends the Church community as a significant portion of both the secular and the religious communities have embraced it.  Indeed, The Purpose Driven Life has become one of  the best selling non-fiction books in the history of the universe, second only to the Bible.  As  reviewed last week, I have benefitted from this book in many ways, however, it is now time to examine Warren's work in light of scripture, to be like the Bereans (see Acts 17:11), and only "hold fast to that which is good" (see 1 Thess. 5:20-21).  This week:  "The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life."

THE DARK SIDE OF...
"The Purpose Driven Life"

PART 3C :  Truth, Unity & Compromise 

"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace

on the earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division...

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;

I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke 12:51; Matthew 10:34

Yet, Warren declares, "We must never let differences divide us" (p. 161).  Thank goodness Martin Luther didn't buy into that!  He says that, "Unity is the soul of fellowship" (p. 160).  And to that I say, "No, NO, NO!"  As we have discussed, TRUTH IS THE SOUL OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP!  We are NOT a Rotary Club!  We are the Church!  JESUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE OUR MODEL!

JESUS NEVER CHOSE UNITY OVER TRUTH.

HE NEVER COMPROMISED TRUTH

FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY, IN FACT...

JUST THE OPPOSITE!

Warren says that we shouldn't allow "interpretations" to divide us (see p. 162), but the Bible teaches just the opposite (see 2 Peter 1:20-21).  JESUS CAME TO DIVIDE by uncompromisingly proclaiming the truth (see Matthew 10:34ff.; Luke 12:51ff.; John 14:6; 15:18-19).  Jesus loved the world SO MUCH! that He was willing to risk unity for the sake of potential freedom by preaching the truth. 

What do the pharisees and sadducees and the apostles and the "woman at the well" and "the prostitute" and "the rich, young ruler" and the "money-changers" and His closest followers (see John 6:66) and EVERYONE ELSE that Jesus ever came in contact with have in common?  He told them the truth!  Unity was determined BY THEIR RESPONSE to the truth.

UNITY IS A BI-PRODUCT.

(take a really close look at John 17)

If they received the truth that Jesus presented, then they were unified with Him.  If they did not receive the truth of Jesus, then they were divided.  Biblical unity, or likemindedness, stems from mutual acceptance of the truth, NOT a mutual agreement to not allow truth to divide us (see Philippians 2:2).

Brothers and sisters, Jesus didn't go around "seeking unity," "Do not think that I came to bring peace..." (see above).  He went around loving people enough to tell them the truth...The truth that makes people free.

To withhold the truth is to withhold the means to the freedom that people so desparetly need.

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! B

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! B
Brad Reiches
Jan 2 2007 11:39AM

---

---

Tuesday, January 2, 2007
GodThoughtsWired!

The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influential.  It's impact transcends the Church community as a significant portion of both the secular and the religious communities have embraced it.  Indeed, The Purpose Driven Life has become one of the best selling non-fiction books in the history of the universe, second only to the Bible.  As  reviewed last week, I have benefitted from this book in many ways, however, it is now time to examine Warren's work in light of scripture, to be like the Bereans (see Acts 17:11), and only "hold fast to that which is good" (see 1 Thess. 5:20-21).  This week:  "The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life."

THE DARK SIDE OF...
"The Purpose Driven Life"

PART 3B :  The Compromise of Truth for the Sake of "Unity"

"Do you suppose that I came to grant peace

on the earth?  I tell you, no, but rather division...

Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth;

I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

Luke 12:51; Matthew 10:34

The "Prince of Peace" did NOT come to bring peace on the earth.  He came to bring division.  He came to bring a sword.  How are we to understand such difficult words?  Actually, it turns out, such words are very reasonable and logical.  Let me explain.

The Bible says that Jesus came to "set the captives free" and "proclaim liberty" to all who would receive Him (see Isaiah 61:1-3).  Indeed, one of the primary reasons Jesus came to the earth was freedom.  "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Galatians 6:1).  So, here's the key question:  "How is someone 'set free?'"  Ours is a world of men and women in "bondage to sin" (Romans 7:14). Millions upon millions of people are imprisoned by lust, money, power, food, sexual perversions of all kinds.  So how is freedom possible?

The answer is...TRUTH!

"You shall know the truth,

and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:32

"He whom the Son sets free is free, indeed!" (john 8:36).  "Truth" is the way to freedom.  Truth enables prisoners of sin to be made free.  There is only ONE WAY to become free, and that is by embracing the truth that Jesus Christ provides.  In fact, He IS the Truth.  Jesus alone.  "I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6).  No one gets to God but through Jesus, and the road to "freedom" is exactly the same.  So what does all of this have to do with "unity?"  Oh, I'm so glad you asked!

You see, "truth," by it's very definition, is a DIVIDER.  Truth divides that which is false from that which is true (No, I didn't say truth is "divisive," people become divisive when they refuse to accept the truth).  Sadly, no...TRAGICALLY!, timid teachers and gutless preachers by the myriads have stopped presenting the TRUTH because of the divisive response that is the norm from all those who reject Christ (a.k.a.  "The Truth").  Why is this so tragic?  Because,

 To reject the truth is to reject the

one thing that can make you free.

The only way to be "unified" with someone who rejects the truth is to compromise the truth yourself.  However, when you compromise the truth for the sake of "unity," you are withholding the one thing that can bring freedom to the individual(s) with whom you are seeking "unity."  WHAT A HORRIBLE TRADEOFF!  "I want to be your friend and I want you to like me so I won't talk about truth, thus leaving you in bondage, but at least we're "unified."  Uhhh, that's certainly not love, and that's precisely what Jesus DID NOT do.  Jesus never preached unity, He preached truth, and those who received His truth were naturally unified (we will discuss Jesus' prayer in John 17 at the conclusion of this study).

So here's where much of the American Church is currently missing it.  Are you ready?  TRUTH IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN UNITY! 

Jesus didn't come to bring peace because He knew

that the truth He DID bring would not be universally received.

It would DIVIDE those who DO receive Him from those who DO NOT.  To think, or practice anything else is DELUSION.

Hell is full of unified people.

So, what does all of this talk about "Truth, Unity & Compromise" have to do with Rick Warren and The Purpose Driven Life?  We'll  begin that discuss that tomorrow.

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! A

THE DARK SIDE: Truth, Unity...& Compromise! A Brad Reiches Jan 1 2007 01:52AM Happy New Year! New Year's Day, 2007 GodThoughtsWired! The Purpose Driven Life, by Dr. Rick Warren has become a global influential.  It's impact transcends the Church community as a significant portion of both the secular and the religious communities have embraced it.  Indeed, The Purpose Driven Life has become one of the best selling non-fiction books in the history of the universe, second only to the Bible.  As  reviewed last week, I have benefitted from this book in many ways, however, it is now time to examine Warren's work in light of scripture, to be like the Bereans (see Acts 17:11), and only "hold fast to that which is good" (see 1 Thess. 5:20-21).  This week:  "The Dark Side of...The Purpose Driven Life." THE DARK SIDE OF... "The Purpose Driven Life" PART 3A :  Truth, Unity...& Compromise  Satan is using the sincere, but TERRIBLY MISGUIDED "quest for unity" among Christians world-wide to lay the "ecumenical groundwork" for a "one-world religion." -Pastor Brad One of the grand names for God is "Jehovah Shalom" meaning, "The Lord is peace" (see Judges 6:24).  Isaiah 9:6 tells us the coming Messiah would be called the "Prince of Peace."  Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you..." (John 14:27).  And the apostle Paul further stated, "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).  Indeed, "peace" is an integral part of Christianity and the Christian walk. However, here's a quote from Jesus that you won't hear preached on any time soon: "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 Hmmm... It seems we have what is called an "apparent contradiction."  Was Jesus really the "Prince of Peace" when He was yelling at the "money-changers," violently tipping over their tables, pouring out their coins, and driving them out of God's house with a scourge? (see John 2:14-17).  Did the scribes and pharisees perceive Jesus as "Jehovah Shalom" as He spewed accusations and threats at them in Matthew 23? Actually, to make matters worse, the Old Testament is full of examples of "Jehovah Shalom" being a God of war.  Indeed, Jesus was quite clear when He said, "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you no, but rather division" (Luke 12:51).  So, how can the God of peace be a God of "division" at the same time?  Good question, don't you think?  Important question...don't you think?  I fear that if we don't figure it out soon, the vast majority are in danger of losing biblical Christianity altogether, and in danger of the "rude awakening" described in Matthew 7:21-23.* I'll give you some time to chew on this one, and continue this section tomorrow. *The Bible tells us that only a "few" are saved.  "Many" are being misled.  The majority are lost.  Of course, the majority don't think they are lost...but according to Jesus (see Matthew 7:13-23)...they are.