Radically Significant!

Radically Significant!
Brad Reiches
Jun 17 2008 10:55AM

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Tuesday, June 17,  2008

GodThoughtsWired!          

"Radically Significant!"

PART I

"O God, restore us...

O God of hosts, restore us...

O God of hosts, restore us."

Psalm 80:3, 7, 19

God is a "Restorer."  He has the ability, He has the capacity, He has the desire.  "Return to Me and I will return to you, says the Lord" (Malachi 3:7).  And when the Lord returns to us, He does so as a Restorer, a Deliverer (see 2 Samuel 22:2), and a Redeemer (see Psalm 19:14).  It's His nature, He is a re-builder (see Ezra 1:3, 5; Nehemiah, chapter 2).

The following are two promises that are radically significant: 

PROMISE #1

"And we know that God causes all things

to work together for good to those who love God,

to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

I see three things of vital importance:

1.  "All things."  God has the capacity to work "all things" together for good.  That would include sin, suffering, evil, mistakes, curses...all things.  AMAZING!

2.  This is a "conditional" promise applicable only to those who "love God."  All things DO NOT work together for good to those who do not love God.  Thus, the tragic world we live in.

3.  This is a "conditional" promise applicable only to those who seek and serve God's purpose.  All things DO NOT work together for good to those who are self-serving, self-indulgent, me/myself/and I type people.

continued tomorrow.

Pathway to Success!

Pathway to Success!

Brad Reiches

Jun 4 2008 11:02AM

Wednesday, June 4,  2008

GodThoughtsWired!         

"The Pathway to Success"

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous.*"

1 Peter 3:12

Skills are important and giftedness is valuable, but the key to success in God's economy is determined by whether or not the Lord is with you.  "The Lord was with Joseph SO he became a successful man" (Genesis 39:9, caps mine; see also, 1 Chronicles 22:11).

"The eyes of the Lord search to and fro throughout the entire earth to strongly support those whose hearts are completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9).  One man with "strong support" from the Lord shall accomplish more than ten thousand without it.

The serious follower of the Lord is challenged to seek and pursue righteousness (see Matthew 6:33; 2 Timothy 2:22).  Indeed, the kingdom of God IS righteousness (see Romans 14:17).  What will the lifestyle of righteousness do for you?  Well, it's possible you'll suffer for it (see 1 Peter 3:14), but here are the "for sures:"

-Righteousness exalts a nation (see Proverbs 14:34).

-Righteousness establishes and upholds a throne (see Proverbs 16:12; 20:28; 25:5).

-Righteousness establishes...YOU!  (see Isaiah 54:14).

Righteousness won't guarantee money, fame, or fortune.  In fact, there may be times that you'll be persecuted for it.  However it will guarantee the fulfillment of all that God has for you.

In the kingdom of God...it is the "Pathway to Success!"

*Righteousness is defined as, "living right according to God's definition, found in the Bible."

Delusional 3

Delusional 3
Brad Reiches
Jun 2 2008 09:00PM

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

GodThoughtsWired!          

 

"Delusional"

THE CONCLUSIONIAL  :)

"They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him..."

Titus 1:16

Jesus said, "If you love Me you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15).*  In other words, those who truly love God will display that love in their actions.  Jesus clarified this further by saying, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me..." (John 14:21).*  To be sure, there was no confusion among the early followers of Jesus.  It was easy to distinguish the real Christians because you could see it in their lifestyle.  "You will know them by their fruit" (Matthew 7:20).*

Indeed, their is no ambiguity in Jesus' teaching here.  Nor was there any misunderstanding among His early followers.

"The one who says, 'I have come to know Him,'

but does not keep His commandments, is a liar,

and the truth is not in him."

1 John 2:4*

When was the last time you heard one of us "preachers" quote that verse?  Ever?  The evidence suggests that the Apostle closest to Jesus may have been John.  Here's what John understood Jesus to say.  "And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments" (2 John 6).*  And Jesus' brother James understood it this way, "Prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (James 1:22).*

Today's researchers call them "professing Christians." 

The Bible calls them..."Delusional."

*Not in perfection, that's why Christ died...but in willingness.

Delusional 2

Delusional 2
Brad Reiches
Jun 2 2008 11:33AM

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Monday, June 2, 2008

GodThoughtsWired! 

 

"Delusional"

Part 2:  A Different Gospel

"A different gospel..."

2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6

The "Different Gospel" emphasizes "grace" without "truth" (see John 1:17).

The "Different Gospel" embraces the "love of God" without the "conviction of the Holy Spirit" (see John 16:8-11).

The "Different Gospel" professes "peace" where none exists (see Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:3).

The "Different Gospel" proclaims forgiveness without repentance (see 1 John 1:6-9).

The "Different Gospel" is why,

"Many will say to Me on that day 'Lord, Lord,'...

and then I (Jesus) will declare to them, 'I never knew you...'"

Matthew 7:21-23

And WHY will that happen?  Because The "Different Gospel" can grow organizations...but not disciples.

And WHY does that happen?  Because The "Different Gospel" is what the Bible calls a "Doctrine of demons" (see 1 Timothy 4:1).

Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 1

Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 1
Brad Reiches
Jul 1 2008 10:42AM

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GodThoughts Wired! 

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion

  "Deadly Delusions in Today's Church"

EVANGELIZING THE CHURCH IN THE ERA OF DELUSION

"They did not receive the love of the truth...

For this reason God will send upon them a

deluding influence so that they will believe

what is false..."

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

#2.  The Delusion of Grace - part 1

The Bible teaches, "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Grace is available to everyone, "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11), however:

ALL MEN DO NOT RECEIVE

THE GRACE THAT GOD OFFERS THEM.

"He (Jesus) came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).  Do you see it?  "As many as received Him."  Indeed, it is precisely as Ephesians 2:8 tells us,  the grace of God MUST BE RECEIVE THROUGH FAITH!  "For by grace you have been saved through faith..." (bold mine).

This is the "our part" of Christianity.  The myriads of today's teachers and preachers that promote a "grace alone" are leading tens of millions straight to Hell.* 

*Click on Rick Warren's Wacky World of Salvation for more study.

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