Profile of a False Prophet: 4

Profile of a False Prophet: 4
Brad Reiches
Dec 13 2006 10:16PM

The GodThoughts Newsletter* & Annual Report

Would you like a FREE copy of the GodThoughts Annual Report?  Would you like to receive the FREE GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter*?  If so, please e-mail me your snail mail, mailing address and I will place you on our monthly mailing list.  The GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter (hardcopy) keeps you up to date on all of the latest "GodThoughts happenings" around the world (testimonies, subscriber statistics, resource information and global updates).
*The GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter mailing list is audited at the end of each year.  Only GT Partners, and those who respond to this invitation, will receive the newsletter in 2007.

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Thursday, December 14, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

The GodThoughts ANNUAL REPORT for 2006 is now available (see above).

 

"Profile of a False Prophet"

PART 4

#4.  They are greedy.  "In their greed they will exploit you with false words" (2 Peter 2:3).  The Bible says that they have, "a heart trained in greed" (2 Peter 2:14).  They build their "ministries" by enticing the people of God to give money to their "ministry" in exchange for a blessing.  The following is a real life example:

"Partner, I want you to take just a minute to write down

three things that the devil has stolen from you recently.

Turn to the enclosed envelope where space has been provided

and make a sacrificial gift to the ministry today.  ?  will stand

with you in prayer, expecting what ever has been stolen will be

returned to you DOUBLE in the next 90 days."

I have observed some of these men over the years, watching them build multi-million dollar, international empires, by exploiting generation after generation with expertly implemented, "hearts trained in greed."  It doesn't hardly seem possible.  How do these individuals thrive?  Why are so few of them ever exposed?  The fifth attribute of a false prophet and teacher helps explain why...

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Profile of a False Prophet: 2 & 3

Profile of a False Prophet: 2 & 3
Brad Reiches
Dec 12 2006 11:14PM

The GodThoughts Newsletter* & Annual Report

Would you like a FREE copy of the GodThoughts Annual Report?  Would you like to receive the FREE GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter*?  If so, please e-mail me, at brad@godthoughts.org,  your snail mail, mailing address and I will place you on our monthly mailing list.  The GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter (hardcopy) keeps you up to date on all of the latest "GodThoughts happenings" around the world (testimonies, subscriber statistics, resource information and global updates).
*The GodThoughts Monthly Newsletter mailing list is audited at the end of each year.  Only GT Partners, and those who respond to this invitation, will receive the newsletter in 2007.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

 

"Profile of a False Prophet"

PARTS 2 & 3

"You, therefore...be on your guard lest,

being carried away by the error of unprincipled men,

you fall from your own steadfastness."

2 Peter 3:17

#2.  They are arrogant.  "Speaking out arrogant words...they speak arrogantly" (2 Peter 2:18; Jude 16).  They speak and think very highly of themselves.  Often referring to themselves as an apostle or prophet of God (see Proverbs 27:2).  They are often forceful in their manipulation of crowds.  Masters of "crowd psychology."  Boastful of all that "God is doing through them."  They epitomize the opposite of the one God looks to, "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at my word" (Isaiah 66:2).

#3.  They are irreverent toward the devil and demons.  "Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties...these men revile the things which they do not understand" (2 Peter 2:10; Jude 8-9).  Out of their arrogance, false prophets openly defy Satan, sometimes devoting more attention to the devil and demons, than to God.  The Bible tells us that even angels who are greater in might and power, do not do what these "disguised servants of the Lord" do (see 2 Peter 2:11):

"Like unreasoning animals...

reviling where they have no knowledge,

will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed."

2 Peter 2:12

Profile of a False Prophet: 1

Profile of a False Prophet: 1
Brad Reiches
Dec 11 2006 09:12PM


Are you a GodThoughts Partner?

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

 

"Profile of a False Prophet"

PART 1

"You, therefore...be on your guard lest,

being carried away by the error of unprincipled men,

you fall from your own steadfastness."

2 Peter 3:17

The Bible warns that false teachers are among us.  "Just as there will also be false teachers among you..." (2 Peter 2:1).  It says that these teachers are numerous and that a lot of people will be deceived by them.  "Many false prophets will arise and mislead many" (Matthew 24:11; see also, 2 Peter 2:2).  This series is written in the hope that you will not be one of them. 

The following 6 attributes are often found among false prophets and teachers.

#1.  They are disguised as servants of righteousness.  "Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.  Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:14).  This is the primary reason why so many are being led astray.  The Bible clearly teaches that, "Many false prophets will arise and WILL mislead many" (Matthew 24:11).  Why?  Because people believe these individuals are of God...but they are not. 

How does this happen?  Most people do not know the Bible well enough to discern the difference.

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers,

you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles

of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness,

for he is a babe.  But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice

have their senses trained to discern good and evil."

Hebrews 5:12-14

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Christianity Has No Customers

Christianity Has No Customers
Brad Reiches
Dec 7 2006 08:53PM

Please visit our website at www.godthoughts.org, or www.willowspringchurch.org  to download today's audio version of GodThoughts Wired!, music, sermons, sermonettes, the Bible Says Series, and The Lifestyle of the Disciple Series...ALL FOR FREE.  You may also go to the Apple iTunes  Music Store on the web and search the podcast directory for Willow Spring Church and/or GodThoughts. Subscribe there for automatic updates and download the daily GodThoughts podcast directly to your i-pod...ALL FOR FREE! 

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Friday, December 8, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

 

"Christianity Has No Customers"

"May your silver perish with you, becuase you thought
you could obtain the gift of God with money!"
Acts 8:20

The gospel is not merchandise to be bought or sold (Acts 8:18-23).  It is a gift, freely given and received. It is a life to be lived.  Although we must certainly understand the unbeliever’s mindset in order to be an effective witness (I Corinthians 9:22), the gospel cannot be converted into a commercial for Christ.  Effective advertising never chastens or offends its potential customers, however, the true gospel repeatedly offends "Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me (Jesus)" (Luke 7:23).  "If anyone wishes to come after Me (Jesus), let him deny himself...he who wishes to save his life must lose it..." (see Mark 8:34-37).  
To "receive" the gospel is to "crucify the flesh, with its passions and desires" (see Galatians 5:25).  Indeed, the world embraces its pride, but for the sincere follower of Christ, pride is a stumbling block.  "God is opposed to the proud...pride goes before destruction" (see James 4:6; Proverbs 16:18).  The "boastful pride of life" is to be replaced by the "humility of surrender" if we are to succeed in our quest to rest in the sufficiency of Christ (Matt. 11:28-30).
Biblical Christianity has no customers; it has disciples.  Committed followers who have decided (not in perfection but in willingness) to follow Jesus.  Disciples determined to "deny themselves" and take up their crosses daily (see Matthew 16:24-26).  Men and women and children who bow to the name of Jesus.  Individuals who proclaim, "Not my will, but Thine be done!"  
Jesus began His public ministry by exclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (see Matthew 4:17*).  Repentance is fairly alien and antithetical to marketing, is it not?  Yet, this is the gospel of the kingdom of God. 

Anything less than repentance is a compromised
gospel that will land its believers in Hell. 
-Pastor Brad

"How's that for some advertising?"  Marketing and evangelism are antagonists, not allies. A church can be advertised.  Programs can be advertised.  Preachers, books and seminars can be advertised. but the gospel is no commodity. 

*There is only one biblical gospel; the gospel of repentance.  For a comprehensive study, click on:  The World's Greatest Invitation.

Faith & Works; Paul & James: 4

Faith & Works; Paul & James: 4
Brad Reiches
Dec 4 2006 10:32PM

On Friday, December 2, in the GTW! entitled, "Paul & James; Faith & Works:  2,"  I regretfully misquoted Matthew 5:20.  It should read,

"Unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees, you shall not enter the
kingdom of God."
Matthew 5:20

Fortunately, the context surrounding the misquote remains accurate.  The quote was immediately fixed in the archives.  Thank you to the hundreds of GT subscribers who pointed this error out to me. 

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Tuesday, December 5, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"Paul & James;
Faith & Works"

PART 4

FAITH #2.  "BLIND FAITH."  Belief in false gods.  This is the faith of false religions, including that of the "self-help" gurus, "faith in faith."  There is an unfortunate perspective on prayer that is gaining popularity.  It's proponents suggest that the power of prayer is found in the prayer itself.  "Just pray."  Of course, the truth is, that the power of prayer is utterly dependent on the object of that prayer.  You can pray to a rock as long as you wish, however, that rock has no power to help you.

As with prayer, the power of faith lies not in the faith itself, but in the object of that faith.  The dictionary defines faith as, "complete trust or confidence."  Indeed, you may have faith in that same rock that you pray to, but to no avail.  This is what is known as a "blind faith."  Whereas the Christian faith is based on the sufficiency of the evidence (meaning:  there is ample evidence from scripture, history, archaeology, creation, personal experience, etc., to put your "complete trust" in the God of the Bible), "blind faith" puts its trust in something or someone despite the lack of tangible evidence.