Connecting to the Grid
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The power grid supplies energy and opportunities well beyond natural abilities. This requires specialised infrastructure, to harness electrical power in a usable manner. Devices also need to be custom built, if they are going to use electricity to energise them. A basic understanding of electricity, how it functions and how we need to be insulated from its powerful energy, are essential. Likewise, an effective connection with God, is very similar to having a working connection to the electricity grid. God also has powers beyond our natural ability, even reaching beyond physical death and outlasting every atom in the universe. The bible is God’s manual on how to make the most of his power, revealing why we have life and its true value to him.
Windows of Time
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Despite human pride and arrogance, we don't own this planet and have no more rights or powers than what the forces of nature allow. Remember, death quickly follows birth... no matter who we are. The bible reveals that God created this universe for a good reason. All things started from nothing and will return to nothing once again. As the bible says... 1PET 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: Life appears then disappears very quickly.
Propaganda Versus Reality
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Propaganda is defined as the systematic, widespread distribution of specific ideas, doctrines, practices which can help one cause or be harmful to another cause. This phrase summarizes the great gap between what people are taught about God and what is denied or mocked. God has provided a way for facts to be learned.
The Slippery Slope
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The slippery slope argument doesn’t view moral (ethical) changes in isolation, but as the beginning of a trend. In general form, this argument says that if we allow something relatively harmless today, we may start a trend that results in something currently unthinkable becoming accepted. Many treat this argument as a fallacy in our modern world; because very few want to be held accountable when changes lead to unintended failings. For many, fulfilling once perverted lusts, is more acceptable than repercussions or personal responsibility.
True Greatness is the Least You Can Do
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
You are reborn to be great... that is the least of your possibilities. Someone (Jesus), has already died to give you the best possible chance to succeed and his disciples have spent 2000 years building upon this truth. The battle for the church is not to keep you in fellowship at all costs, rather to encourage you to honour the will of God. LUK 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. All those born of God are already greater than the greatest of all humans... this is our starting point as born again Christians.
God Uses a Different Measure
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Serving God is easier than you think... because he doesn’t think like we do, nor does he measure life and its problems in the same way that we do. His values are far different; his rewards seem far too great for the small amount of effort required. On the other hand, some of the great things we think are exceptional, God sees as a daily norm: something he expects... who can know the mind of God? 1COR 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord; who has advised him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Seeing and Hearing the Invisible
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
What would we miss without sight and hearing? Even though our eyes and ears provide the vast majority of our perceptions of the world we live in; we still only see and hear, a very small portion of that which surrounds us. To give you a better picture of this, let's consider our sight. We only see 2.3% of the entire electromagnetic spectrum (97% is invisible to us). The same types of observations can be made with our senses of hearing and smell as well. We are aware of light and sound outside our senses through observation, logic and discovery. We use machines to reveal those parts of our world that our senses cannot process.
Absolute Proof
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
It is of great value to compare the signs, contained within the God given ministry of Moses, with the signs based gospel of Jesus Christ... Moses story is complete, while the Christian age is still underway. By comparing the two sign based ministries, we learn of the absolute proof being offered to God's people today.
First Priority
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The rapid expansion of technology, knowledge and materialism, has made it more confusing for Christians to get their scriptural priorities in order. As a result, many are fighting the wrong battle, investing their time in natural rewards rather than spiritual blessing. The Lord knew of the problems of this age long before it arrived. As a result, he has offered clear and logical scriptural directions, to help us live according to the very personal priorities, which are prepared for us. Not surprisingly, we have a job to do for God. The bible defines that our greatest priority must relate to maintaining a spiritually active life (this is our top calling... all the time). God's truth and strength need to be revealed to the world... billions of lives are exposed to needless death every minute of every day. The teachings of Jesus reinforce his personal concerns...on of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. The first priority (our God given role), is to offer to save people from certain death.
The Conscience
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Everyone has a conscience: the sense of right and wrong that governs a person's thoughts and actions. This varies from person to person with parental and family input shaping the majority of values, followed by education and society inputs. Collectively this generates a moral compass to determine what is good and what is bad. Just as our body has nerve endings that signal our brain when things are wrong, ie., hot, cold, pain, etc,. Our conscience acts like nerve endings in the areas of the working of the mind... from which our life morals are formed. To give you an example... when I say 'smoking, drinking, lying, lazy, road rage, prayer, reading, fellowship, etc.,' Those parts of your conscience which are negatively affected, light up at the mention of certain words, but not all of them. This is a simple demonstration of our conscience at work. It also helps determine what choices we make, when personal gain or desire clash with our values. Our conscience offers a value and our mind may try and find an escape clause... the choice reveals our integrity.