The Culture Wars
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of a population, that are passed down from generation to generation... these cultures are adjusted and changed as needed. God's culture is built on spiritual principles and powers which are revealed once we are filled with the Holy Spirit. This requires us to move away from natural thinking and exercise spiritual principles. This will vary according to the culture we live under.
Turning Weakness To Greatness
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
God has always been able to turn weak people into great people, and failed people into overcomers. He also made a great nation out of weak people, who he made great.
The Events Of The Lord's Return
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
A simple bible study of the revealed order of details surrounding the return of the Lord. See also the talk "In Our Lifetime" delivered on 4th February 2022.
In Our Lifetime
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
There is one thing common to all of us on the planet... we are born and we die. This is inescapable. However, there is something else that is totally overlooked by the great majority... all will have to answer to God (who is their creator), for the things they have done with their lives.
When Truth Doesn't Matter
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The world has very quickly moved to the point where the truth is not the driving force behind most decisions. Tribal loyalty and desired opinions are more important than facts, because people prefer their own reality and build upon their own 'truths'. Throughout the western world, reality and provable science have given way to the 'science' of personal beliefs. This 'science' is also selectively applied... eg., I might choose to believe that I am female, even though I am genetically, physically and visibly male, yet governing bodies will pressure everyone to agree with my choice. However, it I identify as fully vaccinated without evidence, I risk being rejected and isolated from society.These corruptions are prophesied, because they lead to the denial and corruption of everything that relates to God's creation, purposes and values. A clear pattern emerges... Humanities main goal is more about appeasing very fragile and deluded egos, than it is about improving or sustaining human life.
Led By The Spirit
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The Holy Spirit is the energy or power of God in action, just as our deeds (as opposed to our thoughts assets) display our nature to those around us. For those who are anointed/filled with the Spirit, it's God's intention that we utilize the same power for the salvation of others, so God's purposes can be established in us. Thus, we become the children of God, because our spiritual DNA is the same as God's... we are his offspring rather than the world's and we are motivated to act accordingly.
My Yoke Is Easy
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
In the popular Charles Dickens story 'A Christmas Carol', the mise Ebeneezer Scrooge worked his long suffering employee Bob Cratchit to breaking point (this is where we get the insulting term 'scrooge' from... meaning someone who has plenty, but is not generous or caring to those who don't). He provided only minimal heating, expected Cratchit to work on holidays and constantly displayed an air of criticism and suspicion. No one would want to work for a boss like Scrooge, who represented the worst, yet common traits of humanity.
God's True Rest And Refreshing
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
By the act of confusing spiritual priorities and values, it becomes clear why people build unfulfilled lives based on powerless spiritual precepts. Gods Spirit is still bound by the accuracy of his word... we cannot add nor subtract from those things which the Lord has laid down. If we start letting small things slip by, or add little things that please us that are not in his word... then they can accumulate to the point where destruction is assured!! Safety margins are an act of wisdom when it comes to conforming to God's directions. By limiting natural appreciations, stimulations and actions, we make more room for the Spirit to move... thus we end up with more accurate results. Mistakes are going to cost a large number of Gods saints their salvation. These things are written so true rest and refreshing can be attained.
The Final Age Of The Victim
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
If you have a victim mentality, you will see your entire life through a perspective that things constantly happen 'to' you. Victimisation is thus a combination of seeing most things in life as negative, beyond your control, and as something you should be given sympathy for experiencing, because you deserve 'better'. At it's heart, the victim mentality is a way to avoid taking any responsibility for yourself or your life. By believing you have no power then you don't have to take action... and it is not your fault.The victim mentality has gone mainstream in the West. It's through the ideology commonly known as 'identity politics', which neatly divides society into victims and oppressors. It's an ideology that tells various minorities that they're hapless victims of an oppressive system: whether of Power, Gender, Race, Age, Wealth, Bodily shape and size, Personal beliefs. In reality everyone is a victim and an oppressor at the same time.
God Knows Principles That We Don't
By Pastor Brad Smith [Brisbane]
The following thoughts and activity are presented in the interests of being able to follow and trust God... even if we are or a bit confused or don't understand all that is happening. We are not asked to stress or strain our understanding... rather we are asked to be obedient. Therein is our victory and therein God is given room to work. We don't know how God does what he does, but we know that he does it... that is what we stand on.