A Weekly World Wide Word of Encouragement to those in the Ministry
PRAISE GOD IT’S MONDAY!
A WEEKLY ‘WWW (world-wide word) OF ENCOURAGEMENT’
TO THOSE IN MINISTRY
A FREE service, currently connecting with Christian leaders from 3,000 denominations and ministries, in 70 countries.
Issue No: 995 Published: 09 Nov 2020
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
ERROR/SIN
Greek (Western)
Greek thought primarily views sin as a wrong belief or incorrect thinking. The mind is blamed for the actions of the will. Excuses abound for sin. Spiritually we emphasize what a person knows about faith. Hence we lift up knowledge about Jesus, such as is gained from theological learning institutions. Degrees, diplomas or other qualifications have become a prerequisite for spiritual appointments.
Eastern (Hebrew)
Hebrews view sin as wrong behaviour. They emphasize what a person does in response to faith.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is the most famous example.
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:30-37)
The reason that Jesus hated the Pharisees so much was their spiritual hypocrisy - which would be pretty acceptable in our day too!
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. 27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. (Matthew 23:25-8)
And, of course, thoughts, words and actions not agreeing, cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives! The church was afraid then and should be so now!
Ananias and Sapphira
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (Acts 5:1-11)
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. Actions speak louder than words. Words and actions must agree.
2. The proof of salvation isn't a verbal statement, prayer or even a written pledge, but a life lived under the control, and in the image, of Jesus.
3. Ministry is a calling, not a profession.
4. Knowledge about Jesus is good, but a life changed by Jesus brings salvation and eternal life.
(Continues next week)
Acknowledgements: http://www.followtherabbi.com and http://hethathasanear.com and http://www.wildbranch.org
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Healing a Man With Dropsy (Luke 14:1-6)
Speaking to the Pharisees leader at his house.
“Does the law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?”
“If your son or your ox happened to fall into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you go and pull him out immediately?”
Parable of the Feast (Luke 14:7-11)
Addressed to all the Pharisees, sitting in the places of honour.
“When you’re invited to a wedding reception, don’t take the place of honor, because someone more important than you may have been invited,” he began. “Your host who invited you both will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your place.’ Then in embarrassment you’ll have to move to whatever place is left. Instead, when you’re invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he’ll tell you, ‘My friend, please move to a better seat.’ Then you’ll be honoured before all the guests sitting with you. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Invitation Advice (Luke 14:12-14)
Given to the host.
“When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors, for they may invite you back, and then you’d be repaid. Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, for they have nothing to repay you with, and you’ll be rewarded at the resurrection of the righteous.”
(Continued next week)
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ANOTHER DAY,,ANOTHER WEEK - AGAIN!
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One key element here is the setting out in chronological order (as far as it is possible to do so) our Lord's words drawn from all the Gospels, and the elimination of repetition between Gospels.
You may be surprised by the different perspective this presentation gives you both in understanding of His life and ministry, and in achieving a closer relationship with Him.
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
144. Faith is like a baby ' it needs to learn to crawl and to walk before it can run.
145. Faith is like dropping a stone into a pond. The small circles enlarge with time.
146. A single step of faith is necessary to start the marathon of life.
147. One step of faith is worth ten thousand words of talk about it.
148. Faith is but one small step for God, but viewed as a giant step by us.
149. The dropping of a small stone in the centre, ripples the entire pool of faith.
150. As we build a reservoir of faith experience, so our power generation capacity increases.
151. Enacting God-given faith is easy, for He never lets us down.
152. FEAR is the inability to affect the unknown.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK:GOD AND MAN continues.....
With a look at the most perplexing question of all! How do I keep the commandments of Jesus?
*** ANOTHER DAILY EZINE FROM WWJ!*** 'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES' Subscribe Today
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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***
*** Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others. ***
473. The Apple
Rabbi Ezra, his wife, and their children were really curious as to why Gentiles were so fond of eating pork. They decided to try some, but there was nowhere in town they could go and not be seen.
One weekend, the Rabbi and his family travelled to a distant town, went into a restaurant, and ordered roast pork.
While they were waiting to be served, a member of Rabbi Ezra's Synagogue walks in. He sees the Rabbi and his family. The member asks if he could join them for dinner. The Rabbi has no choice but to agree.
A while later, the waiter returns with the Rabbi's meal. He takes the cover off the large platter, and there is a whole roast pig, with an apple in its mouth. The Synagogue member is more than a little shocked.
"What a fancy place," explains the Rabbi quickly. "Just look at how they serve the apple I ordered."
QWIK QWIP: “Funny how much difficulty some have learning a simple gospel well enough to tell others, but how simple it is for the same people to understand and explain gossip about someone.”
474. Creation: Snoopy's Version
ï‚· On the first day of creation, God created the dog.
ï‚· On the second day, God created man to serve the dog.
ï‚· On the third day, God created all the animals of the earth (especially the horse) to serve as food for the dog.
ï‚· On the fourth day, God created honest toil so that man could labour for the good of the dog.
ï‚· On the fifth day, God created the tennis ball so that the dog might or might not retrieve it.
ï‚· On the sixth day, God created veterinary science to keep the dog healthy and the man broke.
On the seventh day, God tried to rest, but He had to walk the dog.
475. Repeat Again
What with sermon preparations and anxiety, the new preacher had gotten very little sleep the week before he was to address his flock for the first time.
By Sunday morning, he was both exhausted and extremely nervous. Nevertheless, he managed to make it up the few steps onto the platform and into the pulpit.
The preacher had barely begun his sermon when everything he had planned to say flew right out of his mind. In fact, his mind went totally blank. Then he remembered that in seminary they had taught him what to do if a situation like this ever arose: "Repeat your last point, and let it remind you of what's coming next."
Figuring this advice couldn't hurt, he recalled the very last thing he'd said, and repeated it: "Behold," he quoted, "I come quickly."
Still his mind was blank. He thought he'd better try it again, "Behold, I come quickly." Still nothing.
He tried it one more time. "Behold, I come quickly!" he all but shouted.
In his panic, the preacher pounded the pulpit with such force that he lost his balance, fell forward, knocked the pulpit to one side, tripped over a flower arrangement, and fell into the lap of a little old lady in the front row.
Flustered and embarrassed, the preacher picked himself up, apologised profusely, and started to explain what had just happened.
"That's all right, young man," said the little old lady kindly. "It was my fault, really. You told me three times you were on your way down here. I should have just gotten out of your way!"
Download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES One of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 800 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ..... https://www.wwj.org.nz/content/wwj18p47.pdf
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A DAVID MUSING
How do you carry on when things are tough, not going the way you had hoped or wished for?
We all face those times in our lives. Personally, I have been bankrupt twice, a terrible experience for a businessman. Others have had, or are experiencing, even more serious things, Loss of a child, relationship breakdown, and many more.
The remarkable thing is how, in the end, we recover from them. For if we don't we die, inside at least.
Life is not fair! It never has been, never will be! How we deal with the situations life throws at us, signals whether we get back onto an even keel.
We cannot live in the past. Yesterday is gone. We can't change it. 'If only....' is so often our cry. We finally have to decide to live in the reality of today and plan for the days ahead if life is to be fully lived.
I have found Jesus to be an amazing support in my life. I came into a personal relationship with Him through my first bankruptcy, and He has guided me and supported me through thick and thin ever since. To Him be the glory.
How about you?
Until next time.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God's people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ's return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord's direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567
Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz
Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "... so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole - and have a smile while doing it!
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