A Weekly World Wide Word of Encouragement to those in the Ministry
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A WEEKLY ‘WWW (world-wide word) OF ENCOURAGEMENT’
TO THOSE IN MINISTRY
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Issue No: 998 Published: 30 Nov 2020
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
FAITH
Greek (Western)
We see faith as being intellectual. We express faith in creeds and doctrine, using support texts to support and prove our beliefs.
This speaks particularly of men, especially those with a theological interest or training, who primarily happen to be the ones in ministry and those of major influence in churches and denominations. Unfortunately creeds and doctrines differ, depending upon the supporting texts used and human interpretation of them. This gives rise to division in the church. These people concentrate on the Epistles, for the foundations of doctrine are found there
Women, on the other hand, both in the natural and the spiritual, are much more relational. We will see shortly, that this is more akin to the Hebrew approach to faith. This helps explain why 2/3 of the church is women and that they are more ecumenical than men, for they look at things from a different perspective.
While theology, organisation and order have their place, they are currently given too much focus over and above a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Eastern (Hebrew)
Hebrews see faith as relational and personal. They express faith in terms of their relationship with God rather than as a rationalisation.
There are two occasions recorded in the Gospels, interestingly both involving Gentiles, which Jesus used to show the Jews who had lost faith, what faith is all about. These are.....
The Faith of the Centurion
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” 7 Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. (Matthew 8:5-13)
And.....
The Faith of the Canaanite Woman
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:21-28)
Faith comes through relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, not by observance of the Law (or having 'correct' theology).
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:10-14)
A TESTIMONY FROM DAVID My faith has been built upon experiences where I have had to trust the Lord, not upon theological learning. The most memorable one for me, which has carried me through more recent difficult times, was when I went to Africa for 2 months on 50 cents a day! Had I thought about it rationally, I wouldn't have gone! I spent all but $2 of my $30 during the first week, then the Lord starting providing. I left Africa 7 weeks later 'cent-less' but having been provided for, for the time I was there. My faith was increased dramatically through this amazing experiential relationship with Jesus!
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. We talk about being 'born again', about developing a personal relationship with Jesus, then argue about a pre, mid or post-trib rapture! No wonder so many quickly lose faith! We need a new emphasis on discipleship, a sharing of day to day life experience, to build up personal faith experiences in new believers.
2. The church needs to understand that relationship - with Jesus and each other - is more important than fine points of theology, about which there will always be disagreement.
3. Individually, we need to spend time with Jesus, being prepared to listen to Him, letting Him change our life, and be prepared to take risks, to step out in faith, as He guides us.
4. To understand that trust, not logic, is the true foundation of faith.
(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.....
Parable of the Coin (Luke 15:1-7)
“Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn’t she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found the silver coin that I lost.’ I tell you there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner that repents.
Parable of the Son (Luke 15:11.32)
“Once there was a man who had two sons,” “The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son packed up what he had and left for a distant country. Here he wasted all his money living a reckless life. “After he’d spent everything, the country was hit by a severe famine and he was starving. So he went and took a job with one of the farmers there who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was so hungry that he would have eaten even the pig food, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘All of my father’s workers have more than enough to eat—why am I dying from hunger here? I’m going home to my father! I’ll tell him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ So he left and went home to his father.
“Even though he was still far away in the distance, his father saw him coming, and his heart went out to his son. The father ran to his son, hugging and kissing him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick—bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we’ve been fattening and kill it. Let’s have a feast to celebrate because this is my son who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found.’ So they started celebrating.
“Now the older son was working out in the fields. As he walked towards the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
“Your brother is back,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he’s come home safe and sound.”
“The brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father came out to plead with him.
“He told his father, ‘Look, all these years I’ve served you, and never disobeyed you, but you never once gave me even a young goat so I could have a party with my friends. Now this son of yours comes back, having spent your money on prostitutes, and you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘Son,’ the father replied, ‘you are always here with me. Everything I have is yours. But we should be happy and celebrate! This is your brother who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found!’”
(Continued next week)
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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
264. If faith was easy, it would be of little value.
265. Faith to God is like breathing to life. Without it we are spiritually dead.
266. To believe in the essential goodness of man is perfectly normal. But to believe in God takes too much faith. Something is basically wrong here!
267. We all hope for a better future. But few are prepared to exercise the faith required to guarantee it!
268. Hope gives you but a shovel to dig, while faith removes the mountain itself.
269. Faith is the means God uses to move the mountain. Beats a bulldozer every time!
270. The one who continues to build their faith will be blessed beyond measure.
271. Faith breeds faith.
272. True faith is exercised to attain God's desires, not our own.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK:GOD AND MAN continues.....
We look at 'being filled' with the Holy Spirit- hopefully avoiding theological issues, as much as is possible!
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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. ***
479. Gladly
A child came home from Sunday School and told his mother that he had learned a new song about a cross-eyed bear named Gladly.
It took his mother a while before she realised that the hymn was really "Gladly The Cross I'd Bear."
480. The New Preacher
There was a new preacher who wanted to rent a house in the country. The only house available was rumoured to be haunted. Since the preacher didn't believe in such things, he rented it.
It wasn't long before the ghost made its appearance. The preacher told his friends about the ghost, but they didn't believe him. They told him the only way they would believe was if he would take a picture of the ghost.
The preacher went home and called for the ghost. When it appeared, the preacher explained the situation and asked the ghost if it would mind having its picture taken. The ghost agreed.
When the picture was developed, the ghost wasn't visible. Feeling very disappointed, the preacher called again for the ghost. When it appeared, the preacher showed it the picture and wanted to know why the ghost wasn't in it.
The ghost thought a minute and replied, "Well, I guess the spirit was willing, but the flash was weak."
QWIK QWIP: “Our faith is like the air that we breathe. It is only the current breath that gives life.”
481. Cowboy Joe
Cowboy Joe was telling his fellow cowboys back on the ranch about his first visit to a big-city church.
"When I got there, they had me park my old truck in the corral," Joe began.
"You mean the parking lot," interrupted Charlie, a worldlier fellow.
"I walked up the trail to the door," Joe continued.
"The sidewalk to the door," Charlie corrected him.
"Inside the door, I was met by this dude," Joe went on.
"That would be the usher," Charlie explained.
"Well, the usher led me down the chute," Joe said.
"You mean the aisle," Charlie said.
"Then, he led me to a stall and told me to sit there," Joe continued.
"Pew," Charlie retorted.
"Yeah," recalled Joe. "That's what that pretty lady said when I sat down beside her."
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
Disappointment is difficult to deal with.
This week our saga of receiving provider status for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for our Kingdom Faith Based Hospital here in Kenya, has hit another snag! NHIF would and will sometime, have assured the future of the hospital, making us self-sufficient financially.
This month, after 2 1/2 years of waiting, the light had been getting really bright at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly a landslide has fallen over the tunnel exit and we are waiting, once again, for the opening to be cleared.
We all have to deal with disappointments at times during our lives. It is part of life.
Living here in Africa, the disappointments are many, for the system is neither predictable, nor reliable. Patience is a a very necessary commodity here.
Whatever area of life disappointment enters into, we finally have to accept that life is not fair, and start again. If we don't, our lives will become miserable, which doesn't help others, nor those to whom we relate.
Jesus said that life in Him will not be easy, but He will be walking along side us to get us through our disappointments.
May we trust Him today to see us through. He will not let you down.
Until next time.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
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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.
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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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