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: 1003 Published: 04 Jan 2021
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
DOCTRINE
Greek (Western)
Church membership is based upon agreement with the theological precepts of the particular church. This process started early on in the history of the church with the 'Apostles Creed' (AD200-900), the 'Nicene Creed' (AD381), developed under Emperor Constantine, and the 'Athanasian Creed' (AD500), being early, widely accepted, examples. Today, each denomination (and non-denomination!) has its theological statement upon which the particular grouping or church operates. Theological differences and disputes cause division and distrust between the multitudes of Christian groups. These differences assume greater importance than what should unite, that is, the person of Jesus Christ.
Eastern (Hebrew)
Synagogue membership required people adhere to a certain way of living. Divergent views abounded, but all those who lived a godly lifestyle were accepted. Until the Middle Ages, there was no overall Jewish doctrinal statement or creed. At that time one was developed by Rambam, in order to counter arguments of Christian apologists. This creed concept however, was foreign to the Judaism of Jesus' time.
When Jesus was asked how His true followers would be identified, he answered....
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
Furthermore, He proceeded to reinforce His point about behaviour versus mere mental assent.....
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-3)
Amongst others, the parable of 'The Sheep and the Goats'(disciples v intellectual believers) makes this point forcefully. On Judgment Day.....
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-3)
Why? .....
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-6)
This was followed by an intellectual defence for the Pharisees lack of action.....
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-9)
To which Jesus replied.....
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:40-45)
Followed by His words of reward and judgment.....
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
Indeed, actions speak louder than words!
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
Now for something different here! A 'joke', which I trust will challenge you too!
What is Your Faith?
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"
"Why shouldn't I?" he said.
I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"
He said, "Like what?"
I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"
He said, "Religious."
I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"
He said, "Christian."
I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"
He said, "Protestant."
I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"
He said, "Baptist!"
I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"
He said, "Baptist Church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"
He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"
He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"
I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.
Jesus generated 'Deeds', not 'Creeds', are the true measure 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 Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8)
Explaining persistent prayer to the disciples.
“Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn’t respect God or care about anyone,” “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’ For a while he didn’t want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t respect God or care about anyone, this widow is so annoying I’ll make sure she receives justice. Then she won’t wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
“Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord. “Don’t you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait? No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. (Luke 18:9-14)
Spoken to some self righteous Pharisees.
“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers— or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn’t even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
“I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God’s sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Divorce (Matthew 19:1-12, Mark 10:1-9)
Jesus is questioned by the Pharisees.
“Haven’t you read that God who created people in the beginning made them male and female?
He said, ‘This is the reason a man will leave his father and mother, and join with his wife, and the two shall become one. Now they’re no longer two, but one. What God has joined together no one should separate.”
Then asked why Moses permitted divorce.
“Because of your hard-hearted attitude Moses permitted you to divorce your wives, but it wasn’t like that in the beginning,” “I tell you, anyone who divorces his wife except on the grounds of sexual immorality and then marries another woman, commits adultery.”
The disciples also thought the teaching was too difficult.
“Not everyone can accept this instruction, only those it’s given to,” “Some are born as eunuchs, some are made eunuchs by men, and some choose to be eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Those who can accept this should accept it.”
(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
303. An ounce of faith in God's hand is worth a tonne of mans self-belief.
304. Ten men of faith will defeat ten thousand without.
418. Faith and risk are constant companions.
419. Our bucket of faith is filled one drop at a time.
420. Faith is like walking up a hill. You get to the top one step at a time.
421. When you reach the top of the mountain of faith, you look round at the view and see an even bigger mountain to climb.
422. Faith moves mountains - shovel by shovel!
423. Faith comes through experience, not learning. Ask the bumblebee!
424. Faith is god's gift to the poor, for it is often all they have.
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK:GOD AND MAN continues.....
..as we have a look at the other foundational institution close to God's heart, the family.
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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. ***
492. Spirit in a Vacuum
I once heard a preacher say that it's man's spirit that makes him different from animals.
That may be true, but I think there's one other thing that separates us from animals. We aren't afraid of vacuum cleaners.
493. The Purchase
I don't know what's wrong with my television set. I keep getting Christian TV and the Home Shopping Network on the same channel. I actually bought a church choir the other night.
494. Harold
A dad was listening to little Carol say her prayers.
"Dear Harold," Carol prayed, "please bless mom and daddy and..."
At this point, the dad interrupted and said, "Wait a minute, sweetie. Why are you calling God 'Harold'?"
Carol looked up and said, "That's what they call Him in church. You know -- the prayer where we all say, 'Our Father who art in Heaven, Harold be Thy name.' "
KWIK QWIP: “Funny how we can't think of anything to say when we pray, but don't have any difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.”
495. Made It
A pastor who enjoyed bragging on his son was talking one day with a friend, who happened to be a rabbi.
The pastor said "My son was a star on his high school baseball team."
"That's nice," said the rabbi, "and after that?"
"Well," said the pastor, "after that he went to Harvard and graduated summa cum laude."
"Not bad, "said the rabbi thoughtfully, "and after that?"
"So then he went to law school at Georgetown and was editor of the law review."
"Hmmm. And after that?" asked the rabbi.
"Well, as soon as he graduated from law school, the biggest law firm in New York immediately made him a full partner!"
"Not bad. Is that all?" the rabbi quietly asked.
The pastor, clearly irritated, said, "Is that ALL! What do you expect -- that my son should become God or something?"
The rabbi shrugged and said, "Well -- one of OUR boys made it."
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
Finally 2021 has come!
Many round the world have sighed with relief, as an end can hopefully be seen of the Covid tunnel, if the vaccines perform up to their promises and Covid doesn't mutate in an unusual way.
Of course, if you live in America, you will likely be momentarily forgetting Covid, to see the result of 6 January's Congress meetings.
It has been interesting, but sad, to get people from both sides arguing their cases on Facebook. Overall it is a city v country debate, extenuated by the peculiarities of the voting system. Last time Trump won although losing the popular vote - which was protested by the Democrats. This time Biden won by 4.5% and 7, 000,000 votes, which, in any other country would be considered a clear victory. The Republicans have protested over the 5 States that, unsurprisingly given the national margin, have flipped from Republicans to Democrats.
Covid has cost Trump the victory and the infighting will, over time, cost America her place as the world's leading nation. It is sad to see. Americans though, cannot see this.
Britain has left the European Community, at the same time as Covid is running rampant there.
The world remains a troubled place.
For me however, I trust in my God to see me through, irrespective of the circumstances.
How about you?
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 website
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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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