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: 1064 Published: 07 Mar 2022
SORRY FOR THE DELAY.....
One of the few times PGIM! has been delayed.Sorry.
Due to internet connection and reception. Now getting a stick modem, so all SHOULD be well from now on!
TRANSITION FROM ‘THE CHURCH’ TO ‘THE KINGOM’
FROM “FORM” TO (HOLY SPIRIT LED) “SUBSTANCE”
Being totally honest, and so sadly, we have 'organized' God out of our church services. There is so much to do! Planned worship songs! Notices! Prayers! Sermons! And only 60 - 90 - 120 minutes to do it in! Can't be late for dinner or our people won’t come back!
Our Sunday services have evolved over the centuries into tradition bound meetings - even in non-traditional churches.
We must have order. This is the passage quoted - or rather, selected parts of it to suit our own theology!......
Orderly Worship
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)
There is no question that the church of today is greatly different to that of the early New Testament. Churches, as we understand them, in terms of ministers, buildings, programmed Sunday services etc., did not really develop until after the conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine, in the late 300AD's. The Roman Catholic Church provided the basic form that we 'protest'-ants, in spite of our protestations, in essence, follow today. For, at that time, the church became institutionalized, a characteristic that still binds us today. For as we grow in size, so rules, regulations and formalisation automatically follow in order to keep things in order.
The result, stated again, is that God has been organised out of His church.
This is not what Jesus died for.
Jesus died to take mankind away from the bondage of religion and law into an age of grace and personal relationship with Him.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:21-4)
Personal relationships only develop when the two parties communicate personally with one another. A lack of communication and understanding is the major reason marriages fail.
We are to be the perfected bride of Christ.....
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:6-8)
Just as in our personal lives, so when we gather together, we are to be led by the Holy Spirit, not by 'New Testament priests' becoming an intermediary between ourselves and God. As the Word says (highlighting mine).....
26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Everyone! For, in the kingdom, we are all priests.....
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:5b-6)
Obviously this total participation is only practical in smaller gatherings. But if we are to take Paul's guidance at face value, we need to do this in order for all to contribute.
The huge growth of the church in China is a good example.
Personally, we are running a group, aimed at encouraging people to develop the spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, but allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.....
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
To see spiritual growth among people who have, for whatever reason, not been able to develop spiritual gifts in the formal church situation, has been both encouraging and rewarding.
For the participation of all people, led by the Holy Spirit, is the way of the kingdom.
9 And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Children of Abraham (John 8:31-59)
The debate continued with the Pharisees claim to be Abraham’s children.
“If you follow my teaching then you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave doesn’t have permanent place in the family, but the son is part of the family forever. If the Son sets you free, then you’re truly free. I know you’re Abraham’s descendants. yet you’re trying to kill me because you refuse to accept my words. I’m telling you what the Father has revealed to me, while you do what your father told you.”
“If you really were children of Abraham, you’d do what Abraham did,” “But you are trying to kill me now, because I told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would never have done that. You’re doing what your father does.”
“If God really was your father, you would love me. I came from God and now I am here. The decision to come wasn’t mine, but the One who sent me. Why can’t you understand what I’m saying? It’s because you refuse to hear my message! Your father is the Devil, and you love to follow your father’s evil desires. He was a murderer from the beginning. He never stood for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies he reveals his true character, for he’s a liar and the father of lies. 45So because I tell you the truth, you don’t believe me! Can any one of you prove that I’m guilty of sin? If I’m telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens to what God says. The reason you don’t listen is because you don’t belong to God.”
“No, I don’t have a demon,” “I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. I’m not here looking to glorify myself. But there is One who does this for me and who judges in my favor. I tell you the truth, anyone who follows my teaching will never die.”
“If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. But it is God himself who glorifies me, the one you claim, ‘He is our God.’ You don’t know him, but I know him. If I were to say, ‘I don’t know him,’ I’d be a liar, just like you. But I do know him, and I do what he says. Your father Abraham was delighted as he looked forward to see my coming, and was so happy when he saw it.”
“I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am,”
Jesus Heals a Man Blind Since Birth (John 9:1-12)
The disciples asked why he was blind.
“It wasn’t because the man or his parents sinned, but so that what God can do may be shown in his life. We have to keep on doing the work of the One who sent me as long as it is still daytime. The night is coming when no one can work. 5While I’m here in the world I am the light of the world.”
“Go and wash yourself in the Pool of Siloam”
Jesus Finds the Excommunicated Blind Man (John 9:9:13-41)
He speaks to the man and then the Pharisees.
“Do you trust in the Son of man?”
“You’ve already seen him. He’s the one speaking with you now!”
“I’ve come into the world to bring judgment so that those who are blind may see, and those who see will become blind.
And then the Pharisees.
“If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty. But now that you say you see, your guilt remains.”
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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
848. 'Love and grace, go together like a horse and carriage' - in marriage! (With apologies to 'The Sound of Music')
849. An ounce of grace yields tons of love.
850. Grace is like a bumblebees flight. We can't explain how it works, but it does!
851. To grow in grace is to grow in God.
852. God smiles when we give His grace away to others. For He has an endless supply.
853. Grace binds hurts.
854. 'Grace' is God's gift to us, 'love', ours to Him in return.
855. The cross of Jesus is the ultimate example of God's grace and love to us.
1307. Grace is God's love embedded in us.
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
TUESDAY: A REVELATION OF…….THE CHARACTER OF GOD
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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. ***
QWIK QWIP: “We often fear the thing we want the most.”
166. Speeder's Hymns
45 mph...........................God Will Take Care of You
55 mph...........................Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
65 mph...........................Nearer My God To Thee
75 mph...........................Nearer, Still Nearer
85 mph...........................This World Is Not My Home
95 mph...........................Lord, I'm Coming Home
over 100mph......................Precious Memories
167. God's Provision
There's a little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. Every morning the lady comes out onto her front porch and shouts "Praise the Lord!" The atheist yells back, "There is no God". She does this every morning with the same result.
As time goes on the lady runs into financial difficulties and has trouble buying food. She goes out onto the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then says "Praise the Lord". The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there's the groceries she's asked for, and of course she says "Praise the Lord". The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, "Ha! I bought those groceries - there is no God".
The lady looks at him and smiles, remarking as she takes the bag inside, "Praise the Lord, not only did You provide for me Lord, You made Satan pay for the groceries!"
168. Kids Today
Finding one of her students making faces at others in class, Mrs. Smith went over to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the Sunday School teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, one day it would freeze and I would stay like that."
Bobby looked up into her face and replied, "Well, Mrs. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned!"
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
STRESS
Stress! Stress!
Need a rest.
Still.....
God is god,
All the time!
May I rest in Him!
Until next time.
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 website
wwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
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Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
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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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