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: 1162 Published: 11 Mar 2024
A REVELATION OF....... HOLINESS
CONCLUSION - THE PATTERN OF HOLINESS
I don't pretend to have all the answers. Probably why the Lord is showing me these things. For I still have a lot to learn and even more to apply!
So this isn't an 'A-Z' explanation of the way of holiness.
However, we can see patterns emerging that provide some practical guidelines towards holy living (Listed in alphabetical order).
A PATTERN OF… CHOICE
Not all Christians will desire, nor attain, holiness.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:8)
A PATTERN OF… CHRIST
Transformation into the likeness of Jesus is a common thread throughout.
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
(2 Corinthians 3:17)
A PATTERN OF… THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Holiness comes not through the Gifts of the Spirit, but in the development of 'character' in our lives. The Fruit of the Spirit characterizes our character!
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:19-25)
A PATTERN OF… GOD'S GRACE
It is a gift of grace. Holiness cannot be attained simply through our own effort.
28 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. (1 Corinthians 1:28-30)
A PATTERN OF… THE HEART
It is a matter of heart attitude of submission and obedience, not legal observance. Holiness cannot be found through living by a series of rules.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21)
A PATTERN OF… HUMILITY
Of not seeing ourselves as being holier than we really are!
3 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1 Peter 5:5-6)
A PATTERN OF… OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WILL
Holiness is as much a matter of what we do - as well as what we don't!
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
A PATTERN OF… ONGOING REPENTANCE
Until perfection is reached, we must rely upon God's grace and forgiveness to overcome our humanness.
21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:21-)
A PATTERN OF… PROGRESSION
Holiness is an ongoing process of getting our lives right (sanctification) with our Lord. It is not instantly attainable.
13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:13-14)
A PATTERN OF… RIGHTEOUSNESS
Being 'right' before our God at all times.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
A PATTERN OF… SERVANTHOOD
Of placing God's desires and man's needs before our own.
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6-7)
A PATTERN OF… WORSHIP
Worshiping God with the whole of our being at all times.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
Finally, of key importance to all His disciples:
A PATTERN OF… THE BRIDE OF CHRIST
For whom Jesus is returning.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life..... 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:17, 20)
Let's seek it together, shall we!
FROM THE WORD
THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF JESUS
Parable of the Wicked Servant ( Luke 19:11-27)
Given to people expecting the immediate appearance of the kingdom.
“Once there was a nobleman who left home to go to a distant country to be crowned king there, and then to return. He called ten of his servants, divided money equally among them, and told them, ‘Invest this money until I return.’ But his people hated him, and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We won’t have this man as king over us.” After he had been crowned king he returned. He ordered his servants brought to him. He wanted to know what profit they had made by investing the money he had given them. The first servant came in and said, ‘Lord, your money has earned ten times as much.’
“‘Well done! You’re a good servant,’ said the king. ‘Since you proved yourself trustworthy in a very small matter, I’m placing you in charge of ten cities.’
“The second servant came in and said, ‘Lord, your money has earned five times as much.’
“‘I’m placing you in charge of five cities,’ said the king.
“Another servant came in and said, ‘Lord, look, here’s your money back. I kept it safe, wrapped up in a cloth. I was afraid of you because you’re a hard man. You take what doesn’t belong to you, and you harvest what you didn’t plant.’
“‘I’ll judge you by your own words,’ the king replied. ‘You know I’m a hard man, “who takes what doesn’t belong to me, and I harvest what I didn’t plant.” Why then didn’t you deposit my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have had my money with interest?’
“The king told those who were standing beside him, ‘Take the money away from him, and give it to the one who made ten times as much.’
“‘But master, he already has ten times as much,’ they replied.
“The king replied, ‘I tell you, to those who have, more will be given; but those who do not have, even what they have will be taken away from them. And as for my enemies who didn’t want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”
Mary Anoints Jesus (Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:3-8)
Criticized by Judas Iscariot.“
She did this in preparation for the day of my burial. You’ll always have the poor here with you, but you won’t always have me here.”
And to others there, including the remaining disciples.
“Why are you upset with this woman? She’s done something wonderful for me! You’ll always have the poor with you, but you won’t always have me. By pouring this perfume on my body she’s prepared me for burial. I tell you the truth: wherever in the world this good news is spread, the story of what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.”
Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19)
Jesus’ request of 2 disciples.
“Go to the village further on. As you enter it you’ll find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Pharisees request Jesus to silence His followers.
“I tell you that if they kept quiet then the stones will shout!”
Jesus weeps for Jerusalem.
“I really wish today that you, even you, had known the path that leads to peace!” he said. “But now it’s hidden from your eyes. The time is coming upon you when your enemies will besiege you, building ramps to attack you, encircling you and closing you in from every side. They will smash you to the ground, you and your children within you. They won’t leave one stone on another within you, for you refused to accept salvation when it came to you.”
(Continued next week)
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*DAVID"S DOODLINGS
Enjoy some of David's sayings here, plus 1300 more on the website at.....
'THE WORDS OF JESUS' REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR PDF DOWNLOAD
Join the many who have downloaded the 'The Words of Jesus'. I am sure you will be blessed by it, as I have been.
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
... to be a servant is indeed the highest calling.
... He is to be obeyed, even when I don't understand why.
... He lives outside of time, but I don't.
... love works wonders.
... He desires me to change: not me to try and change Him.
... to give in to Him is to grow up in Him.
... life is born out of death.
... life is not meant to be fair.
... we seek spiritual gifts while He desires spiritual fruit.
... submission builds character.
... character outscores performance every time.
... 'to be' is infinitely better than 'to do'.
... we cannot put Him into a box, no matter how big we make it.
... sin caused man and God's thought patterns to become diametrically opposed.
... He reveals himself to us when we least expect it.
... revelation is given in His timing - which generally isn't ours.
... we learn more about Him in the hard times than the good.
... He can turn our failure into His success.
... when we put others first in this world, He does the same for us in His.
... in the end, He always wins.
... in Him, to die is to live.
Many more at.....
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
Another laugh or three for you today
Many more on our website below. Also many, may, many more under these categories on our website, wwj,org,nz Look under the heading MAINLY LAUGHS. Choose from.....
THIS WEEKS TUESDAY TEACHING.....
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... DIVIDING THE WATERS - FROM MOSES TO JOSHUA. - THE 12 FEATURES OF CROSSING THE JORDAN - A Summary
We summarise the 12 features already looked at and find out the principal message to us today from them.
We look at the final 6 of these.
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***
454. As Jesus Did
Old Pastor McTavish was dying. He sent a message for an IRS agent and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived they were ushered up to his bedroom.
As they entered the room, Pastor McTavish motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. Then he grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.
For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. But they were also puzzled because Pastor McTavish had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them.
They both remembered how his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed and covetousness had made them squirm in their seats.
Finally, the lawyer said, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?"
Pastor McTavish smiled weakly and said, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too."
455. Hot Air
My pastor friend put sanitary hot air hand dryers in the rest rooms at his church and after two weeks took them out. I asked him why and he confessed that they worked fine but when he went in there he saw a sign that read, "For a sample of this week's sermon, push the button."
456. You Can't Win
When you prepare your sermons in writing, they say that you are just reading off the script and not hearing from God. But when you DON'T have a script, they say that you were not prepared!
457. Revenge
A 10-year old boy named Freddie wanted to be Joseph in the Sunday School pageant. Instead the teacher cast Freddie as the landlord. Freddie objected loudly, but to no avail.
When the pageant was presented, Mary and Joseph knocked on the door and asked Freddie if he had a room for them at the Inn.
Freddie smiled and said, "Sure -- lots of room. Come on in!"
QWIK QWIP: “Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.”
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A DAVID MUSING
Waiting for God to fulfil His promises to us is a real challenge!
For me, the challenges keep coming to prevent us going back to Kenya, from New Zealand, where I understand I am meant to be.
You think you are there and another problem occurs.
He is testing and trying me to become the sort of person He desires to me.
So reluctantly, I wait. Your way is the best way, Lord.
How about you in your life?
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
P O Box 2
Webuye 50205
Kenya
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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