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: 1172 Published: 20 May 2024
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
ULTIMATE TRUTH
Greek (Western)
We view the ultimate in truth as being scientific and rational. We focus on how things are done, both in Scripture and in life. We come to believe in truth as we think things logically through.
In the natural, arguments such as creation versus evolution are hugely important to us. Logic and reason are generally the foundation of our faith.
We also analyse revival. When it occurs we work out what God is doing and proceed do it for Him! The revival dies.
Men are particularly susceptible to the tyranny of logic.
Eastern (Hebrew)
Hebrews see the ultimate in truth as being religious and experiential. When looking at Scripture they focus on what was done and who did it. They come to believe truth as they experience it.
Hence the great interest and importance the Jewish people place on history and inheritance, on genealogy. Matthew, as a Jew understood this and included the genealogy of Jesus in his Epistle, which was primarily targeted to the Jewish people. It was so important that it was the first thing he wrote about.....
The Genealogy of Jesus
1 A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, 7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa, 8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram, Jehoram the father of Uzziah, 9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father of Eliud, 15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:1-16)
Jesus quoted the sins and unrighteous deeds of their forefathers in His teachings. For example.....
45 One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.” 46 Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them. 47 “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ 50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world, 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all. (Luke 11:45-51)
Faith is enhanced by the experience of the great men of yesteryear.....
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones. 23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. (Hebrews 11:17-24)
And events that occurred in the past.....
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. (Hebrews 11:29-30)
A TESTIMONY FROM DAVID As the people experience truth, so their faith is built up. I remember a time in Nigeria when a lame man got up his bed and walked. I can't understand it logically. But I did experience God's power moving through my hands and into him. It certainly increased my faith in a greater way than any than any theological belief I have ever had!
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. Just do it! We can spend a lot of time learning about Jesus but real faith is built through experiencing the power of Jesus in our lives.
2. We are not to get so entranced by minor points of theology that we miss the point of truly 'walking with Jesus'.
3. We must let Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, lead and guide us in our daily walk, growing in faith as we experience more of Him in our life.
4. Do not try to outthink God!
(Continued next week)
Find out more about us here.....
FROM THE WORD
THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF JESUS
Dispute About Who is to be the Greatest (Luke 22:24-30)
Of the disciples.
“Foreign kings lord it over their subjects, and those having power even want people to call them ‘benefactors. “But it should not be so with you! Whoever is highest among you should be like the lowest, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is greater—the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves?
Isn’t it the one who sits at the table? But I’m among you as the one who serves. You have stayed with me throughout my trials. And I grant to you authority to rule, just as my Father granted it to me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Jesus Predicts a General Denial (Matthew 26:31-2, Mark 14:27-8)
Of the disciples.
“All of you will abandon me tonight,” Jesus told them. “As Scripture says, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the flock of sheep will be completely scattered.’ But after I have risen, I’ll go ahead of you to Galilee.”
Jesus Prays for Peter. (Luke 22:31-2)
“Simon, Simon—Satan has asked to have all of you to sift like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your trust in me may not fail. And when you have returned, encourage your brothers.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial (Matthew 26:33-5, Mark:14:29-31, Luke 22:33-4)
Against Peter’s protestations.
“This very night, before the cock crows, you’ll deny me three times.”
Download the whole of THE WORDS OF JESUS at.......
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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.
Download the free PDF here.....
Available on Amazon at $1 at Author name - David Tait
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
857. Depression focuses on self, optimism on others.
858. Consumerism is an insatiable burden, altruism an abundant blessing.
859. A godly church is focused on meeting the needs of others before its own.
860. Self is simply selfish!
861. It is truly amazing how helping someone else helps me even more than it helps them.
862. The best way to solve problems within is to look without!
863. True happiness comes through what we give rather than what we get.
864. 'Helps' help change the world.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com
Check it out at...
'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: 12 LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM‘DIVIDING THE WATERS’
As we consider the vital question of how, as individuals, are to live in God's kingdom now.
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***
488. Lateral Thinking
Question: "Who is most unhappy in the Parable of the Prodigal Son?"
Answer: "The fatted calf."
QWIK QWIP: “The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.”
489. The Funeral
A new Pastor in a small Oklahoma town spent the first four days making personal visits to each of the members, inviting them to come to his first services.
The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the Pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon, the notice said.
Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the "funeral." In front of the pulpit, they saw a closed coffin, smothered in flowers. After the Pastor delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.
Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a "dead church," all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each "mourner" peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.
In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.
QWIK QWIP: “It's my business to do God's Business and it's His business to take care of my business.”
490. Observant
Three people were trying to get into heaven. Peter asked the first, "Who's there?" "It's me, Albert Jones," the voice replied. St. Peter let him in.
Then St. Peter asked the second one the second same question, "Who's there?" "It's me, Charlie Jones." And St. Peter let him in.
Finally he turns to the third, asking the same question, "Who's there?" "It is I, Verla Chapman," answered the third.
"Oh, great," muttered St. Peter. "Another one of those English teachers."
491. A Rumour
Rumour has it that Billy Graham Ministries is starting up a Emotional Support Group for men who are experiencing the trauma of hair loss. Reportedly they close every meeting with the benediction, "Go, and thin no more!"
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
Or read even more online at.....
A DAVID MUSING
You never know when someone who needs Jesus, will come across your path.
While composing this newsletter at our local library, for the internet is faster there, a man came and sat next to me, reading a newspaper.
When he had finished reading, I asked him if there was any news in the paper. He asked what I was doing, and the conversation went on from there.
He had lived a sad, hard life. I was able to witness to him. I trust he has gone home to read the Book of John, as I suggested,
To be honest, I am not a great 1 on 1 evangelist, as naturally, perhaps surprisingly to you, I am shy. I prefer to listen than to talk, and rarely would make the first approach.
I have no problem speaking to large groups of people. But now, the Lord is gradually changing me to be more out going on a personal basis.
As I write this, I am boosted, as I thought I could not do it!
I am still learning and growing in the Lord.
How about you?
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
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!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz