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: 1174 Published: 03 Jun 2024
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
TRUTH OVER TIME
Greek (Western)
Greek thinkers see truth as static and unchanging. With our scientific approach, we believe that, although we may not fully understand all truth, it is out there, just waiting to be discovered.
Eastern (Hebrew)
Hebrew thinkers see truth as unfolding. Truth is revealed layer upon layer, over time.
3 Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. (Psalm 43:3)
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. (Psalm 86:11)
A classic example of this difference in thinking is found in the different cultures attitudes towards prophecy. We look at prophecy as having a single fulfilment while in Jewish culture prophecy has ongoing applications through the ages.
The most important failure of Greek, or Western, thought in the area of unfolding truth is in our understanding of the kingdom of God.
Similarly, we view the kingdom as being in one place, which is found in heaven, up in the sky, once we die. What we fail to understand is that this is only one aspect of the truth. For the kingdom of God is multi-dimensional. If it were not so, how could we pray in the 'Lord's Prayer'.....
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10b)
The truth that the Lord is revealing today is that His kingdom is indeed here, on earth, as well as there, in heaven! As Greek thinkers, we have great difficulty in getting our heads around this concept. Also, it is 'inconvenient', for the excuse for living a less than holy life here on the 'devil's earth', suddenly disappears!
The reality is, as disciples, we are in the kingdom, and are to live a kingdom lifestyle from the moment in time we commit ourselves to Jesus.
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. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
We need to understand that this reality of the kingdom is for us in the here and now.
The Coming of the Kingdom of God
20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21)
It is firstly spiritual.....
17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Romans 14:17)
but is to become physical in the way we live our lives.....
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:1-5)
We are to be the light of the kingdom in the world.....
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-17)
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. We are God's kingdom in the world.
2. Is His kingdom light shining out of us?
3. A kingdom lifestyle is required of all true followers of Jesus.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF JESUS
On the Mount of Olives (John:15:1 – 16:33)
The farewell discourse.
The Vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every one of my branches that doesn’t bear fruit. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so it can bear even more. You are already pruned and made clean through what I’ve told you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it remains part of the vine, so it is for you: you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. I’m the vine, you’re the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit—for apart from me you can’t do anything. Anyone who doesn’t remain in me is like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Such branches are gathered together, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be given you. My Father is glorified as you produce much fruit, proving you are my disciples.
“As the Father loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you do what I say, you will remain in my love, just as I do what my Father says and remain in his love. I’ve explained this to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my command: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to give yourlife for your friends. You’re my friends if you do what I tell you. I don’t call you servants any longer, for servants are not taken into their master’s confidence. I call you friends, for everything my Father told me I’ve explained to you. You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I have given you the responsibility to go and produce lasting fruit. So the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command to you: love one another.
World hates the disciples.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before it hated you. If you were part of this world, it would love you as its own. But you’re not part of the world, and I chose you out of the world—that’s why the world hates you.
“Remember what I told you: servants aren’t more important than their master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them too. But everything they do to you will be because of me, for they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin—but now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not given them such a demonstration through things that no one had ever done before, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin, but despite seeing all this they hated both me and my Father. But this just fulfilled what Scripture says, “They hated me for no reason at all.”
“But I will send you the Comforter from the Father. When he comes, he will give evidence about me. He is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. You will also give evidence about me because you were with me from the beginning.
“I’ve told you this so you won’t give up your trust in me. They will expel you from the synagogues—in fact the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. They’ll do this because they have never known the Father or me. I’ve told you this so that when these things happen, you’ll remember what I told you. I didn’t need to tell you this right at the beginning because I was going to be with you.
The Holy Spirit’s work.
But now I’m going to the one who sent me, and yet not one of you is asking me, “Where are you going?” Of course, now that I’ve told you, you’re full of grief.
“But I’m telling you the truth: it’s better for you that I go away, for if I don’t the Comforter won’t come to you. If I go away, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convince those in the world that they have wrong ideas regarding sin, what’s right, and judgment: Sin, for they don’t trust in me. 10What is right, for I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me any longer. Judgement, for the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“There’s much more I want to explain to you, but you couldn’t stand it now. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you the whole truth. He doesn’t speak for himself, but he only says what he hears, and he will tell you what’s going to happen. He brings me glory for he teaches you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine. This is why I said that the Spirit teaches you whatever he receives from me. In a little while you won’t see me anymore, but then a little while after that you will see me.”
From grief to joy.
“Are you wondering about my comment, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy. A woman in labor suffers pain because her time has come, but once the baby is born, she forgets the agony because of the joy that a child has been brought into the world. “Yes, you’re grieving now, but I will see you again; and you will rejoice, and no one can take away your joy.
“When that time comes you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you haven’t asked for anything in my name, so ask and you shall receive, and your happiness will be complete. I’ve been talking to you using picture language. But soon I won’t use such picture language any more when I speak to you. Instead I’ll explain the Father to you very plainly. “At that time you will ask in my name. I’m not saying to you that I will plead with the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you—because you love me and believe that I came from God. I left the Father and came into the world; now I leave the world and return to my Father.
The disciples now understood.
“Are you really convinced now?” “The time is coming—in fact it’s just about to happen—when you will be scattered, each of you to your own homes, leaving me all alone. But I’m not really alone, for the Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that you may have peace because you are one with me. You will suffer in this world, but be brave—I have defeated the world!”
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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
892. Religion promotes people, revelation, servanthood.
893. Religion builds. Revelation breaks down, then builds.
894. Religion breeds status, revelation, servants.
895. In religion, roles are nouns, in revelation, adjectives.
896. In religion, roles are expressed by Title, in revelation, identified through action.
897. Revelation changes hearts, religion tickles the mind.
898. An ounce of revelation is more precious than a tonne of religion.
899. Revelation meeting religion, ignites revolution!
900. Religion is built upon structure; revelation, servanthood.
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: 12 LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM‘DIVIDING THE WATERS’ concludes
as we look at the second part of our study, 'Winning the War' and summarise 12 requirements of restoration we have considered.
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***
496. Appropriate?
The Announcement: 'A new loudspeaker system has been installed in the church. It was given by one of our members in memory of his wife.'
497. My Jesus
When Bonnie's daughter was four, they attended an Easter pageant about the death and Resurrection of Christ. The play was beautiful with magnificent costumes and scenery.
Bonnie made sure Robyn had an aisle seat so that she wouldn't miss a thing. Jesus came staggering down the aisle carrying the Cross. Big Roman soldiers pushed and shoved him.
Robyn watched with wide eyes. At the reception following the performance, one of the actors who played a Roman soldier came over to Robyn, kneeled down and quietly asked her, "Did you enjoy the play?"
Robyn wagged her finger at him and said, "You BAD man! Bad! Bad man! You hurt my Jesus!"
498. Too True
Faith, 3, went to Good Friday services. That night she prayed, "Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the Cross. And thank You we didn't have to watch!"
QWIK QWIP: “. Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.”
499. Looking After Jesus
Kiersten, 5, was having a discussion with Destini, 6. Destini was insisting that Jesus is dead. Kiersten insisted that Jesus is alive.
They began to argue, so Kiersten's mother, Penny, interfered.
"Destini," Penny said, "Kiersten is right. Don't you know that's why we celebrate Easter? Easter is the day that Jesus rose from the dead. He was killed and they buried Him and three days later He arose from the dead."
Destini asked where they buried Him. Penny told her it was actually in a cave in Israel. "And after they put Him in the cave, they rolled a very, very, very big stone over the doorway," Penny said.
At that point Kiersten interrupted and added, "That was to keep Him warm!"
QWIK QWIP: “Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.”
500. A Small Boy's Prayer
"Dear God, I hope you take care of yourself. 'Cause if anything happens to you, we would all be in a terrible mess."
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
NO INSPIRATION
Inspiration has deserted me,
It sure decided to flee.
What can I do now?
To Jesus I bow.
Have a good week,
It must then peek.
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!
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