USE OF TITLES IN THE CHURCH

Job Titles are one of the biggest problems in the church today. They cause the 'priests' to be separated from the 'people'! And it is simply is not Biblical! Jesus hated it! (See 'FROM THE WORD' Matthew 28:8-12.)

But David, "this is not meant to be taken too literally'", as one of my Bible Commentaries says! Why not?

Have a look at the Letters of the New Testament where the writers introduce themselves to the people they are writing to. Do they use 'Titles' or simply 'Job Descriptions'? (See the next article to save time!)

In each and every case their ministry gifting and position is used as a job description and not a title! In fact, James, Peter, John and Jude all describe themselves as servants! And of course Paul makes his servant calling clear in the body of his Letters.

Yet in the church, we use job descriptions as titles more than they do in the world! A lawyer, accountant and teacher have similar, or greater, levels of qualiciation, but do not normally use their qualifications to give themselves a title. But amomngst church leadership, titles are used with almost reckless abandon. Supposedly in the name of honour! At the heart of it, to raise one up!

This is particularly so amongst 'Pastors' and 'Revs'. While you may argue that the title is simply showing respect to the position, the reality is that the title automatically places a barrier between 'the Pastor' and 'the people'.

Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher should never be spelt with a capital! Unless, of course, they are at the beginning of a sentence, and then only to keep English teachers happy! And placed after a name, not before.

The Jesus role of leadership is to be that of a servant, as illustrated in the introductions to the Biblical Letters.

The church will not move into the fullness of its calling of servanthood, until the use of the ministry gifts as job titles ceases.

Worldly ways have penetrated and influenced the church in many ways. The problem realizing how much we have been affected by the world and its way of doing things. The enemy in fact takes, twists, and exaggerates worldly ways so that they become more extreme inside the church than in the world!

We need to seek the 'Father's' will for our lives through the guidance of the 'Holy Spirit' to follow the example 'Jesus' gave us in His Word if we are to be truly become the servants we are meant to be.

So please don't feel you need to call me 'Rev. Dr. Pastor David' - as I have been called! It's not true and means I will soon have to buy a bigger hat! And business card too - to fit it all on! Save the trees!

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FROM THE WORD

"“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:8-12)

Let's have a look at the Letters of the New Testament where the writers introduce themselves to the people they are writing to.

1 CORINTHIANS: Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, …….
2 CORINTHIANS: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, …….
GALATIANS: Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, …….
EPHESIANS: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, …….

And others similar to these by Paul:

JAMES: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, …….
1 PETER: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
2 PETER: Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, …….
2 JOHN: The elder, …….
JUDE: Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, …….
REVELATION: The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, …….

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:"" (Philippians 2:3-5)

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:10-11)

DAVID'S DOODLINGS

HUMILITY
210. It's hard to be humble when you always win. So God doesn't let that happen!

211. Learning humility in defeat trains us to remain humble in success.

212. Boasting is of the human heart, but humility is God's heart for us.

396. True humility cannot be generated in the mind, for it comes from our spirit.

397. True humility arises when confidence in God overcomes confidence in ones self.

398. Humility is a positive attribute, not a weakness.

399. False humility reflects weakness, but true humility exudes godly strength.

400. The truest expression of a godly character in reflected in humility.

NEW! You can now download the book of all David's Doodlings in PDF format at DAVID'S DOODLINGS

Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now more than 900 David sayings for you to view at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php

A MESSAGE FROM ROY

Although this PGIM! e-letter is sent free, some readers have decided to support this Ministry one or more times a year by sponsoring a week's PGIM! @ USD $50.00. Can I ask you to consider sponsoring a specified week/s? You will get an acknowledgement on your particular week/s of sponsorship (unless you do not want it). If you are interested to help this very informative & helpful newsletter, please email me, Roy McGreevy, as it is God who authored this idea through me in the USA. roy@kscbtv.com. I look forward to hearing from you... thanks. Roy

FROM YOU - TO ME - TO YOU

Dear David
I have been sent your Weekly Encouragement for just over a year now, by a friend who sent my email address to you. It has been quite a support over what has been a difficult period of my life.

I have just read todays and cannot believe how wonderful God, via Christ, via The Holy Spirit is! When reading a book to my 7yr old daughter about The Eygptians, she asked me which country Adam and Eve lived. Well I said I didn't know but would ask our minister at the Baptist Church where I am a member. However, on reading the Did You Know facts you actually answered her question. Tomorrow morning, it will be Tuesday, I can tell her they lived in Iraq.

I am not given to using a computer very often and have certainly never emailed
anyone abroard but felt I had to share this with you. This is a wonderful learning
resource.

Thank you. God Bless you.

Celia
Daventry
Northants
England

David,
In your last message you talk about South Dakota. I took our band up there to Rapid City 2 years ago and left them with several major concerts. I played my flute concert in the main center of town, and at Crazy Horse Monument, then on to Mt Rushmore and we also did concerts at the VA Hospital in Sturges and did an ecumenical concert at the Episcopal
church in Rapid City. We spent a week up there doing concerts. While there, I was asked to return in the fall to play at the "Hills Alive" international Christian gathering at their university...that was put on hold because of the forest fires. I think this event is still in hold. I thought this is rather interesting...

Jerry

David
PULPER can indeed be transformed into PURPLE.

It can also be transformed into LUPPER -- the meal that follows brunch. :o)

You, your family, and your ministry are in our daily prayers.

Blessings,

Dal & Denise

Your comments to me or fellow readers are always welcomed at... david@wwj.org.nz

This is an opportunity for you to express your views, which may not be my views. But none of us have a mortgage on all the truth - except for Jesus!

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." ***

285. BRIEF SERMON
A minister preached a very brief sermon and explained to the congregation, "My dog got into my office and ate all my notes."

On the way out the door, a visitor said to the pastor, "If your dog ever has pups, would you see that my minister gets one?"

284. JERICHO WALLS
The new pastor of a rural church dropped into a Sunday-school class and began quizzing the students to test the effectiveness of the teacher.

"Who knocked down the walls of Jericho?" he demanded of one boy.

"It sure weren't me, Reverend," the boy said.

Turning to the embarrassed teacher, the pastor exclaimed, "I suppose that's a sample of the kind of class you maintain!"

"Now, Reverend, Timmy's a good boy and doesn't tell lies. If he said he didn't to it, I believe him."

Thoroughly upset, the pastor took the matter to the church's board of deacons. After due consideration, the board sent the following message to the minister: "We see no point in making an issue of this incident. The board will pay for the damages to the wall and charge it off to vandalism."

NEW! You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 670 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php

FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How many times does a person's heart beat in a lifetime?

ANSWER: About 50 million gallons of blood pass through the heart in an average lifetime. The heart beats about 72 times per minute at rest in adults, and from 90 to 140 times in infants.

Each day the average heart "beats," or expands and contracts, 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood. In an average lifetime, the human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do moths actually eat clothes?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS
771. ROYAL BEGINNINGS
The British Post Office grew out of the carrying of royal dispatches. As red was considered a royal colour, so uniforms and letterboxes were, and still are, coloured red – round most of the world. (Does ‘seeing red’ then, come from late mail deliveries?)

772. NOOSE UNDER TENSION
A ‘springe’ is a snare consisting of a noose attached to something under tension, such as a bent tree branch. (Spring the springe.)

773. STILL A GREAT INVESTMENT
In July 1934, Babe Ruth paid a fan $20 dollars for the return of the baseball he hit for his 700th career home run. (Today worth the value of the park then?)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.

WAGSN

Answer at the end of A David Musing

NEW! You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA

Or view all 1232 online at...

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BE INSPIRED WITH A MESSAGE FROM INSPIRATIONAL TAPES

This amazing New Zealand resource has over 4,000 messages ranging from old classics to the latest revelation and teaching. A number of free MP3 downloads are available or you can order tapes and CD’s from the site for worldwide delivery at a most reasonable cost. Our free weekly MP3 download selections will be available again soon.

Visit the library now at…

http://www.inspirational.org.nz

101 EASY WAYS TO SAY NO

I'd love to, but...

1 I have to floss my cat.
2 I've dedicated my life to linguini.
3 I want to spend more time with my blender.
4 the President said he might drop in.
5 the man on television told me to say tuned.
6 I've been scheduled for a karma transplant.
7 I'm staying home to work on my cottage cheese sculpture.
8 it's my parakeet's bowling night.
9 it wouldn't be fair to the other Beautiful People.
10 I'm building a pig from a kit.
11 I did my own thing and now I've got to undo it.
12 I'm enrolled in aerobic scream therapy.
13 there's a disturbance in the Force.
14 I'm doing door-to-door collecting for static cling.
15 I have to go to the post office to see if I'm still wanted.
16 I'm teaching my ferret to yodel.
17 I have to check the freshness dates on my dairy products.
18 I'm going through cherry cheesecake withdrawl.
19 I'm planning to go downtown to try on gloves.
20 my crayons all melted together.
21 I'm trying to see how long I can go without saying yes.
22 I'm in training to be a household pest.
23 I'm getting my overalls overhauled.
24 my patent is pending.
25 I'm attending the opening of my garage door.

For the other 76 (and many more 'Extensive Explanations') you will have to go to...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php

FANTASTIC PRAYER POINTS FROM A NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PRAYER LIST

PRAYER UPDATE 224

THE CHURCH
In spite of its obvious human failings, Jesus said, “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). It is easy to criticize the Church for its human failings but we need to remember that the Church is the Body of Christ, and He is its Head. Please pray for:
1. Increasing unity (in practice, not just in theory) between the various parts of the Body of Christ; that churches will support one another, pray for each other and work together whenever possible.
2. That Christ will truly be Head of the Church, and that all Church leaders and decision-makers will seek His will, not just do their own will!
3. That the Church will be sanctified by the Blood of Christ and its members will walk in repentance and humility, living holy lives which are both pleasing to God and an example of Godly living to our communities.
4. That all Christian organisations will work closely with churches, supporting the churches and being supported by them.
5. For the sharing of the Gospel, personal discipleship and church-planting.
6. That the Word of God will be preached in Spirit and in Truth – anointed by God’s Spirit and true to what God’s Word actually says.
7. That God will again “cleanse His temple” of all uncleanness, hypocrisy and everything else which is an abomination to Him.
8. For all false prophets and apostacy to be exposed and renounced.
9. For all pastors and church leaders, that God will encourage them, guide them, give them the strength and wisdom they need to lead and shepherd His people.
10. For an out-pouring of God’s Spirit on the Church, increasing our faith, equipping God’s people with His gifts, reaching out to the lost with the Gospel, and bringing the presence and glory of God into our communities.
11. For the strongholds of the enemy, both within churches and outside, to be broken down and for the Kingdom of God to be established in our communities.
12. For the Bride of Christ to be ready – pure, clean, expecting the soon-coming of the Bridegroom.

To subscribe to this weekly Prayer Update, anywhere in the world, please email caughley@xtra.co.nz with SUBSCRIBE as the Subject.

INTERESTING WORDS AND PHRASES FROM THE BIBLE

TAKING A SABBATICAL

From the old Jewish notion of, 'taking time off'. The Old Testament Law commands the Jews to leave the land fallow every 7th year so it may refresh itself. Called the 'Sabbatical Year'. It is now generally a period of time off for refreshing or renewing of the mind.

Lot's more God Facts at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php

A REVELATION OF... THE FIRST MIRACLE OF JESUS

I have never been happy with the explanations I have heard of the meaning of the changing of the water into wine. So I asked Jesus! And He told me! Find out what He said through the Holy Spirit. A free PDF download at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj17p56.pdf

A NEW SERVICE COMING SOON - 'TUESDAY TEACHINGS'

After requests for more teaching, we will shortly be starting a new ezine of revelatory teachings from God's word on a Tuesday. These studies will increase your insights into scripture and help in your walk with Jesus.

This will be brief enough for you to easily read online and so allow you to economically print them off, if you so desire.

IF YOU DON'T WISH TO RECEIVE THESE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE ADDRESS BELOW AND SEND A BLANK EMAIL TO

tt@wwj.org.nz

You will still receive PGIM as per normal, even if you decide to come off the 'Tuesday Teachings' list.

Looking forward to serving you more.

A DAVID MUSING

Sorry to get back onto the subject of (slow) running. But it never ceases to amaze me how, when I do something particularly in the Lord's will, my times for that day are consistently and inexplicably faster than normal!

For the Lord can talk to us in many - and unexpected - ways. I would encourage you to look for unusual ways in which He may be seeking to speak to you too. It's worth the effort. And remember how creative He is!

Now, a thought! Maybe He will give me a million dollars every time.....? No, I obviously can't be doing anything right! A very human 'way', not a godly one! Stick with running, David!

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's Word Puzzle Answer: GNAWS

REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT

Most weeks we get enquiries about reproducing, in electronic or print form, articles contained in 'PGIM!' We welcome and encourage you to utilize this material. Freely received, freely given. We would ask though, that the source be acknowledged as an encouragement to others to subscribe to this newsletter also.

Subscription opportunities are available here Subscribe Here

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DONATIONS

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LINKS

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ABOUT US

WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Mount Maunganui, 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
3 Hetley Crescent
Taradale
Napier 4001
New Zealand

Phone: (06) 8449-377 International (+64) 8449-377
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