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: 25 Published: 15 Apr 2002
IS GOD REALLY WITH US?
In reviewing the verses you submitted as the least believed in the Bible, it suddenly struck me that nearly all the verses require the application of mature faith for them to be both believable and believed. Take for instance, John 14:14."You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
Read as 14 words snatched off the page, it is obvious that if I ask to receive a million dollars within the next 5 minutes in the name of Jesus, and believe it, I will get it! Known as "name it and claim it" theology. I will just take a break and get something to eat, to test it out.
Five minutes passes.......
Well, here I am back again, having grown in stomach size but not in bank balance. I am sure that you are not surprised - oh ye of little faith in my faith!
On the other hand, when the Lord led me to go to Africa, I prayed, "Lord, if this is of you, please confirm it by providing the money for the fares." Within a day, a completely unexpected business transaction occurred, providing the $NZ9,000 needed to cover the fares for 2 of us to travel. A clear answer to prayer, you will quickly agree.
So why the difference? It is obvious really. The first prayer was in my selfish human will, the second in God's will. The first left me frustrated and disappointed at my lack of faith, the second contented and secure that my actions are part of God's plan. For I really do need the $9,000 if I am to go to Africa, my bank account being distinctly insufficient! But I really don't need a million dollars for the provision of my promised 'daily bread'. Inflation is not yet that rampant here! Yet I did ask in the name of Jesus, as the verse describes.
The answer to this apparent dilemma is found in 1 John 5:14.
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask for anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."
Yes, once God's will and mine co-incide, all my prayers will be answered in the affirmative. I will be mature. My faith will be mature. I will rest content in Him. The previously unbelieved and unbelievable verse will suddenly become both believable and faith building.
Is God really with us? He is, all the time. But obtaining the true understanding and application of His Word frequently depends upon how much we are with Him. For as the two become one, as we grow to be more like Christ, so we become one with The Word. The answer is in our own hands.
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MORE MOST UNBELIEVED WORDS FROM 'THE WORD'
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1:3-4)"Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:16-18)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
*** To the believer Jesus is Saviour, but to the disciple he is also Lord.*** Faith is like a baby – it needs to learn to crawl and to walk before it can run.
*** Faith is like dropping a stone into a pond. The small circles enlarge with time.
There are 250 David Doodling's at...
TAPE (MP3) OF THE WEEK
In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministriesinspirational.org.nz
We are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape or MP3 download - absolutely free of charge!
YOUR PRAYER CAN CHANGE THE WORLD - PART 1
By Derek Prince
Derek, a rare Doctor of Philosophy in philosophy, is a truly international Christian leader. Born in India in 1915, a Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge, England, he now lives in the USA and Israel. Undoubtably New Zealand's favourite Bible teacher over many years, Derek is well known and respected around the world.
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EXTENSIVE EXPLANATIONS
KID’S TEST PAPERSThese gems are from test papers and essays submitted by kids:
?!? "When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breath, you expire." !?!
?!? "H3O is hot water, and CO3 is cold water" !?!
?!? "Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas." !?!
?!? "Vacuum: A large, empty space where the pope lives." !?!
?!? "To keep milk from turning sour: Keep it in the cow." !?!
?!? "Magnet: Something you find crawling all over a dead cat." !?!
Extensive Explanations galore on ...
FACTS FOR FUN - INTERESTING BIBLE FACTS
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: How long was the world's longest ever prayer meeting?ANSWER: An Awful Lot of Knee Hours! "How long does prayer-meeting last in your church? Do the fidgits set in after ten or twenty minutes of prayer? Let's estimate the average prayer meeting at an hour. How much longer do you think the world's longest prayer meeting lasted? Multiply an hour by 24; then multiply that by 365; and then multiply that by 100. That tallies up to 876,000 hours. The longest prayer meeting in the world actually lasted longer than that! It began this day, August 27, 1727, in Herrnhut, Germany, when Moravians under Count von Zinzendorf commenced an around-the-clock prayer chain that lasted more than one hundred years!"
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: If you cut an earthworm in half, will it grow into two new worms?
Answer next week.
SOME QUICK BIBLE FACTS (KJV)
General Facts - Bible Verses
1. Longest Verse -- Esther 8:9
2. Shortest Verse -- John 11:35
3. Most Precious Verse -- John 3:16
4. Saddest Verse -- Mark 15:34
5. Grandest Verse -- Romans 8:11
6. The Longest Name -- MAHER-SHAL-HASH-BAZ (Isa. 8:1, 18 letters)
A CHALLENGE FOR YOU!
You go on a picnic with your friends. Each one of them wants a
different amount of oil and vinegar in his salad. However, you've
already mixed the oil and vinegar in one bottle. How can you please
everyone at the picnic?
Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’
Many more interesting God Facts on...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused.***Isn't it amazing how...
….$20 looks so big when you take it to church,
but so small when you take it to the mall.
….long it takes to serve God for an hour,
but how quickly a team plays 60 minutes of basketball.
….long a couple of hours spent at church are,
but how short they are when watching a movie.
….we can’t think of anything to say when we pray,
but don’t have difficulty thinking of things to talk about to a friend.
….we get thrilled when a game goes into extra time,
but we complain when a sermon goes longer than normal.
More gems of Christian humour at ...
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TAKE A LOOK AT ...
Another Bowentown adventure. It is amazing how the Lord communicates with youwhen you are genuinely seeking Him. I am one of those strange people who enjoys
running – well, most of the time anyway. This poem shows how the Lord is not 2000
years behind the times, but communicates with us in ways that are relevant to our
circumstances and life.
Find out how at...
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS.... THIS IS FOR YOU
THE SAN FELIPE COLLECTIONFor ideas for your kid's lessons. Currently contains round 90 Sunday School lesson outlines (English and Spanish) with links to other Christian resource material.
This helpful resource can be found at...
A DAVID MUSING
There is a common saying, "first in the natural, then in the spiritual", derived from 1 Corinthians 15:46. Well, I trust that this relationship applies between my running over the past few days and my spiritual anointing and understanding. For my last 4 runs have all been 'PB's' (Personal Bests) Over the years I have watched with amazement, top athletes break a series of world records over a short period of time, wondering how they can manage to string together so many top performances, so closely one after another. My turn has now come, albeit at a personal level only.Amidst my joy though, it has set me musing about how the process of spiritual growth is so similar. I carry along on a plateau, diligently seeking the Lord but nothing seems to happen for a long time. I get discouraged. "Are all my efforts worthwhile?" I muse. Then, often when I least expect it, comes the breakthrough! A new revelation, new levels of understanding, a closer walk with my Lord. Not surprisingly, considering we are in a spiritual battle, the greatest discouragement, the toughest moment, is just before the breakthrough.
So now, I am looking forward now to my next spiritual breakthrough, for that is a pattern that has followed previous running experiences. And it will be a big one! For never before, have I managed to string together so many good performances in the natural. Lord, bring me closer to you.
Well, I had better close and get back out on the road and see if I can extend this run of record runs. Always greedy for more - particularly of the Lord!
His servant and yours
David Tait
TODAY'S CHALLENGE ANSWER: Oil floats in vinegar. All you have to do is tilt the bottle. To pour vinegar, you have to turn the bottle upside down and by pulling off the cork a little, you can let the desired amount of vinegar out.
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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 websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
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