A different newsletter this week. The Lord has been laying the following on my heart for some time now, so I am sharing it with you. Hope you find it helpful and thought provoking. I have! As these thoughts are longer than normal, the remainder of the newsletter has been abbreviated for I know you are busy people.

THE SPIRITUAL ROOTS OF THE 3 MIDDLE EASTERN RELIGIONS

There is a lot of discussion about the relationship of Judaism, Christianity and Islam today, but for these discussions to be meaningful it is necessary to look at the spiritual roots of the 3 faiths. I have not seen this done elsewhere. I am not taking a theological position here, but simply presenting some facts, to help you think about these things for yourself. These are brief, very general outlines only. Please view them that way.

All 3 faiths have the same starting point - each is seeking to relate to the God of Abraham. While all 3 start with the same desire, the methods of obtaining this relationship are so different that this similarity of starting points has almost always been overlooked.

A summary of the foundations of the 3 faiths follows (in order of age)

JUDAISM

GODHEAD: One G_d only.
FOUNDER: Abraham through Isaac and succeeding generations.
FIND GOD THROUGH:
1. Up to AD70 (Destruction of Temple) Repentance, sacrifice, good deeds
2. Post AD70 Repentance, prayer, good deeds.
RELATE TO GOD: The people relate to God through the Kings and Priests.
GOVERNMENT:
Kings - Civil
Priests - Religious
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND CHURCH: Integrated in ideal circumstances but often not as much in reality.
THE WORD: Old Testament(Emphasis on the Torah - first 5 books)plus other Rabbinical teachings developed through the ages.
MESSIAH: (Moshiach) A human ruler who will re-establish the Jewish state from which all the world will be ruled in peace and prosperity.
RESSURECTION: The righteous dead will be ressurrected at the time of the Messiah. The unrighteous dead will not be resurrected.
EVANGELISATION: Nil. Born as a Jew or can accept upon request.

CHRISTIANITY

GODHEAD: One God of 3 parts - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
FOUNDER: Jesus, the descendant of Abraham, Isaac and succeeding generations.
FIND GOD THROUGH: God's grace, attainable only through a personal relationship with Jesus.
RELATE TO GOD: Through Jesus, who represents Christians before God. Each believer relates individually with God as both a king and a priest. No priesthood or intermediary between man and God.
GOVERNMENT:
State - Secular
Church - Various forms
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND CHURCH: Generally Church and State are separate.
THE WORD: Old and New Testaments
MESSIAH: Jesus, the Son of God, crucified, resurrected, ascended to Heaven. To return a second time.
SECOND RESSURECTION: Various ideas of the process, but finally a resurrection of all people, judgement, with Jesus reigning over a kingdom of believers. Unbelievers will be condemned to eternal damnation.
EVANGELISATION: Message of Salvation to be taken to the entire world for acceptance or rejection by the receivers.

ISLAM

GODHEAD: Allah, the one God.
FOUNDER: Prophet Muhammad (570-633)
FIND GOD THROUGH: Belief in God and Muhammad as his Prophet.
RELATE TO GOD: By following the 5 Pillars of Islam; faith, prayer, giving, fasting in Ramadan, and, if possible, visiting Mecca (for the Hajj) once.
GOVERNMENT: State and church are one entity.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STATE AND CHURCH: No separation of the two in ideal circumstances.
THE WORD: Primarily the Quran, given by the Angel Gabriel to Muhammad, the sayings of Muhammad, the Prophets (primarily the Old Testament plus Jesus but with modifications)
MESSIAH: None. Muhammad was God's final prophet.
RESSURECTION: All people to be raised at the Day of Judgement. Believers will go to Paradise, unbelievers to Hellfire.
EVANGELISATION: By conversion or conquest until all the world is evangelised. No lands, once taken or converted, are to be given up.

A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

As a Christian, my personal belief is that there is only one way to God, and that is through belief in Jesus. (John 14:6)

It is interesting that these 3 religions, each supposedly seeking the same God, are in such conflict throughout the world today. Why is this? In a spiritual sense, we can obtain considerable understanding by going right back to the father of all 3 faiths, Abraham, and seeing what happened.

Abraham was promised a son by God. At his wife's suggestion, he first tried to fulfil the promise in a human, worldly way through Sarah's servant Hagar, who was somewhat younger than she. Ishmael was the result. Then supernaturally, well after menopause, Sarah produced the promised godly inheritance, Isaac.

Later on, Ishmael, the son of the Egyptian (Egypt being a spiritual type of 'the world') Hagar, was banished from the family, married an Egyptian wife, and was promised by God that his descendants would become a great nation. (Genesis 21:18) The next generation, Ishmael's sons, "lived in hostility towards all their brothers." (Genesis 25:18) It is from Ishmael that the Islamic Religion is descended. Indeed, Muslims believe that Abraham offered Ishmael rather than Isaac, as the sacrifice to God upon the Altar.

What is just as interesting however, is the next generation in the godly line. Isaac's twin sons, Esau and Jacob fought with each other, even within the womb. Neither covered themselves with glory in their family relationships, but eventually, after much animosity, they were reconciled. (Genesis 33) Spiritually, doesn't this bear a remarkable resemblance to the ongoing differences between Judaism and Christianity? Yet Esau and Jacob were finally reconciled.

There are other places in the Bible where this reconciliation is foreseen also. See below for the download of the Book of Ruth, offered last week and again this week.

Islam then, is a religion built on worldly 'religious' principles, the 5 'Pillars of Islam', the keeping of which will earn your place in Paradise. It is a religion based on both conversion and conquest. They believe the whole world will come to their faith through these 2 methods. They also believe that once a territory is converted or conquered, it must never be lost. Hence the intense hatred towards Israel, for it now occupies land that was Islamic for centuries.

It is important also, to understand the differing attitudes towards evangelisation. In their purely religious forms, Judaism does not overtly seek converts, Christianity offers its teachings for acceptance or rejection by all people, while Islam seeks compulsory world-wide conversion. Of course, history shows that people acting in the name but not the spirit of Christianity have frequently endeavoured to impose Christian beliefs by force too, with generally, tragic consequences.

Our physical reaction towards the expansion aims of Islam, by conversion or conquest, is dependent upon our personal beliefs. The reality though, is that Moslems see Christians (The 'West' in their eyes - ironic though, as these countries are rapidly becoming the least 'Christian' of all!) as their adversary. We are certainly in a spiritual, and sometimes physical, war for the hearts and minds of men and women throughout the world. As Christians, we are required at the very least, to fight the spiritual battle for the hearts and minds of all people. To do so from a position of understanding is so much more effective.

Let the battle continue!

Find out more about us on...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/about.html

FROM THE WORD

"Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5-6)

"God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” " (Genesis 21:17-18)

"Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers. (Genesis 25:17-18)

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” " (Matthew 28:18-20)

TAPE (MP3) OF THE WEEK

In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministries
inspirational.org.nz
we are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape or MP3 download - absolutely free of charge!

MAINTAINING THE FATHER HEART OF GOD - PART 1

By John and Paula Sandford

As co-founders of Elijah House USA & Canada, John and Paula travel extensively conducting and teaching seminars on marriage and family life matters. They are co-authors of 20 books related to Biblical based counselling, inner healing, deliverance, prayer, and family life. Their best selling book, "The Transformation of the Inner Man" has sold more than 200,000 copies and has brought healing to thousands of families around the world.

Order your free tape or download your MP3 today at...

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

LAUGHING AT OURSELVES

HEY FELLAS!
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***

Three preachers sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby.

"Kneeling is definitely best," claimed one.

"No," another contended. "I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven."

"You're both wrong," the third insisted. "The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor."

The repairman could contain himself no longer. "Hey, fellas, " he interrupted, "the best prayin' I ever did was hangin' upside down from a telephone pole."

We can now laugh at ourselves even more as there are 35 new stories on...

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

FACTS FOR FUN - INCLUDING INTERESTING BIBLE FACTS
LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the underlying meaning of the number '7' in the Bible?

ANSWER: Completion, Perfection, Maturity

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU!

LOGCI

Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’

UNDERLYING SPIRITUAL MEANINGS OF PLANTS IN THE BIBLE

ALMOND ROD----Word of God
FIG TREE------Strength
FIRSTFRUITS---Overcoming or mature Christians
FRUIT/S--------Results or attributes to be developed in a Christian
HYSSOP--------Faith
MYRTLE--------Joy, Fragrance
OLIVE TREE----Anointing
PALM----------Victory, Righteousness
PINE-----------Oil
SEED-----------Life, Spiritual man
THORNS--------Non-Christians
THISTLES------Non-Christians
WEEDS---------Non-Christians
WILLOW--------Weeping

Many more interesting Christian terms and meanings on...

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

PRAYER REQUEST

Last week, due to the technical set-up of our system, and my ignorance of it, the email address given for those who would wish to support us in prayer during next week's trip to Africa, didn't work. Sorry. Always learning! Never enough time to learn all I should know, but plenty of time to make all the mistakes I should know not to make! Say - that can be the 'David's Doodling' for the week!

*** "There is never enough time to learn all I should know, but plenty of time to make all the mistakes I should know not to make!"

But I digress. If you would be prepared to support us in prayer, please drop me an email on david@wwj.org.nz and I will send you our latest Prayer Letter - the one that will be written this week amongst the million other things that have to be done! Thanks so much.

IF YOU HAVE TIME YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ... (A PDF File Download)

GOD'S VICTORIOUS CHURCH - A revelation of the church to come from the book of Ruth plus a prophecy on the 3 armies (type of Church ) of God. A fascinating 11, A5, page read extracted from the book 'Eagles Fly High!' The prophecy is particularly relevant to today's first and second articles.

This PDF download can be directly accessed at...

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/bk9.pdf

A (QUICK) DAVID MUSING

Isn't it amazing that when you are to go away, time seems to go so quickly, yet in the end, you finish up getting most things done! Need is a great motivator - over limited times at least!

So it is this week. Next Monday morning, my Associate Tony Richardson and myself will be winging our way towards Africa. Seventeen hours of flying! Three hours from New Zealand to Sydney, Australia, followed by a further 14 to Johannesburg, South Africa. Long flights are a cost of living art the bottom of the world. After a few days with the good people of the amazing Hatfield Church in Pretoria, it will be on to Ghana and Nigeria for nearly 5 weeks to share the word of discipleship, unity and salvation to our friends there. Then on to Aberdeen Scotland for a few days to meet my now Scotish family, including my granddaughter Eva, for the first time at 18 months of age. It is a small world these days. And families take advantage of it!

So must be off to get ready!

His servant and yours

David Tait

Word Puzzle Answer: faulty logic

LINKS

If you would like to link your web site to ours, and ours to yours, please advise us on
links@wwj.org.nz

DID THIS EMAIL HAVE A BLUE BACKGROUND & RED HEADINGS?

YES - Great!
NO - Your web browser needs to be set to 'Rich Text'. If you have an older 'Text Only' browser, this email may also be viewed on our web site at...

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

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
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