TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM (continued)

The early church was initially quite small, often like house groups today, meeting in different cities and towns throughout the region.

Unlike the established Jewish system with its hierarchy of priests and rabbis who made their living out of the tithes and offerings of the people, the fledging churches, as far as we are aware, had no paid local leadership. All believers were considered to be 'brothers' (including sisters!) and the focus was upon the leadership of Christ.

There were travelling ministries whom the local church supported when required. Of course, at this time there was no printed New Testament. The only ways believers could learn more of the teachings of Jesus was through itinerant ministries or the letters and writings of those who had been with Jesus during His life, or as in the case of Paul, through the miraculous meeting on the road to Amaeus.

Paul is a the most comprehensive example we have of early Christian leadership. From what we know or can glean he wasn't an impressive person in appearance or eloquent of speech. But he was an excellent writer. God chose the author of much of the New Testament well!

His ministry trips took years rather the days we relate to today. He would stay in an area for considerable lengths of time. While he would accept gifts from the people, he did not expect them. In fact, through his trade of tent making, he took great pains not to be a burden upon the local believers, making tents and selling them to pay his own living expenses.

Probably the best understanding of his motivation comes in the introductions to his various letters. Paul was an apostle, appointed by Jesus himself! The highest appointment recommendation one could get! Yet, let's look at how he introduced himself in his writings.

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God", "Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God", "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God", "Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father", "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,", "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus", Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God", "Paul, Silas and Timothy", "Paul, Silas and Timothy", "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ", "Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus".

Paul would describe his apostolic role, but not once did he ascribe himself a title.

It is also interesting to see the development through the books as they are printed in the Bible. In the early books he describes himself as an apostle, then as one working with others, next a servant, and finally as a prisoner (both literal and spiritual!). What a progression and the opposite of what we generally see today.

As Paul grew in the Lord, the more humble he became! Truly a lesson for us all!

(To be continued next week.)

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FROM THE WORD

"If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar." (Hebrews 7:11-13)

"as you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him–you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:4-9)

"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[fn1] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. (John 16:7-11)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

RELIGION, REVELATION AND GOD'S KINGDOM

1036. Religion seeks to control the Spirit of God which His kingdom releases.

1037. Religion controls, God's kingdom releases.

1038. Religion seeks to define an infinite God. By definition, it is doomed to failure.

1039. Religion seeks to interpret the answers to life found in God's kingdom. Surely a direct approach is best.

1040. As religion goes, God's kingdom grows.

1041. Revelation and religion make incompatible companions.

1042. Religion resists change while revelation requires it!

1043. Revelation formalised soon becomes religion institutionalised.

1044. God's kingdom breeds revelation, religion, rules.

1045. Religion is man's adaptation of God's revelation.

1046. When religion fails you, turn to God.

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CRANWELL'S CARTOON

He then began his third missionary tour. He journeyed by land in the “upper coasts” (the more eastern parts) of Asia Minor, and at length made his way to Ephesus, where he tarried for no less than three years, engaged in ceaseless Christian labour. “This city was at the time the Liverpool of the Mediterranean. It possessed a splendid harbour, in which was concentrated the traffic of the sea which was then the highway of the nations; and as Liverpool has behind her the great towns of Lancashire, so had Ephesus behind and around her such cities as those mentioned along with her in the epistles to the churches in the book of Revelation, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. It was a city of vast wealth, and it was given over to every kind of pleasure, the fame of its theatres and race-course being world-wide” (Stalker’s Life of St. Paul). Here a “great door and effectual” was opened to the apostle. His fellow-labourers aided him in his work, carrying the gospel to Colosse and Laodicea and other places which they could reach.
Easton, M. G., M. A. D. D., Easton’s Bible Dictionary, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1996.





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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

NEXT WEEK BEYOND THE VEIL – 1 continues

REVELATION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT PRINCIPLES OF ATONEMENT

B. ATONEMENT PRINCIPLES ‘POSITIONALLY’ FULFILLED BY JESUS
(To be Experientially fulfilled, that is Embraced, by the Church)

continues on Christmas Day with the next 3 points. Or you can leave it until the next day... or the next!

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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." ***

674. HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, "We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?"

One child blurted out, "Aces!"

673. DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?"

No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."


672. LOT'S WIFE

The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Johnny interrupted, "My Mummy looked back once, while she was DRIVING," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"


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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How far can a kangaroo jump?

ANSWER: A large kangaroo can clear more than thirty feet (9m) in one
jump. (Gets there quickly ‘in leaps and bounds’.)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What was the first toy ever advertised on
television?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

597. SPIDER NEST
The nest in which spiders or other insects deposit their eggs is called a ‘nidus’. (Eggspedient?)

598. SPIDER SPEED
A spider can spin a traditional round web in less than an hour. (No, it’s not that your housework is behind. Rather, spiders are speedy.)

599. A MAN OF MANY TALENTS
U.S. President George Washington, was the first person to breed roses in the US. He laid out his own garden at Mt. Vernon and filled it with his own rose selections. One of his varieties he named after his mother and it is still being grown today. (A thorn in his political opponents sides too?)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

FAINTED

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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BIBLE QUESTION - JUDGES (You be the judge!)

11) How many men volunteered to go with Gideon?

A - 32,000
B - 22,000
C - 10,000
D - 40,000

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""

!!!!!!! What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

!!!!!! I used to have an open mind, but my brains kept falling out.

!!!!! Shin: A device for finding furniture in the dark.

!!!! How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink?

!!! Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?

!! Worrying about something is like paying interest on a debt you don't even know if you owe. (Mark Twain)

! There is only one way to acquire wisdom. But when it comes to making a fool of yourself, you have your choice of thousands of different ways.


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MORE BIBLE RIDDLES

Thought we had done all possible Bible riddles in our last, very popular series. However, I have now found some more for you to enjoy, courtesy of Frank Schaefer of javacasa.com

THE LAST ONE THIS WEEK!

Q. Who in the Bible was a very lazy person?
>
>
>
>
>
>
A. The boy that loafs and fishes.

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GREAT GROANERS!

200. COMMUTING
A friend of mine who commutes to work everyday through the Lincoln Tunnel with a bunch of co- workers recently complained about what a pain it was. I told him that he may have a bad case of "car pool tunnel syndrome."

201. HUGH MCNASTY AND THE MONKERY
Two members of a small monastery decided to open a florist shop to help raise money for their good works. The idea of buying beautiful flowers from gentle friars appealed to a lot of people in the town, and soon they were flocking to the shop.

Meanwhile, the florist across town saw his business virtually disappear when all his customers began buying flowers from the monks. He thought the monks had an unfair advantage, so he visited them and asked them to return to the monastery and leave business to businessmen. They politely declined.

So he visited the monastery and asked the Abbot to convince the monks to abandon the business. He declined as well.

Next the florist sent his mother, his parish priest and his children to visit the monks, asking them to cease their business so the original florist could make a living. It didn't work.

Finally, in desperation, the florist hired the town thug, Hughson McNasty, to use personal persuasion. Hugh McNasty showed up one night with a cudgel, shattered the windows of the monk's shop, tossed their flowers out into the street, and gave the monk's black eyes, promising them he'd be back unless they closed their business.

Terrified, the monks shut their store and returned to the monastery. Proving, of course... Hugh and only Hugh can prevent florist friars.

202. THE LESSON
A young missionary on his first term in Africa was reading his Bible in a clearing when a lion came up and laid down beside him. As he quietly prayed for deliverance, another lion came out of the bush and laid down by his other side. Convinced that this was a test of his faith, he returned to reading his Bible. As soon as he did, the two lions pounced on him and devoured him.

Moral: Don't try to read between the lions.

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BIBLE TRIVIA

PAPER

The stem of the papyrus was pressed flat under heavy weights until it dried. It was then cut into sheets which were polished with ivory to make a smooth writing surface. Sometimes the sheets were sewn or glued together to make scrolls, usually about 30 feet (10 metres) long, with handles to make winding easier.

Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys

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CANYON FALL LEADS TO CHRIST

God worked mightily in Sakha's family through prayer.

Sakha Doli was an active member of the extremist anti-Christian group to which many in his village belonged. When he met Gospel for Asia missionary Ratna, he argued with him and told him never to visit his family or village again. But Sakha's opposition did not last for long. He did not realize that Ratna was praying faithfully for him.

It was not long before Sakha's family heard the shocking news that their formerly zealous anti-Christian son had become a Christian.

Outraged, Sakha's family reported his conversion to the anti-Christian group to which he had belonged. They began threatening Sakha. His family opposed him at home, too. One day when Sakha brought home some Christian cassettes and played them, his brother Dhanjoy became angry. Dhanjoy broke his brother's cassettes and spat on them, saying they were a defilement to the family.

Even with all the opposition, Sakha stood firm in his new faith and even boldly shared the Gospel in his village. But the doors to people's hearts did not open until his brother Dhanjoy took a 65-foot fall on his motorbike.

While riding across a bridge, Dhanjoy had fallen off into a deep trench and severely injured his head and legs. He was unconscious when Sakha and his father, Bimal, reached him.

After one doctor said Dhanjoy's injuries were too severe for treatment, Sakha and Bimal were with him in an ambulance on their way to another hospital, but Bimal had no hope for his son's survival. At that moment, Sakha strongly urged his father to trust the Lord, both for Dhanjoy's survival and for salvation—and Bimal surprised everyone by receiving salvation right there in the ambulance. They both began to pray for Dhanjoy, who regained consciousness and began to speak. Amazed, Bimal began praising God.

"Doctors left him," he said, "but God did not leave him!"

Through this miracle, Dhanjoy also received salvation. He spent eight days at the hospital recovering from his injuries, including a wound to his tongue that required 14 stitches.

Ratna asks for prayer that he could reach more people like Sakha, and also that more in the village will come to know Christ and follow Him as boldly as Sakha.

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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

WALKING WITH JESUS POSTER

Quoting 1 John 2:1-6, six of the most thought provoking and important verses in scripture for walking with Jesus today. A4 size.

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WAXING LYRICAL

What does Christmas mean to you?

CHRISTMAS TIME

Christmas time comes but once a year,
To be happy, you drink lots of beer!
Putting your gifts on the credit card,
Then come the repayments, oh so hard!

But Jesus came on Christmas Day,
Forever more to show the way,
How to enter into God's glorious presence.
In the ultimate of all Christmas presents!

So this Christmas, for some cheer,
Party less, put aside the beer,
And enter into the Holy Place,
To meet with God, face to face.

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A DAVID MUSING

Christmas is a time to reflect upon Jesus and also the year that just passed so fast! It seems only a week, not a year since Santa (sic) brought the last handkerchief and pair of socks! Just joking!

My thanks to Cyril and Marie who got 'Seekers Megamart' up and going, to Mihi, Kaye and Warren particularly, and all the other volunteers, who have kept the clothes coming and coming and coming.......

And thanks to David Harris, who has computerised and interneted us, who this week left his Kathy at home to come down to Napier to get ready for sale the computers kindly donated by Citibank. Thanks mate, for everything.

My Kathy and I wish you a very happy Jesus 'Christ'mas and look forward to catching up with you again next week when, after repenting of the sin of gluttony, another new year will almost upon us!

Until next week...

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: DEFIANT

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': 32,000 (Judges 7:3)

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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
290 Flaxmere Avenue
Flaxmere
Hastings
New Zealand

Phone: (06) 8799 911 International (+64) 6 8799 911
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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david@wwj.org.nz