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

The emphasis in the early church was upon 'brotherhood' (including sisters). This often seems quaint to us today, or we associate it with groups such as lodges or the Klu Klux Clan.

But the real concept of 'brotherhood' is that of family. In the natural we are born into a family. Brothers and sisters share the genes of their parents. Some are older. Some are younger. Some are natural leaders, some aren't. But all are family. In a functional family, all are one. All support each other when the 'chips are down'. There is no formal hierarchy for we are all of the same parentage.

With the coming of Jesus this is the same in the spiritual also.

We are spiritual 'sons' of God

26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-8)

and 'brothers' of Jesus.

10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Hebrews 2:10-11)

Constantly throughout the New Testament fellow believers, as a group, are referred to as brothers. For example;

9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

When it came to speaking about individuals, it was natural to call them 'brothers'.

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. (2 Peter 3:15)

What is important to note here is that Paul is NOT referred to as 'Brother Paul' but as our brother whose name is Paul. For that is how it is in a family, how it is with our own brothers and sisters. We don't refer to our brothers and sisters as Brother Bill or Sister Sue, but simply as Bill and Sue, our brother and sister.

While this may seem pedantic to some, the reality is that this principle contains a very basic truth which we have lost sight of in the church from very early times, as we will see as we continue our discussion.

We are all one as children of God and brothers and sisters of Jesus.

(To be continued next week.)

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FROM THE WORD

SONS OF GOD
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir." (Galatians 3:26-4:7)

JESUS MADE LIKE HIS BROTHERS
"It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says,
“I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again he says, “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:5-18)

LIVING TO PLEASE GOD
"Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

RELIGION, REVELATION AND GOD'S KINGDOM

1057. Revelation tells us God's kingdom is available now, while religion places itself in the now, with the kingdom to be found in the future.

1058. Religion may well be the opiate of the masses, but God's kingdom is possessed by the godly, right now!

1059. Religion comes and religion goes, but God's kingdom goes on forever.

1060. God's kingdom now isn't freely given, but possessed through godly obedience.

1061. God reveals, while religion conceals.

1062. Religion is not a church but a mind closed to change.

1063. Revelation is from without, while the heart of religion is birthed within.

1064. Revelation sows, religion mows!

1065. Religion is not the church, but the church too easily becomes religion.

1066. Religion kills, God upskills.

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CRANWELL'S CARTOON

32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32)







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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) concludes

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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." ***

679.0000
THE PRODIGAL SON - In the Key of F
Francis the Foolish felt little filial fondness for his flawless, fastidious father, Ferdinand the Fourth. Following one February fortnight, Francis, feeling footloose and frisky, forced and finagled his fond father to fork over five hundred and forty-five farthings, then fled his father’s fertile fief.

Fleeing to foreign fields, Francis finally frittered and philandered away his fortune on fancy, frivolous fashion, flirty females and flapper floozies, firkins of foaming ale, freeloading, fickle fun-loving friends, and feasting on fast-food and funky, forte music.
Fleeced by those fiendish fellows of the fleshpots, and facing fateful failure and famine, Francis finally found himself flinging foul feed to the swine in a filthy farmyard as a forlorn farmhand. Footsore and famished, he fain would have filled his flaccid frame with filched food, but found it fit for only a footman. “Fie!” flared frail Francis, “My father’s flunkies fare far finer.” Fortunately, the frazzled fugitive finally faced the facts. Frustrated from failure, frightened, and fulfilled foreboding, he forthwith from his flophouse, fled his ill fluke to his far-away family.

Forging forthwith, he fell fatigued at his father’s feet. Francis feebly phrased his feelings: “Father,” he fumbled, “My fetish behaviour – I’ve fuddled and flunked – and fruitlessly forfeited family favour . . . forgive me.”

The far-sighted father kissed Francis’ forehead. And forestalling future family fissures, flagged his flunkies in a flurry. “Fetch fatlings from the flock and fix a four-fold feast for Francis. Forthwith! Fall to! Faster!”

The first-born, Frederick the Feculent, Francis’ feisty, faultfinding, flabby brother, frugal and factious with a facade, frowned upon his father’s forgiveness of Francis’ former foolish folderol. “That fathead! A fornicator! Flog this flounder and foe!” he fulminated and fumed. This fly-by-night has fretted and free-wheeled away our family finances!”

But the faithful father felt that Francis’ former foibles should be freely forgiven. “Filial fidelity is what fathers are for, Frederick,” said Ferdinand with feelings flowing. “Forsooth, the fugitive is found, so what forbids festivity? Fly the flags freely, amid flowers, fifes, flutes, fiddles and fanfare . . . FLING A FEAST!!”
Flustered Francis, face flushed, foreswore frippery forever more by forcing his fetid frame into the friar’s frock.

This converted parable, not a fairy tale or fable of any sorts, encourages you, me, foibles and fugitives alike, to forsake freely the festivities that flow with fiddle-dee flowers flirting the fiddlestick mind. The Father is forever seeking those who flounder and are forlorn, who desire forgiveness and a face-lift. He freely forgives those who see their own failures – He gives fixity! The Father is not a figment formed in some feeble mental faculty. Furthermore, this Friend is a real fortress, unfluctuating – a fulcrum and fresh fountain, taking us at face value as He did our friend, the Prodigal Son.

(Adapted and paraphrased on The Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-31).

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How does a frog cope with freezing
temperatures?

ANSWER: Frogs have several strategies for surviving winter, depending
on the species. Some hibernate, slowing down their body's metabolism
and ‘sleeping’ away the winter. Some aquatic hibernating frogs can even
hibernate underwater! Terrestrial frogs usually hibernate on land. To
avoid freezing to death, frogs have another trick: antifreeze. The frog may
become frozen, but it doesn't die. It appears dead, but the high levels of
glucose in its vital organs prevent complete freezing. It will stop breathing
and its heart will even stop beating, but when temperatures rise, its
organs will start up again. (Now why can’t I do that?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How long can honey be stored and still safely
eaten?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

591. ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL
'Equinox’ is the Latin for ‘equal night’. Twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn (fall), the sun passes directly over the earth's equator and the length of day is virtually equal throughout the entire world, with both twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness. In the spring, it's called the vernal equinox (equal night of spring) and in the fall, the autumnal equinox. A time of the hope of the summer to come or memories of a summer gone. (But wouldn’t 100% summer be boring? Ask Californians.)

592. WASN'T ONE ENOUGH?
One Molasses Flood is unbelievable, two impossible! Yes? No! The second one, which strangely enough, also killed 21 people, took place on December 11, 1932 in Sucarnoochee, Mississippi. As in the earlier incident, a tank exploded letting the hot liquid roared through the town. (A bitter-sweet experience!)

593. HIGH JUMPER
When an armadillo is threatened, it jumps straight into the air. This works well to startle other predators, but if on a road when a car is approaching, it is not a good idea. Indeed, if they would stay still, armadillos are actually small enough for cars to safely travel over them, so long as they don't hit the tyres. (Instinct acts instinctively.)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

COSTING

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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BIBLE QUESTION - JUDGES (You be the judge!)

13) What did these men do to be in Gideon's army?

A - they were strong
B - they were accurate shots
C - they lapped water
D - they were courageous

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

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

!!!!!!! Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.- John Steinbeck

!!!!!! In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.-- Derek Bruce

!!!!! Are there any unguided missiles?

!!!! Are part-time band leaders semi-conductors?

!!! If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

!! The only purpose my "to do" list serves is to remind me of what to feel guilty about not doing.

! Millions who long for immortality don't know what to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

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TILL DEATH DO US PART

86. THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM MY CHILDREN
1. A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 square foot house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.
3. A 3 year old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20 by 20 foot room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using the ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh," it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six year old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36 year old man says they can only do it in the movies. A magnifying glass can start a fire even on an overcast day.
10. Certain LEGOs will pass through the digestive tract of a four year old.
11. Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. VCR's do not eject PB&J sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably do not want to know what that odor is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5 minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy.
22. It will however make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

87. FEAR OF THUNDER
One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?"

The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's bed."

A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice, "The big sissy."

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BIBLE TRIVIA

THE CAROB TREE

grows beans in a pod similar to our green peas. Today in the East, these provide food for very poor people, but in Jesus' time only the really desperate, such as the prodigal son, would touch them.

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

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CITY CONSIDERS LIMITING SIZE OF HOUSE CHURCHES AND TAXING TRADITIONAL CHURCHES

by Thaddeus Baklinski, LifeSiteNews.com

BRAMPTON, ON - A "secret" report studying the way churches, mosques, temples, and other places of worship have traditionally been exempt from paying property taxes, commissioned by the Toronto, Ontario region City of Brampton, has come to light.

A leaked draft of the report was circulated among a number of Brampton churches who have formed the Brampton Faith Coalition, headed by pastor Kevin Begley of the Harvest Worship Centre, in order to fight the proposed legislation.

The list of recommendations in the report are chillingly reminiscent of communist era repression of not only established religious organizations but also of the right to gather in small groups for religious purposes.

The study proposes a regulation on "house churches", that is, gatherings in private homes, to limit attendance to no more than twenty people, including children, or to ban them from residential areas altogether.

Other recommendations include: taxing all "non-worship space" owned by religious organizations such as halls, nurseries, offices, kitchens, parking lots, etc (only the actual space where the congregation gathers for worship would be tax exempt); redefining what constitutes a "place of worship", including removing of provisions expressly allowing church properties to be used for community services such as day care or study centers; placing severe restrictions on the establishment of new churches, including regulating what space these start-ups could rent, where, and for how long; establishing a ratio of one place of worship for every ten thousand residents; substantially increasing permit fees for renovation, new construction, and zoning and variance issues.

The City of Brampton has refused to produce a copy of the study for public examination, citing confidentiality rules, but Brampton City Council is scheduled to vote on the issue later this month.

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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

UP THE MOUNTAIN

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WAXING LYRICAL

Back to the family! Mine wasn’t – and isn’t – perfect. But perhaps it is a lot better
than it seems when we are young! The frequent Father/Son conundrum!

GOD IS GOOD!

So I got stuck in, all work and toil,
Never looked up, ploughed the soil,
‘God is good’, was never right for me,
Success comes, growing your own tree!

But my little tree fell to the ground,
Not a very nice time to be around.
Dad’s ‘God is good’, now struck a chord,
I ended up, giving my heart to the Lord.

So did a happy story end there?
Don’t worry, it has only now just begun!
‘God is good’, as Dad did share,
But applying it, that would be the fun!

Accept it?
Not this bit!
All beliefs?
No reliefs!
God is good?
Things go wrong!
Not so strong!
Life’s snares?
Who cares!
God is good?
On the treadmill
Always uphill!
Never win,
Back to sin!
God is good!
So frustrating!
Ever waiting!
Does He hear?
Where’s His ear?
God is Good!

(Continued next week.)

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A DAVID MUSING

As we see the beautiful, peaceful, stable country of Kenya wracked by riots it is a reminder of how thin the veneer of civilization is. Four tribes seem to ganging up against the tribe that has been in government. A real African scenario but not unknown in the West either.

Mans inhumanity to his fellow man, first illustrated in the story of Cain and Abel, is never far below the surface, even today, as we are seeing in Kenya.

May events such as these challenge us to tell people of the only true peace that can be found in today's world, that of following Jesus. A peace not birthed of this world - in fact it can lead to more trouble here in many places - but an internal peace now and the promise of eternal peace to come.

If only Adam and Eve had not eaten that forbidden fruit!

Until next week...

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: GNOSTIC

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': They lapped water (Judges 7:6)

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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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