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: 339 Published: 21 Apr 2008
TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM (continued)
A couple of days ago I was continuing my reading of the Amplified Bible and realised that these verses of Jesus in Matthew hold the key to the kingdom.28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. (I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.) 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good - not harsh, hard sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant) and my burden is light and easy to be borne. (Matthew 11:28-30)
The primary difference between king and kingdom understanding is in the timing of the inheritance of the kingdom.
The standard teaching of 'kings' (the church, evangelists etc.) is centered on being 'born again' now in order to get to heaven when we die. The motivation and action required for the born again experience is beautifully described in verse 28. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. (I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.)
For me, this experience came when I was at the lowest point of my life. While I had spent much of my life in a Baptist church, therefore knowing all the theory of being 'born again', it wasn't until I truly reached the 'end of my tether' that I was really ready and willing to truly come to Jesus. A successful businessman, operating the largest mail order company in New Zealand, I lost everything in the 1987 share market crash. After the worst 18 months of my life, fighting against being declared bankrupt, I finally, and inevitably, lost the battle. I was no longer able to support my family. My self esteem was in tatters. I had to line up in the queue to sign up for 'the dole', the unemployment benefit, so that we could have some money to live on. In the Social Welfare Office that day in 1989, I placed my burden upon Jesus. He 'saved' me. I was 'born again'. I had my ticket to heaven!
In Baptist, and church circles generally, it was accepted that I should now live a good life while here on earth until the day I died and received my final inheritance, entry to heaven.
But my soul was heavy! Surely Lord, there has to be more!
I thought I had found it when I entered the realm of Holy Spirit anointing as experienced in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. Yes, I did experience more of the reality of Jesus through the revelation and power of the Holy Spirit.
Yet my soul was still heavy! Surely Lord, there has to be more!
Over the years the Lord has gradually been revealing 'the more' to me. An understanding of verse 29. Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. The reality of the yoke.
The reality of two being joined together, in 'a bond of union, esp. the marriage tie' (yoke - Oxford Dictionary). I am to learn of and adopt His character in order to become as one with Him. For the inheritance of His kingdom is now.
We are to build His kingdom upon earth, as we (should!) always pray, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) Yes, the kingdom of God is to be established upon the earth through His sold out people, those who are prepared to put aside everything to take on His yoke, to become as Jesus to the world.
This is not an event, such as being born again or receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but rather, a process that takes a lifetime to enter in to.
Some people ask, 'why are you running a second hand clothing business when your role is supposedly to be to build the end time church?' At the time we started, I too wondered if I was doing the right thing or being subtly distracted by the devil. For it is all to easy to embrace the 'kings' concept that 'ministry' is both different to, and a superior calling, to 'working in the world'. For kings are put on pedestals, whereas in the kingdom we are to be gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, as was Jesus.
What I, along with many others, are discovering, is that the reality of the kingdom is not found within the walls of a building or at a high powered conference or convention, but in the highways and byways of the world. It is found in being a reflection of Jesus to the people of your community - to you neighbours, to your workmates and friends, to the poor and to the needy. For this indeed, is the fertile ground in which the seeds of the kingdom will grow.
As we move away from disagreements over doctrine, building churches and running programmes, all in the realm of kings, and move individually into being lights to the world of our communities, following the example of Jesus by doing the will of the Father as communicated to us by the Holy Spirit, so we will truly discover; 30 For my yoke is wholesome (useful, good - not harsh, hard sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant) and my burden is light and easy to be borne.
Gone is the striving, gone is the competition to become the 'greatest king'. (leader, minister, pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet or apostle.) For there is to be only one king, king Jesus! In Him our very being is to be centered.
His kingdom is based upon love. His great love for us overrides all. He forgives me when I go astray. And I do! He loves me when I am unlovely. And I am! But in our imperfection He accepts us, both you and me. And He calls upon us to love others in the way He loves us.
And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:21)
It is upon the foundation of love, not competition, that God's kingdom on earth is built.
(To be continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
REST FOR THE WEARY"At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.â€" (Matthew 11:25-30)
PRAYER
""And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: â€â€˜Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:5-14)
GOD'S LOVE AND OURS
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,†yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:17-21)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
RELIGION, REVELATION AND GOD'S KINGDOM1031. To get closer to God we need to swap the bonds of religion for the liberation of His kingdom.
1032. Religion creates its own standard mould of monotonous mediocrity. God breaks moulds!
1033. Religion is centred upon man, the kingdom, upon God.
1034. Religion is the outcome of the institutionalisation of a God given vision.
1035. Religion is based upon rules, God's kingdom upon obedience.
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.
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT (Continued)We conclude our look at the covenant that God made with Abraham, a covenant that set the foundations for the relationship we have with our Maker even today.
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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." ***
712. Q & A
Q. What passage is the first act of cannibalism recorded in the Bible?
A. 2 Kings 8:1
( Two Kings ate one, geddit? Never mind, try another )
Q. Who is the shrewdest businessman in the Bible?
A. Noah, because he floated his stock while everyone else went into liquidation.
Q. Why do people think Noah wore a wig?
A. Because sometimes he was seen with Aaron and sometimes without Aaron.
( 'air on! Oh, do keep up )
Q. Who was the best baby sitter in the Bible?
A. David, because he rocked Goliath to sleep.
Q. Who was the first tennis player in the bible?
A. Joseph, when he served in the King's court.
Q. Who is the largest person in the Bible?
A. The women of Samaria.
( Samaria. Sum area. No? OK, we'll let you off that one)
Q. Who is the smallest person in the Bible?
A. Nehemiah.
( Knee-high-Miah. What do you mean you heard it before? Tch! )
Q. Who is the fastest man in the Bible?
A. Adam because he was first in the human race.
Q. Where was the first ice cream parlour in the bible?
A. Walls of Jericho.
( Walls make ice cream in the UK. Non-UK residents are excused this one )
Q. Who was the only orphan in the bible?
A. Joshua, Son of Nun.
Q. Who was the first person to ride a motorbike in the Bible?
A. Joshua: his Triumph was heard throughout the land.
711. CHRISTMAS CHEER
As it was coming up to Christmas a young boy is praying upstairs while his mother sits by him and his dad and grandma are downstairs. He prays "Lord I pray for a train set, a remote control car, and A NEW BICYCLE!!! "You don't have to shout dear", says the mother "God's not deaf." "I know" said the little boy, "but grandma is."
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What creature has infrared receptors to help itcatch prey in total darkness?
ANSWER: Snakes! Certain snakes, including Pythons and Boa
Constrictors, have pits along their lips that are actually infrared heat
receptors. These receptors can help a snake locate prey even in total
darkness. (I pray not to be the prey! What am I worried about? New
Zealand is about the only country that doesn’t have snakes!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the lowest place on Earth?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS554. DO UNTO OTHERS
The pastor’s car stalled at a stoplight. He tried to get it started, but nothing. The light turned green, and there he sat, frustrated and embarrassed, holding up traffic. The car behind could have gone around, but instead the driver added to his anguish by laying on the horn.
After another desperate attempt to get the car started, he got out and walked back to the honker. The man rolled down his window in surprise.
“Tell you what,†the pastor said. “You go start my car, and I’ll sit back here and honk the horn for you!â€
553. SIZE MATTERS
One Sunday school teacher believed in dramatizing Bible morals with stories that could have specific modern applications. So the teacher said to the class of young boys, “Forgiveness is always a virtue. Could you, for example, forgive another boy if he had hit you with his fist?â€
The class gave serious thought to so grave a matter, and finally one smallish lad said, “Yes sir, I could if he was bigger than me.â€
552. IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED
A pastor was counseling a newlywed couple who had just had their first fight. “Why would her cooking get you so mad, Tom?†asked the pastor.
“Well,†Tom replied, “I asked if the steak was ready yet, and she told me, ‘I’m sorry for the delay, dear, but it looked hopeless grilled, and it doesn’t look much better fried, but if you’ll be patient a little longer, I’ll see what boiling does to it.’â€
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
SQUEAK
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WORKERS AND TOOLS
8) Joseph (Mary's husband) was involved in this trade:A - Shepherding
B - Farming
C - Carpentry
D - Fishing
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.
!!!!!! A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
!!!!! Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
!!!! Nothing is fool-proof to a talented fool.
!!! Syntax is all the money collected at the church from sinners.
!! The trouble with life is, by the time you can read a girl like a book, your library card has expired. (M. Berle)
! The aging process could be slowed down if it had to work its way through Congress.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
LIFE'S A LAUGH
96.0000CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE
My father, a retired Air Force pilot, often sprinkles his conversation with aviation jargon. I didn't realize what flying had meant to him, however, until the day he
showed me the folder with his last will and testament.
It was labeled "Cleared for Departure."
97.0000 GENIUS?
A guy did system support in a law firm. One day, he had to log a user off and then back on. He entered her initials and then she gave me her password.
Her password was "genius".
After three tries and the system telling him "access denied," he asked her how to spell it.
She said, "G - E - N - I - O - U - S."
98. YEAH, RIGHT!
In the office where I work, there is a constant battle between our technical-support director and customer-service personnel over the room temperature. The frustrated director, trying to get us to understand his position, announced one afternoon, "We need to keep the temperature below seventy-five degrees or the computers will overheat."
Thinking this was just another excuse, one of my shivering colleagues retorted, "Yeah, right! So how did they keep the computers from overheating before there was air conditioning?"
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BIBLE TRIVIA
HORSES...were used largely in battle, being symbols of power and strength. They weren't as strong or as capable as donkeys, camels or cattle, in serving as beasts of burden.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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From Graham, Texas - THIS IS THAT - Larry Taylor & Rhon Bailey Revival Report
Oasis of Grace Church in Graham, Texas on April 6-8. It started with a three day meeting and we felt God wasn't finished so we agreed with pastor Larry Milhollin to begin again Sunday April 13th. It is now the 16th and we see no end in sight. God showed up in full force with miracles, healings, restoring dreams and visions, downloads of joy and intimacy. There is a release of anointing that has not been seen like this before.The familiar signs are present but the release is not through one person or a common method. It is an exponential process that is both nameless and faceless. It is birthing a generation of revolutionaries that WILL change the world without the need for credit. It is truly a release of the inheritance of grace in the power of the Holy Spirit. God is using imperfect people to spread His perfect, miraculous power in the body of Christ. In this move of God, He is releasing His children into the marketplaces and pools of community with supernatural love and prophetic insight. Gods children are now being prepared to do what has been called for since the first church got together... power to DO the work of the ministry.
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... SERVANTHOOD & LEADERSHIPA timely reminder of what our calling as 'Jesus Followers' and particularly as leaders is really all about. Essential reading, especially for anyone involved, or wanting to become involved, in Christian leadership. You might well change your mind!
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WAXING LYRICAL
Our God is full of surprises! Comfort is not part of His vocabulary! This becomes a real test of obedience. Written 5 1/2 years ago.A MINUTE IS A LONG TIME IN GOD
When you are relaxed and enjoying life,
And all is normal with kids and wife.
When you are living in such a beautiful place,
And all is going well in running your race.
You are happy with how life is treating you,
Challenges yes - not too many - just a few.
Then along comes God, with His own plan,
Designed to upset the comfort of a man.
One minute the world seems simply so good,
The next, upon its head, is now being stood!
"David, I'm asking you to shift city and church",
My comfortable brain, with pain it did now lurch!
"But surely my God, this cannot be true?"
"Yes my son, it's what I'm asking of you."
"Well Lord , please give confirmation,
To help me overcome my consternation!"
Over the past two weeks, confirmations I've been given,
Logical improbabilities so great, must be God driven.
"Oh Lord, surely this is what you want me to do,
Have your way in my life Lord, I give in to you.
For you know best Lord, your plan for me,
I accept it now Lord, on bended knee."
Yes, one brief minute is a long time in God you know,
But obey His voice we must, if in Him we are to grow.
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A DAVID MUSING
Some weeks are more difficult than others, aren't they?Reality is, if all times were wonderful, we wouldn't have a need for Jesus!
Shows the fallacy of the simplistic teaching, 'come to Jesus and all will be well'!
Jesus is our support, our friend, our backstop, at all times, but particularly when things aren't all we would wish them to be.
How often it takes adversity to send us back to Him.
My problems? Not big! Will be overcome with His help. That I do know. Thank you Lord.
You can trust Him to take care of you too, whatever your circumstances are today.
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: QUAKES
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': C - Carpentry (Matt 13:55)
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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 websitewwj.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!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz