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

I started out in full time ministry around 8 or 9 years ago now. (Dates have never been one of my strong points!) Having heard clearly from the Lord that this was what He wanted me to do, then having it confirmed in a precisely practical way He had promised, I was full of faith that the Lord would provide financially for us.

A friend of mine says that if the Lord doesn't provide financially, you are walking in 'hope' rather than 'faith'! While I don't totally agree, I have seen lots of people step out into ministry, not through a genuine call from God, but as a means to obtain an income, or because they don't know what else to do. Certainly not solid foundations!

I did not know how God would provide, but was confident He would. Perhaps through donations from the website or this ezine? Or, just maybe, from a benefactor - likely American! Or maybe from sales of the book 'Eagles Fly High!', that I spent a year writing.

Nothing happened! Received a few donations, but not many, no benefactor, and had to self- publish the book on a photocopier as no publisher was interested!

The Lord even had us give away what remaining cash 'nest egg' we had! No assets left other than our household furniture!

But God works in ways very different to ours. My fully supportive (most of the time!) wife Kathy, was working 4 days a week as a theatre nurse at our local hospital. We changed our lifestyle to live simply and relatively frugally, in New Zealand terms, off her income, which we still do today. No ministry corporate jet! Or flash offices! Actually, operated out of a bedroom in our rented house!

"Why Lord? Why! Surely we should be provided for by the thousands of people we are ministering to! But we will remain faithful to your call."

It is only recently that I have come to understand why God has worked in this way. For my thinking was that of 'kings'. A successful ministry is judged by its size, its wealth, its popularity. For that is how kings, both in the natural and spiritual worlds think. The big American TV ministries, for example, are considered more blessed by God than the pastor in the struggling small church down the road.

However, as the Lord has shown me more recently, this way of thinking is not that of the 'kingdom'.

For the financial support of those you are ministering to comes at a cost - the cost of compromise. Wow! What a terrible revelation to have!

Now I, and I hope you too, can start to understand why the church is in its 'wishy washy' predicament of today. Where compromise with the world has become the norm. For our spiritual leaders cannot tell the whole truth any more for fear of biting off the hands that feed them. If the Biblical truths of repentance and discipleship, of righteousness and holy living were to be forcefully preached, congregations, followers, supporters, would look for another church, another ministry, where they feel more comfortable and less spiritually challenged to change their lives.

Please don't get me wrong, you thousands of pastors out there reading this. I am not saying that you, that we, all have the wrong motives in our ministry. Consciously, not too many set out to deceive 'their flock' for financial security and gain. But we all need to live, to eat, to pay the rent, the mortgage, the expenses of daily life. Subconsciously therefore, the fear of losing our supporters, does have an effect upon what we say and how we act.

(Testimony to be continued next week)

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FROM THE WORD

THE COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

"As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”" (Luke 9:57-62)

JESUS SENDS OUT THE SEVENTY-TWO

"After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, 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 who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”" (Luke 10:1-24)

CAUSING TO SIN

"“And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ”‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ Everyone will be salted with fire. “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:42-50)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

PROSPERITY

814. In the Old Testament, prosperity is provision for the future, in the New, sufficiency for today.

815. Worldly provision comes through people, godly provision through the Providor, for whom people are but one resource.

816. Jesus redefined prosperity from wealth for the future to provision for today.

1223. The curse of prosperity is its uncanny ability to draw our attention away from God.

1224. For most, prosperity is a magnet that attracts people away from its source.

1225. Prosperity comes, prosperity goes, but God's provision is eternal life.

1226. Prosperity is human indulgence, sacrifice, a godly command.

1227. Faith is of more value in affliction than in prosperity.

1228. A general rule in God's economy is that faith grows through affliction, but dies with prosperity.

1229. Want to build your faith? Then ask God for affliction, not prosperity. Not surprising there is so little faith today!

1230. It is an enigma to me to see the carparks at prosperity preacher's meetings full of old jalopies!

1231. History proves that God's kingdom grows faster through affliction than prosperity.

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CRANWELL'S CARTOON

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. (John 3:1-13)




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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

GOD AND MAN continues

Having considered 'What is Man', we will now look at who man (non gender) is. Sums up in a different way what we have been looking at over the past 2 weeks.

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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." ***

739. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
FMC member Pastor Stan Holdeman of Garden Baptist Church in Indiana went to an informal church gathering, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. A little girl from a newly religious family; who had seen him only in his Sunday morning suits loudly proclaimed: "Hey, preacher, you sure look different with clothes on!"

738. WHAT A DIFFERENCE
A four-year-old Catholic boy was playing with a four-year-old Protestant girl in a children's pool in the backyard. They splashed each other, got very wet and decided to take their wet clothes off. The little boy looked at the little girl and said, "Golly, I didn't know there was that much difference between Catholics and Protestants."

737. THE 3 WISE WOMEN
You do know what would have happened if it had been three wise WOMEN instead of men, don't you?

They would have asked for directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stable, made a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts!

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: Who invented Asprin?

ANSWER: Aspirin wasn't really invented, but discovered. Scientists in
1829 discovered that a compound called Salicin in Willows relieved pain.
But they weren't really the first to understand that. Hippocrates, who lived
sometime between 460 BC and 377 BC, wrote about the use of powder
made from the bark and leaves of a willow tree to treat headaches, fever,
and pain. (Cheaper but enough work to bring on a headache!)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What percentage of its body weight can a pelican consume in a single meal?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

516. MISPRONOUNCIATION
The correct pronunciation for Dr Seuss rhymes with ‘rejoice’. (Of ‘coise’!)

517. POISE
Elephants walk on tiptoe as the back of their foot is made only of fat and no bone. (Come tiptoe through the tulips with me…)

518. RED EARS
When angry, the ears of the Tasmanian Devil turn pinkish red. (Is that because it is swearing at itself?)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

THEREIN

Answer at the end of A David Musing

FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA

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BIBLE QUESTION - WORKERS AND TOOLS

20) With which occupation is Lydia associated?

A - Seamstress
B - Weaving
C - Shepherdess
D - Selling

Source: www.biblequizzes.com



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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

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

!!!!!!! There is something wrong if you're always right.

!!!!!! After all is said and done, more is said than done.

!!!!! People are like tea bags - You never know their strength until they get into hot water.

!!!! The easiest crops to grow are weeds and pests.

!!!! Before having a midlife crisis, it's good to have a life.

!!! Life is like snow: you don't know when it will come or how long it will last or how much you will get.

!! For every reason there is for doing something, there are three for not doing it.

! Integrity is like oxygen. The higher you go the less there is.

100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...

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JUST JOKES

272. REDIAL
I got the strangest recording when I called the phone company the other day.
It said, "You have been connected to the correct department on the first try. This is against company policy. Please hang up and redial.."

271. THE PHONE
One day an employee came into work with both of his ears bandaged. His boss asked him what happened to his ears.

"Yesterday I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang and I accidentally answered the iron instead of the phone!"

"Well," the boss said, "that explains one ear, but what about the other?"

"They called back!"

270. WHAT'S THE MATTER?
My mother once gave me two sweaters for my birthday. The next time we visited, I made sure to wear one.

As we entered her home, instead of the expected smile, she said, "What's the matter? You didn't like the other one?"

269. MONEY EARNER
A motorist, after being bogged down in a muddy road, paid a passing farmer five dollars to pull him out with his tractor. After he was back on dry ground he said to the farmer, "At those prices, I should think you would be pulling people out of the mud night and day."

"Can't." replied the farmer. "At night I haul water for the hole."

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BIBLE TRIVIA

THE 'BEASTS OF THE EARTH'

...that Jeremiah said would appear after Judah was destroyed likely referred to wild dogs and hyenas. In Biblical times packs of snarling dogs foraged through the streets, sometimes even digging up corpses to feed on them. When Jezebel's body was eaten after her death by dogs, it was a sign of utter humiliation.

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

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Pastor Zhang Zhongxin sentenced to two years Re-education Through Labor by Shandong Officials

By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service

SHANDONG, CHINA (ANS) -- The Shandong reeducation-through-labor management committee in Jining City issued a written decision sentencing Zhang Zhongxin to two years re-education through labor on July 4, 2008.

According to China Aid Association (CAA), Zhang started the re-education through labor program July 4, 2008 and is scheduled to be released June 5, 2010.

CAA also says the committee statement declared that Zhang may appeal within 60 days. Pastor Zhang has applied for legal aid, and is hoping to hire defense lawyers. Zhang's wife Wang Gui-Yun will coordinate the hiring of legal defense for her husband.

CAA said: "Authorities accused him of cult participation in 'the whole scope of the Church,' organized 'Sunday School' training courses, preaching the Gospel to the northwest, Tibet and other places for missionaries, and pioneers sermons."

The authorities also say: "Since 2005, he established the 'Rainbow Missions Fellowship in Jining of Shandong' and 'Timothy Bible training school,' training ministers and presented graduation certificates."

After Pastor Zhang received the written decision, he appealed the Court hearing the same day. He was notified by authorities at 11:00AM on August 14, 2008 that he will have an appeal hearing in Jiaxiang County Detention Center, CAA stated.

CAA said the following officials will reappear in court during Pastor Zhang's hearing: Kong Liang, Jining City Public Security Bureau, the rule of law, civilian police; Li Zhijian, deputy director of Section officer. China Aid Association urges all brothers and sisters in the Lord, to pray for pastor Zhang.

In a media release, CAA also said: "Meanwhile we call on Chinese authorities to immediately stop the persecution of Christians."

To voice your concern over these issues please contact:

Chinese Embassy in Washington DC
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20007
Tel: (202) 338-6688, (202) 588-9760
Fax: (202) 588-9760

You may also write to Pastor Zhang Zhongxin at his home address which is:
Qingkou Village, Jintun Town, Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province.

Source: (ANS) www.assistnews.net

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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

GODS VICTORIOUS CHURCH

A revelation of the church to come from the book of Ruth + a prophecy on the 3 armies (type of the Church) of God. Fascinating.

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WAXING LYRICAL

An introduction to the weird world of David Tait! You may like him (me – this is confusing!) or you may not, but he (I!) is what he is. (I am!) Written around nine years ago as an introduction to the book 'Eagles Fly High'. Am not the same person now, I trust. Hope I have grown up more in Him, not just grown older in myself!

'TIS ME' (Continued)

Now when God gives you a book to write,
Should you show yourself in the best light?
Surely people, God won’t want to offend,
Our image, it’s all-important in the end.

But my friend, that is not my style,
Sweet savours, my readers to beguile.
To be honest, revealing warts and all,
For me, that has always been the call.

I’m far from being the perfect man,
If I were, God wouldn’t need a plan.
Not needing to turn me around, into his image,
Life would be boring for Him, or so I envisage!

For spiritual gifts are given, as He does choose,
Yes, they are ours for life, them we never lose.
Even at times when our behaviour,
Does not do honour to the Saviour!

When I look at the television or stage,
And see the perfect person, strutting their stuff,
I begin to wonder, with the benefit of age,
Is it really God, or are they calling my bluff!

The fruit of the Spirit on the other hand,
Need to be worked at, with Him to stand.
Not just for a splendid hour on the podium,
But in all actions, we are to show no odium.

No, not all can be good looking, I’m certainly not!
But the fruit of the Spirit, we are to display the lot.
For it is in the life we lead from day to day,
The depth of our commitment, we’ll display.
(Continued next week.)

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A DAVID MUSING

THE BUILDING

Look, look, look,
It's all it took,
Not by the book,
Nor how to cook.

Look at one,
Yes, its done!
Too much mon,
It's no fun.

But this week?
More to seek.
Find no leak,
Must be meek.

Offer Tuesday,
Answer Friday.
Delayed Monday!
Relaxed today.

More delay,
Here stay.
Only pray.
One day!

Met landlord,
Seeming accord.
All aboard?
Monday Lord!

Contract signed!
Grateful mind.
God's kind,
We dined!

All's well,
Ring bell.
Clothes sell?
Months tell!

Thanks Lord.
Bon-accord.
Praises afford,
Welcome aboard!

At last, after months of negotiation we have secured a most satisfactory building in our sister city of Hastings, about 20km away from where our base shop and sorting area is, here in Napier.

Now the real work starts, setting up the shop. However, it is much easier this time, as we have done it all before and learned a lot as we have proceeded.

A lot like our life in God really. A step of faith, taken once, becomes a lot easier the next time.

Guess that is why He keeps asking us to step out more and more, so that we don't become comfortable and complacent with where we are at!

And the 'poem!' is completed too! It is extremely difficult to write 2 word, similarly rhyming lines, 4 to a stanza!

Until next week...

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: NEITHER

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': 19) D - Dealing. (Acts 16:14)

REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT

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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
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand

Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567

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