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
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Issue No: 362 Published: 29 Sep 2008
TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 4. CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PEOPLE
ALL BELONGS TO GODWho are the biggest liars in Christianity?
We all are, when we sing the old hymn...
"I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Jesus I surrender,
I surrender all."
For very, very few of us can sing that song truthfully, in every area of our lives.
Yet, surrender of self and all our possessions to Jesus is the sixth characteristic of kingdom people and kingdom living.
This is, of course, a particularly relevant subject today, as the world financial system faces potential meltdown, basically caused through excess credit creation within the system.
I am a trained economist - many, many moons ago! Part of our study was based around ways of avoiding a repeat of the mistakes of the Great Depression of the 1930's. The lessons of excessive credit creation have certainly been forgotten, particularly over the past 25 years. It will now be interesting to see whether the means of dealing with the situation work!
The problem with possessions is that ultimately, they tend to own us rather than we own them. This is particularly the case when credit is involved. as Proverbs says...
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)
Possessions give a false sense of security.
Jesus warned:
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.†(Luke 12:15)
However much we hate to admit it, we are all motivated by money and possessions. This is the same for both the poor and the billionaires, wherever they live. The poor by their desire to acquire perceived security, and ironically, the rich, by the fear of losing the security they have.
Probably the hardest decision those with possessions have to make is to give ownership over to God. It's easy to sing, 'I surrender all', but so difficult to do in reality. 'Retail therapy' has become the West's most rampant disease! And the cure, as we are starting to find out, is painful!
Material prosperity is actually the single best weapon satan has of taking our focus and dependence away from God. Yet, large sections of the church have been preaching this false doctrine for decades now! Yet so few have, maybe until now, wanted to hear anything said against it.
I can only give my testimony.
I was, at the Lord's clear leading, about to enter into fulltime ministry. I thought that I didn't want to be a burden upon others, so I would undertake a large property development that would provide ongoing rental income for our family to live on. A 'good' idea, but not a 'God' idea. One too many 'o's!
Costs went up, values came down, and we lost everything.
"Now, maybe you will really start to depend upon me, David."
"OK Lord."
"But there is one more thing yet, David! That remaining money you have from your inheritance that provides you with some security - you must give it away!"
"But Lord.... Ok Lord, if that is what you want".
For the past 7 years we have lived, day to day, on Kathy's income as a nurse. Whenever we have needed anything extra we have had to wait upon the Lord for it. It hasn't been easy! It is so unnatural to my natural nature! Travelling to Africa for 2 months on 50 cents a day was very challenging! No, not all our 'wants' have been met, but our 'needs' have. And we have gradually learned that He knows best, and are growing to understand how our wants are based upon that fleshly nature residing within us.
We now own only our household furniture. Also there are now only the 2 of us at home. We have downsized from a (all rented) 4, to a 3 bedroomed home, to a small 2 bedroomed unit. Each time we have downsized we have given away more possessions. For, reality is, we have had nowhere to store the excess! And interestingly, we have found that we have not really needed them anyway! It is not easy to do however! We are still learning!
God is calling His kingdom people to give everything, both spiritual and material, over to Him. I am not saying you have to follow the same path that we have, but you must be prepared to, should God require it of you.
May we be willing to submit EVERYTHING to Him.
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FROM THE WORD
THE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOL"Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.†Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?†Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.†And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.â€â€™ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.â€" (Luke 12:13-21)
RICHES ARE MEANINGLESS
"If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still. The increase from the land is taken by all; the king himself profits from the fields. Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun:
wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother’s womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand. This too is a grievous evil: As a man comes, so he departs, and what does he gain, since he toils for the wind? All his days he eats in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger. Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart." (Ecclesiates 5:8-20)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
PROSPERITY177. Earthly prosperity is 'just a little more'. But heavenly prosperity is learning to be content with what the Lord has given.
382. There is no absolute measure of prosperity for our perception of it relates to what we see others have. I wonder what God sees?
383. The problem with prosperity is that we all want to own God's 'cattle on a thousand hills' personally.
385. It is a sad fact that if the rich gave all they had to the poor, poverty would merely be delayed, not allayed.
811. In the Old Testament, success is measured by prosperity, in the New, by sacrifice. Many believers prefer to live in the past!
812. May I learn to rest content with my 'daily bread'.
813. There is no problem with prosperity, only our definition of it.
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.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now over 1300 David sayings for you to view at ...
CRANWELL'S CARTOON
THE FLINTSTONES DILEMNA!
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. (1 Timothy 3-4)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
GOD AND MAN continues...as we conclude our study on the Holy Spirit with a look at the 'Gifts of the Spirit'.
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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." ***
760. OPTING OUT
Dear Pastor:
There are 566 members in our church, but 100 are frail and elderly. That leaves 466 to do all the work. However, 80 are young people away at college. That leaves 386 to do all the work.
However, 150 of them are tired businessmen, so that leaves 236 to do all the work. 150 are housewives with children. That leaves 86 to do all the work.
There are also 46 members who have other important interests.
Which leaves 40 to do all the work, but 15 live too far away to come regularly.
So that leaves 25 to do all the work. And 23 of them say they've done their part. So, Pastor, that leaves YOU and ME and, frankly, I'm exhausted.
Good luck to you.
A. Parishioner
759. PRAYER CANDLES
Visiting St Patrick's Cathedral on a tour of New York City, my daughter and her children were awed by the sight.
The kids were especially curious about the votive candles, so my daughter asked if they'd each like to light one - which they did.
She explained that is it customary to say a prayer of petition or thanks, and she was careful to tell them that these are not like birthday candles.
"Do you have any questions?" she asked.
"No," said the five-year-old, "but if there's a pony outside, it's mine."
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: When Sesame Street's Big Bird has abirthday, he luckily always remains the same age. How old is he?
ANSWER: 6 years old. (Lucky bird!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Is a raven and a crow the same bird?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS483. PAY UP LEGAL OR NOT
The United States Supreme Court once ruled Federal income tax unconstitutional. Income tax was first imposed during the Civil War as a temporary revenue-raising measure. (Funny how the temporary has a habit of becoming permanent!)
484. COMPULSORY
The U.S. Congress passed a law in 1832 requiring all American citizens to spend one day each year fasting and praying. For the most part, people ignored the law, and no effort was made to enforce the legislation. (Compulsion is resented, compulsory religion, despised.)
485. SOUND AND SMELL CONTROL
In Massachusetts, USA, snoring is prohibited unless all bedroom windows are closed and securely locked. Plus, it is illegal to go to bed without first having a full bath. (Clean and green, to the extreme!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
NASTILY
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - YOU BE THE JUDGE!
10) In Gideons first test of faith what was the dew on?A - the grass
B - the ground
C - the clothes
D - the fleece
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited - until you try to sit in their pews.
!!!!!! Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
!!!!! It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
!!!! The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
!!! When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
!! People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
! Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
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GREAT GROANS!
46. REMEMBRANCEOnce a year, the collectors of antique tents in Germany get together for a rally. Last year, the organizers decided to hold it in Meinz. Unfortunately, the local burghers took a dim view of so great an influx of tourists ruining their turf with tent pegs. The citizens organized themselves so thoroughly that they even had an anthem:
"Let Old and Quaint Tents Be Forgot and Never Brought to Meinz!"
47. BUGZIE
Bugzie had been sentenced to prison for a long time. They did not know that he was a mechanical genius when they placed him in charge of the chicken yard. He would go about picking up pieces of metal and wood. He made an engine and some wings. One day, at roll call they found that he had placed the engine and wings on the chicken shed and flown the coop.
48. SUPER SOCCER
Followers of the tiny Scottish soccer club Inverness Caledonian-Thistle refer to the club as "Caley." The team delighted fans last winter when it eliminated heavily favored Glasgow Celtic 3-1 in the Scottish Cup.
The upset prompted this headline in the British tabloid the Sun:
"Super Caley Go Ballistic, Celtic Are Atrocious,"
49. TALKING
It seems like every other car you see on the road has a driver who is busily engaged in a conversation on their cellphone when they should be paying attention to traffic, the road, etc. Occasionally, you hear of fatal accidents caused by people talking on their hand-held cellphone when they should be watching where they're going.
I have heard that some places in the US want to pass legislation restricting the use of a cellphone while driving. I think that if a driver causes an accident because he/she was on their cellphone they should be charged with DWI ... Driving While In-talks-icated.
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BIBLE TRIVIA
MONKEYS...were known by the Israelites from their stay in Egypt as the African baboon was sacred to the God Thoth and sometimes even kept as a pet.
The monkey brought back by Solomon's fleet was probably the rhesus, the most common type in zoos today.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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UKRAINE: Evangelism Teams to Plant Churches in 40 Cities
A major evangelistic campaign that seeks to plant 40 churches in 40 Ukrainian cities within five weeks has started. Forty ministry teams, 20 from the United States partnering with local volunteers and 20 teams of Ukrainians, will participate in campaigns from July until August 25. Each team will travel to a city without an evangelical church to hold a week-long evangelistic outreach inviting people to attend a citywide "freedom" crusade held Friday through Sunday. Past crusades usually resulted in about 500 decisions for Christ. On the Monday following the crusade, new believers and those interested in learning more are invited to attend a praise/testimonial service where trained church planters will enroll attendees in an eight-week discipleship program.About 40 trained church planters in Ukraine have volunteered to move with their families to one of the cities to help start a church.
Children's crusades will also be conducted in each city.
Source: The Christian Post via GO GLOBAL MISSIONS REPORT 2008 No. 64
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... GOD'S CALL TO HIS CHURCHWe live in a church system that has evolved over the past, nearly 2000 years. It is obvious that the church had problems of doctrine and organisation right from its formation. Many people are reluctant to admit to this, but there were difficulties between Jews and gentiles in a theological sense, as well as practical organisational problems in terms of looking after the needy widows. However, over the centuries, church structures developed and became formalised along human lines. While the Reformation saw some changes, both in theology and organisation, the old, unbiblical, structures have tended to replicate themselves within our modern denominations and groupings. The Bible warns of this.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Today, in these end times, God is calling His church back to basics. To its relational roots rather than formal structural organisation and methods that restrict, through human intervention, the Holy Spirit from truly working in the way He would wish.
Yes, God is calling us today to return to the principles set out in the New Testament, not to create the 'perfect church', for it will still have you and I in it, but rather, one capable of absorbing the promised bountiful end-time harvest.
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WAXING LYRICAL
This poem was 2 years in the writing! The inspiration came, half was written, then I got busy on other things! In the last day or two I have had some spare time, so thought to finish it. (Actually I have had more spare time during the two years but never quite got 'a round tuit'!) I hope the result is worth waiting for!MR BUMBLE
The other day I met with a bumble bee,
The two of us together, just him and me.
I asked, "How are you, my high flying friend,â€
As our way down the road, we did gently wend.
“A ‘box of buzzes’ " said Mr Bumble, rumbling along,
In the prime of life - yes, a bee so buzzingly strong.
“I'm on the way to the garden down the road,
Plentiful pollen there, will get me a load.â€
“For I’m a worker bee you see,
One of many, in our big family,
We have a purpose for which to live,
Honey aplenty, to our hive, to give.â€
“Your life is a fulfilled one then,
A privilege not given many men.â€
“I guess it is, in following family tradition,
Feeding the hungry hive’s a real mission.â€
“I learned what to do from my brother,
The Queen you know, is our mother,
It was Jimmy who taught me how to fly,
Led by example, encouraged me to try.â€
“But soon flight, I did learn to master,
With practice, went faster and faster.
Till now I’m known as the ‘brmm-brmm bee,’
Always winning the race to the cherry tree.â€
(Continued next week.)
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A DAVID MUSING
It is amazing what you can do when you have to!Normally, every 2 or 3 weeks, we rent a large truck and two of us go on a 500km round trip over 2 days, picking up clothing from our clothing bins in those4 places south of where we live.
We generally pick up 5 tonnes of clothing. This is handled 2 to 3 times in order to fully utilise the space on the truck. Praise the Lord for tail lifts on trucks these days!
This time however, through circumstances the two became one - just me!
In such situations you can either 'give up' or 'give it a go'. I chose to give it a go. Some very long working hours later, I completed the job and arrived back in Napier with a full load. (Part of the unloaded load is pictured.)
I actually surprised myself! There is a bit of life left in the old boy yet!
It reminds me of faith. For faith to be faith, we must step out into the unknown, into the seemingly impossible. And when we do, it is amazing what God can do through us! But if we are not prepared to step out and give it a go, both we, and God, will be disappointed.
So next time God asks you to step out, give it a go. You will be amazed by the result!
I am sure that the extra weight I have put on is all muscle!!! Well....
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SAINTLY
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': D - the fleece (Judges 6:36-38)
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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
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!
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