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: 373 Published: 15 Dec 2008
THE POWER OF THE CALL
Today there are millions of people involved in Christian ministry around the world. Some work fulltime, others in combination with other employment. Some are paid a living wage, while others receive no monetary remuneration at all.So what motivates people into ministry?
This question has many individual answers. It includes those seeking to please God, those wanting to help others, through to, at the other end of the scale, those who see it as a way to make a living, or perhaps, do not know what else to do with their lives.
Upon observation and from reading history, there seems to be a pattern to church leadership. New movements that start up under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit are led by those who are 100% sold out to God and fully committed to what He is doing, irrespective of the cost to themselves. As these 'pioneers' are succeeded by those who are followers of the vision, there soon comes a greater formalisation of leadership in which structure, theology, learning and qualifications assume greater roles. Until you reach the situation where no-one can be appointed to a leadership role unless and until they have requisite qualifications recognised by the group concerned. At this time the leadership of the Holy Spirit is replaced by regulations, authority structure and appointment patterns devised and operated by humans, done of course, in the name of God. As God goes, theology and qualifications fill the void and take His place.
But what does the New Testament say about the appointment of leaders? The primary verse is found in Ephesians:
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11)
Their role is to be:
12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13)
In the initial stages of a movement, the people, most of whom are rejected by the established church and, most likely, by society as well, are trained by an enthusiastic, committed leadership operating informally on a similar level as the people, with little or no financial reward, to do the work.
However, as the movement grows, leadership attains status, and formally or informally, reverts back towards the intermediary or priestly system of the Old Testament, where they, as paid professionals, are expected to do the work on the people's behalf. This arrangement generally suits both leaders and led, but it is not, as we can see above, biblically correct.
Leaders are to be called by God, not appointed by man.
How do we know then, who is called by God?
Firstly, from the leaders perspective. A leader must receive a clear call on his or her life from God.
For me, I was working in my flower fields when God, minding my own (or the flowers) business, when the audible voice of God clearly called me into ministry. He clearly explained what the thrust of the ministry was to be. Unlike the fishermen disciples of the New Testament, I didn't have family to take over my role in the business, so I worked half a day, and spent half a day in ministry.
A few years later, God asked me to go into ministry full time. As proof, He said He would bring a buyer along for the business within a month. He did so on the very last day!
As a lifelong businessman, I tried to organise to provide financially for myself and my family. This, to cut a long story short, ended up in bankruptcy! Then, and now, I became dependent upon Him for ministry funding, and as hard for me, upon my wife Kathy, for day to day living expenses.
Over the past 10 years the 'opportunity cost' (an economists term, for I am a trained economist) of being in ministry as opposed to running businesses is in the million plus range of dollars. We now live in a rented home, owning only our household effects.
We operate in this way because of the power of the call on my/our life/lives. It is not a job, it is a call. Financially it is hugely costly, but the motivation is not financial. It was, and is, simply an act of obedience. Had I/we not been obedient I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.
Those who are truly called will be prepared to pay the necessary price. A call is not a comfortable job. Just ask Paul!
"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,...." (and much more!) (2 Corinthians 11:23-5)
Leadership is a call, costing all, not a profession.
(To be continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
Unity in the Body of Christ"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.†(What does “he ascended†mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." (Ephesians 4:1-16)
The Calling of the First Disciples
"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,†Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.†At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him." (Matthew 4:18-22)
Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
"I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands." (2 Corinthians 11:16-33)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
LEADERSHIP156. In God, being led to lead is a calling. Leading when not led, guarantees an appalling mauling!
157. A Christian leader is but an ordinary person called to an extraordinary task. Both leaders and the led need to be reminded of this!
158. Worldly leadership builds up self, but godly leadership builds up others.
159. In God, understanding and sharing vulnerabilities is a sign of maturity and success, not an acknowledgement of failure.
160. In God, if you’re not led to lead, you’ll be bled to death.
161. To lead or be led? The difference is ‘a’ for attitude!
162. Only God has the required glue to attach ‘super’ to ‘natural’.
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
THE GREAT COMMISSION
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.†(Matthew 28:16-20)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
GOD AND MAN continues...... as we look at 10 steps towards claiming our inheritance.
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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." ***
780. CHURCH COMMERCIAL
A little girl went to church for the first time. After the service,
the minister asked how she had liked it. "Well," she said, then
thought for a moment, "I thought the music was very fine, but your
commercial was too long!"
779. THE WATERMELON
Discovering too late that a watermelon spiked with vodka had accidentally been served to a luncheon meeting of local ministers, the restaurant's owner waited nervously for the clerics' reaction.
"Quick," he whispered to the waiter, "what did they say?"
"Nothing," replied the waiter. "They were all too busy slipping the seeds into their pockets."
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 is the hardest substance in the human body?ANSWER: Tooth enamel. (But not tough enough to beat sugar!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do centipedes really have 100 legs?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS449. FRUITY
Scientists with the Oxford University's Imperial Cancer Research Fund found that people who eat fresh fruit daily had 24 percent fewer heart attacks and 32 percent fewer strokes. (An apple a day does indeed keep the doctor away.)
450. NO FUN LEFT
In Kentucky, it is against the law to throw eggs at a public speaker. (Must make a good job of getting egg on their own faces!)
451. THE GOOD NEWS TO MANY
The American Bible Association has published almost a billion Bibles since it was founded in 1816. (How many words?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
This is a new, clever and amusing series I came across recently. The answers relate to the original word.
THE EYES (Two word answer.)
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 - HILLS AND MOUNTAINS
1) According to Psalms, how do mountains skip?A - Like goats
B - Like children
C - Like rams
D - Like antelopes
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""SOME FAITH THOUGHTS
!!!!!!! The best way to get even is to forget..
!!!!!! Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death...
!!!!! God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts...
!!!! Some folks wear their halos much too tight...
!!! Unless you can create the WHOLE universe in 5 or 6 days, then perhaps giving "advice" to God, isn't such a good idea!
!! The mighty oak tree was once a little nut that held its ground.
! The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
'TIL DEATH DO US PART!
57. LET SLEEPING DOGS LIEOne afternoon, I was in the backyard hanging the laundry when an old, tired-looking dog wandered into the yard. I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he
had a home. But when I walked into the house, he followed me, sauntered down the hall and fell asleep in a corner. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.
The next day he was back. He resumed his position in the hallway and slept for an hour.
This continued for several weeks. Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: "Every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap."
The next day he arrived with a different note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with ten children - he's trying to catch up on his sleep." (Or - "Can I come too!" David))
58. DON'T WORRY
Howard came home from work one evening and there was his wife Miriam in the kitchen crying out loud.
"What's the matter, darling?" he asked her.
"I just don't know what to do," said Miriam. "Because we were eating in for a change, I cooked us a special dinner - but the dog has just eaten it."
"Don't worry," said Howard, "I'll get us another dog."
Pets rule here...
BIBLE TRIVIA
THE REMAINS OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH........have never been found. Myth has it that they are under the Dead Sea. Maybe this is why the Dead Sea is rich in bitumen (tar) which was supposedly left by the 'fire and brimstone'. Tar was used for Egyptian mummification, also for tarring houses, and was one of the key trade items of the area.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Over 100,000 Students in Cape Town give their lives to Christ
THE GREATER CAPE TOWN SCHOOL CAMPAIGNSTotal to date: 117 008 students and teachers reached in 145 School Campaigns
I AM REJOICING OVER 100 000 decisions for Jesus to date in Cape Town. History is been written here in Cape Town. I am so proud and happy with my team and grateful to everyone that has financially supported this epic campaign.
I am so saddened by the unjust abuses that the youth in Cape Town are going through. It's not fair that these kids are abused and molested at such an early age. We conducted a few school campaigns in Macassar this week that were glorious. About 90 to 95% of the kids at each school responded whole heartedly in receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Again they shared with me the terrible things they endure at the hands of immoral men.
Many of the boys that we counseled had been physically abused and we encouraged them. Many boys shared with us that they were the bullies, and that because of Jesus coming into their lives, they would stop and apologize to their victims.
We also reached out to townships this week. It was sad to see these beautiful children living in tin shacks, in very primitive conditions. We gave them Jesus though, the greatest gift we could.
Precious boys and girls and teachers are receiving Jesus in record numbers. We will continue here in Cape Town until every school has been reached with the gospel of our Lord and Savior.
Together, Lets reach the youth.
Jarrod Davidoff
http://www.savetheworldfoundation.com/
Via: The Outreach Files: November 08. beautifulfeettaskforce.injesus.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... THE 3 RIVERS OF GODThe principle of the 'river' in scripture and how it applies to our lives and the church today.
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WAXING LYRICAL
The ravages of time inflict themselves upon us all!BODY ‘Not So’ BEAUTIFUL?
When we’re young, we know we’ll never die!
For our ‘body beautiful,’ it does all we try,
We run and we dance, we jump and we swim,
Yes, then it is easy, to keep the body in trim.
But the time it does pass, as the fruit takes effect,
The results of our exertion, we can no longer neglect.
The things we once did with energy, grace and poise,
Now executed with effort, and a loud puffing noise!
Oh dear, oh dear, what is becoming of me,
The kids do laugh, for they cannot yet see,
That one day too, it will happen to them,
Will be like me, coughing up phlegm.
For no one escapes the taste of a fruit so sweet,
However much, life’s ravages we desire to beat.
The fruit brought the concept of time,
But so little of it, now that’s a crime.
Know what to do – I’ll go for a run,
So good for me – may even be fun!
Though I realise you don’t agree with that,
It’s certainly one way, to keep off the fat!
For as I look down towards my middle region,
Something appears to be blocking my vision.
My toes, I can no longer easily see,
Blocking my vision, is more of me!
So much more than ever there was before,
No, it’s not me - surely can’t be - I implore!
Poking a finger downwards, it wobbles on its own,
Surely that’s not my stomach, I inwardly groan.
But it is, it is, it is, it is,
Could be hers, maybe his,
For we all suffer from much the same,
As the invasion of fat, we seek to tame.
Now if nature seems mildly depressing,
When our youthful body, age is repressing.
God gave the answer to Adam and Eve,
Clothes for the body, others to deceive.
We learn how to dress our bodies, to disguise their shape,
Over sagging boobs and bums, various pieces we drape,
We pretend to be what we no longer are,
The spitting image of a Broadway star.
(Continued next week.)
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A DAVID MUSING
For me, as a trained economist, it is intellectually interesting to see the steps that are being taken around the world to stave off a full blown depression. As the days and weeks go by, the problems seemingly are increasing and the solutions becoming more radical and costly. We do not yet know whether the momentum of the market will be greater than the governments of the world's ability to encourage them towards correction.Basically, the problem is one of greed, of us in the West living beyond our means. The twin seducers of easy credit and inflation, which give a false sense of increased wealth, have got us into trouble - again.
Of course, Christmas brings with it expectations of spending to make ourselves and others 'happy'. This year, when things are tighter, may we substitute love for money as our gift to others. Actually, for those of us who have become so used to expressing love through expensive gifts, this may well be very hard to do!
It is a bit like the conundrum of Jesus. The gift of eternal life is free, but it is to cost us our life too!
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: THEY SEE
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': 1) C - Like rams (Psalms 114:4)
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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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