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: 376 Published: 05 Jan 2009
THE POWER OF THE CALL (continued)
When Jesus came, He turned the world upside down. Not in the way that the people of the day, or most of us today expected, as a physical takeover of the world, but rather, in the reopening of a direct spiritual path to for you and me to the Almighty, to God the Father. As mentioned earlier, a relationship last experienced by Adam and Eve, before the fall.Jesus brought a spiritual revolution, not a physical one. So what was this revolution? The formation of a spiritual kingdom, the kingdom of God.
36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.†(John 18:36)
Pilate could not understand it. The Jews could not understand it. We do not really understand it either!
The Temple in which the presence of God lived is gone! Physically today it is actually the site of a Muslim Mosque! No it has not been replaced by the Vatican, Canterbury Cathedral, the Crystal Cathedral, or the local church down the road. We, you and I, are God's building!
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
The 'temple of God' is now within every believer.
16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
You are the temple of God. I am the temple of God. We are all the temple of God!
Before Jesus, only the priests could enter the sanctuary and only the High Priest could come into God's presence once a year. But the sacrifice of Jesus changed all that. The veil which separated God from man was supernaturally split so that we might again have direct access to the Father. Now we are all priests!
Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father (Revelation 1:5b-6a)
This was such a huge revolution that it reverberated in the physical as well as the spiritual.
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. (Matthew 27:50-51)
It was the most momentous but least understood moment in human history! God is in us! We have direct access to God! We are now all priests in the kingdom of God! Hallelujah!
We must believe it! We must live it!
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
The revolution has come! You are a priest! I am a priest! Not by appointment by man! Not by wearing a robe or a ring! Not by the preaching of a sermon! But by the appointment of Jesus through his sacrifice on the cross at Calvary!
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father (Revelation 1:5b-6a)
And again!
and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.†(Revelation 5:9b-10)
'The Power of the Call' is upon each one of us!
(To be continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
"Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?†“Is that your own idea,†Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?†“Am I a Jew?†Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?†Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.†“You are a king, then!†said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.†“What is truth?†Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release ‘the king of the Jews’?†They shouted back, “No, not him! Give us Barabbas!†Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion." (John 18:33-40)"For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple. Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool†so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftinessâ€; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.†So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." (1 Corinthians 3:9-23)
Greetings and Doxology
"John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,†says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.â€" (Revelation 1:4-8)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
THE CROSS727. Most people dislike the sight of blood more than that of sin. But sin is so ugly that Jesus shed all His blood to cover it!
728. Blood represents life - both natural and spiritual. Give me more of the blood!
729. Without blood, there is no life. Without sacrifice, there is no blood. A sacrificial life is bathed in the blood of Jesus.
730. The Cross cost Jesus His all. How much of our all are we prepared to give back to Him?
732. Colours in God's sight! Blood is red. Sin is black. White is purity. Red over black is white.
733. Jesus' Blood is the stain remover of life.
734. Man's blood spilled, is to be feared. Jesus' blood spilled, to be revered.
735. The Days of Grace in which we now live have not reduced the awe-fullness of the Cross, but oftentimes have hidden its bloodiness beneath the shroud of love.
736. It's relatively easy to spill our blood as a martyr. Yet, it's extremely hard to submit ourselves to the ongoing blood transforming transfusions necessary for His life to live within us.
737. Blood is life. Sin is death. Help me to love your blood more and more each day, Lord.
738. Human blood grows, flows and goes. But Jesus' blood never fails.
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
3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. 4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish.†7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.†They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. (Jonah 1:3-7)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
GOD AND MAN continues......as we look towards the next two steps in 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." ***
785. THE CANDLE
A couple, desperate to conceive a child, went to their priest and asked him to pray for them. "I'm going on a sabbatical to Rome," he replied, "and while I'm there, I'll light a candle for you."
When the priest returned three years later, he went to the couple's house and found the wife pregnant, busily attending to two sets of twins. Elated, the priest asked her where her husband was so that he could congratulate him.
"He's gone to Rome, to blow that candle out" came the harried reply.
784. COMMUNION PRACTICE
My little niece, Kelly, went with a neighbor girl to church
for First Communion practice. The pastor had the children
cup their hands, and when he gives them the "Host," in this
case, a piece of bread, he says, "God be with you."
Apparently this made quite an impression on my niece. She
came home and told her mother to cup her hands and bend
down. Kelly took a piece of bread from her sandwich, placed
it in her mother's hands, and whispered, in her most angelic
voice, "God will get you."
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 real name of the painting nowknown as the ‘Mona Lisa’?
ANSWER: The real name of Leonardo Da Vinci's hugely famous painting
is ‘La Giaconda’. It is supposed to be the portrait of the wife of a middleclass
Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giacondo, but a number
of other alternatives have also been suggested. (Will always be Mona to
me.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What does the name ‘Jolly Roger’ come from?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS440. IN THE LIMELIGHT
American chemist Robert Hare discovered that blowpipe flame acting upon a block of calcium oxide, that is lime, produces a brilliant white light that could be used to illuminate theatre stages. Hence, someone who faces the glare of publicity is now said to be in the limelight. (Should it really be whitelight?)
441. IMPERIAL MADNESS
There are 640 acres in a square mile. (Imperial measurements were surely deliberately designed to torture the minds of countless generations of students.)
442. YOYOS FOR YOUYOU TO VIEWVIEW
The world's largest yo-yo rests in the National YoYo Museum in Chico, California. Named "Big Yo," the 256-pound yoyo is an exact scale replica of a Tom Kuhn "No Jive 3 in 1 YoYo." Fifty inches tall and 31.5 inches wide, this monster yo-yo is made of California sugar pine, baltic birch from the former USSR, and hardrock maple. It was first launched in San Francisco on October 13, 1979. (Wouldn’t want to be around if the string broke!)
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.
SLOT MACHINES (Four 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
4) Where did Solomon build the house of the Lord?A - Mount Moriah
B - Mount of Olives
C - Mount Carmel
D - Mount Tabor
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
!!!!!! A closed mouth gathers no foot.
!!!!! Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your mouth is moving.
!!!! Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.
!!! Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away, and you have their shoes.
!! Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
! Don't be irreplaceable; if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.
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LIFE'S A LAUGH
82. TRUE VALUEA man walked up to the counter of an auto-parts store. "Excuse me," he said, "I'd like to get a new gas cap for my Yugo."
"Sure," the clerk replied, "Sounds like a fair exchange to me."
83. GET WELL SOON
A motorcycle patrolman was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix. The doctors operated and advised him that all was well. However, the patrolman kept feeling something
pulling at the hairs on his chest. Worried that it might be second surgery the doctors hadn't told him about, he finally got enough energy to pull his hospital gown down enough so he could look at what was making him so uncomfortable.
Taped firmly across his hairy chest were three wide strips of adhesive tape, the kind that doesn't come off. Written in large black letters on the tape was the sentence:
"Get well quick ... from the nurse you gave a ticket to last week."
84. TOUCHE
A stuffy old New England dowager was explaining to the Jewish florist how she wanted the flowers arranged at the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) meeting to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
"Actually," she said, "one of my ancestors was present at the presentation of the document to the First Congress."
"How very nice." replied Morris the florist. "One of my ancestors was present at the presentation of the Ten Commandments to the world."
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BIBLE TRIVIA
HAGAR........was the servant of Sarah, Abraham's wife. At Sarah's suggestion, she became pregnant by Abraham, and bore Ishmael. She was sent away into the wilderness of Beer-sheeba when Isaac was born. But God protected them and raised them up to be their own people. (spiritually, today's Muslims.) They were under Abraham's covenant, but not in the line that would continue the lineage of the Hebrews.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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The Netherlands: 2,500 people meet Jesus online
More and more people are seeking God or looking for spiritual help on the worldwide web. For Dutch missions organization Agapè (Campus Crusade for Christ) this was the trigger to develop an active internet evangelism ministry that seeks to connect people to God online. The results are quite impressive. In it's first three years the Dutch website IkzoekGod.nl (IseekGod) has been visited by over half a million people. This resulted into 7,000 serious contacts, people who indicated they wanted to learn more about Jesus or made a decision online to follow Him. Roughly one third (2,500 people) are 'first time commitments'."IkzoekGod.nl is a website for people who are eager to discover more about God and the meaning of life," says Wouter van der Toorn (picture), Agapè's media coordinator. "On the website they can read who Jesus is, and that God has a purpose for their life. The visitors can also read other people's stories and personal experiences with God. The site creates a lot of space for visitors to find their own way. They can also connect with one of the 60 trained volunteers, the so-called 'e-coaches', that help them to process their questions. As follow-up we offer an online evangelistic course called 'Why Jesus?', after which 30 percent of the participants joins a local group or church."
Agapè intentionally tries to connect with people when they are struggling with the deeper questions of life and death. The niche site Ik-wil-dood.nl (I-want-to-die) aims at people who are struggling with depression and consider taking their own life. Additionaly Agapè created thematic campaign sites about Easter ('Why Easter?') and Christmas ('Why Christmas?') where the deeper meaning of these feasts are being explained.
"Over one million people prayed the sinner's prayer online."
Agapè's French branch is also very active on the worldwide web. They developed the French speaking site Connaitredieu.com and the English speaking site GodRev.com. This latter one claims almost one million 'decisions for Jesus', which means that about 10 percent of the visitors prayed the 'sinner's prayer' online. The site embedded a Google map that visualizes the 'decisions' real-time, and shows pics of the Christians who are praying for the site at that very moment. "When it comes to numbers of conversions, we measure this differently from our French colleagues," says Wouter. "They count all the 'yes clicks', while in the Netherlands we only count the personal contacts with people who indicated they committed their life to Jesus for the first time. In three years time this about 2,500 people."
Dutch website: http://www.ikzoekgod.nl/
International website: http://www.godrev.com/joy-in-heaven/
Source: Wouter van der Toorn, Joel News Netherlands
Via: The Outreach Files: December 08. beautifulfeettaskforce.injesus.com
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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
This tale was written over a 'period of waiting', while seeking premises for a store we wished to open for 'africa arise'. Go through all the emotions before giving it all to God!WAITING
Wait for a time,
Then a little more,
Seeking a rhyme,
What's it all for!
I want it now!
Not next week!
You do know how!
To me now speak!
God, all is in your power,
Don't let my life go sour!
I already know what is the best!
No need to put me to the test!
Still nothing happens this week!
"Just wait for Me my son,
Rest in Me, let Me to you speak,
One day, all will be done."
Tuesday comes around,
A new deal awaits.
Found common ground,
With Christian mates.
Full of promise,
Full of hope.
Surely can't miss!
Nope! Nope! Nope!
(Continued next week.)
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A DAVID MUSING
CHOICESLife comes, life goes,
Brings peaks, and lows.
We surely reap what we sow!
Our tide does ebb and flow.
When I look back on what I've done,
I see the storms, but also the sun.
For I have done good, at times been bad,
Sometimes am happy, sometimes am sad.
No, the time past I cannot now change,
But my future, yes, I may rearrange.
What will I do? Where will I go?
I may think, but God does know.
Will I put my life in His hand?
On His Rock, my days to stand.
Or will I build my house on the sand?
And His will for me, not understand.
Today I am charged to live the call.
Am I prepared to give Him my all?
Or will I continue in my earthly ways?
Seeking my own pleasure, all my days.
My time may well be short, it may be long,
Before joining Jesus, forever to belong,
What will He say that glorious day I see His face?
Knowing I've been saved, by His amazing grace.
Will it be, "Well done good and faithful servant",
Or will I seek my actions to quickly recant!
For on that day, I will surely see
The result of choices, made by me.
The past I can't change, the future neither,
But by my today's actions I can either
Build His kingdom here upon the earth,
Or make my own! My decision, my worth.
What will I do? Where will I go?
Will it be wheat or tares I sow?
Today I now have the choices to make,
Of what direction my life will take.
You too, my friend, today are in the very same boat,
To be a sheep of the Shepherd, or to be the goat.
What will be your choice of 'the way' to live?
All your life to Jesus, will you now give?
One day we will meet together with Jesus in heaven,
Having lived lives of fruitfulness, or of leaven.
The choices we now make on earth today,
Do determine what role we will play.
Let's now look towards
Our heavenly rewards.
The choice is mine,
The choice is thine!
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: CASH LOST IN ME
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': A - Mount Moriah (2 Chronicles 3:1)
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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!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz