SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAY

Murder

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5: 21-26)

EXPOSITION: This is generally considered to be an extension of the Sixth Commandment 'Thou shalt not kill'. However this is not actually correct, as the Rabbis had interpreted the commandment too narrowly. Jesus gave us the true explanation of the meaning of the commandment, which applies to thoughts and motivation as well as actual actions. In essence, we are to readily forgive and live in peace with one another.

TESTIMONY: It would be fair to say that each of us has broken the 'Jesus explanation' of this commandment many times. I am no exception! For anger and resentment are part of the human condition.

While I have never had more than a 'normal(!)' anger problem, I certainly noticed a difference in my behaviour once I gave my heart to Jesus and tried to walk more in His image. Part of this may be due to the mellowing of age, but more to an understanding that getting angry and retaining resentment or unforgiveness does not do me any good!

Of course, we must learn from bad experiences, but carrying their memory simply leads to a bitterness of personality that is likely to shorten our lives as well as being most unattractive to others.

Self control does have a part to play in controlling anger, as seen in the 'anger management' programmes taught in the world. Understanding our triggers and walking away from potentially explosive situations certainly helps.

However, like the rest of the Mount Sermon, the only real answer is a change of character through submission to the will of the Father through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to become like Jesus in character.

This is not an formula for instant success but a process that takes a lifetime. I am still 'work-in-progress' in this area, as in many others of my life.

I trust you are too.

(To be continued next week.)

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FROM THE WORD

Listening and Doing
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:19-27)

Rules for Holy Living

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful
" (Colossians 3:1-15)

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 5:24-32)

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

GRACE

831. Without grace, love will soon fail.

832. Love and grace are like bread and butter. The one complements the other.

833. When grace abounds, love resounds.

835. Grace builds, unforgiveness destroys.

836. The rain of grace waters the garden of love.

838. As grace grows, heartache dies.

839. The light at the end of the tunnel is called grace.

840. Grace given away is likely to return as love.

841. We readily understand our need for grace. Are others any different?

842. A partner's snoring is the ultimate test of grace!

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CRANWELL'S CARTOON

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” 28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. (John 11:17-45)





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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

THIS WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues

As we look at the early church.

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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." ***

44. COVERING THE BASES.....
A five-year-old girl who was squirting passersby with a garden hose became furious when her father rushed out and took the hose away.

Kicking and screaming as he carried her into the house, she yelled out, "I'm going to tell Jesus and God and Santa Claus on you!"

43. PROPHETIC? A TRUE STORY
My appointment as pastor coincided with the church's appeal for aid for victims of a hurricane.

Unfortunately, on my first Sunday in the parish, the centre page of the church bulletin was accidentally omitted. So members of the congregation read from the bottom of the second page to the top of the last page: "Welcome to the Rev. Andrew Jensen and his family... the worst disaster to hit the area in this century. The full extent of the tragedy is not yet known." --RD

42. HEALTHY LESSONS?
Two fellows died at ripe old ages and went on to Heaven. It was, of course, the most beautiful, wonderful place imaginable.

One of them, eyes misting with tears, remarked to the other, "Isn't this marvelous?"

His friend replied. "Yes! And to think we could have gotten here so much sooner if we hadn't eaten all that oat bran!"

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Is it true that hair and nails continue to grow
after death?

ANSWER: No, they only seem to. What really happens is that the body
dries out after death and the skin recedes from the hair and nails, making
it appear as if they are longer. In fact, even though hair is not technically
‘living’, hair and nail cells still need to be nourished by blood in order to
grow. (They’re bloodthirsty?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is an ‘inclined elevator’?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

388. STONE CONDUCTOR
Granite conducts sound ten times faster than air. (Embed a jet in a block of granite to break the sound barrier at a tenth of the speed?)

389. LEAVING YOUR STONE
Among the Danakil tribesmen of Ethiopia, a male’s grave is marked with a stone for every man he killed. (Run out of men before stones!)

390. HAPPY HELEN
Helen of Troy was Queen of Sparta. (worked like a trojan but did not live a spartan life!)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

LAMER

Answer at the end of A David Musing

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BIBLE QUESTION - WATER WATER EVERYWHERE!

1) Jesus was baptized in this body of water:

A - Jordan
B - Galilee
C - Mediterranean
D - Nile

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

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

!!!!!!! A rumour without a leg to stand on will get around some other way.

!!!!!! I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those censorious, self-righteous people around me.

!!!!! A person is grown up not when they can take care of themselves, but when they can take care of others.

!!!! Mankind is divided into two classes: those who earn their living by the sweat of their brow, and those who sell them handkerchiefs, cold drinks, and electric fans.

!!! We can never see ourselves as others see us. Even the mirror shows us in reverse.

!! Don't approach a goat from the front, a horse from the back or a fool from any side. - Yiddish Proverb

! The highest reward for man's toil is not what he gets for it, but what he becomes by it. - John Ruskin

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LIFE'S A LAUGH

156. CLASSIFIED AD
I called the local newspaper's classified section to complain about an ad I'd placed. It was obvious the person who took my information had never spent any time on a farm.

"I said 'ewes'," I argued.

"Pardon?" replied the operator.

"Ewes. It makes a difference to some people."

The ad that was placed read: "Sheep for sale--USED."

157. WHAT'S FREE
At their tag sale, my daughters put all of the "junk" they just wanted to get rid of in a carton marked "Free Box." Moments after they set it at the end of the driveway, a man drove up, looked at the box, dumped its contents on the lawn, and drove off with the box.

158. COMPLAINTS?
During World War II Richard Wynn, on flight duty with the 8th Air Force Division in Europe was shot down and captured by the Germans. After a year as prisoner of war, he escaped and made his way back to his bomber group in England. One of his first acts there was to hunt up the corporal on duty in the parachute building.

"Corporal," he said, "a year ago I had occasion to use one of the parachutes that your men had packed and I want you to know how delighted I was to find it in perfect working order. I give you my deepest compliments and appreciation."

"You know, Lieutenant, funny thing," the corporal replied. "In this work we never get any complaints."

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BIBLE TRIVIA

The "Aaronic Benediction"...

... was given by God to Aaron. This ancient blessing is still widely used by Jews and Christians today.

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

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Wycliffe Plans to Reach 200 Million People First Time by 2025

by Michael Ireland, ASSIST News Service

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - Despite a sluggish economy, Wycliffe Bible Translators is planning to go ahead with an ambitious program of language development thanks to recent generous pledges of financial help.

A media release states that: "In the middle of the 'weakest spending environment that the U.S. economy has faced in 17 years,' the world's largest Bible translation organization has, since October 2008, received $117 million (gifts, pledges and other commitments) to press ahead with a billion-dollar effort to provide literacy and humanitarian aid for all the world's small language groups in need of language development by 2025.

"With plans to recruit 3,000 additional personnel, Wycliffe Bible Translators is well on its way to circling the globe with the Easter story and humanitarian benefits of literacy," the media release says.

According to the Press Release, $50 million gift – "the largest single donation in Wycliffe's history" -- was received last fall and is earmarked for Wycliffe's Last Languages Campaign, an effort to bring some 200 million people first-time access to literacy, life-saving health information and Bible translation over the next 16 years.

The Orlando, Florida-based Wycliffe organization says it "understands that providing critical community development -- literacy, the establishment of water purification systems, AIDS education, human rights and community empowerment -- often starts in the strangest place: with Bible translation and the language development that is foundational to it."

Using new, high-tech translation techniques developed by Wycliffe personnel, the non-profit group is translating the Easter story at three-times the pace of just a decade ago, representing a time savings of 125 years in reaching the remaining one-third of the world's language groups with no access to the Bible in their mother tongue, the media release explains.

"Helping a mother become literate can make a more lasting impact on a community than providing a doctor," said Bob Creson, president of Wycliffe Bible Translators.

"While a doctor can fight disease and sickness with medicine, mothers -- and ultimately communities -- are better served through literacy programs that help mothers read prescriptions, medicine bottles and educate themselves on healthcare," Creson said.

Founded in 1942, Wycliffe Bible Translators exists to make the Bible accessible to all people in the language that is most meaningful to them. Comprised of 6,400 Wycliffe translators, linguists, aviators, humanitarian workers, educators and administrators, along with dozens of partnering organizations, Wycliffe is currently working in 93 countries on six continents.

Interview opportunities are available with Wycliffe USA President Bob Creson, Wycliffe's AIDS Education Program Coordinator Kathie Watters, Wycliffe Bible translators, translation technology inventors and more.

Source: AssistNews.net

via openheaven.com

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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

TODAY’S TRULY TRIVIAL TRIFFLING TITBITS.....

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WAXING LYRICAL

Faith is an issue for all of us. As humans, doubt is a greater part of our nature than we would like it to be! But why?

FAITH

I wonder why, when 'faith' is an issue,
So often then, we reach for a tissue,
To mop up the tears of doubt you see,
That assail us now, both you and me.

For on the one hand, we trust God with our all,
On the other, human doubt, our faith does stall!
"Will He or wont He?" we are wont to think,
Our faith, once so strong, begins to sink.

"You've always proved faithful to me, my Lord,"
While former blessings, I wish I could hoard!
Each new level requiring greater trust in Him,
Memories of past successes faded, now so dim.

If today's faith was the same as in the past,
Our belief in Him, just simply wouldn't last.
It would just be our own strength that had won,
Not that of our Lord, Jesus Christ the Son.

Now, today's challenge is to break new ground,
Then our faith in Him, it will be truly found.
Oh Lord, please help me in my unbelief!
You've come through again - what a relief!

Put simply, it's the way God's faith works,
Though to our human spirit, it still irks!
So if now, we are to mature and grow,
Trusting Him's, the only way to go!

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A DAVID MUSING

As you read this our Scottish family will be in the airplane winging their way back to Aberdeen. Sadly for us, happily for Scottish grandparents!

We have all had a wonderful time that has gone far too quickly! But that is how all good things are! Anticipation. Action. Then memories. Digital cameras certainly record those without having to worry about the pocket book!

We haven't had all our immediate family together for 15 years now. But we have managed to get 3/4 of our kids, Andrew, Cameron and Brendan, in this photo with Kathy and myself. Our other son, Nigel, currently lives in London.

Until next week...

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: REALM

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: A - Jordan (Matt 3:13)

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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!

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