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: 400 Published: 22 Jun 2009
SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAY
Due to its importance, we need to split the instruction on prayer into 2 parts.Prayer
5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)
EXPOSITION: Note, Those who would not do as the hypocrites do in their ways and actions must not be as the hypocrites are in their frame and temper. He names nobody, but it appears by ch. 23:13, that by the hypocrites here he means especially the scribes and Pharisees. Now there were two great faults they were guilty of in prayer, against each of which we are here cautioned—vain-glory (v. 5, 6); and vain repetitions, v. 7, 8.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.
TESTIMONY: This is such a huge subject on the one hand, yet so simple on the other!
Breakdowns in communication, both between people and between people and God, are at the heart of most of the problems of our daily lives, between nations, and between the church and God. The heart of the problem is that we look at life through the coloured spectacles of motivation and prejudice, hearing what we want to hear and saying what our life experience programmes us to say. In our humanness, being basically self-centred, most of us tend to speak (or think) somewhat more easily and often than we listen.
In our relationship with God, our humanness tends to come out even more, as God is physically unseen, yet has power over the universe. We so easily feel we can ignore His desires for us while giving Him a shopping list of how He can make our lives more comfortable! Sorry to be so straightforward, maybe even outrageous, but it applies to me as much as anyone else! How often do we regard our God as a great Father Christmas in the sky?
Of course, we give God thanks, may praise and worship Him too, and pray for others. All very worthy and good. But seldom do we simply sit in the solitude of internal quietness and let Him speak His heart out to us and for us. We want to hear His word for us through the prophet, yet do not wait upon Him to talk to us directly. Yet good two way communication is at the heart of every successful relationship, in both the natural and the spiritual.
Over the years, as I have grown a little in God, I have come to realise and appreciate that it is not all about me, but progressively developed through Him and me to finally, all about Him. I try now to seek, sometimes more successfully than others, His will for me, rather than mine for Him! This doesn't happen all the time, for at times I am closer to Him than at others, or He might choose to test me for a season by letting me be seemingly alone for a time.
The 'vain glory' and 'vain repetition' that Matthew Henry mentions above, are classic examples of communication breakdown. We easily try to impress others, rather than speaking to the intended recipient, or repeat others' words because we don't know what to say ourselves.
The ideal for me, which I have not yet achieved, is to have an open conduit to God 24/7, so we can talk to each other on an ongoing basis. A spiritual cellphone! 'Txts' to God!
Prayer meetings are good to bring people together and to petition God on behalf of a group, but the essence of prayer is personal communication with our Lord, away from the public eye, on a one to one basis. And most importantly, is then doing what He tells to do.
I am far from perfect. My prayer life, my cellphone with God, sometimes runs out of battery (of spiritual charge) or I wander outside the reception area (of desire or sin)!
I guess both you and I are 'works in progress'. May we be open to His leading and guiding in our lives, through prayer, today.
May we too, be like Jesus at Gethsemane, who was obedient even to a death, a death more horrible than anyone else has ever experienced.
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.†(Matthew 26:39)
(To be continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
Gethsemane"Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.†He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.†Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.†Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?†he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.†He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.†When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!â€" (Matthew 26:36-46)
"22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone," (Matthew 14:22-3)
The Twelve Apostles
"One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor." (Luke 6:12-16)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
PRAYER951. Pray every day to keep the devil at bay!
952. Meaningful prayer originates from the heart, not the mouth.
953. Effective prayer is not how much you say but how you say it!
954. My 'Personal PrayerLine' is open 24/7. Love, God.
955. Prayer proves faith. Answered prayer improves faith.
956. Prayer builds relationship with God.
957. Prayer is to be an ongoing process, not an occasional experience.
958. Little and often is better than lots occasionally when it comes to effective prayer.
959. Prayer is like having an internal, open telephone line to heaven. Only trouble is, we too often forget to use it.
960. Ringing God is toll free. Take advantage of it now!
961. Share God's heart. Pray for others!
962. The most powerful prayers are the Word of God.
963. The least liked people are those who talk about no-one but themselves. Why do we do this with God?
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. (Ezekiel 3:18)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues...We will summarise the aspects of the five churches that Jesus criticised as operating as 'kings' rather than 'kingdom'.
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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." ***
60. A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS.....
While interviewing a prospective Minister of Education over lunch, one of the ladies on the committee at my end of the table was sharing the following.
Her husband was an avid bicycler. She was sharing that he loved to race in bicycle races and that when he raced, he loved to race in the second position. Trying to explain why he did this almost broke up our luncheon. She meant to use the term "drafting", the technical term for allowing the person in front of him to block the wind on him - allowing him to work less as he raced and conserve his energy.
However, this is what she actually said. "My husband loves to race in the second position. That way, he can make the person in front of him break wind."
Most of the committtee was under the table. I was trying to maintain what little minsterial decorum I had left. The people at the other end of the table were asking why we were laughing so loud - with no explanation ever given. (p.s. - The Minister of Education came and some of the committee members gave the lady a special Christmas
gift that year - a "windbreaker".)
59. HOOVER!
Father Murphy was playing golf with a parishioner. On the first hole, he sliced into the rough. His opponent heard him mutter "Hoover!" under his breath.
On the second hole, the ball went straight into a water hazard. "Hoover!" again, a little louder this time.
On the third hole, a miracle occurred and Fr. Murphy's drive landed on the green only six inches from the hole!
"Praise be to God!"
He carefully lined up the putt, but the ball curved around the hole instead of going in.
"HOOVER!!!!" By this time, his opponent couldn't withhold his curiosity any longer, and asked why the priest said "Hoover". "It's the biggest dam I know."
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Is there really such a thing as a flea circus?ANSWER: Yes, flea circuses first appeared in Europe in the 1820s and
featured such spectacular diversions as the re-enactment of Napoleon's
defeat at Waterloo. They – but not their fleas - died out sometime in the
middle of the last century. Trainers use the fleas' natural responses to
stimuli to encourage them to jump and move around and even pull props.
Of course, the performers are tiny, so a magnifying glass is necessary for
a good view. (‘Flea bitten’ trainers?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Do sword swallowers really swallow the
sword?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS367. HORSE SENSE
In Queensland, Australia, it remains constitutional law that all pubs (hotel/bar) must have a railing outside for patrons to tie up their horse. (Must be why it is still known as a cowboy state!)
368. COINED
The first vending machines in the US dispensed chewing gum and were installed in New York City train platforms in 1888. (Did the American love affair with chewing gum precede them or did these addictive machines generate it?)
369. NOT FOR A NIGHT OUT
Samuel Beckett's play Breath is the shortest recorded play ever written, consisting of 35 seconds of human cries and breathes. (How did he individually describe them in the script?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
SECTION
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WATER WATER EVERYWHERE!
8) The only disciple recorded as having walked on water:A - John
B - Thomas
C - Judas
D - Peter
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! A careful study of economics usually reveals that the best time to buy anything is last year.
!!!!!! A perfectionist is one who takes great pains, and gives them to everyone else.
!!!!! A picture may be worth a thousand words but it uses up a thousand times more memory.
!!!! Character is like a fence - it cannot be strengthened by whitewash.
!!! In the 60s people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.
!! Insanity is my only means of relaxation.
! Just when I was getting used to yesterday, along came today.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
EXTENSIVE EXPLANATIONS
79. THANK HEAVENS I LEARNED ENGLISH AS A CHILD!20 reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:
1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) We must polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
18) Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
20) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guine pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham. If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth?
One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?
If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital?
Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm goes off by going on.
English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.
How about when you want to shut down your computer you have to hit start.
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BIBLE TRIVIA
TOWERS KNOWN AS ZIGGURATS....... literally meaning 'houses that lift up their heads', were erected throughout the Babylonian Empire. These were likely meant to be stairways for men to ascend to heaven to meet the gods. Mentioned in Genesis 11:3 they resemble a pyramid, but their sides are step like. The bricks were made from mud joined together with asphalt, which is still found all over Iranian oilfields today.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Thai man's crops and faith thrive
Shua and his family are thankful for all God has done in their lives through the help of FARMS International.Thailand (MNN) ¯ Ten years ago, Shua, a Christian man from Thailand, and his village were deeply impoverished. They had barely enough crops to eat, let alone make a profit.
However, FARMS International came into their area and began to help Shua’s family, church and the whole village.
With a loan from FARMS, Shua was able to buy corn seed and use it for cash crop to make a profit. Before the loan, Shua and his family had only planted rice for themselves.
“My house was very small. I had no vehicle. But over the years because of the FARMS loan program, I am making a profit; now I even have a pickup truck! The Lord has really blessed me and my family,†Shua said to FARMS.
Shua now has fruit trees and fish ponds at his hillside farm, where he uses SALT technology (Sloping Agricultural Land Technology) to prevent erosion and make the soil more productive.
Having a truck has made it easier for Shua to farm. In addition, he uses the truck for evangelism, driving to the three surrounding villages. Through this, two families have come to Christ. Shua said because the families are so large, they have twenty new converts.
“Just recently, we have been able to buy a piece of land to build a new church building,†Shua also told FARMS. “We see that there are still many villages that have not had the opportunity to know about Jesus, and we have a real desire to bring our Lord to them.â€
You can help more families like Shua’s in Thailand and twelve other countries. When you donate to FARMS, your money is used to help start new programs and fund loan programs.
and via OpenHeaven.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF....... THE AMAZING TABERNACLE OF MOSESThe first modern revelation of the importance of Moses Tabernacle as being the pattern of a godly walk, and one of church development and life, came out of the Latter Rain Movement, after World War 2.
In more recent times the teaching has been neglected, but it is still applicable today. And the Lord is today, giving even more revelation about it, as we move still closer to the end of the age.
Yes, an understanding of Moses Tabernacle is vital for every Christian with a heart to know God and His plans in a deeper way.
I pray that you will find it as illuminating, challenging, yet encouraging, as I have in my life.
Download your free PDF File here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
One of my favourites. It’s self explanatory.TO BEARD OR NOT TO BEARD? (Continued)
"But Lord," I said, "you’re up in heaven,
And I live down here - at number seven!
Your scissors would have be so very long,
I’m afraid, that little me, you might prong!"
There has to be a better way, was my thought,
In doom and gloom, I was now caught,
Until the Lord said, "An idea – for I know,
Shall we do it together? Let’s give it a go."
Having no experience in beard styling matters,
My confidence level is quite clearly in tatters.
So I asked the Lord, "Please show me what to do",
He said, "Don’t worry son, my Spirit’s with you."
I said, "that’s fine my Lord, but can he hold the shaver?",
"No my son, but with his help, your hand will not waver."
"I have believed you Lord for far more than this," I said,
"It is written, you have numbered the hairs on my head!"
I pick up my shaver, switch it on at the wall,
My bit’s done. Holy Spirit, now it’s your call.
My mind is so alert, my heart all a flutter,
Awaiting the advice, he’s surely now to utter.
A tentative stroke here, a subtle stroke there,
Stroke here, stroke there, strokes everywhere!
Then it’s all done - now what can I see,
Believe it or not – a designer goatee!
There must always be morals in a story so true,
As we gather life experience, on the way through.
So growing a beard,
Is not to be feared,
But stopping the itch,
Now there’s a hitch,
Reducing the grey?
No, give it away!
Appear intellectual?
Truly ineffectual!
So by all means,
Live your dreams,
It’s better late
Than never mate!
For now I know fluff I can grow,
It ain’t so weird to sport a beard!
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A DAVID MUSING
When you suffer from lack of inspiration, real rubbish comes out!NON-SENSE
My inspiration has gone,
Mind isn't switched on.
Oh dear, what shall I do,
Just haven't got a clue!
So a witty ditty I ought to write
In the hope all will be alright,
For you to entertain if not inform,
The purpose for which I was born?
But to entertain one must have a wit,
If one's not to become a total twit,
For from wit to twit is a very, very, very small jump,
A 't' for Tait or 't' for tea - just a tiny wee bump.
It's easy to write nonsense you see,
Likely send us both up the tree,
The view from the top is an amazing sight to behold,
If to climb back down to earth, we are not too old.
Well, this dribble has gone on long enough,
For I know you are made of sterner stuff.
You would not bother to waste your ink,
On verse that really is, simply stink.
Stuck in the tree,
That, you can see,
Of my own volition,
While on a mission.
Stop now!
Pow wow!
Bid you bye,
From the sky!
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: NOTICES
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 8) D - Peter (Matt 14:29)
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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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david@wwj.org.nz