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: 406 Published: 03 Aug 2009
SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAY
Judging Others6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. (Matthew 7:6)
EXPOSITION: This may be considered, either, (1.) As a rule to the disciples in preaching the gospel; not that they must not preach it to any one who were wicked and profane (Christ himself preached to publicans and sinners), but the reference is to such as they found obstinate after the gospel was preached to them, such as blasphemed it, and persecuted the preachers of it; let them not spend much time among such, for it would be lost labour, but let them turn to others, Acts 13:41. So Dr. Whitby. Or, (2.) As a rule to all in giving reproof. Our zeal against sin must be guided by discretion, and we must not go about to give instructions, counsels, and rebukes, much less comforts, to hardened scorners, to whom it will certainly do no good, but who will be exasperated and enraged at us. (Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1997.)
TESTIMONY: While this is generally seen as applying to wisdom in sharing with non believers who are either not interested or downright opposed to the Gospel message, my experience has shown that it applies to sharing with other Christians equally as well.
For we, as believers, are all at different places along the road in our walk with Jesus. What makes sense to a mature Jesus follower may be incomprehensible to a new believer.
This is easily illustrated through the natural growing process of life. We are born a child, then grow through our turbulent teenage years before entering adulthood. Our understanding of the world changes dramatically as we grow older.
So it is also in the Spirit, although maturity has little to do with time, but all to do with commitment and obedience to the will of the Father in our lives. Long time Christians can still be babes while, in other cases, a fully committed new believer can grow spiritually quite rapidly.
Many of the problems in the church today are caused by misunderstandings between people at different stages of spiritual development. As is the case of parents in the natural it is the responsibility of spiritually mature believers to help 'spiritual babes' grow in their faith and spiritual understanding. So what you can share with a spiritual child is different to a teenager, and different again to a mature believer. This calls for great wisdom. It is a reason why it is so difficult to deliver an effective sermon to a disparate group of people, for levels of understanding are so different. Generally we overcome this by aiming at the lowest common denominator. Then we wonder why our people do not grow spiritually. This is a particular problem in larger fellowships.
Our spiritual walk is about discipleship. It has been proven discipleship is best developed on a one to one basis or in small groups. We can use the natural comparison of a school and a family. A school (church service) can impart knowledge and perhaps teach general morality, but it is parents who impart values through an understanding of their child, teaching, correction and personal example. On a personal level we can meet people where they are at. Then we can share the wonder of Jesus at a level they can understand. Over time the amazing depth of relationship with our Lord that is available can be imparted. Wonderful! PTL!
(To be continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
Living as Children of Light"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 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 sinâ€: 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. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.†Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 4:17-5:21)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
GROWING IN GOD25. To the believer Jesus is Saviour, but to the disciple he is also Lord.
26. The stairway to great faith is climbed one step at a time. A single leap courts disaster.
27. Our most dearly held beliefs often inhibit God’s further revelation to us.
28. The foundation of our spiritual house is to be built upon the solid rock of Jesus, the walls constructed using the insights of the fathers of the faith, while the ‘roof of truth’ is God’s revelation to us today.
29. As we grow in God, what we are to do assumes greater importance, than what we are not to do.
30. A new believer focuses upon the ‘thou shalt not’s’, while a mature disciple develops the ‘thou shalt’s.’ in their life.
31. God’s word is a two-edged sword, revealing both love and judgement.
32. To believe in God is good, to hear from God is great, but to obey God reaps the ultimate reward.
33. A man’s wisdom is based upon experience, but God’s wisdom comes through revelation.
34. It’s easy to be wise in theory, but a lot more difficult in practise!
314. The major difference between childhood and adulthood is taking responsibility. Many Christians dislike responsibility!
315. In nature, human growth occurs naturally. We expect the same in the Spiritual and get offended when others grow more quickly than us.
316. Human growth is measured in height, girth and wrinkles, spiritual growth by the 'fruit of the Spirit.' Often we confuse the two.
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
30 Now Sarai was barren; she had no children. (Genesis 11:30)
15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.†But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.†(Genesis 18:15)
2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. (Genesis 21:2)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues.......... as we go more deeply into stewardship.
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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." ***
77. SAVING OR SAVED?
A friend of mine, and her husband, were on vacation.
They visited a Church on Sunday.
My friend likes to sit close to the front.
So they entered a pew in the second row.
Shortly after settling into the pew, an usher came up to them, tapped lightly on bench, and said, "This pew is saved."
Her husband replied, "So are WE!"
76. DIVINE WISDOM
A local priest and pastor were fishing on the side of the road.
They thoughtfully made a sign saying, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!" and showed it to each passing car.
One driver that drove by didn't appreciate the sign and shouted at them: "Leave us alone you religious nuts!"
All of a sudden they heard a big splash, looked at each other, and the priest said to the pastor .....
"You think we should just put up a sign that says 'bridge out' instead?"
75. EARLY TO CHURCH
Ever notice that you have to get to church pretty early to find a seat in the back row?
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: Why do scientists describe cancer cells as‘immortal’?
ANSWER: Normal cells divide a limited amount of times (usually no more
than 50-60 times) before they die. Cancer cells, however, proliferate
indefinitely in culture. A cancer cell will go on and on doubling, one cell
becoming two, then four, then eight, etc.... Normal cells, when placed in a
tissue culture dish, proliferate until a single layer of cells just touching
each other covers the surface of the dish. Mitosis (cell replication) then
stops. Cancer cells, on the other hand, show no such ‘contact inhibition’.
They continue to divide, piling up into actual mounds. It is this that makes
cancer cells so damaging to an organism. (Too much of a bad thing!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What bird migrates from the Arctic to the
Antarctic each year?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS349. BATHING BANNED
In 1845 Boston, America, had an ordinance banning bathing unless you had a doctor's prescription. (Would eventually have become a good money earner for doctors.)
350. BRAND NEW
Band-Aid brand adhesive bandages (sticking plasters) first appeared on the market in 1921. However, the little red string now used to open the package was not added until 1940. (How much blood has Band-Aids saved?)
351. A REAL NEED
In 1937 the emergency 999 telephone service was established in London. More than 13,000 genuine calls were made in the first month. (Would have been a lot more two years later!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
ASHORE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WATER WATER EVERYWHERE!
14) This man's mother cast her son into the river:A - Jephtha
B - Jacob
C - Aaron
D - Nahum
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! Life is like a mirror; we get the best results when we smile at it.
!!!!!! Usually people are as happy as they make their minds up to be.
!!!!! You cannot leave footprints in the sands of time while sitting down.
!!!! You will never offend a person by returning a smile.
!!! Gentle words fall lightly, but have great weight.
!! Civilization makes it possible for you to live off other persons instead of off the land.
! If it were not for marriage, people would go through life thinking they had no faults at all.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
JUST JOKES
279. DAY OFFA tourist asks a man in uniform, "Are you a policeman?"
"No, I am an undercover detective."
"So why are you in uniform?"
"Today is my day off."
278. LIVING IN HOPE
Little Bobbie had been pawing over a stationer's stock of greeting cards for some time when a clerk asked, "Just what is it you're looking for? A birthday greeting, message to a sick friend? An Anniversary, or a congratulations to your mom and dad?"
Little Bobbie shook his head and answered, "Nope. Got any blank report cards?"
277. HE'S GREAT
"He's great on the court," a sportswriter said of a college basketball player in a interview with his coach. "But how's his scholastic work?"
"Why, he makes straight A's," replied the coach.
"Wonderful!" said the sportswriter.
"Yes," agreed the coach, "but his B's are a little crooked."
276. THE MENS ROOM
In the Men's Room at work, the boss put a sign directly above the sink. It had a single word printed on it "THINK".
The next day when he went into the Men's Room he looked at his sign and right below it immediately above the soap dispenser was a carefully printed sign which read: "THOAP"
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BIBLE TRIVIA
AMONG THE VDEAD SEA SCROLLS.... is a complete 'book of Isaiah. It is composed of 17 pieces of leather stitched together to form a roll nearly 25 feet long. Sophisticated dating techniques have proven that some of the scrolls were written 300 years before Christ while others came from Jesus' lifetime.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Russia’s Plan To Introduce Religion in Schools Lauded
By Gretta CurtisCP Europe Correspondent
Wed, Jul. 22 2009 04:46 PM EDT
Head of Russian Orthodox Church has praised Russian President’s announcement on the proposal of introducing religious subjects in schools across Russia.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has announced a pilot project Tuesday that will require schoolchildren to take classes in religion or secular ethics, the Associated Press reported.
Medvedev said pre-teen students at about 12,000 schools in 18 Russian regions would take the classes. They will be offered the choice of studying the dominant Russian Orthodox religion, Islam, Buddhism or Judaism, or of taking an overview of all four faiths, or a course in secular ethics.
The proposal is believed to be part of a Kremlin effort to teach young Russians morals in the wake of a turbulent period of uncertainty following the collapse of the officially atheist Soviet Union.
Patriarch Kirill, leader of 100 million Orthodox Christians in Russia has praised the proposal and said, “All the concerns society has expressed will be addressed by this freedom of choice,†reported Reuters.
Russian Orthodox Church has been pushing the idea of introducing religious education in schools though church and state are officially separate under the post-Soviet constitution.
Three years ago some regions have taken the initiative on their own and required courses in Russian Orthodoxy, stirring protests that they were infringing on constitutional boundaries.
Brushing aside the concerns of some non-religious peoples who fear that it is a way of imposing Orthodox Church ideology, Medvedev said, “Students and their parents must be allowed to choose freely,†while addressing top clerics and officials at his residence outside Moscow.
“Any coercion, pressure will be absolutely unacceptable and counterproductive,†he said.
The President also insisted that the proposal is “only†the four faiths excluding other faiths, especially Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, which the Orthodox Church accuses of proselytising.
Medvedev said the national program would begin next year as a pilot project in 18 regions, covering about 20 percent of Russia's schools.
Over 80 percent Russians are believed to be members of the Russian Orthodox Church, however according to CIA world fact book said only about 15 to 20 percent as practicing Orthodox Christians. And minorities Christians like Roman Catholics and Protestants have often complained of not being able to practice their faith freely.
Earlier this year, the appointment of Aleksandr Dvorkin as chair of Expert Council on Religious Studies raised concern for non-Orthodox Christians, fearing that Russia might return to a “Soviet era†persecution of Christians.
Dvorkin, who is critical of non-Orthodox Christians was given “unprecedented powers†by the Ministry of Justice, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
The move prompted USCIRF to add Russia to its watch list for the first time despite having monitored the country’s religious freedom for ten years.
via OpenHeaven.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
THE POWER OF THREE IN GOD AND THE CHURCHIn walking further with Jesus, I increasingly appreciate that this particular revelation of 'threes in God' has been hugely important in developing my understanding of God and how He works both in the church and in our lives.
It matters not whether you are a 'oneness', 'twoness', or 'trinitarian' believer. The concept still applies. For we're all very good at putting God in a box, limited to the walls of our theology and understanding. But, one day, we will know all the truth of the great mystery of God.
In the meantime, if you can grasp this simple, yet profound concept, I'm sure it will open up new realms of understanding for you too about God and His plans for His people in these end days.
It certainly developed my faith tremendously, being able to grasp more of God's mighty plan for me. And for you too!
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WAXING LYRICAL
It is so easy to blame the Lord, or others, when things go wrong in our life. Yet the answer is found not in struggle, but in submission. Putting our life in His hands.LORD - HELP ME!
Now's the time when you are feeling low,
All your effort, with so little to show.
When life is getting on top of you,
God's Word doesn't seem true.
You're looking for a boost,
Chickens home to roost!
Nothing's working,
Life so hurting!
Indescribable!
Unbearable!
"Hey!
Pray!"
"Do I hear,
Voice in ear?"
"Now, listen to me,
One plus two, can be three!
If today, you will let me help you,
Your dreams, they can still come true.
When you rest your all in my gentle hand,
Your horizons, I will again, begin to expand."
Why do we ignore His advice?
Unwilling to pay the price,
Of giving all our being over to Him,
Rather let life's light, grow so dim.
Yes I'm still learning to understand,
Life, when it's placed in His hand,
Will simply, so much better be,
Than if it's only guided by me!
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A DAVID MUSING
On Saturday we opened our new store in the city of Palmerston North.Somehow, working very long hours, and with the help of volunteers and family, we got things finished 'just in time'.
Have only arrived back in Napier on Sunday evening, meaning that this PGIM is being written 'just in time' also.
Reminds me of the one on the cross with Jesus who came to repentance 'just in time'. And of numerous people since, who have given their lives to Jesus on their deathbeds, 'just in time'.
It seems unfair that they should get the same salvation as one who has faithfully followed Jesus for years, doesn't it?
Yes, through God's grace, their salvation is the same, but the heavenly rewards built up over a lifetime of faithfulness, will not be available to these 'just in time' believers.
So, rejoice as the angels do when another is saved 'just in time', and continue with your walk, building up treasures in heaven, before it becomes your time too, to meet our Saviour and Lord. On that day, may we hear the wonderful words, 'well done, good and faithful servant'.
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: ASHORE
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 14) C - Aaron (Exodus 2:1-10)
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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