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: 418 Published: 26 Oct 2009
MUSINGS ON THE KINGDOM - PAST, FUTURE AND PRESENT
KINGDOM PRESENTSeveral weeks ago, we saw that God's view of time is completely different to our own. We separate the past, present and future, while to God they are all one. We gave the examples of salvation and prophecy as having past, present and future fulfillment.
So it is with the kingdom of God. It is not His way to have a kingdom past and a kingdom future, while leaving a void in the present age. Logically, there must be a kingdom present, also.
So what implications does this pattern of God have for your life and mine?
We cannot find the answer in most church teachings, as they teach kingdom future only.
So we need to look to the Bible (always the best way!) for direction as to what the present day kingdom is to be and our place within it.
First and foremost, the kingdom is not just a salvation experience or even the exercise of spiritual gifts, but is founded upon and furthered by, ongoing obedience to God's will.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-3)
Obedience is at the heart of the kingdom and of kingdom living.
Obedience to whom, though?
Does it say obedience to the pastor, teacher or elders? No, it doesn't. Does it say to follow the tele-evangelist or the latest book on how to build a bigger church? No, it doesn't. Does it say to follow prophet or apostle who may bring a word over you or preach the kingdom? No, it doesn't. While all these ministries are important to us in assisting with our spiritual growth, ultimately, if we wish to live a kingdom life, direction can only come from the one place, and that is God.
And how do we hear from God? First and foremost, through a personal relationship with Him.
Lots of committed believers tell me they don't hear from God. Of course they do, for our primary Godly guidance for day to day living is found in the Word, the Bible, which they read regularly.
However, what they are really talking about is the lack of a personal 'rhema' word, one directly from the Lord.
That can be, and is, a problem at times, for all of us!
Interestingly, even too for prophets, who so easily have a word for others, but often lack direction themselves.
So how do we 'overcome' this problem of hearing, before we can obey, on our journey to become 'overcomers'?
Most serious Christians read their Bible and pray daily, or on most days. They will know the Word and be able to quote it freely. They also have lists of prayer needs for themselves and others which they diligently petition God about. Does this sound like you?
Yet you don't hear from God personally? Why? Can I suggest it could be that we are so busy learning from the Word and praying our petitions, that we don't give Him an opportunity to talk to us!
May I be so bold to suggest that it would be a good experiment to put aside your Bible reading and petitioning for 1 week and instead, spend the time listening to Jesus. Let your God speak to you. Listen to Him as you would to a friend. Ask Him what sort of day He is having! This can be incredibly difficult to do at first, for we are so used to our religious ritual. But if you stick at it, it could revolutionise your life! For our walk with Jesus is all about relationship - a two way relationship that is.
Worth a try?
We will continue with this theme of hearing and obeying next week, as it is the vital ingredient in living the kingdom life.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
A Tree and Its Fruit"“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" (Matthew 7:15-23)
The Parable of the Sower
"That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear.†The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?†He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: â€â€˜You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.â€" (Matthew 13:1-23)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
RELIGION, REVELATION AND GOD'S KINGDOM1027. God's kingdom is eternal, mankind's religion, transitory.
1028. Religion formalises the spontaneous informality of God's kingdom.
1029. God's kingdom 'upskills', religion removes the 'ups'.
1030. Religion is really 'the opiate of the priests'.
1031. To get closer to God we need to swap the bonds of religion for the liberation of His kingdom.
1032. Religion creates its own standard mould of monotonous mediocrity. God breaks moulds!
1033. Religion is centred upon man, the kingdom, upon God.
1034. Religion is the outcome of the institutionalisation of a God given vision.
1035. Religion is based upon rules, God's kingdom upon obedience.
1036. Religion seeks to control the Spirit of God which His kingdom releases.
1037. Religion controls, God's kingdom releases.
1038. Religion seeks to define an infinite God. By definition, it is doomed to failure.
1039. Religion seeks to interpret the answers to life found in God's kingdom. Surely a direct approach is best.
1040. As religion goes, God's kingdom grows.
1041. Revelation and religion make incompatible companions.
1042. Religion resists change while revelation requires it!
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good
will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge
or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless
things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone
know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in
the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call,
who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you
speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know
what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet
none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the
meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker,
and he is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are
eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build
up the church. 13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue
should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray
in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So
what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray
with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing
with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how
can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say
“Amen†to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are
saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man
is not edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than
all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five
intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in
a tongue. 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to
evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. (1 Corinthians 14:6-20)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 4. CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PEOPLEWe look at 'the seemingly impossible' unity of Spirit!
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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." ***
112. SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE?
Thanksgiving Day was approaching and the family had received a Thanksgiving card with a painting of a pilgrim family on their way to church.
Grandma showed the card to her small grandchildren, observing, "The Pilgrim children liked to go to church with their mothers and fathers."
"Oh yeah?" her young grandson replied, "so why is their dad carrying that rifle?"
111. AN ENCOURAGEMENT
Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case!
110. THE POWER OF PRAYER
The minister's little six-year-old girl had been so naughty during the week, that her mother decided to give her the worst kind of punishment. She told her she couldn't go to
the Sunday School Picnic on Saturday.
Then, when the day came, her mother felt she had been too harsh and changed her mind. When she told the little girl she could go to the picnic, the child's reaction was one
of gloom and unhappiness.
"What's the matter? I thought you'd be glad to go to the picnic." her mother said.
"It's too late!" the little girl said. "I've already prayed for rain!"
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: How can birds sit on electric wires withoutbeing injured?
ANSWER: It's simple. In order to be electrocuted, the bird would have to
touch two wires simultaneously or one hot wire and the ground at the
same time. One wire won't do it.( You got it? The logic, not the wire.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What happened to Pontius Pilate after he
sentenced Christ to be crucified?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS313. JUST A FEW
25 trillion cells travel through the bloodstream – a stack of 500 would only measure 0.04 inches high. (All working for us – well, mostly!)
314. MIXED UP
‘Synesthesia’ is a rare condition in which the senses are combined. Synesthetes see words, taste colours and shapes, and feel flavours. (Until we all get to the stage where we can’t see words without glasses, taste anything and feel nothing but pain!)
315. SELF-SUPPORTING
The great cathedral of St. Cophia at Constantinople (Istanbul) in Turkey, has sustained for 1,600 years what was, until very recent times, the largest self-supporting dome ever constructed. Moreover, it has done so in an active seismic region. (Not upheld by worshippers though, as Turkey, the home of many of the early New Testament churches now has one of the least proportions of Christians in the world.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
RESISTOR
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - PROVERBS
6) Dishonest money dwindles away:A - but a poor man's field may produce abundance.
B - but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
C - that one may avoid the snares of death.
D - and the way of the faithless is their ruin.
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! I have wondered at times what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the US congress. (Ronald Reagan)
!!!!!! It's no use having a good memory unless you have something good to remember.
!!!!! My mind contains many good ideas, but it is not always easy to squeeze one out.
!!!! There is a guaranteed way to get what you want: want less.
!!! "I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places." (Henny Youngman)
!! No wonder I feel so tired - I'm older now than I've ever been before.
! No wonder I'm so confused - one of my parents was a man, the other was a woman.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
LIFE'S A LAUGH
94. WHO?I had just moved into a new apartment and was having problems with the mailman, who was delivering the previous tenant's mail to my address. Hoping to resolve the situation, I enlarged my name on the mailbox, but he still kept giving me the wrong letters. Finally,
I left a note saying that he was delivering the mail incorrectly. The next day I went to the box to find this addition to my message:
"Sir, I am delivering the mail correctly. You're just living at the wrong address."
95.HEAT WAVE
Temperatures had soared to 109 degrees in Abilene, and we Texans tried everything to cool off. I had just finished some yard work and was eagerly heading for an icy shower when my wife approached, wrapped in a bath towel. "Sorry, honey," she said. "I used all the cold water."
96. CLEARED FOR DEPARTURE
My father, a retired Air Force pilot, often sprinkles his conversation with aviation jargon. I didn't realize what flying had meant to him, however, until the day he
showed me the folder with his last will and testament.
It was labeled "Cleared for Departure."
97. GENIUS?
A guy did system support in a law firm. One day, he had to log a user off and then back on. He entered her initials and then she gave me her password.
Her password was "genius".
After three tries and the system telling him "access denied," he asked her how to spell it.
She said, "G - E - N - I - O - U - S."
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BIBLE TRIVIA (Relationship Between the Shepherd and the Sheep)
THE SHEPHERD PLAYS WITH HIS SHEEP.......... to wile away the hours. He pretends to run away and his sheep will overtake and completely surround him, jumping and twisting with delight. The sheep know their shepherd will not leave them or turn them away.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Churches, Denominations in United Kingdom Come Together Proclaiming: "Christmas starts with Christ"
Aimee Herd (October 22, 2009)"Imagine the impact that will be created by this powerful Gospel proclamation."
Denominations are uniting in the UK in the "first ever church-sponsored Christmas advertising campaign and it is planned to run over the next five years," according to a Christian Post article.
churchads.netParticipating churches will sponsor a bus shelter carrying one of the ChurchAds.net posters depicting the nativity and printed with the slogan "Christmas starts with Christ." In addition those churches would also sponsor airtime for an accompanying ad on the radio, to run in December. (Graphic: ChurchAds.net)
"If churches all over the country buy 2,000 bus shelters and fund 2,500 airplays of the radio commercials, the campaign would be seen or heard by around 60 percent of the UK population," remarked Mike Elms of ChurchAds.net.
"Imagine the impact that will be created by this powerful Gospel proclamation," Elms added.
Source: Charles Boyd – Christian Today, Christian Post
via OpenHeaven.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
VICTORYA poetic version of my spiritual journey. I’ve started but am yet to complete! A challenge and goal for me and maybe you too! - 10 pages from 'Eagles Fly High!'
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WAXING LYRICAL
I have been really blessed with a tremendous wife. Just took me twenty plus years toreally recognise it!
Wrote this poem nearly 10 years ago now. How time flies! It tells a little of the story of our first 30 years together. Nearly 40 now!
LIFE WITH THE WIFE
To Tauranga City, here we came,
Life never again, to be the same.
The Lord developed new love in me,
For Him, my wife, and all the family.
Over the years since then, our relationship’s improved,
As the conflicts of the past, the Lord He has soothed.
Kathy graciously forgave me of my wrong,
On a new foot, life is now going along.
During the last ten years we have grown close together,
Finding strength in each other, whatever the weather.
So now, as we jointly share, life’s hopes and dream,
Our relationship’s blossomed - you know what I mean.
Not to say that we never, ever disagree!
That ‘perfect’ couple, I have yet to see!
But we are learning to respect each other’s opinions,
So opening our marriage to exciting new dimensions.
Valuing our differences, to paint a finer picture,
Our thought processes, an interesting mixture,
For women think differently, as all men know,
Frustrating sometimes, but helps us to grow!
As we go through turbulent times once more,
My God - no, not again! I am losing the score!
But this time, with God and Kathy on my case,
I’m no longer alone, in running life’s race.
‘When the going gets tough, the tough get going’,
We face things together, our love ever growing,
Amazing the miracle that God has done,
For we enter life’s battles, victory won.
So, looking back on those first twenty years,
Could have avoided the flow of Kathy’s tears.
If only then, I had been willing to talk with the wife,
Would have banished earlier, much strife in our life!
Now, as we cuddle together, under the covers at night,
Here, ‘in the best bed in the world’, it is our delight,
To share together, all the adventures of the day,
And so our love blossoms - Lord, long may it stay.
Looking forward to the future, with excitement and hope,
For the Lord’s on our side, with problems we can cope.
Our maturing love, gently tightens the bonds of unity,
In the service of Jesus, we’re fulfilling our destiny.
(Concluded next week)
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A DAVID MUSING
This is a holiday weekend here in New Zealand. It is called Labour Weekend and celebrates the introduction of the 40 hour working week into New Zealand, the first country in the world to do so. Not that it seems to apply now, as most of us work longer than 40 hours these days!I am taking a day off to have some father-son bonding time, travelling 4 hours to our capital city, Wellington, to visit a motor racing Formula One Exhibition at our country's National (Te Papa) Museum. I don't really know why our national museum should be showing such an exhibition, but Cameron and I are very pleased, as we both like motor racing. No. I am not perfect yet!
Of course, to go, I have had to complete this PGIM early. And I will now try and do as much as I can of Tuesday Teachings before leaving. For this week we will be busy setting up and shifting our Hastings Seekers store from one location to another. Much easier than setting up a completely new store however.
It is at times such as these that one understands the limitations and constrictions of 'time'. There are only 24 hours in the day! And I can't change it! Putting something extra in, means taking something else out.
All too often it is Jesus who draws the 'short straw'! I am talking to myself here!
"Lord, in my busyness, may I not ignore you."
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SORRIEST
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: B - but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (Proverbs 13:11)
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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