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: 435 Published: 22 Feb 2010
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MUSINGS ON THE KINGDOM - PAST, FUTURE AND PRESENT
KINGDOM PRESENT - THE KINGDOM PARABLESPARABLE OF THE SOWER
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.†(Matthew 13:1-9)"
As we saw last week, Jesus explained what this particular parable meant.
However, this does not mean that there is no more meaning to be found in it. The understanding that Jesus revealed was for the people at the time. This does not mean that his revelation was complete for all time. The Holy Spirit can still bring additional revelation and understanding from age to age.
I would like to suggest to you 2 understandings of the final part of the parable, the crops from the good soil. That is us - believers.
On an individual level it shows that there are of crop production, of fruit, in believers. Not all believers are the same. Some produce more than others. Some display the fruit of the Spirit more than others.
There has been a 'democratic' teaching over the years that all we need to do is to pray the 'sinners prayer' (not found in the Bible!) and all will be well. We can live how we like and we will get to heaven and live there in the same way as the martyr or greatest saint who has ever lived. Easy Christianity - but false. The whole emphasis of the Bible and understanding of the Jewish culture is that we must live what we believe. Judgment will come, for believer and unbeliever alike.
12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. (Revelation 20:12)
The works we do are recorded in the book of life and we are rewarded accordingly. Some produce 30, some 60, and some 100 fold crops.
Are you a 30 fold, 60 fold or 100 fold follower of Jesus?
In regard to the church, there can be seen a progressive pattern of development. This development is in terms of revelation and understanding the church of a particular time.
Gods pattern is always to work in threes - from Father, Son and Holy Spirit through to faith, hope and love and many, many more.
So it is with the church. There is a 3 fold revelation which relates to the 3 crop yields Jesus talks about in this parable.
1. 30 FOLD CHURCH: A church, or group of people with the revelation of Jesus, but who choose to stop there. Baptism is fine, but we will not get involved with any more. Often known as traditional or evangelical churches.
2. 60 FOLD CHURCH: A church, or group of people with the revelation of Jesus but who also accept the moving of the Holy Spirit as being of importance to them. These are known as pentecostal or charismatic churches.
3. 100 FOLD CHURCH: A church, or group of people with the revelation of Jesus but who also accept the moving of the Holy Spirit and the lordship of Jesus in their lives. Whose purpose for being is to be obedient to the will of the Father in their lives. This church, which is being revealed today has tentatively many names such as third day, apostolic, tabernacle, the bride, overcomers, and more. It is generally informal, as it consists of people of like mind, with a spiritual unity not found in formal organisations.
Does this excite you? It does me!
To examine the Parable of the Sower in greater depth, please download this free PDF file.
A REVELATION OF... PARABLE OF THE SOWER
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
The Dead Are Judged"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)
Patience in Suffering
"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes†be yes, and your “No,†no, or you will be condemned." (James 5:7-12)
Love
"And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:13)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE915. Obedience to God's will for our life is the highest call.
916. Belief is of the mind, worship of the heart, but obedience is of the will.
917. The greatest change we can make is from gratifying our own will to obeying God's will for our life.
918. Obedience to God's will and ways is the very core of the Gospel.
919. Christian maturity develops as we submit to the will of God for our life.
920. In the world, submission is weakness, in God, strength.
921. In the world, submission comes from without, in God, from within.
922. I obey my master. The question is, "who is my master?"
923. Disobedience comes from Adam and Eve. Obedience is modelled by Jesus. Whom will we follow?
924. Disobedience is selfish, Godly obedience, selfless!
925. Obedience and suffering are common bedfellows.
926. Obedience is refined in the fire of testing.
927. If we obey those we respect, it begs the question, "Do we respect ourselves more than Jesus?"
928. If God knows more than me, shouldn't I take His advice?
929. As God grows in me, there is less and less room for me myself!
930. Heaven is reached through obedience to God's will, not simply the recitation of a 'Sinners Prayer'.
931. Godly obedience is the present outworking of belief and faith.
932. I cannot truly say I'm a believer if I'm not prepared to follow the path of the one in whom I believe.
933. Freewill is a choice, obedience the choice of freewill.
934. Doing what God wants us to do when it differs from what we want to do is our true test of obedience.
935. "I will obey You", is the ultimate form of worship.
936. The path of obedience takes a different route to that of our natural understanding.
937. To do what we don't understand, because God said it, is the ultimate test of obedience.
938. It may be easier to die as a martyr, than to die to one's self!
939. As I die, so God grows in me. There is only room for one of us!
940. In God, submission is a sign of success, not one of failure.
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
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me?Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch
out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the
Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. (Exodus 14:15-16)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAY continues............we look at 'divorce' and 'oaths'.
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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." ***
153. THE RIGHTEOUS EAT
My pastor-husband Scott has a sweet tooth, so I knew the chocolate chip cookies I'd just baked might disappear before I returned from running errands.
To discourage him, I taped a verse on the wrapped goodies: "Everything is permissible for me -- but not everything is beneficial." - 1 Cor. 6:12.
When I returned I found half the cookies gone and another verse attached: "The righteous eat to their heart's content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry" - Prov. 13:25.
152. AN ARM AND A LEG!
Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What's wrong?" Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to. So God said he was going to give him a companion and it would be a woman.
He said this person would cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear you children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give you love and compassion whenever needed.
Adam asked God, "What would a woman like this cost?"
God said, "An arm and a leg."
Adam said "What can I get for just a rib?"
The rest is history!
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What's the difference between a turtle and atortoise?
ANSWER: A tortoise is a terrestrial turtle, one that lives entirely on land.
Other turtles are amphibious, living on both land and water. (Has nobody taught the tortiose to swim?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the connection of May Day to Robin Hood?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS262. MORE FLIES
It has been known for an expert fly fisherman to have as many as 10,000 flies in his collection. (Using 1 every day of the year it would take over 27 years to use them all!)
263. EARLY AND LATE
A rainbow can be seen only in the morning or late afternoon. It is a phenomenon that can occur only when the sun is 40 degrees or less above the horizon. (Only since Noah’s time. Before that there was no rain. The rainbow was God’s promise to Noah not to allow it to rain everywhere at once, ever again.)
264. STORM WARNINGS
The practice of naming hurricanes began early in the 20th century when an Australian weather forecaster decided to insult politicians he didn't like by naming devastating tropical storms after them. (Were Australian politicians all females back then?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
ANIMAL
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA
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BIBLE QUESTION - MOUNTAINS
3) Where did the ark come to rest on?A - Hills of Judea
B - Mount Gilboa
C - Forests of Lebanon
D - Mountains of Ararat
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""SAYINGS FOR YOU TO PONDER
!!!!!!! Some people can stay longer in an hour than others can in a week.
!!!!!! In God we trust ~ all others pay cash.
!!!!! Church membership does not make you a Christian any more than owning a piano makes you a musician.
!!!! You don't test the resources of God until you attempt the impossible.
!!! Character is what you really are ~ reputation is only what others believe you to be.
!! If you think that one person can't make a difference in the world, consider what one cigar can do in a crowded restaurant.
! It's not the going out of port, but the coming in, that determines the success of the voyage.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
LIFE'S A LAUGH
65. MORTIFIEDI was self-conscious about going to the gym because I thought the pounds I had put on would make me stand out among the spandex-clad regulars. I chose a treadmill in the corner so that I'd be inconspicuous.
However, as I exercised, my worst fears came true. At least a dozen people turned to stare at me periodically. I thought it might be my imagination, but then one woman even squinted to get a better look. Mortified, I stepped off the machine to leave. When I turned around, I realized that the gym's only wall clock was hung only inches above where my head had been.
66. NOT A GOOD START
During a murder trial in Texas the first words of the assistant district attorney's address to the jury were as follows: "Ladies and gentlemen, have any of you ever been the victim of a homicide?"
67. BIRTHING A GAME?
I'm an obstetrics nurse at a large city hospital, where our patients are from many different countries and cultures. One day while waiting for a new mother to be transferred to our division, I checked the chart and assumed that, because of her last name, she was of European descent. So when she was finally wheeled in, I was surprised to see that she was Asian.
As I was performing the exam, we chatted, and she told me she was Chinese, and her husband's ethnic heritage was Czechoslovakian. After a short pause, she quipped, "I guess that makes my children Chinese Czechers!"
68. MISTEAK OR CHICKEN!
On a flight home after a business trip, Bill was waiting for his meal. By the time the attendant reached his seat, only one dinner remained on her cart. Nonetheless, she followed routine by asking, Steak or chicken?"
Bill stared at the dinner for some time before responding, "Okay, I give up. Which is it?"
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BIBLE TRIVIA (Old Testament Family Life)
THE HARD LEATHER PORTABLE BUCKET WITH A ROPE .......... is brought to the well in addition to the pitcher in order to collect the water. The Samaritan woman had brought this with her but Jesus didn't, when she said, "Sir, you have no bucket and the well is deep" (John 4:11)
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Millionaire Gives Away the Fortune That Made Him Miserable
Mr Rabeder, 47, a businessman from Telfs is in the process of selling his luxury 3,455 sq ft villa with lake, sauna and spectacular mountain views over the Alps, valued at £1.4 million.Also for sale is his beautiful old stone farmhouse in Provence with its 17 hectares overlooking the arrière-pays, on the market for £613,000. Already gone is his collection of six gliders valued at £350,000, and a luxury Audi A8, worth around £44,000.
Mr Rabeder has also sold the interior furnishings and accessories business – from vases to artificial flowers – that made his fortune.
"My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing," he told The Daily Telegraph. "Money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness to come."
Instead, he will move out of his luxury Alpine retreat into a small wooden hut in the mountains or a simple bedsit in Innsbruck.
His entire proceeds are going to charities he set up in Central and Latin America, but he will not even take a salary from these.
"For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness," he said. "I come from a very poor family where the rules were to work more to achieve more material things, and I applied this for many years," said Mr Rabeder.
But over time, he had another, conflicting feeling.
"More and more I heard the words: 'Stop what you are doing now – all this luxury and consumerism – and start your real life'," he said. "I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish for or need.
I have the feeling that there are lot of people doing the same thing."
However, for many years he said he was simply not "brave" enough to give up all the trappings of his comfortable existence.
The tipping point came while he was on a three-week holiday with his wife to islands of Hawaii.
"It was the biggest shock in my life, when I realised how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five star lifestyle is," he said. "In those three weeks, we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn't met a single real person – that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real."
He had similar feelings of guilt while on gliding trips in South America and Africa. "I increasingly got the sensation that there is a connection between our wealth and their poverty," he said.
Suddenly, he realised that "if I don't do it now I won't do it for the rest of my life".
Mr Rabeder decided to raffle his Alpine home, selling 21,999 lottery tickets priced at just £87 each. The Provence house in the village of Cruis is on sale at the local estate agent.
All the money will go into his microcredit charity, which offers small loans to Latin America and builds development aid strategies to self-employed people in El Salvador, Honduras, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Chile.
Since selling his belongings, Mr Rabeder said he felt "free, the opposite of heavy".
But he said he did not judge those who chose to keep their wealth. "I do not have the right to give any other person advice. I was just listening to the voice of my heart and soul."
Via Openheaven.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF....... THE TABERNACLE OF DAVIDSandwiched between Moses Tabernacle, representing the church, and Solomon's Temple, representing the Millennial reign of Christ, David's simple tent is a picture of the end time church that will last for but a short time before Jesus returns.
Check it out to find out about the people God is seeking for Himself today.
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WAXING LYRICAL
All too often we don't consider the long term consequences of our choices in life.CHOICES
Life comes, life goes,
Brings peaks, and lows.
We surely reap what we sow!
Our tide does ebb and flow.
When I look back on what I've done,
I see the storms, but also the sun.
For I have done good, at times been bad,
Sometimes am happy, sometimes am sad.
No, the time past I cannot now change,
But my future, yes, I may rearrange.
What will I do? Where will I go?
I may think, but God does know.
Will I put my life in His hand?
On His Rock, my days to stand.
Or will I build my house on the sand?
And His will for me, not understand.
Today I am charged to live the call.
Am I prepared to give Him my all?
Or will I continue in my earthly ways?
Seeking my own pleasure, all my days.
My time may well be short, it may be long,
Before joining Jesus, forever to belong,
What will He say that glorious day I see His face?
Knowing I've been saved, by His amazing grace.
Will it be, "Well done good and faithful servant",
Or will I seek my actions to quickly recant!
For on that day, I will surely see
The result of choices, made by me.
The past I can't change, the future neither,
But by my today's actions I can either
Build His kingdom here upon the earth,
Or make my own! My decision, my worth.
What will I do? Where will I go?
Will it be wheat or tares I sow?
Today I now have the choices to make,
Of what direction my life will take.
You too, my friend, today are in the very same boat,
To be a sheep of the Shepherd, or to be the goat.
What will be your choice of 'the way' to live?
All your life to Jesus, will you now give?
One day we will meet together with Jesus in heaven,
Having lived lives of fruitfulness, or of leaven.
The choices we now make on earth today,
Do determine what role we will play.
Let's now look towards
Our heavenly rewards.
The choice is mine,
The choice is thine!
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A DAVID MUSING
After a great holiday away last weekend Kathy and I were able to enjoy one at home this weekend!For our city of Napier, which was destroyed in a major earthquake in 1931 was rebuilt in in the Art Deco style of architecture. Each year we have a light hearted celebration of the city's 'reformation'.
People dress up in the attire of the times and a great time is had by all - including us!
It is amazing how we, as people, are able to turn tragedy into celebration over time. Sometimes I think we have done this with Jesus. We make light of the pain and suffering He went through on our behalf and so tend to take His total sacrifice too lightly.
"Lord, may we never forget the enormity of what you did for us."
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: MANILA
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: D - Mountains of Ararat (Genesis 8:4)
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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