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: 454 Published: 05 Jul 2010
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MUSINGS ON THE KINGDOM - PAST, FUTURE AND PRESENT
KINGDOM PRESENT - THE KINGDOM PARABLESThe Parable of the Ten Minas
11 While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12 He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14 “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15 “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. 16 “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ 17 â€â€˜Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ 19 “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ 20 “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ 24 “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ 25 â€â€˜Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ 26 “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’†(Luke 19:11-27)
This is a most interesting parable form several perspectives.
Firstly, Jesus indicated that His kingdom was not coming straight away. We have now waited 2000 odd years and are only starting to realise that the kingdom is not just a heavenly one, but is to be established on earth also! How long that will take, we surely don't know!
Secondly, (verses 14-15), not everyone wants the king (Jesus) to be king over them. Not all the world will accept Jesus, in spite of what some are erroneously preaching today. In spite of what people want, Jesus has been appointed king, and He does/will reign and rule over His creation.
Thirdly, there is judgment! In verse 27, the 'king' wants his enemies to be killed in front of him!
Fourthly, and most importantly, for it comprises the bulk of the parable, there are 'degrees' of believers. We all share the same salvation but not the same reward. We do tend to get the two mixed! A great excuse not to live the life! However the Bible clearly warns us...
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. (Matthew 7:21)
This parable of the 10 minas emphasizes this. The greatest rewards will be given to those who are the most diligent for the Lord. As I am wont to say, to disciples rather than believers.
The Parable of the Sower comes to a similar conclusion, that not all Jesus followers are the same. The good seed is lifelong Christians.
8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:8)
I do not need to continue, for I believe that if you want to hear, you will hear, understand, and apply this truth in your life. It is up to you!
What will your reward be?
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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!’
The Wise and Foolish Builders
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.†When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law." (Matthew 7:15-29)
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.â€"(Matthew 13:1-9a)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
BELIEVERS v DISCIPLES236. A believer praises the Lord in good times, the disciple at all times.
237. The Holy Spirit resides in the believer but shines through the disciple.
238. A believer loves God with heart and mind while a disciple commits the will.
239. A believer loves God and others, but they are the disciple's life.
240. A believer lives in hope, but for the disciple, God's hope is certain.
241. A believer seeks forgiveness for sin but the disciple also determines not to walk that path again.
242. A believer has faith in God but the disciple's faith is tempered in the fire of testing.
243. A believer loves the Lord, but the disciple's love is unconditional.
244. The believer serves the Lord in strength, but the disciple is made perfect through weakness.
245. God is part of the believer's life, but the central focus of the disciple.
246. A believer forgives, but the disciple also forgets.
247. A believer communicates with God at their own convenience, but the disciple's heart is open to the Lord at all times.
430. A believer knows, but the disciple does.
1077. Believing is free, discipleship costs your life.
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
23 Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there. 24 Absalom went to the king and said, “Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?†25 “No, my son,†the king replied. “All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you.†Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us.â€The king asked him, “Why should he go with you?†27 But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons. 28 Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave.†29 So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled. (2 Samuel 13:23-29)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... THE THREE PRIESTHOODS continues......... as we look at the priesthood today and discover the inheritance Jesus has given us.
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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." ***
210. TERRORIST CELL GROUPS
Subject: TERRORIST CELL GROUPS DISCOVERED IN THE CHURCH
By Rev. Dennis Smart, alias Bin Readin
Edited by Carlton Earp, alias Bin Thinkin
Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in Baptist churches. (Maybe other churches also?)
Church security identifies these as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Osama Bin Lucifer, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy the pastors and the churches.
Earlier reports of a sixth group proved false. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Workin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. This group appears to be very weak. It is easy to detect because it is the only group that is active in services to Christ. Unlike the true terrorist cells, the Bin Workin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.
Bin Workin visibly does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Workin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Prayin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.
Which cell group do you belong to?
These same groups have been detected in other denominations since Smart first filed his report. The Office of Home Church Security is co-ordinating its efforts with the Bin Workin group to interdict the activities of the five terrorist cells now known to be active throughout many churches worldwide.
209. PICTURE GOD
A girl was at kindergarten drawing a picture for her mum. The teacher walks up to her and asks what she is drawing.
"I'm drawing a picture of God" the girl replied.
"But no-one knows what God looks like the teacher said.
To which the girl replied: "They will when I finish the picture."
208. PRAYER IN A TIME OF TROUBLE
A little boy who got in trouble at church while everyone was giving in his or her prayer request.
The daddy scooped the little boy up and made his way down the centre aisle toward the back, and on the way the little boy yelled out, "Pray Saints Pray !!!!!"
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Which Shakespearean play is the only onethat has a dog in its cast?
ANSWER: The dog's name is Crab, appearing in ‘The Two Gentlemen of Verona’. (To nip its fellow actors?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is an ‘interrobang’?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS205. JUST A LITTLE CHAP
In 1996, at 6 feet 6 inches (2 metres) tall, Charles Barkley was the shortest basketball player ever to lead American Basketball’s NBA in rebounding. (In motor racing there is no substitute for ‘cubic money’, while in basketball, for ‘cubic inches’!)
206. BADLY SCARRED
George Washington's face was badly scarred from smallpox. (Didn’t have to be beautiful to be elected back then! Or now?)
207. MRS
‘Mrs’ is an abbreviation of Mistress, originally a title and form of address for a married woman. It was always capitalised. (And now a ‘mistress’ destroys marriages!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
INSTANCE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WHERE IS THE QUOTATION FROM?
3) Is not this the great BabylonA - Daniel 4:30
B - Revelation 17:5
C - Ezekiel 44:9
D - Zechariah 6:15
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""GOD SAID
!!!!!!! If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer?
!!!!!! If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?
!!!!! If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
!!!! If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I'm a Comforter?
!!! If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I'm forgiving?
!! If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
! If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
'TIL DEATH DO US PART
98. OUCH!Nina came home rather late. "Oh, Sweetheart," she called out to her husband, "your car's on Main Street." What's it doing on Main Street?" He replied. "Why didn't you bring it home?"
"Couldn't" Nina said. "It's too dark out there to find all the parts."
99. LOGIC
After a particularly rough argument, the wife says to her husband, "I'll tell you what. I'll admit I'm right, if you'll admit you're wrong."
100. CUTE
In the manner of all new mothers, I spent a lot of time inspecting my firstborn, When he was almost a month old. I noticed a curious dimple on his bottom. With each diaper
change and bath I became more concerned. What if the boys inthe locker room found it funny and teased him about it, or, even worse, what if some future spouse thought it to be
strange?
One evening I approached my husband, "Look at this," I cried, waving the small bottom about. "Do you think it will embarrass him when he grows up? Do you think it's strange?"
My husband listened patiently to my outburst, then said, "No, I don't think it is strange, dear. I've always thought that it was pretty cute on you!"
101. RELATIVES?
Years ago, George and Laura Bush had enjoyed lunch at the only cafe in Crawford, and were driving back to the ranch in silence. They had had a disagreement just before they got into the pickup truck, and were giving each other the silent treatment. As they passed a
small farm with pigs and a mule in the pasture next to the highway, George couldn't resist. Pointing to the livestock, he jokingly asked, "Relatives of yours?"
Laura, quick witted as ever, responded, "Yes ... in-laws."
102. SECRET FEAR
Over the cover of a women's magazine, a title caught my eye: "Men's Secret Fear About Their Working Wives." I decided to get a first hand account. "What's your innermost fear about my working?" I asked my husband.
"That you'll quit," he promptly replied.
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BIBLE TRIVIA (Manners and Customs - Clothing and Accessories)
HAIRThe Jews of the Bible cared much about their hair. Young people loved to wear it long and curled (Song of Solomon 5:11) and were proud of thick hair (2 Samuel 14:25-6). Middle aged men and priests would only very occasionally cut their hair.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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'Something Better Than Revival'
Buenos Aires pastors believe their city of 13 million should have only one church.Facing its final sunday as a church, a small Pentecostal congregation e-mailed Norberto Saracco on a Wednesday in 2007 asking for prayer. They would lose their Buenos Aires property unless the church paid an impossible US$25,000—nearly a year's worth of offerings—to resolve a long-standing property lawsuit.
Saracco, co-leader of the Council of Pastors in Argentina's capital, sent up a prayer—and sent out an e-mail saying, "We cannot afford for $25,000 to let a church close in Buenos Aires." Two days later, pastors from an array of denominations had donated the money.
"When we say there is only one church in Buenos Aires, these are the consequences," explains Saracco. "If we want a strong church in Buenos Aires, every local church has to be strong."
This is just one of the fruits of perhaps the most remarkable experiment in citywide church unity today.
A Simple Idea
Argentina's unity movement is based on a simple biblical concept.
"Each time the New Testament speaks of the church in a city such as Ephesus, it is always singular, never plural," says Carlos Mraida, pastor of Del Centro First Baptist Church. "Yet when the New Testament speaks of leadership in a city, it is always plural. The church is singular, but leadership is plural."
"When we go to the U.S., we cannot understand the division of the church," says Saracco, pastor of Good News Church. "You can have one pastor on one [street] corner and another on another corner, and they don't know each other. Here we are friends."
More than friendship is at stake. Mraida estimates that while 90 percent of Buenos Aires churches have grown during his 24 years as a pastor, the city outside the church walls is significantly worse off by almost every spiritual and secular measure.
"So it seems that the church grew, but the kingdom of God has not been established," says Mraida. "Jesus said the only requirement for us to see revival is that we be one, so that the world may believe [John 17:20-23]. The missionary paradigm of each one doing [his] own thing did not work. We have to go back to a biblical paradigm."
Porteños—as city residents are known—initially tried to start a unity movement after Billy Graham's 1962 crusade in the capital, and again after Luis Palau's 1977 crusade, but both attempts fizzled. Churches were never hostile or competitive, said Juan Pablo Bongarrá, Brethren pastor of Church of the Open Door; they just focused on individual projects.
A new spirit of unity arose in the early 1980s, when hundreds of Argentine cities formed pastors councils thanks to the crusades of Carlos Annacondia. The Pentecostal businessman-turned-preacher required the formation of a council before he would visit a city. The decade closed with two national retreats attended by 1,200 pastors.
The Buenos Aires council was founded in 1982 by five pastors: Bongarrá, Saracco, Mraida, charismatic pastor Jorge Himitián, and Baptist pastor Pablo Deiros. Their starting point was creating friendships between pastors, said Saracco, as it's easier to unite people than denominations.
Next came reconciliation over past wrongs. The political tumult during the nation's Dirty War of the 1970s and '80s created a deep divide between mainline churches, which defended human rights, and evangelical churches, which remained silent, says Saracco. At a downtown summit in 1999, the council asked the two sides to forgive one another in front of the 250,000 gathered.
Over time, pastors wanted a formalized structure and created rotating elected offices of president, vice president, and other traditional positions. But functioning as a typical institution did not work well, says Bongarrá, and the council lost momentum. So in 2006 the council invited the founders (minus Deiros, who had left for Fuller Theological Seminary) to come back and revitalize the council. The four agreed—on one condition...........
........"Yet our vision and our task is one of faith. Maybe it will take 100 years, 200 years, 300 years—we don't know. But Abraham was the father of the faith because he believed, not because he saw."
Read the full article here.
FULL ARTICLE
via OpenHeaven.com
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DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
THE TWO MARATHONERSA thought provoking and entertaining allegory about our journey through life.
How will we run our race?
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WAXING LYRICAL
It's funny how subjective time can be! Seems appropriate this week when the World Cup of Football is on!LIFE!
Life is short
When watching sport......
But life is so very eternally long,
When the preacher misses the gong.......
Yet, if you time them both on your watch,
The sermon will be shorter than the match!
Funny that!
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A DAVID MUSING
By the time you get this, I will be on the way to Rotorua, a city 2 1/2 hours away, to open a new Seekers store on Wednesday.Next Monday, Kathy and I will catching the plane to Vanuatu for 9 days, to speak at a leadership conference and visit our shop there. It will be nice to enjoy 27c temperatures and sunshine in the middle of our winter, even though it is a working holiday.
We are so blessed to live in this day and age where communications, whether by plane or modem, can take our voice, writings, or even our body, all round the world so quickly. It is only a century ago that it took 3 months to get from Britain to New Zealand (very uncomfortably too!) on a sailing ship. Now it takes but 24 relatively comfortable hours on a jet!
Would appreciate yours prayers for the conference, as it is the first time I have spoken at one for 3 1/2 years. Need to exercise the vocal chords, but more importantly, clear the static off the heavenly telephone line to the Holy Spirit!
Until next week....... (When we will still be here - just!)
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: ANCIENTS
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 3) A - Daniel 4:30
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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