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: 465 Published: 20 Sep 2010
HEARING FROM GOD
Before we get into specific ways of hearing from God, I would like to consider one overarching factor which opens the door to many of the ways in which we hear from God and that is.....THE POWER OF SILENCE
What a big issue this is for us in today's hectic world! Almost automatically, when there is silence, our hand reaches to the TV remote, the on/off switch on the radio, or for the modern generation, the ear pieces of the IPOD! We live in a world where there is more loneliness and disconnection than ever before, but one in which we cannot bear to be alone. Noise is our constant companion. A companion we cannot bear to live without.
Yet, the truth is, noise kills. It deafens our ears, it dulls our senses, it destroys our relationships, it....... The list goes on.
In our communication with God too, we employ noise. Loud worship, strident prayers, beating up the devil, demanding demons depart!
Yet my experience in relationships over the years is that a word listened to and understood is far more effective than a word spoken. It is something I do not always apply in practice, I have to admit! The power to developing an intimate relationship is found in our understanding of the one we are relating to. And deep relationships can only be developed over time, as ones understanding of the other grows.
So what does this have to do with our relationship with God? Much! For God is not Father Christmas, to be used for our own purposes, then set aside until next year once we receive what we want from him. For a true relationship to develop, we must learn of His desires and will for our life as well as communicating our needs to Him.
Hearing from God then, requires us to listen to him. There is an amazing passage of Scripture in 1 Kings that describes this beautifully. Elijah was in desperate straits! He had done all the 'noisy' things, speaking out in his zeal for the Lord, and the people were after him for it! After travelling for 40 days to escape the people he found himself in a cave, where, in the silence, He initially heard from the Lord.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?†10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.†(1 Kings 19:9-10)
It is what follows that is the interesting part. God asked Elijah to wait for Him.
11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.†(1 Kings 19:11a)
Can you imagine how Elijah felt? Surely the Lord would come to him in all His power and majesty? So he waited on the mountain.
A tremendous wind came that shattered rocks! Surely this was the Lord getting ready to wreak judgment on the disobedient Israelites! But no.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. (i Kings 19:11b)
This was followed by an earthquake, Surely the Lord now! But no.
but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. (1 Kings 19:11c)
How about a fire then? Surely the Lord now! But no.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. (1 Kings 19:12a)
All the ways Elijah would have naturally expected the Lord to appear - but no.
So how did the Lord appear to Elijah?
And after the fire came a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:12b)
A gentle whisper! The Lord appeared as a gentle whisper! Then. And now.
Jesus set the example for us when he would withdraw to a quiet place in order to communicate with the Father.
16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
If we truly want to build our relationship with Jesus, we too need to spend time in quietness so that we can hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. the Psalmist understood this truth.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:7)
And again.....
10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.†(Psalm 46:10)
May we too, make quiet time available for the Lord to speak to us.
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FROM THE WORD
The Lord Appears to Elijah"And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?†He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.†The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.â€
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?†He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.†The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.â€" (1 Kings 19:9b-18)
"Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace." (Psalm 37:1-11)
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.†The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" (Psalm 46:1-10)
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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!
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CRANWELL'S CARTOON
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. (1 Timothy 6:3-5)TO READ THIS CARTOON AND SEE THE OTHER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GODThis week, we will start considering the present kingdom, if indeed there is one!
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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." ***
241. CALLING GOD
It seems a man in Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco, and started working east from there. He went to a very large church and began taking photographs, etc. He spots a golden telephone on a wall and is intrigued with a sign which reads "$10,000 a minute."
Seeking out the pastor he asks about the phone and the sign. The pastor answers that this golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven and if he pays the price he can talk directly to God. He thanks the pastor and continues on his way. As he continues to visit churches in Seattle, Boise, Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York, Atlanta, and on around the United States, he finds more phones, with the same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.
Finally, he arrives in Texas. Upon entering a church in Dallas, lo and behold, he sees the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign reads "Calls 25 cents."
Fascinated, he requests to talk to the pastor. "Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church I found this golden telephone, and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 25 cents a call. Why?"
The pastor, smiling benignly, replies, "Oh, my son, that's very easy to explain. You see, you're now in Texas and, of course, it's a local call from here."
240. PREACHER AND CHOIR DIRECTOR
Church feuds are not uncommon, especially among cliques in the congregation. But when the Pastor and choir director get into it, stand aside.
One week our preacher preached on commitment, and how we should dedicate ourselves to service. The director then led the choir in singing, 'I Shall Not Be Moved.'
The next Sunday, the preacher preached on giving and how we should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The choir director then led the song, 'Jesus Paid It All.'
The next Sunday, the preacher preached on gossiping and how we should watch our tongues. The hymn was 'I Love To Tell The Story.'
The preacher became disgusted over the situation, and the next Sunday he told the congregation he was considering resigning. The choir then sang 'Oh, Why Not Tonight.'
When the preacher resigned the next week, he told the church that Jesus had led him there and Jesus was taking him away. The choir then sang, 'What A Friend We Have in Jesus.'
239. YOU MIGHT BE A PROTESTANT!
1. If you believe you are supposed to take a covered dish to heaven.
2. If you have never sung the third verse of any hymn.
3. If you have ever put an IOU in the collection plate.
4. If you complain because your Pastor only works one day a week and then he works too long.
5. If you think God's presence is always strongest in the back three pews.
6. If you think "Victory in Jesus" is the national anthem.
7. If the first complete sentence you uttered was "We've never done it this way before."
8. If you judge the quality of the sermon by the amount of sweat worked up by the preacher.
9. If your definition of "fellowship" has something to do with food.
10. If you think worship service music has to be loud.
11. If you think Jesus actually used Welch's grape juice and unsalted crackers.
12. If you think preachers who wear robes are in cahoots with the Catholics.
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Thomas Edison did not invent, as many people believe, but improved upon electric lights. But which of these were Edison inventions? The phonograph, the motion picture camera, the mimeograph machine, the electric vote recorder, the dictating machine, and wax paper?ANSWER: They are unable to fly. (As temperatures cool, do they get ‘the butterflies’?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: They all were! His mind was so inventive that he applied for a new patent approximately every fortnight! (Edison’s endless energy.)
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS172. MAKING THE POINT
The beautiful Poinsettia Plant is named after a 19th-century US Ambassador to Mexico, Joel R. Poinsett, who first brought the plant into America. (Now his name is immortalised round the world but no one – except you of course – really knows who he was.)
173. BORN BIG-HEADED
A newborn baby's head accounts for approximately one-quarter of its entire weight. (Big-headed adults are really babies, then?)
174. DEADLY - TO INSECTS
Scientists have identified more than 300 viruses able to bring fatal diseases to insects. The organisms are believed to be entirely different than those that cause disease in humans, so are harmless to man. (Is ‘Fly Spray’ amongst them?)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
ABORTED
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WHERE IS THE QUOTATION FROM?
14) Tell these stones to become bread.A - Leviticus 2:4
B - Matthew 4:3
C - 2 Samuel 11:18
D - John 6:63
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""HOW OLD?
!!!!! He looks like a million bucks -- after taxes
!!!! She's been pressing 30 so long, it's pleated.
!!! When it comes to telling her age, she's shy -- about 10 years shy.
!! I've stopped exercising. Pushing 50 is enough exercise for me.
! He's so old he just got a prospectus from an old-age home marked "Urgent"
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
'TIL DEATH DO US PART!
244. FIREWORKSIt was the Fourth of July and the fireworks had lit up the sky.
As the last one burned out, a four-year-old piped up, "Daddy, do God's feet ever get burned?"
243. THE TAXI
A Japanese tourist hailed a taxi in downtown Chicago and asked to be taken to the O'Hare Airport.
On the way, a car zoomed by and the tourist responded, "Ohhh! TOYOTA!! Made in Japan!! Very fast!"
Not too long afterward, another car flew by the taxi.
"Ohh! NISSAN!! Made in Japan!! Very fast!"
Yet another car zipped by, and the tourist said, "Ohh! Mitsubishi!! Made in Japan!! Very fast!"
The taxi driver, who was 100% American, was starting to get a little miffed that the Japanese made cars were passing his Ford, when yet another car passed the taxi as they were turning into the airport.
"Ohh! Honda!! Made in Japan!! Very fast!"
The taxi driver stopped the car, pointed to the meter, and said, "That'll be $150."
"$150? It was so short a ride! Why so much?"
"Taxi meter. Made in Japan. Very fast."
242. NEW!
Have you heard about the amazing new discovery?
It’s a pill that is half aspirin and half glue for people who have splitting headaches.
241. RELIEF!
There's a banging on old Joe's country shack in the middle of the night. He gets up, rubs his eyes, opens the door: It is the Grim Reaper grinning and pointing at him.
"You come with me!"
"Oh," old Joe says, "am I glad to see you. I thought it was the IRS."
240. NO RESPECT
"I tell ya, I get no respect from anyone! I bought a cemetery plot. The salesman said, 'There goes the neighborhood!'" - Rodney Dangerfield
Just have a laugh here, for no reason at all.....
BIBLE TRIVIA (Manners and Customs - Clothing and Accessories)
NEARLY ALL CLOTHING WAS MADE FROM SHEEPS WOOL.....in Old Testament times. Our sheep now are generally bred for white wool, but in biblical times, most sheep had brown coats or were black and white.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Economic Development in Africa
One Ladies Viewby Emily Comans (ATK Uganda)
Business or Charity: Sharing our wealth with the poor
Creating opportunities for people to make wealth, not just handouts.
Is it really that they don’t want to work?
This area of Uganda is often accused for not wanting to work properly. I must confess I’ve faced this frustration myself. There seems to be 2 main reason for the mentality of not wanting to work, or not planning ahead in such things: (1) traditionally, Ugandans lived off the land, a very fertile land, without a winter season (didn’t have to store food to last); without modern health or education systems; there was little to plan for; (2) foreigners come to help, and give things out.
So, to make a big issue very simple (it’s an opinion newsletter not a thesis), here we have a people that didn’t have to plan much, and then gets given what they don’t have access to for free. If they do work, they get enough to struggle to send their kids to school and buy food supplements for what they don’t grow. If they get a foreign sponsor, they don’t have to pay for schooling.
Now don’t get me wrong, sponsorship is very good. It’s good to help people and give families a boost. My best financial investments (from your money) have been to boost local businesses; just helping them out with what they have.
My point is that hand outs enforce a donor mentality; we need to get to the root of the problems. A way Westerner s can help out is business and job creation.
If you do put into business her – do it fairly. Recently a friend declined a job offer. Why would you refuse work when you’re unemployed?! I should probably note that he was going to have to work 12 hours a day for 50,000/= (approx. $25) a month. Look, if it’s a local business not really making money that is a different story – they’re doing what they can. But when it’s big business owners, patting themselves on the back for providing a poor African a steady job, pitying themselves for putting up with unwilling workers…
via OpenHeaven.com
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THE POWER OF THE CALLUnderstanding the call of God upon your life and that of the church.
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WAXING LYRICAL
Last weekend when we visited Christchurch for our close friend Roger's 70th birthday, I wrote this poem for him. He is happy to have it published.ROGER
Here’s to our Roger,
Now the old codger,
Seventy years gone by, in just a flash,
As round the golf course, he does dash.
There he’s known as the ‘artful dodger’!
The handicap may have dipped,
While the waistline has slipped,
But the putting’s still mean
Once he gets on the green.
But block your ears, if the hole is lipped!
Now there’s more to life than golf you know,
The brain is fast, even if the body’s slow,
The family history has been recorded,
‘Tis just what the doctor ordered.
For our Roger’s always on the go!
Of course, there is the paternal side,
From teaching to grandkids, did he glide,
He’s such a blessing to Tony and Rose,
Even when he gets up their nose!
Helping others grow, feels so good inside.
Of course, Beryl and Roger are a pair,
A combination that is extremely rare!
They do say that opposites attract,
But together, they make a great act!
For each other, they do genuinely care.
So now that Roger has reached three score and ten,
He has proved himself to be a man amongst men.
We all do wish you every best wish today,
An early night’s in order, with Beryl to play,
And in ten year’s time, we’ll do this all again!
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A DAVID MUSING
Last weekend Kathy and I visited Christchurch, the city that had experienced the 7.1 earthquake the week before, for our friend, Roger's 70th birthday. We experienced some aftershocks (from the earthquake, not the birthday!) and saw the damage 'as seen on TV'.Generally, driving round, other than the obvious brick buildings that had been damaged, and fallen chimneys, there was not a lot of obvious signs of damage. In certain confined areas there were splits in the road and 'sand volcanoes', mounds of sand and water that had forced their way to the surface, through pressures below.
What interested me most however, was the vastly different reactions of people to the quake itself. Many, probably most, while very scared at the time, had taken the quake in their stride and were getting on with life. Others however, were far more traumatized.
Of course, none of us know how we would react in such a situation, until it happened to us. we would like to think we would react like the majority, but who knows.
It is a great reminder that tragedy may only be a second away for each of us. What plans then, have we made for our eternal future?
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: DEBATOR
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: 14) B - Matthew 4:3
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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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