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: 545 Published: 02 Apr 2012
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW? continues
We are looking at the differences between the Jewish (Eastern) and Greek (Western) ways of thinking, so that we can better understand the ways and teachings of Jesus. (See the last 11 weeks issues of PGIM!)DOCTRINE
Greek (Western) Church membership is based upon agreement with the theological precepts of the particular church. This process started early on in the history of the church with the 'Apostles Creed' (200-900), the 'Nicene Creed' (381), developed under Emperor Constantine, and the 'Athanasian Creed' (500), being early, widely accepted, examples. Today, each denomination (and non-denomination!) has its theological statement upon which the particular grouping or church operates. Theological differences and disputes cause division and distrust between the multitude of Christian groups. These differences assume greater importance than what should unite, that is, the person of Jesus Christ.
Eastern (Hebrew) Synagogue membership required people adhere to a certain way of living. Divergent views abounded, but all those who lived a godly lifestyle were accepted. Until the Middle Ages, there was no overall Jewish doctrinal statement or creed. At that time one was developed by Rambam, in order to counter arguments of Christian apologists. This creed concept however, was foreign to the Judaism of Jesus' time.
When Jesus was asked how His true followers would be identified, he answered....
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
Furthermore, He proceeded to reinforce His point about behaviour versus mere mental assent.....
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)
Amongst others, the parable of 'The Sheep and the Goats',(disciples v intellectual believers) makes this point forcefully. On Judgment Day.....
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. (Matthew 25:31-3)
Why? .....
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (Matthew 25:34-6)
Then comes the intellectual defense of the lack of action.....
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ (Matthew 25:37-9)
Followed by the response of Jesus.....
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:40-45)
Followed by His words of reward and judgment.....
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.†(Matthew 25:46)
Indeed, actions speak louder than words!
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
Something different today. I will leave you with this 'joke', which I trust will challenge you too!
452. What is Your Faith?
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said, "Stop! Don't do it!"
"Why shouldn't I?" he said.
I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"
He said, "Like what?"
I said, "Well...are you religious or atheist?"
He said, "Religious."
I said, "Me too! Are you Christian or Buddhist?"
He said, "Christian."
I said, "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"
He said, "Protestant."
I said, "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"
He said, "Baptist!"
I said, "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"
He said, "Baptist Church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"
He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God!"
I said, "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"
He said, "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"
I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.
Jesus generated 'Deeds', not 'Creeds', are the true measure of faith.
(To be continued next week.)
Acknowledgements: http://www.followtherabbi.com and http://hethathasanear.com
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FROM THE WORD
Ask, Seek, Knock"“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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.â€
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 7:7-29)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
KNOWING GOD351. The more I discover about God the more I realise there is to know.
352. The closer I get to God, the more I realise how big He is and how small I am.
353. While God graciously accepts me as I am, His desire is for me to become more like Him.
354. When God moves, the results are beyond our imagination. Why then do we try and do His work ourselves?
811. Sanctification is 'the means', holiness 'the end'.
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 ...
CRANWELLS CARTOONS
7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. (Jonah 4:7)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF……. THE PARABLE OF THE SOWERThe Call of the Kingdom
Looking at how the parable applies to our life.
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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." ***
472. NOT HER CHOICE
A pastor was serving communion in a multicultural church. He was using "Pitta Bread" for the loaf. When he got to serve to an Hispanic young girl, she said to him aloud: "I don't like flour tortilla, I like corn tortilla, Sir."
471. YOU CAN'T WIN
When you prepare you sermons on paper, they say that you are just reading off the paper and not hearing from God. But when you DON'T have paper, they say that you were not prepared!
470. THINK ABOUT IT
Two ministers met in the after life. One said, "Isn't heaven wonderful after the parish ministry?" The other said, "This isn't heaven!"
469. ETERNAL REST
A pastor thought that the reason he had no one coming to the altar week after week was because his sermons were too short. The next week he decided to preach for an hour and a half. Sure enough, 18 people came down the aisle to the altar to lay down after the first hour of preaching. He thought it was odd, though, that none of them got up after he was done.
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why do we ‘bless’ somebody after they sneeze?ANSWER: Sneezing has long been regarded as a dangerous thing. The ancient Greeks feared that a sneeze could accidentally dispel the soul. People tried hard to hold back their sneezes and one that happened anyway was greeted with chants to return good fortune. The Romans, on the other hand, felt a sneeze was the body's attempt to dispel sinister spirits that could cause illness. Holding back a sneeze made you vulnerable to sickness. Still, benedictions were in order. A person who sneezed was congratulated and one about to sneeze was urged on with ‘Good luck to you!’ The Christian expression ‘God bless you’, was begun by Papal Fiat in the sixth century, issued by Pope Gregory the Great in response to a deadly plague sweeping through Italy. Sneezing was one of the symptoms of the plague. Pope Gregory urged healthy people to pray for the sick and he told them to say ‘God bless you’ when someone sneezed. If a person sneezed and had no one around to bless him, he was instructed to call directly on God saying, ‘God help me!’ (I receive plenty of blessings – from others as I sneeze often, and from God without the need for a special reason.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who were the Buccaneers?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS1136. A SIGN OF THE TIMES
Artificial Christmas trees have outsold real ones every year since 1991. (Real trees being lost as well as the real meaning of Christmas?)
1137. 60 QUINTILLION LEGS!
Belong to the estimated 10 quintillion or 80% of the 800,000 species of world’s animals that are insects. (Fortunately they don’t need to wear shoes)
1138. A BIT LATE TAKING FLIGHT!
The longest recorded chicken flight was ‘undertaken’ by a headless chicken. (Lacked a sense of direction though!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
TORPEDO
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
13: Which disciple was told to catch a fish that would hold a coin in its mouth?a. Philip
b. Peter
c. Andrew
d. James
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""SAYINGS FOR YOU TO PONDER
!!!!!!! The world at its worst needs the church at its best!
!!!!!! People will judge you by your actions, not your intentions ~ you may have a heart of gold, but so does a hard-boiled egg.
!!!!! Charity begins at home ~ but should not end there.
!!!! It's the little things that hurt. You can sit on top of a mountain, but you can't sit on top of a pin.
!!! Note on Church Bulletin Board: "Parents, be the soul support of your children."
!! Some people use religion like a bus ~ they ride on it only when it's going their way.
! Speak well of your enemies ~ you made them!
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
PETS RULE
65. A TALKING DOG?A guy walks into a talent agency with a dog, and says "I've got a great act...my dog can actually talk."
"Surrrre he can," replies the talent agent, "prove it."
So the fellow asks the dog, "What is on top of a building?" "Roof, roof!" the dog replies.
"What does sandpaper feel like?" "Rough, rough!" the dog replies.
The talent agent starts to get impatient as the man asks his dog, "Who was the greatest baseball player of all time?" "Ruth, Ruth!" says the dog.
Instantly the talent agent throws open the door, and kicks the pair out of his office.
After a few seconds, the dog looks up at his master and says, "Should I have said DiMaggio?"
66. YOU GOTTA HELP ME!
There once was a lady who was very concerned about her missing parrot. Not knowing what to do, she called 911. "You gotta help me find my parrot!"
The operator patiently replied, "We can't help you with that, ma'am. This number only deals with emergencies." But the lady persisted, and then the operator told her not to be concerned, that the parrot should fly back in a few days. Then, out of desperation, the lady begged, "But you don't understand! The only thing he says is "Here, kitty, kitty!!!"
67. SHOWING HOW
There's a man trying to cross the street. As he steps off the curb a car comes screaming around the corner and heads straight for him. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.
So the guy turns around to go back, but the car changes lanes again and is still coming at him. By now, the car is so close and the man so scared that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the road.
The car gets real close, then swerves at the last possible moment and screeches to a halt right next him. The driver rolls down the window. The driver is a squirrel.
The squirrel says to the man says, "See, it's not as easy as it looks, is it?"
More pets ruling here.....
BIBLE TRIVIA (Strange and Amazing Facts)
LONGEST PERSON'S NAMEHas to be Maher-shalal-hash-baz. The Lord told Isaiah to give his child, born of a prophetess, this name. It means 'quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.' (Isaiah 8:3)
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
God's 'Miraculous Movement': Amazing Accounts of Scores of Muslims coming to Christ
Aimee Herd (March 29, 2012)"The irony is that Muslims in scores of different people groups are submitting their lives to Jesus at rates that are much faster than most church growth in North America. And it is happening, not by making the Gospel journey somehow easier to traverse, but by focusing from the first day on making obedient disciples who are daily seeking to follow Jesus and obey His will. That is the pathway over which hundreds of thousands of Muslims have come to Jesus." –Jerry Trousdale
What's even better than one Muslim coming to the Lord Jesus and being saved? A whole mosque-full of people receiving Christ!
As astonishing as it sounds, that is the report from a former church planter who worked among Muslims in West Africa.
Jerry TousdaleJerry Trousdale, now the director of International ministries for City Team International, has written a book, Miraculous Movements, that details some of the "unprecedented" events taking place currently among the Muslim population there.
Trousdale notes that there have been "multiple cases of entire mosques coming to faith" in Christ; "tens of thousands" of Christians with Muslim background who are now dedicated to fasting and praying as intercessors for the Muslim people; seemingly impossible achievements being done through ordinary people allowing God to use them, along with many other extraordinary happenings.
Trousdale told the Christian Post (CP), "This is just good news that God is in the same business as He was in the book of Acts. Disciples are multiplying greatly and even priests, imams and sheikhs are becoming obedience to the faith. So I no longer doubt that we can finish the task in this generation."
Cross and mosqueThe CP article recounts one of the remarkable stories from Trousdale's book in which a man who'd been a respectable Muslim businessman had a dream that Jesus appeared to him telling him that He [Jesus] was the Light of the world—when he woke up he could no longer see. The dream and his loss of sight impacted him so much, he converted to Christianity, and—after attending Bible studies at a prayer camp—he became an effective witness and church-planter for the Lord among Muslim groups.
Trousdale cautions against "marketing" the Gospel, and instead cites some important factors of disciple-making as part of the reason for the incredible movement.
"The irony is that Muslims in scores of different people groups are submitting their lives to Jesus at rates that are much faster than most church growth in North America," Trousdale told the CP in an interview, "And it is happening, not by making the Gospel journey somehow easier to traverse, but by focusing from the first day on making obedient disciples who are daily seeking to follow Jesus and obey His will. That is the pathway over which hundreds of thousands of Muslims have come to Jesus."
Source: Michelle A. Vu – Christian Post
Via BCN www.breakingchristiannews.com
Via: OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF……. 3 MIRACULOUS CONCEPTIONSAnd how they mirrored aspects of the life of Jesus up to 2050 years before He was born. Our God is amazing!
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WAXING LYRICAL
Playing with words (other than 'munting' them for TXT messages) is both fun and meaningful.WORDPLAY
God is good.
Good is God.
Rather the Father.
To pray and obey.
No time to bide.
In Him abide.
There's the sun.
Here's the Son.
Vie, try, sigh.
Die, guy, high!
Bye, bye!!!
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A DAVID MUSING
On Tuesday, I heard that a building we had been looking to shift our Napier shop into for the past 6 months, is now unlikely to become available, due to complicated lease problems.This was a blow, proving 'the best laid plans of mice and men'..... can come to..... naught!
The process of looking for new, larger premises starts again. Frustrating really!
This experience is quite a lot like life in Jesus. False starts..... Changes..... If only we could get it right the first time..... You know the pattern?
The most important place however, is not the start, but the finishing line. Whether in a building or in a life, we need to be patient and responsive to our Saviour's leading. Thank you Lord. May I learn the lesson, please!
PS: Kurt pleaded guilty to all the charges against him and will be sentenced on 1 May.
Granddad and Eva (our first grandchild) in Scotland.
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: TROOPED
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: b. Peter (Matthew 17:24-27)
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God’s people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ’s return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord’s direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567
Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz
Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "… so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole – and have a smile while doing it!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz