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: 592 Published: 18 Feb 2013
TRANSITION FROM 'THE CHURCH' TO 'THE KINGDOM'
A new series, looking at the some of the changes we need to make to move from a 'church' to a 'kingdom' mindset. (See the last 14 weeks of PGIM)FROM "REVIVAL" TO "HABITATION"
Over the past century + now, since the Azusa Street and Welsh Revivals which saw the birth of the pentecostal streams of churches, there has been a desire for revival in the church. And not only in Spirit filled churches.
I knew a conservative Baptist Church pastor, who was a missionary/Bible teacher in Bangladesh for many years. A godly man, extremely well versed in the Bible. He, and others there, desired and prayed for revival. Revival came. He didn't like it! He continued to minister, but no longer prayed for revival! And the Spirit died in him.
History is littered with revivals that have come and gone. The world's longest revival started in Monrovia in Eastern Europe on August 13th, 1727, bringing with it a continuous 24/7 prayer meeting that lasted 110 years! Many amazing things happened, including the birth of John Wesley's ministry in a storm battered ship in the Atlantic Ocean, when the Monrovian's faith showed this diligent but disappointed Anglican minister that he needed more. A couple of months later, Wesley was 'born again' and the Methodist movement began. The Monrovians had a huge affect on history in so many ways.
Throughout history, the reality though is that revivals come and revivals go. In the past century, this has been particularly evident. But why is this? I would suggest that the primary reason is people working out how the Holy Spirit is works and mimicking Him. Man takes over. The Spirit, saddened, departs.
This process is not new! We can go right back to the Jews wandering in the desert, and view the experience of Moses, regarded as the Old Testament picture of Jesus. But Moses was very human, and his humanness cost him the chance to lead the Jews into the Promised Land. All because he pre-empted God. On two occasions, God told Moses to hit a rock with his staff and water poured out to slake the thirsts of the people. On the third occasion however, God gave a different instruction.....
7 The LORD said to Moses, 8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.†(Numbers 20:7-8)
But Moses, in a fit of anger with his rebellious people, became a rebel himself....
9 So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?†11 Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. (Numbers 20:9-11)
And suffered the consequences.....
12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.†(Numbers 20:9-11)
Can you imagine how devastated Moses would have been? The culmination of 40 years work and hardship was denied to him and granted to Joshua instead.
While revival is great and exciting, it is not the final aim of God. For God wants something more of us. His ultimate desire is to inhabit you, and inhabit me, with His presence, each and every day of our lives.
The Spirit is not simply to shine from the outside in, as is the case in revival, but is to shine from the inside out - out of us, that is!
Jesus told us this.....
14 “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Paul put it this way.....
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Ever the pragmatist, James, the brother of Jesus, said the same thing differently. While speaking about the 'word' it applies equally to the 'Spirit' for the Word and the Spirit are one.....
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-5)
I new another minister, who went all the way from New Zealand to Toronto in Canada, a distance of 13,000km (8,200 miles) to experience the revival there. While he was there, the Lord clearly spoke to him about his behavior towards his wife. He came back and told the church. We were amazed, for we knew he treated his wife badly. Sadly, he didn't change, and his ministry declined. He experienced revival, but didn't let the Lord's instruction in it and through it, change his life.
If we desire to become overcomers and rule and reign with Christ in His millennial kingdom of 100 years, we have to submit 100% to the Lord's will for our life and reflect His glory in all our actions, to allow Him to inhabit our lives.....
4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
The choice is ours.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
Water From the Rock"In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD! Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!†Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them. The LORD said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.†So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?†Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.†These were the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the LORD and where he showed himself holy among them." (Numbers 20:1-13)
Salt and Light
"“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)
Listening and Doing
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:19-27)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
FAITH AND WORKS691. Man is made to work – but not all the time!
692. Show me faith. Show me works. And I will show you a faith that works.
693. Building faith takes time but good works are always ready and waiting.
694. How much faith does it take to do good works?
695. People come, people go, but needs go on forever.
696. Works reflect the light of Christ in us to a dark world.
697. Faith reflects our place in God, works reflect God’s place in us.
698. Faith is internal, works external.
699. Works are the reflection of our faith to a disbelieving world.
700. Works are the single most convincing expression of our faith.
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CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF.......THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES - PART 1 (4)We now come to the climax of our story, as our friend learns about the celebration of the Day of Atonement.
The application of the principles of the Day of Atonement, through which we are able to enter the Holy of Holies, is the key issue facing the church today, so this study is of particular relevance in these final days.
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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. ***
605. FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES
In his Sunday sermon, the minister used "Forgive Your Enemies" as his subject. After the sermon, he asked how many were willing to forgive their enemies. About half held up their hands. Not satisfied, he harangued the congregation for another twenty minutes and repeated his question. This received a response of eighty percent. Still unsatisfied,
he lectured for fifteen more minutes and repeated his question. All responded except one elderly gentleman in the rear. "Mr. Jones, are you not willing to forgive your enemies?"
"I don't have any."
"Mr. Jones, that is very unusual. How old are you?"
"Ninety-six."
"Mr. Jones, please come down in front and tell the congregation how a man can live to be ninety-six and not have an enemy in the world."
The old man teetered down the aisle, slowly turned to face the congregation, and said, "I outlived the Son of a guns.
604. A JUST REWARD
A fine funeral was ordered for a woman who had henpecked her husband, driven her kids half nuts, scrapped with the neighbors at the slightest opportunity, and even made neurotics of the cat and dog with her explosive temper.
As the casket was lowered into the grave, a violent thunderstorm broke, and the pastor's benediction was drowned out by a blinding flash of lightning, followed by terrific thunder.
"Well," commented one of the mourners, "sounds like she got where she was going."
603. NOT ENOUGH TIME
A patient, while recovering in the hospital from a heart attack, met this over-zealous evangelist.
After listening politely for over a half-hour on how thankful he should be to have been spared, and how he should repent at once, he was asked if all of his sins had flashed before his eyes during the heart attack.
The patient responded, "Don't be ridiculous, the attack lasted only 6 hours!"
" FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES One of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 800 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How did trivia (such as this), get its name?ANSWER: It is a merging of the Latin words 'tri' (three) and 'via' (road). To educate the public, news and information was posted on boards at crossroads (where three roads met) and so the word 'trivialis' was applied to the snippets of un-related information. The word trivial is derived from this ‘Trivia' as a word on its own dates to about 1920. (Trivial by name, trifling by nature!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: From where does the saying ‘Hobson's Choice’ originate?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 909. WHO HAS EIGHTEEN TOES?
A cat. Each front paw has five and each hind paw has four, making a total of eighteen. Being cats of course, there are exceptions to this rule! (Count them by the claw marks you get as you try to count them!)
910. MILKING THE STARS
When we look at the Milky Way, we're looking at so many stars at once that they appear to us to be a milky mist, hence the name. (Thought it was the cow who jumped over the moon from off a trampoline and got a fright.)
911. DROWNING IN YOUR SORROWS
Africa's Lake Kivy, which was formed from the damming of an ancient river of lava flows, contains huge amounts of dissolved methane. European settlers to the region used this methane to run a brewery. (Met with a fiery end – one way or the other!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
ASTIGMAT
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA Or view all 1232 online at...
66 BOOKS... 66 QUESTIONS
39: Malachi: Which Old Testament prophet did Malachi say would come again before the day of the Lord?a. Jeremiah
b. Ezekiel
c. Elisha
d. Elijah
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
!!!!!!! When you don't know what harbour you're making for, no wind is the right wind.
!!!!!! If there were no God, it would not have been necessary to invent Him.
!!!!! Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
!!!! Church members, like automobiles, usually start missing before they quit.
!!! 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.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
PETS RULE
47. KITTEN CAPERSAs chaplain in a university residence hall, I am supposed to uphold all of the school rules, which include a ban on pets. That changed when a kitten adopted me.
The freshmen in my dorm kept my secret. They covered for me by calling my kitten "the Book," since I had so many in my room.
One morning I was leaving the dorm with the kitten in a carrier. A student stopped me and asked, "Where are you taking the Book?"
I explained that I was taking the kitten to the vet. "She's getting neutered today," I told him.
"Hmmm," the student responded, "no sequels."
48. PERFECT!
My sister-in-law, a truck driver, had decided to get a dog for protection. As she inspected a likely candidate, the trainer told her, "He doesn't like men."
"Perfect," my sister-in-law thought and took the dog.
Then one day she was approached by two men in a parking lot, and she watched to see how her canine bodyguard would react. Soon it became clear the trainer wasn't
kidding. As the men got closer, the dog ran under the nearest car.
49. DR CUTTER
Dr. Cutter is the local Veterinarian, known for his wry humor. He surpassed himself one summer day when a city dog was brought to him after an encounter with a porcupine. After almost an hour of prying, pulling, cutting and stitching, he returned the dog to its owner, who asked what she owed.
"A hundred and fifty dollars, Ma'am," he answered.
"Why that's simply outrageous!" she stormed. "That's what's wrong with you Maine people, you're always trying to over charge summer visitors. Whatever do you do in the winter, when we're not being gypped here?"
"Raise porcupines, Ma'am.
50. DANGER!
A customer in a little country drug store noticed a sign with the words "Danger! Beware of Dog!" written on it. But instead of a well-trained watch dog, all he saw was a harmless old hound dog sleeping on the floor next to the cash register.
He asked the owner of the store: "Is THAT the dog people are supposed to beware of?!"
"Yessiree, that's him," the owner replied.
The customer couldn't help but laugh. "That sure doesn't look like a dangerous dog to me. Why on Earth would you post that sign?"
"Because until I hung up that sign, folks kept tripping over him."
Pleasantly Purr here.....
BIBLE TRIVIA (Festivals and Holidays)
SOLEMN ASSEMBLY.......... comes on the 22nd day of Tishri (Leviticus 23:36) and falls in our month of October.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
Asian Access helps unify the Church of Mongolia
Mongolia (MNN) ¯ Did you know Mongolia has one of the world's fastest growing economies? It had a growth rate of 17% in 2011 and 16.7% in 2012, according to BBC News.The Church there is growing too.
"It's not only growing in numbers, but it's also growing in quality," says Chinzorig Jigjidsuren, the founding overseer of Emanuel Fellowship in Ulan Baatar.
Jigjidsuren partners with Asian Access (A2) in Mongolia and says they have their hands full training church leaders. But the results speak for themselves.
He states, "We already have seen great transformation in our nation."
Mongolia was the first Asian country to indicate interest in using A2's training model to develop church leaders; the program gained initial success in Japan. God's Word entered Mongolia only after the country abandoned its Communism rule in 1990.
"It was God's timing, because He opened all the channels [through which] we could get [an] idea about the world. And then the Gospel was introduced," Jigjidsuren recalls.
Key to the effectiveness of A2's program in Mongolia is the careful selection of between 12 and 15 emerging leaders. These leaders are then invited to join a class that meets quarterly for a week at a time; the entire program spans two years.
A curriculum established by A2 accelerates students' growth as spiritual leaders, as well as organization leaders. They become more aware of their individual strengths, as well as the unique gifts of their congregation. They're also taught how to determine the needs of the communities they serve and the context in which they live and minister.
During their training, Jigjidsuren says the leaders form strong bonds.
"Uniting the key leaders means uniting the Church of Mongolia itself. We all consider the Church of Mongolia as one church.... There's a great sense of unity, and A2 [plays] a huge role in uniting the pastors," he says.
Jigjidsuren was part of Mongolia's first class to graduate A2's program in October 2001. He says they recently graduated their fifth group of leaders, and the bonds between each group remain strong.
"We [are] still like one big community, so we fellowship with each other and we keep each other accountable," says Jigjidsuren.
Pray that this unity would remain strong and that pastors-in-training would draw closer to God. Ask God to bring spiritual mentors alongside young leaders to help deepen their faith.
"One of our core values is a love relationship with God, so we want the pastors [to] continue growing in their relationship with Christ."
Source: Mission Network News
Via OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
WALKING WITH JESUS POSTERQuoting 1 John 2:1-6, six of the most thought provoking and important verses in scripture for walking with Jesus today. A4 size.
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WAXING LYRICAL
Know it's past Christmas now (Seems not too far until the next one! LOL!) but what does Christmas mean to you?CHRISTMAS TIME
Christmas time comes but once a year,
To be happy, you drink lots of beer!
Putting your gifts on the credit card,
Then come the repayments, oh so hard!
But Jesus came on Christmas Day,
Forever more to show the way,
How to enter into God's glorious presence.
In the ultimate of all Christmas presents!
So this Christmas, for some cheer,
Party less, put aside the beer,
And enter into the Holy Place,
To meet with God, face to face.
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A DAVID MUSING
Mind is.......(Blank)
Try again next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: STIGMATA
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: d. Elijah ... (Malachi 4:5)
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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