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
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Issue No: 626 Published: 14 Oct 2013
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?
Again I acknowledge that much of the material that follows is drawn from the excellent publication by Eddie L. Hyatt, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity. For specific references to the writings quoted, please refer to that publication.THE POST APOSTOLIC CHURCH
We continue looking at prominent spirit filled men who lived during the 4th to 6th centuries AD.
THE MONASTICS 325-600AD
ATHANASIUS (AD295-373) Athanasius was known as 'the Father of Orthodoxy', and was the bishop of Alexandria in Egypt. Best known for his writings against 'Arianism' (Christ as a created being, different from and less than the Father), he insisted Christ was coequal, cosubstantial and coeternal with the Father. Exiled 5 times, his teaching was finally accepted as official church doctrine.
Talking of the Holy Spirit, when writing of his friend Antony (see last week), he said.....
And we ought not to doubt whether such marvels were wrought by the hand of a man. For it is the promise of the Saviour, when He saith, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, remove hence and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
The office of bishop was becoming formalized, leading to a life of ease, wealth and temptation. However, he reasoned he could still live a devoted life as a bishop while some monks didn't.....
"We know bishops who work wonders [miracles] and monks who do not."
Athanasius clearly experienced spiritual gifts personally and saw them being for the body, not the limited few of an appointed clergy.
HILARION (AD305-385) Born in Gaza city in Palestine to pagan parents, he received a good education, becoming a believer at an early age and showing a tendency towards an ascetic lifestyle.
While still in his teens he visited Antony in the Egyptian desert and then devoted himself to a life of devotion in the Palestinian wilderness. Like his mentor Antony, he gained a reputation for holiness and power in prayer. Jerome, who knew Hilarion personally said of him, "Time would fail me if I wished to relate all the miracles which were wrought by him."
On one occasion, Hilarion found a paralyzed man lying near the entrance of his dwelling. After finding out the man's identity.....
weeping much and stretching out his hand to the prostrate man he said, "I bid you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, arise and walk." The words were still on the lips of the speaker when, with miraculous speed, the limbs were strengthened and the man arose and stood firm.
He died in Cyprus, having spent his last years there. A friend stole his body and returned it to Palestine. Jerome, writing after Hilarion's death, recorded that miracles continued to take place both at the site of his death in Cyprus and at his tomb in Palestine.
So we can continue to say that.....
THE TRUE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE ONES WHO ARE OBEDIENT TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THEIR LIVES.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS continuedThe Lord has asked me to compile a publication of the words Jesus spoke, as recorded in the New Testament in chronological order. I have got about halfway, and have found it very enlightening and encouraging in my relationship with Him. The final version will have changes of layout and version used, but this is a foretaste of things to come. Of course, it is not a Bible substitute! I Hope you find it helpful too, in your walk with Jesus.
The 'Sermon on the Mount' forms the basis of the 'life teachings' of Jesus. Every follower of Jesus should learn, and live out daily, the teachings of Matthew, chapters 5-7.
Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-7:29, Luke 6:17-49)
Judging Others (Matthew 7:1-6, Luke 6:37-42)
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-12)
“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 (Matthew 7:13-14)
“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 (Matthew 7:15-23, Luke 6:43-5)
“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 (Matthew 7:24-9, Luke 6:46-9)
“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€
(Continued next week)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE444. If I knew everything in the world, I would be most confused!
445. The pursuit of knowledge is excellent, the pursuit of truth, unsurpassable.
446. The more I learn, the less I know, so to my God I’d rather go.
447. Truth is like tightening a nut. There is only a small difference between maximum effectiveness and stripping the thread.
448. Human knowledge corrupts. Absolute knowledge corrupts absolutely.
449. Knowledge seeks truth but only God can reveal the truth.
450. Truth provides the foundation upon which the house of knowledge should be built.
451. Knowledge is relative, truth absolute. Problems arise when we confuse the two.
452. If I have all knowledge in the world but have not the truth, I am as nothing.
453. Computers are able to process endless knowledge, but only humans can discern truth.
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CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF....... 3 KINGDOM AGESTHE KINGDOM'S REACH
This week we are going to see how God's group of chosen people expanded through the 3 ages from family to nation, to the whole world today - if only we will believe.
Check out all the available teachings at...
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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. ***
799. FIRST TIME PRAYER
A man came to church for the very first time in his life. He heard a sermon that really tugged at his heart strings and felt the need to answer the invitation to become a Christian. When he shared his story about never having attended church the preacher thought surely the new convert was someone special. The preacher urged the man to come back that night to take part in the evening service.
When the man arrived the preacher told the man he needed him to perform a special task. The pastor wanted him to say the benediction at the end of the service.
The new convert protested and said, "Pastor, I've never been to church in my life. How am I supposed to know how to pray in public in only the second church service I've ever attended?"
The preacher said, "That's OK. I have a plan. I've written you a prayer you can read. Just sit back here on the back row next to the coat rack. Place this prayer I've written in your hat. As the service is closing out, just reach back here behind you, pick up your hat and read the prayer."
The new Christian reluctantly agreed to the plan. At the end of the service the preached called the man by name and asked him to offer the closing prayer.
On cue, the man reached to the hat rack behind him, and picked up a hat. As planned he started the prayer. In a loud voice he said, "DEAR GOD .................... this is NOT my hat...."
.....from Sermon Fodder by way of Doc's Daily Chuckle (pkaine@woh.rr.com) and "Christian Voices" (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.net)
798. THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE!
One Sunday morning when my son, David, was about 5, we were attending a church in our community.
It was common for the preacher to invite the children to the front of the church and have a small lesson before beginning the sermon. He would bring in an item they could find around the house and relate it to a teaching from the Bible.
This particular morning, the visual aid for his lesson was a smoke detector. He asked the children if anyone knew what it meant when an alarm sounded from the smoke detector.
My child immediately raised his hand and said, "It means Daddy's cooking dinner."
797. THE SUNDAY PAPER
"Where is my Sunday paper?" the irate customer calling the local newspaper's customer service center loudly demanded, wanting to know where her Sunday edition was.
"Ma'am," said the newspaper employee, "today is Saturday. The Sunday paper is not delivered until tomorrow, on Sunday."
There was quite a long pause on the other end of the phone, followed by a ray of recognition, as the caller was heard to mutter, "Well, that explains why no one was at church today!"
" 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: What is a group of flamingos called?ANSWER: A pat. (Got that down pat!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How many sweat glands do we have in our body?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 803. MAKE 'EM TOUGH
No NFL team which plays its home games in a domed stadium has ever won a Superbowl. (Grunt can still beat technology – occasionally!)
804. LIGHTENING STRIKES GALORE
The Empire State Building gets hit by lightning approximately one hundred times per year. The building is designed to serve as a lightning rod for the surrounding area. (Perhaps the electricity could be harnessed for light – ening and power?)
805. SNAKE SPRINT?
Many people think snakes are fast, but they aren't. Most only move about three to four miles per hour and both children and adults can easily outrun them. In any case, snakes do not normally chase humans anyway. They're more likely to flee. But here is that exception again! For there is one fast snake - the black mamba of southern Africa. This snake is said to move as fast as 25 to 30 miles per hour, which would beat the fastest human over 100 metres. (Proves that legs move faster than bellies – nearly always.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
CARLYLE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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SERMON ON THE MOUNT
7. Where is the best place to pray?a. In your closet with the door shut
b. On the street corner
c. In the synagogue
d. With your family
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""More of "MURPHY'S OTHER LAWS"
!!!!!!! It is hard to understand how a cemetery can raise its burial costs and blame it on the higher cost of living.
!!!!!! It is said that if you line up all the cars in the world end to end, someone would be stupid enough to try and pass them.
!!!!! Flashlight: A case for holding dead batteries.
!!!! The shin bone is a device for finding furniture.
!!! A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.
!! Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
! Diamonds are a girl's best friends. Dogs are man's best friend. So which is more intelligent ?
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART!
45. STATIC"Watch out," the wife cautioned her husband, who was driving. "Don't you see that car is braking?" Then she snapped, "Don't pass that truck - his tire is wobbling."
The husband turned on his CB and informed the trucker about his loose wheel. The wife, in a nasty mood because of a headache, was irritated by the incessant squealing of the CB. "Why do you always get so much static?" she asked.
"Because," her long-suffering husband replied, "I'm married."
46. THE PERFECT SHOT
A guy stood over his tee shot for what seemed an eternity; looking up, looking down, measuring the distance, figuring the wind direction and speed. Driving his partner nuts. Finally his exasperated partner says, "What's taking so long? Hit the blasted ball!"
The guy answers, "My wife is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot."
"Forget it, man! You don't stand a chance of hitting her from here!"
47. MAKING MATTERS WORSE
"So, what's the matter? I thought you just got back from a nice relaxing fishing trip with your husband."
"Oh, everything went wrong: First he said I talked so loud I would scare the fish. Then he said I was using the wrong bait; and then that I was reeling in too soon.
"All that might have been all right; but then, to make matters worse, I ended up catching the most fish!"
48. IN WITH DAD
When the Jones family moved into their new house, a visiting relative asked five-year-old Sammy how he liked the new place.
"It's terrific," he said. "I have my own room, Mike has his own room, and Jamie has her own room. But poor mum is still in with dad."
49. MALE WISDOM
David: "I'm a man of few words."
Doug: "Yeah, I'm married, too."
Laugh, or cry, more here.
BIBLE TRIVIA (About The Bible)
NUTS AND BOLTSA NEW TESTAMENT CANON.....
..... 'was not looked upon favourably at first. But, it was through heretical movements, that the New Testament came into being as a legitimate part of the Bible. Marcion was a teacher who broke away from the Roman church. Around 150AD he rejected the Old Testament and chose to accept only the 10 letters from Paul and the Gospel of Luke as authoritative Christian Scripture.
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
Do Christians have a future in the Middle East?
Posted: 9 October, 2013Middle East (MNN) One of the factors in understanding the cultural dynamics of the Middle East and its upheaval is the presence of the Christian communities.
Since the "Arab Spring" began, regimes have fallen and Islamist governments have risen. The turmoil has left many of these Eastern Christians wondering what future is left for them given the corresponding increase in persecution.
President of Open Doors USA David Curry says, "Over the last several decades, we've seen the percentage of the population of Christians drop from about 20% in the Middle East to just 4%." It isn't merely reports of beatings that he finds alarming, but the dramatic shift that they're tracking. "In the next decade or two, unless we do something about it, unless we can find a way to stand up and get heard on this subject, it's possible that Christianity could be extinct in its birthplace."
The reality is that in Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Iraq--lands where Christians have lived for 2000 years, being identified as anything but Muslim is dangerous. Curry explains, "Some of it is low-grade discrimination. Some of it is intentional persecution of believers. In other cases, it is outright murder and attacks on believers that are driving them out of their homes. I think the population is being driven out of the Middle East."
Regardless, the current repression clearly communicates that followers of Christ are no longer welcome as full members of society. If nothing changes, that begs the question: Do Christians have a future in the Middle East?
On Sept. 27, a group of academics, politicians, and parliamentarians (all Christians) met in Amman, Jordan to try to scratch out an answer to that question. The conference was titled "Eastern Christians in Light of the Arab Spring."
The group looked at the laws of the land, shifts that subtly altered laws and practices of religious freedom, then the impact on the Christian body, and finally, expectations for the future.
Since the constitutions in many of these countries (except Lebanon) presumes that "Islam is the state religion," Sharia becomes a source of the state's legislation, laws, and regulations. Curry says, "It's basically illegal to decide for yourself what you want to believe. That has very dangerous implications for Christians who may be converting from other religions and deciding that they want to call themselves followers of Jesus. In many of these places, that marks them immediately for death."
The "religicide" becomes systematic and protected.
Today, more than one million Christians have fled Iraq. Half a million Christians have left Syria, where there were once around 2 million. There remains a remnant church in Egypt. In Lebanon, the retreat is obvious.
Curry notes that despite Islam's obvious impact on the body of Christ, "Christianity is not at the verge of extinction in the Middle East because we've lost the battle of ideas. We are on the verge of being extinct in the Middle East because we are being persecuted, because we are being driven from those areas, and because en masse, we are being targeted for death."
What are the possible ways of dealing with what has become one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of our time? Curry takes that question head-on. Be aware. "First of all, I think that there is an element of these extremist groups that is, for lack of a better word, ‘imperialist.' They believe that they can force their faith on people. They'll do it in their regions, and then they're going to do it in our regions."
Be active. Realize that the Gospel is still going forward. Share the predicament of new believers with your Church body.
Also pray. "There's a scriptural premise here, for believers, certainly. It says, ‘When one part of your body hurts, then the whole body hurts.' Right now, we have members of the Christian faith that are suffering; not a few, but millions of people who have no freedom to study and to choose for themselves how they share their faith."
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is coming up on Sunday, November 3.
Source: Mission Network News
Via OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
'TABERNEAGLE' THOUGHTS FROM.....A poster of thoughts about living life in Tabernacles. Out of a human mind but hopefully with God given inspiration. An A4 sized wall (’loo?’) hanger.
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WAXING LYRICAL
bit of nonsense that just came out of me - literally! You wish it hadn't, I know! But it did! Hope you can work it out, out, out!THE CROOK CHOOK!
Look, look, look!
Chook, chook, chook!
Cook, cook, cook!
Crook, crook, crook!
Spew, spew, spew!
True, true, true!
Renew, renew, renew!
Phew, phew, phew!
Well, well, well!
Swell, swell, swell!
Tell, tell, tell!
Heaven, not hell!
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This week, when supposedly having more time to do things, having sold our business, I now find myself at the computer late on Sunday evening completing this PGIM, for automatic distribution early on Monday morning. Previously, when busy at work, I completed the week's issue by Sunday lunchtime! Oh dear! Where has the time gone! Where has my self discipline gone! LOL!Kathy and I did have a couple of days away in another city, visiting Kathy's aunt, but that is but a weak excuse! Not having to travel to meet a deadline was a new and pleasurable experience though.
By next week I will adjust and get things back under control - I trust!
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: CLEARLY
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' a. In your closet with the door shut
REPRODUCTION OF NEWSLETTER CONTENT
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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