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: 648 Published: 17 Mar 2014
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?
THE POST APOSTOLIC CHURCHAgain 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.
We now move on to the post-Reformation eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
1700-1900
CHARLES FINNEY (1792-1873)
A lawyer, Finney was converted at age 29, firstly aligning himself with the Presbyterian, then later, the Congregational Church.
A powerful, logical preacher, his innovations included the Altar Call and the Anxious Seat.
At the time of his conversion, Finney had an experience that he later identified as the baptism in the Holy Spirit, recalling that he "wept aloud with joy and love" and "literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my soul," a likely reference to speaking in tongues.
While Finney didn't pray for the sick, healings occurred. For example an unconverted lady who was not expected to live the night was prayed for intensely, and Finney experienced a settled peace in his mind. The next day Finney told her husband....
"Brother W_______, she will not die with this sickness; you may rely upon it. And she will never die in her sins."
The woman recovered and accepted the Lord as her Saviour.
Spiritual manifestations were common at his meetings. At a meeting in Rome, New York, he heard the sobs and sighs of the people as he closed in prayer.
At this very moment a young man by the name of W_______, a clerk in Mr. H_______'s store, being one of the first young men in the place, so nearly fainted, that he fell upon some young men who stood near him; and they all of them partially swooned away, and fell together.
Finney's preaching affected entire cities. Charles P. Bush, a leading New York pastor reported.....
The whole community was stirred. Religion was the topic of conversation in the house, in the shop, in the office and on the street. The only theater in the city was converted into a livery stable; the only circus into a soap and candle factory. Grog shops were closed; the Sabbath was honored; the sanctuaries were thronged with happy worshippers; a new impulse was given to every philanthropic enterprise; the fountains of benevolence were opened, and men lived to good.
In 1835 Finney became the professor of systematic theology at the new Oberlin College in Ohio. Here, he and Asa Mahan, the first president, developed the 'Oberlin Theology', referring to the second blessing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was identified as an empowerment for service, rather than a cleansing from original sin. Finney commented about the lack of this in a certain pastor's life and ministry.....
He had fallen short of receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost which is indispensable to ministerial success. When Christ commissioned his apostles to go and preach, he told them to abide at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high. This power, as everyone knows, was the baptism of the Holy Ghost poured out upon them on the day of Pentecost. This was an indispensable qualification for success in ministry.
Finney's methods and teachings played a major role in the preparation for what was to come in the 20th century.
So we can continue to say.....
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.
Teaching on Beelzebub and Demons (Luke 11:14-26)
Jesus states.
“Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
23 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
24 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.â€
A Woman Blesses Mary (Luke 11:27-8)
Jesus corrects her.
“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.â€
Sign of Jonah (Luke 11:29-32)
Jesus addressed the crowd.
“This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.
(Continued next week)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
GROWING IN GOD991. Without life's valleys we wouldn't truly appreciate the mountain tops.
992. 'No gain without pain' is truly also the dictum of the race of life.
993. The race of life goes round many corners.
994. The race of life is held on a cross country course, not on a cinder track.
995. Growth in God is in spurts, same as in the body. They are normally both challenging and satisfying at the same time.
1000. It's in the valleys of life we develop the strength needed to scale the mountain tops.
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CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... DIVIDING THE WATERSA revelation based upon the 3 times the waters were divided in the Bible (The Red Sea with Moses, The River Jordan with Joshua and The River Jordan again with Elijah and Elisha.) and their meanings for the restoration of God's church in these end times.
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. ***
11. THE INGENUITY OF YOUTH
After church one Sunday morning a young announced to his mother. "Mum, I’m going to be a minister when I grow up."
"That’s wonderful son," his mum said, "but what brought you to that decision?"
"Well," the son replied, I’ll have to go to church anyway, so I figure it will be more fun to stand up and yell than to sit still and listen!"
10. GIIIZUMPED!
A young lad who had just got his driving licence asked his minister father if he could drive his car.
"I’ll make a deal with you said his father. "If you improve your grades, study your Bible a little more and cut your hair, we will talk again in a month."
A month later the son again approached his father, who said, "Son, I am real proud of you. Your grades have improved greatly and you have been diligent in your Bible Study. But you still haven’t cut your hair.’
"But dad, I’ve been thinking about that. You know, Samson had long hair so did Moses and Noah, and maybe Jesus too."
"Yes son," his dad replied, "and they walked everywhere they went!"
9. CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS
*** The scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
*** The Outreach Committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not inflicted with any church.
*** Evening Massage – 6pm.
*** The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.
*** The congregation is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession.
" 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: 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 FACTS 727. IT COMES NATURALLY
You can't kill yourself by holding your breath. (If at first you don’t succeed, don’t try again.)
728. WATCH OUT FOR DONKEYS
More people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes. (Donkey rides are dangerous – ask Jesus!)
729. TAKING PRECAUTIONS
Duelling is legal in Paraguay - as long as both parties are registered blood donors. (Increases numbers of donors – temporarily!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
SOCRATES
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...
BIBLE FIRSTS
5: Who was the first person to be resurrected by Jesus?a. The widow's son
b. Jairus' daughter
c. Lazarus
d. The saints
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
Heaps more fun and serious 'God Facts' are found at...
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! Energizer Bunny arrested -- charged with battery.
!!!!!! A pessimist's blood type is always b-negative.
!!!!! My wife really likes to make pottery, but to me it's just kiln time.
!!!! I fired my masseuse today. She just rubbed me the wrong way.
!!! Shotgun wedding: A case of wife or death.
!!Marriage is the mourning after the knot before.
! Corduroy pillows are making headlines.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TILL 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!"
More marriage and family humour here.
Israel: Miraculous healing stuns doctors
03/12/2014When Therese Daoud arrived at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital with a huge cancerous tumor, doctors said her only chance of survival would be to amputate the leg. What happened during the following months has left the medical staff and the nation speechless. “If someone had told me the story of what happened to Therese, I would have said they are crazy and sent them to a mental hospital,†said Professor Yaakov Bickels, head of the Orthopedic- Oncology Department at the hospital. “But I was there. I saw it with my own eyes.â€
What the professor saw he described as a malignant tumor “the size of an orange.†The biopsy showed a sarcoma. “This is one of the most aggressive and terrifying of all cancerous tumors,†Bickels explained. “With a tumor developed to this degree, the only treatment we could offer Therese was to amputate her leg.â€
“I was in shock when the doctors told me,†said Therese, a junior high school science teacher. “I thought he was talking about someone else. But I had no choice. I began to prepare myself for life with one leg.†Therese sent lab tests and x-rays to the USA to double check, but they came back with the same prognosis. The leg must be amputated to save her life.
On the day of surgery, after waiting in the hospital for three days, Therese was informed that because of “technical difficulties†the operation must be rescheduled. When she went back for the rescheduled surgery, just as she was about to be wheeled into the operating theater, Therese was told again, “the amputation must be postponed.†This time the surgical units were unavailable due to a number of emergency cases. By the time Therese got another date for surgery, her mother had become very sick, and Therese decided to herself postpone the operation in order to take care of her mother.
For most of us, postponing a life saving surgery would have been overwhelming. Not for Therese. “Three times the surgery was delayed,†she said. “This was a clear sign to me from heaven that I should not have the surgery.†Israeli TV showed images of Therese praying in a church in the north of the country. “When she told me that she had decided not to have the leg amputated, it was clear to me. She would soon die,†contemplated Prof. Bickels. “I was sorry about her decision.†Three months later, a huge smile on her face, Therese walked unaided into Bickels’ office. “What happened to you?†he asked. “I prayed,†she responded.
Stunned, Bickels immediately sent Therese for an MRI, but the results were undeniable. The killer growth had receded dramatically. “This just does not happen,†stammered the professor. “A growth of this kind cannot not recede like this.†Doctors and nurses could not believe the results, so they sent for another biopsy. But to no avail. There was no cancer. It had completely left her body. “We kept checking her records over and over,†said an astonished Bickels. “We just could not accept that the cancer had gone without any treatment.â€
Israeli news stations have been reporting on the miracle and all admit that it is impossible to explain what happened to Therese, other than the power of her faith. Hospital staff and reporters even traveled to Therese’s home to look for some other explanation. They tasted the food she eats and checked the water she drinks, but there was no physical explanation. They left contemplating one undeniable, unavoidable and very uncomfortable option – that prayer in Yeshua, the Messiah of Israel, still heals today.
Source: Israel Today
Via: OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF... THE BOOK OF RUTHIn one of the oldest books of the Bible, God reveals His plan for the Church in these end times. Unbelievable! No! For God's plan has been there from the beginning of time. He is now revealing more of it to us. Wondered about the Church and Israel? Read on...
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WAXING LYRICAL
All too often we don't consider the long term consequences of our choices in life.CHOICES
Life comes, life goes,
Brings peaks, and lows.
We surely reap what we sow!
Our tide does ebb and flow.
When I look back on what I've done,
I see the storms, but also the sun.
For I have done good, at times been bad,
Sometimes am happy, sometimes am sad.
No, the time past I cannot now change,
But my future, yes, I may rearrange.
What will I do? Where will I go?
I may think, but God does know.
Will I put my life in His hand?
On His Rock, my days to stand.
Or will I build my house on the sand?
And His will for me, not understand.
Today I am charged to live the call.
Am I prepared to give Him my all?
Or will I continue in my earthly ways?
Seeking my own pleasure, all my days.
My time may well be short, it may be long,
Before joining Jesus, forever to belong,
What will He say that glorious day I see His face?
Knowing I've been saved, by His amazing grace.
Will it be, "Well done good and faithful servant",
Or will I seek my actions to quickly recant!
For on that day, I will surely see
The result of choices, made by me.
The past I can't change, the future neither,
But by my today's actions I can either
Build His kingdom here upon the earth,
Or make my own! My decision, my worth.
What will I do? Where will I go?
Will it be wheat or tares I sow?
Today I now have the choices to make,
Of what direction my life will take.
You too, my friend, today are in the very same boat,
To be a sheep of the Shepherd, or to be the goat.
What will be your choice of 'the way' to live?
All your life to Jesus, will you now give?
One day we will meet together with Jesus in heaven,
Having lived lives of fruitfulness, or of leaven.
The choices we now make on earth today,
Do determine what role we will play.
Let's now look towards
Our heavenly rewards.
The choice is mine,
The choice is thine!
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
After 50 years...... It is horrifying to be able to remember back that far! LOL!After 50 years, last weekend I ventured back into Shakespearean Theatre! As an actor that is!
When I was at high school, I auditioned for the play Macbeth, the first time our new school had put on a theatrical production. Why did I audition? Because one of my mates did! You can imagine my shock/horror/surprise when the list of the cast was pasted on the notice board and I found out I was to play the role of Macbeth himself! I thought a short, walk on, walk off part would be my lot! How would I ever learn the words?! Somehow I did and only needed prompting once in 4 nights, and the audience did not even notice. All went well and the show was a success. The real star though, was the 3rd Witch, Gaylene Preston, who since has become a world renowned Film Director. But I did pretty well for a raw amateur!
Over the years I had always thought that I would like to have another go at acting, but never got round to it.
Then, 50 years later, I got a call from our local, New Zealand famous Director, Gillian Davies, who was at the original play, to perform a cameo part in a production, 'Shakespeare In The Park'. At least someone still remembers the original, so it can't have been all bad!
I was to be the 'Country Squire' in a series of skits to be performed on the Shakespearean Village green, before the main presentation of 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare' that followed. (Recommended if you get a chance to see it performed. A comic summary of all Shakespeare's plays and Sonnets.)
Fortunately, I was able to read from scrolls (the words of which I wrote) so my memory was not challenged. The highlight for me, was in our only rehearsal. The other actors knew each other but not this strange old man! I did my thing and they all stopped and applauded! Wow!
And the performances went well too. I enjoyed it.
In case you are thinking I made this all up, you may -or may not - recognize me in the photo!
Had better not wait another 50 years to have another go though! LOL!
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: COARSEST
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' a. The widow's son (Luke 7:13-15)
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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