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: 656 Published: 12 May 2014
'THE WORDS OF JESUS' NOW AVAILABLE FOR PDF DOWNLOAD
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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 proceed to the 20th century which, as we all know, was noted for outpourings of the Holy Spirit. Surely all would now be transformed by the Spirit and the bride church produced. Of course, we now know the reality, where there has been greater splits and divisions than ever before. God weeps!
THE EARLY 1900'S
SPIRITUAL OUTBREAKS SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD
We have already looked at the 'Welsh Revival' that preceded the 'pentecostal revivals' in North America.
Following these, spiritual outbreaks took place, all round the globe. Overcoming weeks we will look at some of these. Throughout the world, believers considered they were seeing the latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit promised before the return of Christ.
The Day of the Lord
28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. (Joel 2:28-9)
Last week we looked at India, now we will continue with.....
SOUTH AMERICA
CHILE
In 1907, MINNIE ABRAMS (1859-1912), who worked for a time with Pandita Ramabai in Mukti, India, sent an account of the revival to her friends, WILLIS C. (1856-1936) and MARY ANNE HOOVER, Methodist missionaries to Valparaiso, Chile. Reading their friend's eyewitness account of the remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit in India, they earnestly sought God for a similar revival in Chile.
Prayer times, often encompassing whole nights, were instituted. People were convicted of, and confessed their sins, many making restitution to those they had sinned against.
But more was to come. On July 4 1909, heaven's floodgates opened. Willis Hoover wrote.....
Saturday night was an all night of prayer, during which four vain young ladies (three of them were in the choir) fell to the floor under the power of the Spirit. One of them, after lying a long time, began to exhort saying, "The Lord is coming soon and commands us to get ready." The effect produced was indescribable. The following morning in Sunday School, at ten o'clock, a daze seemed to rest upon the people. Some were unable to rise after the opening prayer which had been like "the sound of many waters," and all were filled with wonder. From that time on the atmosphere seemed charged by the Holy Spirit, and people fell on the floor, or broke out in other tongues, or singing in the Spirit, in a way impossible in their natural condition. On one occasion a woman, a young lady and a girl of twelve were lying on the floor in different parts of the prayer room, with eyes closed and silent. Suddenly, as with one voice, they burst forth into a song in a familiar tune but in unknown tongues, all speaking the same words. After a verse or two they became silent; then again suddenly, another tune, a verse or two, and silence. This was repeated until they had sung ten tunes, always using the same words and keeping in perfect time together as if led by some invisible chorister.
Naturally this attracted attention, and the congregation exploded as both the convicted and the curious joined in. The congregation expanded from 300 to nearly 1000. Naturally, as occurred in other revivals we have looked at, the local press levelled blatantly false charges against them. This aroused further curiosity and many more came, were convinced, and took the revival Spirit back with them from Valparaiso to other cities.
As we have sadly seen previously, and still see today, opposition came from the traditional churches too. In February 1910, The Hoovers were forced by their superiors in the Methodist Church to choose between returning to America or leaving the Methodist Church. They choose to stay in Valparaiso. With 440 followers they found new premises.
The revival mushroomed, until today there are over 1,000,000 Spirit filled believers in Chile, including over 600,000 in the Pentecostal Methodist Church founded by the Hoovers. The Chilean Methodist Church, which rejected the revival, has shrunk to just 4,000 members.
C. Peter Wagner has commented.....
"Many Methodists who blamed the devil for what happened in 1909 have since wondered out loud on whose side the devil might really have been."
The pattern of the rejection of the Holy Spirit by the establishment, in the past, present, and future, is again confirmed.
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.
Of course, it is not a Bible substitute! I Hope you find it helpful too, in your walk with Jesus.
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
Addressed to a large crowd.
“If you want to follow me but you don’t hate your father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters—even your own life—you can’t be my disciple. If you don’t carry your cross and follow me, you can’t be my disciple. If you planned to build a tower, wouldn’t you first work out how much it would cost, and see if you had enough money to complete it? Otherwise, if after laying the foundation you weren’t able to finish it, everyone who saw it would laugh at you, saying, ‘Look at him: he started building but he couldn’t finish it.’
“What king goes to war with another king without first sitting down with his advisors to work out whether he and his ten thousand can defeat the one marching against him with twenty thousand? If he can’t, he’ll send representatives to ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off. In the same way every one of you who doesn’t give up everything can’t be my disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its taste, how can you make it salty again? It’s no good for the soil or for fertilizer—you just toss it out. Whoever has ears, then listen!â€
Parable of the Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)
Three parables addressed to the Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus for mixing with tax collectors and ‘sinners’.
“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that’s lost until he finds it? When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders. Once he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ I tell you that there’s more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to repent.
Parable of the Coin (Luke 15:1-7)
“Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn’t she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found the silver coin that I lost.’ I tell you there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner that repents.
(Continued next week)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
WORRY96. Definition of a worrier – one who worries that they have nothing to worry about.
97. I can never catch up with my worries, for they are all about tomorrow.
98. Rarely does tomorrow’s worry become today’s problem.
99. Today’s worry rarely solves tomorrow’s problems.
100. An apple a day keeps the Doctor away, but a worry a day keeps him fully employed.
101. Repentance is when you change a ‘worry’ into a ‘sorry.’
102. Laughter is the only medicine I know where the side effects are even more beneficial than the medicine itself.
103. After birth on earth, a dearth of mirth reduces self-worth, leading to an increased girth.
208. The ultimate worrier does not have the time to concern themselves with today or tomorrow for they are still too busy worrying about what happened yesterday.
356. An optimist tackles a problem while the worrier lets the problem tackle them.
357. Magicians and worriers both create illusions. Magicians entertain others, while worriers entertain themselves.
358. Worry is like the fast breeder nuclear reactor, which feeds upon itself. Unsurprisingly, neither has proved to be of lasting benefit to mankind.
359. Somehow, it seems easier to build a mountain of worry than a molehill of achievement.
360. A worry a day keeps the psychiatrist in business.
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 ...
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF... DIVIDING THE WATERS continuesFROM JORDAN TO JORDAN
Remarkably, God repeated the pattern He established with Moses and Joshua, with Elijah and Elisha.
We have an amazing God!
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. ***
35. HELP?
Several women were visiting an elderly friend who was ill. After a while, they rose to leave and told her; "We will keep you in our prayers."
"Just wash the dishes in the kitchen," the ailing woman said, "I can do my own praying."
34. CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPERS CONTINUE….
*** Twenty-two members were present at the church meeting held at the home of Mrs Martha Crutchfield last evening. Mrs Crutchfield and Mrs Rankin sang a duet, ‘The Lord Knows Why.’
*** Thursday night potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
*** The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Rev. and Mrs Julie Belzer.
*** This afternoon there will be a meeting in the north and south ends of the church. Children will be baptised at both ends.
*** On Tuesday there will be an ice cream social at 4pm. All ladies giving milk, please come early.
33. THE JOYS OF MARRIAGE
A newly married pastor was taking a walk with his father one day, who asked how he was enjoying his young wife’s home cooking.
The pastor replied, "My wife’s cooking is so bad, we pray after we eat."
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: Throughout the years, many Popes have been assassinated or have been the targets of assassinations. Who was the first Pope to be murdered? John Paul II, Leo X, John V, John VIII or Luke IV.ANSWER: John VIII (died 882) was the first Pope to be murdered. He was poisoned and then clubbed to death. (Double jeopardy?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What exactly defines a planet? Which is the only planet to have an orbit that crosses that of another planet?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 703. A. . I. O. U.
Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel, "Gadsby", which contains over 50,000 words -- none of them with the letter E! (How could Wright do that? It must have been so difficult.)
704. The Ultimate Environmentalists
It is believed that millions of trees in the world are accidentally planted by squirrels who bury nuts and then forget where they hid them! (Can’t see the forest for the squirrel food.)
705. Malting?
Most dust particles in your house are actually your dead skin! (New skin doesn’t stop the wrinkles developing though.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
TARRAGON
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
12: Who wrote the first letter mentioned?a. David
b. Philemon
c. Jezebel
d. Paul
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"""!!!!!!! "In the dark? Follow the Son."
!!!!!! "Running low on faith? Step in for a fill-up."
!!!!! "If you can't sleep, don't count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd."
!!!! YOU could be another Cain, when you say I'm not Able.
!!! When your eyes leak, your head won't swell.
!! Fans for games, Fanatics for Christ.
! If the cookies are too high up, how will the children reach them.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
WHY?
Some of Life’s Most Puzzling QuestionsCan You Provide the Answers?
1. Why is the time of day when the traffic is slowest called the ‘rush hour’?
2. Why isn’t ‘phonetics’ spelled the way it sounds?
3. Why are homes called apartments when they are all stuck together?
4. Why do we drive in parks and park in drives?
5. Why don’t sheep shrink in the rain?
6. If nothing sticks to teflon, how do they make it stick to the pan?
7. Why is it for each and every action, there is an equal and greater criticism?
8. If fire fighters fight fires and crime fighters fight crime, what do freedom fighters fight?
9. If a service station never closes, why do they still have locks on the door?
10. Do vegetarians eat animal biscuits?
11. How come an iron has a setting for ‘permanent press’?
12. If Barbie (the doll of course) is so popular, why do you need to buy her friends?
13. What’s another word for ‘Thesaurus’?
14. If you had everything in the world, where would you put it?
15. After they make styrofoam, what do they ship it in?
16. When you see a microwave, do you wave back?
17. Why is experience something you don’t get until just after you need it?
18. Why is the severity of an itch inversely proportional to your ability to reach it?
19. Why is change inevitable, except from vending machines?
20. Why do bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques?
Many more imponderables at.....
Dutch Sheets Resigns From Christ for the Nations, Cites Limited Window for Change in US
Best-selling author Dutch Sheets announced Wednesday he will be leaving Christ for the Nations Institute (CFNI), where he returned to his alma mater in 2012 to serve as executive director. His resignation becomes effective at the end of May as the school’s spring term concludes.During his tenure at CFNI, Sheets continued to minister and speak around the nation most weekends, as well as write books—including his latest, The Power of Hope, which released Tuesday.
He told students and staff Wednesday that the demand on his time did not allow him to give himself fully to leading the school in a way he’d like, adding that this was “a difficult decision.â€
“The No. 1 passion of my life is seeing America experience a third great awakening. This has been my primary calling from God for over 20 years,†he said to CFNI staff today. “When I accepted this assignment at CFNI, I knew that calling to America would not change—that I would have to add this responsibility to what I was already doing.â€
Sheets said upon arriving at CFNI he was also aware his assignment might not be long-term—though he hoped it would be longer—and called his work with students “one of the greatest joys.†He believes, however, that the Lord has given him a new assignment for America leading up to national elections in two years.
“I believe there is a two- to three-year window for us as a nation to see certain things change,†he said. “I feel a great responsibility and stirring in my spirit to be a part of leading in this. It has to do with prayer and, of course, the revival that I know is coming.â€
CFNI President Dennis Lindsay publicly thanked Sheets for his leadership and joined staff in praying a blessing over him during a service this morning. He also wrote a letter to Sheets, which he shared with Charisma News.
“It is obvious to me that God has put in your heart a plan to touch America’s spiritual spine,†Lindsay wrote. “Though we would love for you to accomplish this divine plan as executive director of the CFN Insititute, I am convinced that the structure of this ministry could impede the vision God has placed in your heart, as well as the burden upon you to be an agent of change over the next two years.â€
Sheets and his wife, Ceci, graduated from CFNI in the late 1970s, and Sheets taught at the Gordon Lindsay-founded school throughout the ’80s. A former pastor, Sheets is best known for his book Intercessory Prayer, which has sold nearly 1 million copies worldwide.
Source: Charisma News
Via: OpenHeaven.com
Article continues at.....
http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=46279&PN=1&TPN=1
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
TABERNACLE TO TABERNACLESHow the pattern of the first Church, The Tabernacle of Moses, has applied to the Church through the ages and predicts the Church to come.
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WAXING LYRICAL
One day was just thinking that I haven't written a poem for quite a while so maybe will have a go now - before I forget how!DAVID'S RAMBLINGS
Don't know what to write about.
Something that will have clout.
Should it be all about me?
No! Well - how about thee?
That might be interesting for we all like to hear about ourself,
Particularly it is nice and complementary, off the top shelf.
But the problem is that I don't know you personally, do you see,
So what can I say about you, not knowing if you're she or he!
Time is moving on,
Nearly time it is for bed,
The day is now gone,
The seconds, each has sped.
So what can I say that is of great note?
Before I have to leave, put on my coat.
Go out into the night and wend my way home,
In the darkness, to our wee abode to roam.
My wife Kathy, now she is not there.
Visiting her mother, do not despair,
She will be home tomorrow, I am so sure,
Returning from her travelling adventure.
So now I will go and cuddle the cat. (pictured)
Oops - recall I can't now do that,
For she died some weeks ago - very sad.
So I'm all by myself; that's very bad.
But no, no, no! I do now remember!
Whether it be April or September,
I have my Jesus with me always you see,
So I wont be lonely, there's He and me.
I hope now, that's true for you too.
In the bed - even when on the loo!
He is a friend upon whom we all can rely,
When you are lonely, give Jesus a try.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This week has been for me, what many would describe by the colloquial saying, 'a week from hell'!I wont bore you by the 'challenges' I have had, but what interests me is my reaction to them. Once upon a time I would have been stressed out, which would be the reaction of most in my circumstances this week, I am sure.
However, through a combination of life experience and my relationship with Jesus, I have coped (I believe), really pretty well.
In the end all my experiences, bar one, were not life threatening. The life threatening one was not of me but my friend Joce whom I look after, in the aftermath of a scare in her recovery from a bowel cancer operation, which at 87 is not easy. Fortunately the medical incident turned out to be a help, not a hindrance. The rest will all work out in the end, or 'in the wash' as our saying goes.
Jesus was very wise (of course) when He told us to trust Him and not worry about tomorrow. (See today's DAVID'S DOODLINGS) I have learned that nothing can be changed by worrying. Some things can be changed through taking actions, while others have to accepted as they are. A positive response to these issues can only be found through prayer, by putting the intractable situation in God's hands.
I understand that are times when our circumstances get the better of us. But, as believers, we are to be different to the world in that we have our Saviour and Lord Jesus, to walk though our concerns with us. May we learn to trust Him to look after us, in every circumstance, good or bad, large or small. That is our witness to the world.
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: ARROGANT
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' a. David (2 Samuel 11:14 - He wrote it to Joab)
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God’s people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ’s return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord’s direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567
Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz
Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "… so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole – and have a smile while doing it!
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