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: 672 Published: 01 Sep 2014
'THE WORDS OF JESUS' NOW AVAILABLE FOR PDF DOWNLOAD
Join the many who have downloaded the 'The Words of Jesus'. I am sure you will be blessed by it, as I have been. There have been over 300 downloads to date.One key element here is the setting out in chronological order (as far as it is possible to do so) our Lord's words drawn from all the Gospels, and the elimination of repetition between Gospels.
You may be surprised by the different perspective this presentation gives you both in understanding of His life and ministry, and in achieving a closer relationship with Him.
Download the free PDF here.....
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?
THE POST APOSTOLIC CHURCHThe major question now is, "where is the church of the 21st Century heading".
Fourteen years into the new century, it is becoming more apparent that God is 'doing a new thing'. But as we have seen over the past 2000 years, through the Dark Ages, the Reformation and the Holy Spirit revivals of the 20th century, the Holy Spirit will always be to the fore of what transpires.
Regrettably from a human perspective, all past movements of the Holy Spirit have come to an end, primarily because man has codified them and taken over. Like Moses, the world's humblest man and the closest to God before Jesus, when he hit the rock, (which he had done successfully before to bring water), rather than talk to it as God had instructed him to do,(Numbers 20:13) man has always seemingly known better than God. This cost Moses the opportunity to take the Israelites into the Promised Land.
So where do we go from here? What is God doing here and now, and into the future.
SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE 21ST CENTURY.
Last week and this, I am sharing an example of kingdom living. Originally from southern California, they spent 12 years ministering in Asia before studying for PhD's at Kings College, Cambridge, UK. In 1995 they set up a ministry to the poor and homeless in Mozambique, in southern Africa. I can witness as to the reality of their testimony through the witness of my friends and theirs, Peter & Melodie Wheeler, who represent their ministry in South Africa. This is some of the Baker's story.....
KINGDOM LIVING - TESTIMONY OF ROLAND & HEIDI BAKER (Part 2)
Love is a gift of relationship, not just self-sacrifice. The secret place is not necessarily found in a prayer closet or a posture of soaking, or in battling for a just cause, or in a massive prayer and fasting effort. Even the most amazing miracles can leave us lonely and without relationship. We can run out of motivation advancing the most noble ideals and working at all levels to transform society. We can minister until we have no more strength, and still go home and lie in bed without the relationship for which our hearts are made.
Everything is okay with relationship. It is all that Jesus cares about, all that motivates Him. He could do many more amazing miracles and dazzle the world with His powers, but He is interested only in relationship. The entire creation, all the grandeur of the physical world, and all His works are designed to serve one thing: relationship. Revival has no content without it. Renewal and manifestations are pointless apart from it. Miracles only find their meaning in it. Joy is shallow and groundless unless rooted in it. Without relationship we are the living dead.
There is no pressure in genuine relationship. When it turns into work, it is gone and finished. It is effortless to maintain. It is not the goal of struggle, but the fire of life. It brings the utmost peace, and washes away all tension. It is the point of living, the substance of existence, the atmosphere of heaven. It motivates to heroic heights, bringing out our best. In relationship we know we are alive, we have arrived, we are satisfied. When we turn away from relationship to pursue anything else, we lose. We have no strength to give and love without it. It is a haven, a rock, a river of living water, the perfect source of motivation to keep going.
As our Perfect Savior, Jesus provides us with relationship. For this He died and rose again on our behalf. He provides not only His Word, His promises and His gifts, but also freely fills our lives with relationship in response to the desire He has put in our hearts. No guilt and condemnation can keep us from drinking in all the relationship with Him that we desire. Nothing in our past can block us. No attitudes in others can prevent us from tasting and seeing that He is good. And from this tree of life that is our Savior, we can branch out into more and more relationship with those all around us. He takes away our loneliness. In Him we end our search and find our destination.
So in this experience of revival in Africa, our values have been refined in the fires of pressure, opposition and disappointment. Thousands of churches and testimonies of supernatural power do not keep us motivated. Huge feeding projects are not enough for us. We need more of a goal than to target people groups and disciple followers. Education and development don’t keep our hearts alive. Mobilizing world-wide support still falls short. Academic missiology lacks the energy that Africa needs.
No, our hearts must have perfect relationship, a perfect union between us and our Savior, in the Holy Spirit. We were never meant to be alone for a moment. Our whole motive is to live life and do everything together with our God, to take pleasure in His company always. Our power to live comes entirely from our satisfying relationship with Him, and to stay there is to stay in our own private revival that cannot be disturbed by anything else. Only when that relationship is golden, incandescent and pure enough do we have the power to delight in all that God has richly provided for us to enjoy.
Therefore in Him we do not pursue revival, but rather revival pursues us! Church growth and miracles pursue us. His presence pursues us. He Himself follows us, responds to us, and takes pleasure in making us happy, for we make Him happy. We care how He feels. We satisfy His longing. To stay close to Him is no effort, but a relief, a release, a door to freedom. To get a miracle is never the point, but in our relationship with Him miracles are a delight for Him to perform on our behalf. In fact, we cannot live without miracles, and in the normal Christian life we recognize that everything is a miracle,“for in him we live and move and have our being†(Acts 17:28).
Love in Jesus,
Rolland and Heidi Baker
https://www.irisglobal.org/
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.
(Continues next week)
Find out more about us at.....
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.
Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
“The kingdom of heaven is like ten girls, who took their lamps with them to go and meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish girls took their lamps but didn’t take any oil with them, while the wise took jars of oil with them as well as their lamps. The bridegroom took a long time and all the girls became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the shout came, ‘Look, the bridegroom’s here! Come out and meet him!’ All the girls got up and trimmed the wicks of their lamps. The foolish girls said to the wise ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ But the wise girls replied, ‘No, because otherwise there won’t be enough for both you and for us. Go to the shopkeepers and buy some oil for yourselves.’ While they went to buy oil, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding, and the door was locked shut. The other girls came later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they called, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he answered, ‘I tell you the truth: I don’t know you.’ So stay alert, for you don’t know the day, or the hour.
Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
“It’s like a man who went away on a trip. He called in his servants and entrusted them with what he owned. To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to another one, according to their different abilities. Then he left. Immediately the one with five talents went and invested them in a business, and made another five talents. In the same way the one with two talents made another two. But the man who’d received the one talent went off and dug a hole and hid his master’s money. A long time later the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. The one with five talents came and presented the other five talents. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me five talents. Look, I’ve made a profit of five talents.’ His master said to him, ‘You’ve done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved yourself trustworthy over small things, so now I’m placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I’m really pleased with you! The one with two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘You gave me two talents. Look, I’ve made a profit of two talents.’ His master said to him, ‘You’ve done well—you are a good, faithful servant. You have proved trustworthy over small things, so now I’m placing you in charge over many things. Be happy because I’m really pleased with you!’ “Then the man with one talent came. “Master,’ he said, ‘I know that you’re a hard man. You reap where you didn’t sow, and you harvest crops that you didn’t plant. So since I was afraid of you I went and buried your talent in the ground. Look, you can have back what belongs to you.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you think I reap where I don’t sow, and harvest crops I didn’t plant, then you should have deposited my silver in the bank so that when I returned I could have had my money with interest. Take the talent away from him, and give it to the one with ten talents. For everyone who has will be given even more; and everyone who doesn’t have anything, even what they have will be taken away from them. Now throw this useless servant out into the darkness where there’ll be crying and gnashing of teeth.’
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
RELIGION, REVELATION AND GOD'S KINGDOM1065. Religion is not the church, but the church too easily becomes religion.
1066. Religion kills, God upskills.
1067. Religion is a gathering of like minds, God's kingdom, one of godly natures.
1068. Religion insidiously enters the church through repetition.
1069. Repetition is religion's close ally.
1070. As people we are inherently religious, for we enjoy feeling comfortable - even in our discomfort!
1071. Religion is revelation become tradition.
1072. Tradition is religion's friend, but the deadly enemy of revelation.
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 ...
THE WORLD'S GREATEST PROBLEM!!!!! (Next to not knowing Jesus)
FOOD v EXERCISEWhen I read these figures, it made me think how it is so much easier not to eat snack foods, (except as a treat) than to have to deal with the consequences later through exercise. To get rid of the calories generated takes.....
CAN OF COKE 335ml )
CAN OF BEER 330 ml )..60 min Easy Walking ... Fast Walking 30 min .. Running 9-15 min
GLASS OF WINE 177ml)
PACK OF CHIPS 40gm ..90 min Easy Walking ... Fast Walking 45 min .. Running 13-23 min
SNICKERS BAR 120gm ..120 min Easy Walking .. Fast Walking 90 min .. Running 18-30 min
DRINK, CHIPS & BAR ..3 1/2 hr Easy Walking.. Fast Walking 2 3/4hr .Running 40-68 min
Makes you think? Me too!
A MILE A DAY TO KEEP CANCER AWAY (An article I read today)
AAP
Breast and also prostate cancer patients could cut their risk of dying by walking just one 1 mile (1.61 km) a day, it has been suggested.
Walking for a mile at a moderate pace of around 3 miles per hour (4.83km/h), or walking for 20 minutes a day could reduce breast cancer patients' risk of dying from the disease by 40 per cent while those with prostate cancer could reduce their risk by 30 per cent, according to new calculations by Walking for Health, run by Britain's Macmillan Cancer Support and the Ramblers.
The estimates have been based on guidelines from the Chief Medical Officer of 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. For walking, this must be "brisk" or "fast" walking, typically 3mph or faster.
Side-effects such as swelling around the arm, anxiety, depression, fatigue, impaired mobility and weight changes can be lessened by doing exercise, the Macmillan Cancer Support states.
Despite these potential benefits, estimates suggest that currently 1.6 million of the two million people living with cancer in Britain are not active at recommended levels, they added.
Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is a very simple and obvious solution. Physical activity is a wonder drug and healthcare professionals must prescribe physical activity, such as walking, as a standard part of cancer recovery."
PS: Comments are welcomed and appreciated.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A CHURCH OF VICTORYReflecting God’s Glory upon the Earth.
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. ***
81. MISTAKEN IDENTITY
"Recently we got a call from that big white church at 11th and Walnut," the paramedic said. "A frantic usher was very concerned that during the sermon an elderly man passed out in a pew and appeared to be dead. The usher could find no pulse and there was no noticeable breathing."
"What was so unusual and demanding about this particular call?" the interviewer asked.
"Well," the paramedic said, "we carried out four guys before we found the one who was dead."
80. SALES Vs MANAGEMENT
A passenger jet was suffering through a severe thunderstorm. As the passengers were being bounced around by the turbulence a young woman turned to a minister sitting next to her and with a nervous laugh asks, "Reverend, you're a man of God, can't you do something about this storm?"
To which he replies, "Lady, I'm in sales, not management."
79. MANY A TRUE WORD.....
It has to be confessed that the minister was rather long-winded.
During his sermon a young wife of the congregation remembered that she had left the Sunday dinner in the gas range without regulating the flame.
She hastily wrote a note and slipped it to her husband, who was an usher.
He, thinking it was for the minister, calmly walked up and laid it on the pulpit.
The minister paused, took the note with a smile, which turned into a terrific frown as he read:
"Please hurry home and shut off the gas."
"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 do selenologists study? Butterflies, traffic density, the moon, vibrations or indigenous cultures?ANSWER: The moon. (They lay claim to having met 'the man in the moon' and try to tell us that it isn't made of cheese!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Sharks and Rays are the only animals known to man that cannot get this disease. What is it?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 660. BADLY
When Julius Caesar noticed the hair thinning on the pate, he took to wearing a laurel reef to cover his baldness. (Vanity is not a only a modern disease.)
661. A LITTLE TITLE
The dot over the letter ‘i’ is called a tittle. (You can ‘tittle tattle’ to your friends about this.)
662. A LEG FOR BREAKFAST?
Australian scientists have discovered that some spiders bite off their mother’s limbs and feast on them over a period of weeks, presumably stopping them eating each other. (Australians tend to do this to their politicians too!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
PATCHING
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...
PRAYER
8: Who prayed, "I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see?"a. Jesus
b. Elisha
c. Elijah
d. Ananias
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"""FOR ALL YOU LEXOPHILES (LOVERS OF WORDS)
1. A bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired.
2. What's the definition of a will? (it's a dead giveaway).
3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backward poet writes inverse.
5. In democracy it's your vote that counts; In feudalism, it's your count that votes.
7. A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
9. With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TILL DEATH DO US PART!
89. UICK QUIPDon't marry for money. You can borrow it cheaper!
-Primatutu
90. WHICH LAW
John was brought before the court on the charge of refusing to obey a police Officer. "Why did you refuse to move on when asked to do so by the officer?" the judge inquired, obviously wondering what unexplained force could have given such a man strength to buck a strong minion of the law.
"It's like this, your honor," explained John. "My wife said I was to meet her at exactly twelve noon at that spot - and I was forced to choose between man's law and wife's law."
91. PERSUASION
An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.
"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her," and he hangs up.
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."
She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at the old man, "You are NOT getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.
"Okay," he says, "They're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own fares... Now what do we tell them for Christmas?
More marriage and family humour here.....
Slavyansk church re-opens in Ukraine
Published by Greg Yoder on August 28, 2014Ukraine (MNN) — A new front has been opened in eastern Ukraine in recent days. According to reports, tanks, artillery, and infantry crossed from Russia into Novoazovsk, a border town near Russia. These attacks caused panic among Ukrainian forces in what Ukrainian and Western military officials described as a stealth invasion. Some believe Russia orchestrated it to help the separatists, who have been on retreat for the last couple of weeks.
One of the areas where Ukrainian soldiers successfully pushed out the separatists was Slavyansk. President of Russian Ministries Sergey Rakhuba was just in that region. “The people of Ukraine are exhausted, and they really, really want to have peace in their communities.â€
Rakhuba was there to talk to church leaders about how to help the victims of the conflict. He was able to personally hand out the Russian Ministries I Care packs. “I saw the Christian work in the midst of the crisis, and I’m so proud to see these young Christian leaders, these pastors. They are getting the Gospel advanced through the crisis.â€
Good News Church in Slavyansk was taken over by Russian separatists. Rakhuba says, “Their Sunday School classes were stuffed with explosives and weapons.â€
After Ukrainian soldiers retook the city, church members pooled finances and bought billboards. “The billboard was saying, ‘Hope is still here. Hope is in God. Slavyansk citizens, believe, and God will come and rescue you.†So, there is hope.â€
Rakhuba was able to worship with these brothers and sisters. “Half of the congregation are mostly new people that came because of the crisis. The church helped them during the crisis, and they expect the church to double in size.â€
What was it like to worship with them? “I could not hold my tears back, hearing that congregation of over 500 or 600 singing Hallelujah to God, Holy, Holy, Holy. They were praising God that He saved their lives.â€
The I Care packs from Russian Ministries have made both a physical and spiritual impact on the community. Rakhuba says revival could happen. “People are so open to the Gospel. People are so open to God. I want to encourage [Christians] to continue praying that God would move the leaders of the Ukrainian church to advance the Gospel.â€
Russian Ministries is in the midst of training more pastors to use I Care packs to help refugees physically, but also meet their spiritual needs. More I Care packs are needed. It costs just $50 to provide enough food for a week for a whole family, along with counseling and God’s Word.
Source: Mission Network News
Via: OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOAD
A REVELATION OF…….THE 3 GARDENS OF GODHaving spent much of my life involved in the gardening industry, as a grower, wholesaler of flowers, bulbs and plants and finally as a mail order seller of the same, this revelation has reached into my 'gardeners' heart!
Gardens and nature have a special place in God's heart too. This is not surprising, for He was their creator! Nor is it surprising then, that He should choose garden settings for key events in His interaction with man to take place.
Let's see what they are.
Download your free PDF Files here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
When you commit to something you have to keep doing it - week after week, after week.MUSING ABOUT MUSING
Why do a musing?
Simply to be amusing!
Just to entertain?
Looked upon with disdain.
To give a word of advice,
About my cruellest vice,
To add some spice,
That would be nice.
Or to wax on lyrical,
About something spiritual.
To add a religious flavour,
Looked upon with disfavour.
But what is left?
I am simply bereft.
If it is too deep,
You'll go to sleep.
If too shallow,
Be too hollow,
So now I'll end,
Before I offend!
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This week has been a very normal one for me. Work - some problems, some successes, some failures - ministry and a little play have made the days pass 1,2,3,4,5,6, & 7. Lo and behold, another week has both come and gone!The good news is, next week is the start of Spring here in New Zealand. I know, for most of you, it is the start of the transition from Summer to Autumn. I am a Summer man, enjoying the heat rather than the cold. A warm blooded human being! Well, sometimes!
The days, weeks and seasons pass so fast, don't they? The year is 2/3's through, and soon we will be talking about 2015!
Time slips away. Let's not put aside those things we ought to have done yesterday, or want to do one day, until it is too late.......
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: NIGHTCAP
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' b. Elisha
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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