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: 69 Published: 24 Feb 2003
NOT THE WAY OF THE WORLD
The call of God on our lives is not understandable, indeed foolishness, to those of the world. In fact it also seems foolish to some Christians too! To those who are unwilling or unable to hear the Spirit of God in their lives.Such attitudes became clearly apparent when talking to others about our family shifting cities last weekend. Non Christians couldn’t understand how we could take such a step, without considering all the ‘pros and cons’ of the move. “How would it benefit me?” is the way they think. If the benefits are not readily apparent, then don't do it.
Some Christians too, discount the possibility of hearing from God directly, or the wisdom of acting upon such ‘super-spiritual’ guidance.
How do you know then, that you really are doing the right thing? How can you be sure that your ‘Word Heard’ was definitely of God, not simply a figment of your imagination? There are two simple answers. Firstly, if it is something you don’t really want to do, then it is more likely to be of God than your wishful imagination! Not always the case, but a useful guide.
Secondly, ask for confirmation. For there is nothing so blind as ‘blind faith’. So often well meaning people, as well as others avoiding the hard realities of life and living, skip from one thing or place to another, merely on a whim, all in the name of God’s will. But when God wants us to do something, He will confirm it to us in ways that are most unlikely to occur in the natural. We simply need to ask Him.
I asked for 3 separate car parks on the one day in seemingly impossible situations of huge traffic jams. All were provided. I asked God for a Word from two ladies I respected. Both rang up without me mentioning anything to them and gave the identical word, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” Wonderful Lord, but I would like a third confirmation, just to be sure! For the foundation of our teaching is the principle of threes in God. A few nights before we left Tauranga, my friend Trevor, who thinks he never hears from God, prayed for us. “This is the way, walk ye in it!” Finally, as I was completing my last run before shifting, I realised that my last three runs had all been under my target time, a time I had been well outside of previously. Three threes! Thank you Lord!
While these areas may seem strange or inconsequential to you, they are ones that my experience has proven over the years that the Lord uses for me. But God will have His individual ways of communicating with you too. When we are walking in His paths, being disciples rather than simply believers, He will guide us along His way, even if it is not immediately apparent why or where we are going. Thank you Lord for being so good to me. So good to all who truly desire to follow you.
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FROM THE WORD
WISDOM FROM THE SPIRIT"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
BELIEVERS v DISCIPLES*** A believer praises the Lord in good times, the disciple at all times.
*** The Holy Spirit resides in the believer but shines through the disciple.
*** A believer loves God with heart and mind while a disciple commits the will.
*** A believer loves God and others, but they are the disciple's life.
*** A believer lives in hope, but for the disciple, God's hope is certain.
*** A believer seeks forgiveness for sin but the disciple also determines not to walk that path again.
*** A believer has faith in God but the disciple's faith is tempered in the fire of testing.
*** A believer loves the Lord, but the disciple's love is unconditional.
*** The believer serves the Lord in strength, but the disciple is made perfect through weakness.
*** God is part of the believer's life, but the central focus of the disciple.
*** A believer forgives, but the disciple also forgets.
*** A believer communicates with God at their own convenience, but the disciple's heart is open to the Lord at all times.
*** A believer knows, but the disciple does.
There are now over 430 David sayings for you to view at ...
MP3 DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
In conjunction with Inspirational Tapesinspirational.org.nz we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to download the following message in MP3 format, free of charge. Inspirational Tapes offers a range of over 4,000 Audio Cassette Tapes, CD's and Videos to members worldwide, for hire, download or purchase.
This week's download is:
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY USE THE LAW
By: Ray Comfort
Another tape from Ray. Last week's one was highly popular. A New Zealander now living in the US, he has joined forces with the actor Kirk Cameron in a highly effective evangelistic ministry. Another amazing tape!
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: How did trivia such as this, get its name?ANSWER: It is a merging of the Latin words 'tri' (three) and 'via' (road). To educate the public, news and information were posted on boards at crossroads (where three roads met) and so the word ' trivialis' was applied to the snippets of un-related information. The word trivial is derived from this, 'trivia' as a word on its own dates to about 1920.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: If you cut an earthworm in half, will it grow into two new worms?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
A USELESS INVENTION?
Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, could not phone the two most important women in his life, his wife and his mother, as they were both deaf. (Successive generations of women have more than made up for this!)
NON COMPULSORY FAST
The South European Tarantula Spider is able to survive for up to 2 ½ years without food. In Southern Italy, it was formerly thought to cause a dancing mania in those lucky or unlucky enough to be bitten by it. (Could go for a long time between drinks!)
OWL STEALTH
The primary feathers of some types of owl are fringed to enable silent flight. This isn’t to stop the prey hearing the owl, but rather to enable the owl to hear its prey. (Then time for the prey to pray!)
A PUZZLE FOR YOU!
yats---urcloseclose
Answer at the end of A David Musing.
175 fun facts and trivial trivia now found at ...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***ANOTHER TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE DAY
GRAVITY RULES
A woman was at the beach with her children when her four-year-old son ran up to me, grabbed my hand and led me to the shore where a sea gull lay dead in the sand. "Mommy, what happened to him?" my son asked. "He died and went to heaven," I replied. My son thought a moment and then said, "And God threw him back down?"
THE TRUTH OF IT
After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money. "Well, thank you," the pastor replied. "But why?" "Because," the boy responded, "my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
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LIFE'S A LAUGH!
PROBLEMS?My wife, a flight attendant for a major airline, watched one day as a passenger with overloaded bags tried to stuff his belongings into the overhead bin of the plane. Finally, she informed him that he would have to check the oversized luggage.
"When I fly other airlines," he said irritably, "I don't have this problem."
My wife smiled and replied, "When you fly other airlines, I don't have this problem either."
IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE SPARE TIME YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ...
BESIDE MELast Wednesday was my wife Kathy's birthday. The last number was a 5. I will say no more! This poem, my very first, is a tribute to her. She stood by me through very difficult circumstances i.e. Me being me! I hope now that God has entered my equation, a few of the rough edges are being rubbed off!
Have a read at...
A DAVID MUSING
Waiting, waiting, waiting! How little we like it, how much of it we have to do! Why? Why? Why?Because God uses waiting time to bring us closer to perfection in Him. Yes, if I were already perfect, I would no longer have to wait!
But am I prepared to pay the price?
Now, that’s a thought, isn’t it!
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: Stay back. You are too close.
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Mount Maunganui, 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 website wwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.Walking With Jesus Ministries
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
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