TWENTY-FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS

Not clearly numbered and listed, as in the Old Testament outward Law of the 10 Commandments, they are found among the teachings of Jesus in the 4 Gospels, and are available for all who have a heart to seek them.

We all too easily think, with the emphasis that Jesus places on love and forgiveness, that he didn't teach any absolutes. But, as can be seen here, Jesus did place boundaries on believer's behaviour, along with instructions for Godly living.

I have grouped these into 3 categories for easier comprehension.

Don't take my word for it! Study the Scriptures!

David Tait
Walking With Jesus Ministries
www.wwj.org.nz

LOVE THE 25 COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS!
BRILLIANT!

Dr Bernie Wade
President - ICOF Global Union

You may download the PDF here.....

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj47p22.pdf

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY?

THE POST APOSTOLIC CHURCH

The 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.

THE CHALLENGE OF..... LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE

To conclude this series on the history of the church, past, present and likely future from a Holy Spirit anointing perspective, I will finish, over the weeks ahead, by looking at the 'Parables of Jesus' which set out the principles of living a kingdom lifestyle.

The relevant Scriptures can be accessed by clicking on the blue links.

THE PARABLE OF THE TENNANTS

33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ”‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. (Matthew 21:33-46)

Under the Old Testament church, in the form of the Tabernacles of Moses and the Temples that followed, the priesthood was primarily responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of the people. God entrusted His church to the Jews, more specifically, to the priesthood. This parable talks about how the leadership, in particular, rejected and killed the prophets that God had sent over the centuries to provide correction and direction to the people. Being a prophet in Old Testament times was a high risk occupation! Stoning was a common fate! e.g. Zechariah.
2 Chronicles 24:21

Planting a vineyard is an expensive business and it takes time for the vines to mature and provide a good harvest. This is the nature of business. Take for example, on a much shorter time scale, the establishment of a 'Seekers Megamart'. It costs us $20,000 to set up a new shop. We need a weekly turnover of $4-6,000, depending upon location, to make it economic. We do not expect to start out with that turnover, but over a period of a year, with staff training, publicity and word of mouth, we expect the turnover to approach that level. At the one year point, we will make a decision as to whether to continue in that location, or not.

God was a lot more patient than me! His trainers were killed on a regular basis by the religious management! So, in a last ditch effort to get the 'spiritual vineyard' back on track, He sent Jesus, His son. We know the result. Jesus foretold that He was going to meet a similar fate as had the prophets earlier. The time of decision had come. The kingdom of God was to be transferred from Jewish to gentile custody. The Jewish religious leaders were finally held accountable for their actions over the centuries. Custody of the church has been placed in gentile hands until there is a reconciliation of believing Jews and gentiles at the end of the age. The 'playing field' has changed. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. He is now our sole intercessor with God. No longer do we approach God through a priesthood (or 'pastorhood'). We are PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE for our OWN SALVATION, past, present and future. The kingdom of God is available to, and must be sought by, each one of us individually. For the kingdom of God is not found in a building or denomination, but within the individual believer.
Luke 17:20-1

As leaders we need to be very aware of this New Testament reality and be extremely careful not to become de facto priests. We can help point the way, but no-one can come to Jesus through us. It is between the individual and Jesus.
John 14:6

Likewise, it is the role of leadership to train the people to do the work, not to take it all upon ourselves.
Ephesians 4:11-12

It is only when leadership truly understand and applies this principle that we will come into end time unity.
Ephesians 4:13

I know it seems impossible. I realise it is our natural inclination to want to take on people's burdens. Being real, it feels nice to have people reliant upon us! But it is not the way of God for these days. We need to be so careful that we do not now suffer the same fate as the priests of the Old Testament, through disobeying God's instructions.

THE PARABLE OF THE YEAST

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 13:33-5)

It is amazing, when you read the commentaries, how much meaning can be taken out of a simple sentence such as that contained in verse 33 above! Enough for a long and very erudite sermon! But I am not sure that Jesus was meaning it to be understood this deeply in such a detailed fashion. The main point that Jesus was making is that the true kingdom of God is infectious, that it will permeate the large amount of flour, which can be viewed today as being either the world, or the church as a whole. The point is, the kingdom is the most, the only, the truly powerful element of change that can effect the world and even reform the church. As we have seen in the earlier parables, the kingdom consists of those believers, those disciples (the two are effectively the same) who are completely sold out to Jesus. Jesus (through John) made this point in His comments on the church at Laodicea, widely recognised as being a picture of today's church.
Revelation 3:14-16

Why were they lukewarm? For the same reason, we in the western world in particular are so today.
Revelation 3:17

We are wealthy (visit the poor in Africa or Asia if you don't think you are!) which creates self reliance. In reality, in spite of what we might say, we live lives where the security of possessions and pension plans has become the focus of our actions and behaviour. So what is the answer?
Revelation 3:18

We need to 'buy' the 'gold' of repentance and testing, by submitting our lives fully to Jesus and letting Him refine us in the fire, so producing in us lives of holiness and righteousness.

The area was famous for an eye salve, called 'mounce'. Jesus is using this natural illustration to encourage us to apply a 'spiritual mounce' to our eyes in order to see, then be able to understand what He was saying. This surely is a message to the church today, to look for spiritual rather than material riches. Let us take heed of the inspired message through the author of the book of Hebrews:
Hebrews 12:10-14

To those prepared to make the sacrifice, comes the greatest promise of all. Amen.
Revelation 3:21-2

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)

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FROM THE WORD

THE WORDS OF JESUS continued

The 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 RESSURECTION

Jesus Appears to the Two Mary’s (Matthew 28:9-10 , Mark 16:9, John 20:14-17)
To Mary Magdalene

“Why are you crying?” he asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
“Mary.”
“Don’t hold onto me,” “for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.”

To the other Mary

“Don’t be afraid! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Jesus Meets Two on the Road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:`13-32)
Talking about the things that had happened. Jesus replied.

“What are you discussing as you walk along?”
“What things?”
“You’re so dull! How slow you are to trust in all that the prophets said! 6Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer before he could enter into his glory?”

Jesus Appears to the Disciples Excluding Thomas (Luke 24:36-49, John:20:19-24)

“Peace to you!”
“Why are you frightened? Why are you doubting?” “Look at my hands and my feet—you can see it’s me. Touch me and you’ll be certain, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
“Do you have anything to eat?”

They gave Him broiled fish.

“This is what I explained to you while I was still with you. Everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, had to be fulfilled.”
“It was written like this: the Messiah would suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that in his name repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of all this. Now I’m going to send you what my Father promised—but wait in the city until you receive power from heaven.”

Again Jesus said.

May you have peace!” Jesus told them again. “In the same way the Father sent me, so I’m sending you.”

Jesus breathed on them, saying,

“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you hold them unforgiven, unforgiven they remain.”

(Continued next week)

You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj46p52.pdf

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'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.

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.....

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DAVID'S DOODLINGS

GODLINESS

1262 - 1271.
Godliness is...
....... putting God's heart in place of mine.
....... placing other's needs before my own.
....... keeping short accounts with God and others.
....... blessing God before myself.
....... giving myself to God because I truly love Him, without expecting a return.
....... absorbing the ridicule of others without reacting negatively.
....... being sold out to God's will for my life.
....... truly entering God's rest.
....... being prepared to die for my Lord.
....... Christ likeness.


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 ...

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CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER

Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com TO READ THIS CARTOON AND SEE THE OTHER PICTURES IN THIS EMAIL YOU NEED TO BE ONLINE. Check it out at...

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TUESDAY TEACHINGS

THIS WEEK: BEYOND THE VEIL – 1 continues
REVELATION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT PRINCIPLES OF ATONEMENT

B. ATONEMENT PRINCIPLES ‘POSITIONALLY’ FULFILLED BY JESUS
(To be Experientially fulfilled, that is Embraced, by the Church)

Continuing our study with the next 3 exciting, but challenging, truths we are to embrace as the church before Jesus returns.

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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. ***

116. AHHH - EXCUSE ME
The President was visiting Europe, and in Spain he noticed an old man in a long flowing white robe with a long white beard and long white hair. The man had a staff in one hand and some stone tablets under the other arm. Excited, G.W. approached the man and enquired,
"Aren't you Moses." The man ignored G.W. and stared at the ceiling.

President Bush positioned himself more directly in the man's view and asked gain, "Aren't you Moses?" The man continued to look up at the ceiling.

Exasperated, G.W. reached out, tugged at the man's sleeve, and asked again, "Excuse me, sir. But aren't you Moses?" The man finally responded in an irritated voice, "Yes, I am."

G.W. asked him why he was acting so rude and Moses responded, "Purely self-defence, I assure you. The last time I spoke to a Bush I had to wander around in the desert for forty years!"

115. GOD'S RESCUE ATTEMPTS
During heavy flooding caused by La Nina, a priest refused to obey evacuation orders and decided to stay back in town. As the flood waters rose higher, he climbed to the roof of his house and started praying to God for help.

After an hour of devout praying, a boat came by. The priest refused the boat crew's help.

"God will come to my assistance," he said. And he remained on the roof of his house.

After another hour praying, a canoe came by. The priest refused the owner's help.

"God will rescue me," he said. And he remained on the roof of his house.

After yet another hour of prayer, a helicopter flew by. Yet again, the priest refused help.

"God will help me", he said. And again, he remained on the roof of his house.

Despite continuous praying, the flood waters rose and the priest eventually drowned in the raging water.

In heaven, he met God and asked Him, "Why didn't you help me? I called for help and you didn't answer my prayers!"

"Didn't the help arrive? I sent a canoe, a boat, AND a chopper to your rescue!"

114. GREAT FAITH
An overweight business associate of mine decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favourite bakery. One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffeecake. We all scolded him, but his smile remained cherubic.

"This is a very special coffeecake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window was a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffeecakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery', and sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block, there it was!"

"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 ...

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FACTS FOR FUN

LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why do mockingbirds mimic other birds?

ANSWER: To attract the opposite sex! The female likes to hear a wide repertoire of up to 30 songs at a time. But she’s not fooled by them, for they are sufficiently different from the originals for her to know that they are coming from her suitor. (That’s not mocking his talent either.)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What and when is Universal Children's Day?

Answer Next Week.

SOME FUN FACTS

624. FLAG-RANT
In case you can’t find it, Cypress has a map on its flag. (Fortunately, Cypress is not much larger than its flag.)

625. APPROPRIATE
The founder of the famous retailer, J C Penny, had the surname ‘Cash’. (Cash by name, cash collector by nature.)

626. HOLY TIMBER
Kerimeski Church in Finland, is the world’s largest wooden church. (Do they have padding on the pews?)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

SHORTIE

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...

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PRAYER

20: How many times is the word "prayer" mentioned in the Bible (KJV)?

a. 50
b. 114
c. 176
d. 497

Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk

Heaps more fun and serious 'God Facts' are found at...

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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!

"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""

SAYINGS FOR YOU TO PONDER

!!!!!!! Speak well of your enemies ~ you made them!

!!!!!! You cannot stumble if you are on your knees.

!!!!! Most of the world's useful work is done by people who are pressed for time, or are tired, or don't feel well.

!!!! Humility is a strange thing ~ the moment you think you have it, you have lost it.

!!! Sin leaves a mark, just as a nail leaves a hole in furniture ~ when you pull the nail out, the hole is still there.

!! The goal of Christianity is not to make good people, but new people.

! Office sign: If you have nothing to do, please don't do it here.

100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...

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PETS RULE!

75. THE SECOND OPINION
A man runs into the vet's office carrying his dog, screaming for help. The vet rushes him back to an examination room and has him put his dog down on the examination table. The vet examines the still, limp body and after a few moments tells the man that his dog, regrettably, is dead. The man, clearly agitated and not willing to accept this, demands a second opinion.

The vet goes into the back room and comes out with a cat and puts the cat down next to the dog's body. The cat sniffs the body, walks from head to tail poking and sniffing the dog's body and finally looks at the vet and meows. The vet looks at the man and says, "I'm sorry, but the cat thinks that your dog is dead too."

The man is still unwilling to accept that his dog is dead.

The vet brings in a black Labrador. The lab sniffs the body, walks from head to tail, and finally looks at the vet and barks. The vet looks at the man and says, "I'm sorry, but the lab thinks your dog is dead too."

The man, finally resigned to the diagnosis, thanks the vet and asks how much he owes. The vet answers, "$650."

"$650 to tell me my dog is dead?" exclaimed the man....

"Well," the vet replies, "I would only have charged you $50 for my initial diagnosis. The additional $600 was for the cat scan and lab test."

76. FELINE FUN
What happened when the cat swallowed a silver dollar?
There was money in the kitty

What do you call a cat that travels by train to catch mice?
A com-mew-ter

What did the cat rest its head on when it went to sleep?
A Cat-er-pillow

What do you call a cat that likes to eat lemons?
A sour-puss

Sam: I wish I had enough money to buy one of those
pedigreed hairless Sphynx cats.
Bill: Why do you want one of those?
Sam: I don't - I just wish I had that much money.

77. ANIMAL ALPHABET
There's a little known animal that begins with the letter X. It's actually a Greek swordfish, spelled X-I-P-H-I-I-D-A-E, and it's pronounced ZIFF-EYE-IH-DEE. As Paul Harvey might say, "Now for the REST of the story." I'd like to present an ABC primer on animal puns.

AARDVARK a million miles to put 26 animal puns in alphabetical order. I'd BADGER you and I'd keep CARPing on the subject, until I have no i-DEERs left. I'd have no EGRETs, however, as I FERRET out more animal puns. If necessary, I'd even GOPHER broke. Some may say it's a HARE-brained attempt; but, IGUANA tell you, I'm no JACKASS -- and I KID you not. I'm not doing this for a LARK (although maybe just a MITE). So don't NAG me. In fact, you OTTER try to PARROT me. But don't QUAIL from the challenge. After all, you don't have to be a RACCOONteur. So just SALMON up some courage, before you take a TERN for the worse. Don't be afraid of people saying to you, "UNICORNiest person I know." Stop crying and VIPER nose. Then say, "WALLABY a son-of-a-gun," and start singing, "Zip-a-dee doo-dah, XIPHIIDAE ay." Soon you'll be a YAK-of-all-trades, and can put all of these animal puns in a book called "Who's ZOO."

Pat your petty humour here.....

http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets

God’s Hand at Work in North Korea (Part 2)

NOTE: I know this guy. He has amazing faith and courage! David.

It began on a flight to Moscow.

While enroute to attend a conference with a contingent of Asian Market Place ministers, Owen Pomana, 42, an indigenous Maori from New Zealand, had a vision of a colored flag. The star stood out. When Pomana asked God what the star represented, he saw the letters NK.

One of the businessmen flying with Pomana was from South Korea, and Pomana shared the vision with him. It was then that Pomana said he had a strong feeling he was supposed to fly to North Korea to share God’s Word and sound the shofar (trumpet) there.....

Part 2

Understandably amazed, Pomana told her that he had a shofar in his luggage which he sounded wherever he went. He called it “releasing the sound of heaven.”

He then asked the woman if she was familiar with the story of Kenneth Bae. She said she was, and that’s why she was going.

Pomana said, “These women were fearless warriors for Christ, sent on mission too. We laughed and giggled like little children. We had the assurance there and then that we were in God’s perfect will, and had been sent.”

They all enjoyed coffee and lunch, while sharing stories of faith and courage together.

Finally they arrived in Pyongyang, to a strong military presence. Pomana said there were stern looks and guns. He immediately began to pray.

As his luggage went through the X-ray machine, Pomana again witnessed officials looking away for some unexplainable reason. The shofar remained safe.

Feeling a tangible presence of angels around him, Pomana knew that he was in the midst of something supernatural.

Arriving in his hotel room, Pomana sounded his shofar and “released the sound of heaven” over North Korea. He also verbalized scriptures.

Over the next four days, Pomana said he grew progressively bolder as he asked permission to play the shofar. He said, “I took it with me wherever I went. The minders were taking notes wherever (we went). They were keen to know what it was, but they didn’t have a clue what it was. I showed them the indigenous carvings on it, and it seem to appease their questions.”

Pomana took a trip to the DMZ, or the demilitarized zone between the North and South border.

At the top he took video, and asked if he could sound his shofar. He was given permission.

Pomana said, “I sounded one long blast, the ‘Tekiah.’ The guard then lunged forward and said ‘stop,’ after he realized how loud it was. I had no doubt it was being heard by the South Korean Authorities, and all those cameras were recording.”

Pomana added, “All the people on my tour and others had recorded possibly the first ever sounding of the shofar from Israel in the DPRK.”

Over the next few days Pomana then sounded the shofar at a number of monuments in and around Pyongyang, as well as a number of other locations.

However, he said, the highlight of his trip was making a speech in Maori, which he knew North Korean officials wouldn’t be able to translate. As a number of people gathered around, Pomana said he continued by declaring prophetically in Maori Christ’s reign and kingship over the nation.

Reflecting back on the tour, Pomana said he realized he had been given incredible favor not just to share his culture, “but to carry the love from our nations and speak to the people and the land.”

However, Pomana wondered if he might end up being taken away for questioning about his frequent use of the shofar and the significance behind it.

“Was there going to be a knock on the door and would I be taken away,” Pomana asked himself. “I was prepared for the consequences of my actions, (and ready) to join my brother Kenneth Bae in prison, but I trusted in The Lord to deliver me from the hand of the enemy.”

Arriving at the border of Dandong, China and North Korea there was a long wait. When the train stopped, machine gun toting soldiers accompanied by German Shepherds wanted to inspect passports and look through bags. In addition, they checked iPads and cameras.

Pomana said, “Two hours of waiting seemed a long time. This was yet another time of intense prayer. Just over the bridge was freedom. Then finally passports were given back, and the train proceeded to deliver me into freedom, away from the confines of a culture willing to die for their supreme leader, Kim Jong Un.”

To his supporters who made the trip possible Pomana said, “I want to thank you all for standing with me in prayer, for sowing finances, and for believing in me. I love you all dearly, and the memory of this trip I will never forget.”

Pomana said he now wants to share his experiences with as many people as possible, and actively pursue Bae’s release in whatever way God allows.

If you would like to contact Owen Pomana, please e-mail him at: owen1971pomana@gmail.com

(Concluded next week)

DAVID'S DOWNLOAD

A REVELATION OF……. 3 MIRACULOUS CONCEPTIONS

And how they mirrored aspects of the life of Jesus up to 2050 years before He was born. Our God is amazing!

Download your free PDF Files here.....

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WAXING LYRICAL

The inspiration for the first two parts of this poem came from a cross-island trek Kathy
and I went on when we were staying on the beautiful Island of Rarotonga, in the Cook
Islands. For those who don’t know, The Cooks are situated around the Tropic of Capricorn
in the Pacific Ocean. A great place to visit! The last part is based loosely on the book
of Revelation, Chapters 21 and 22, the biblical promise of what is to come. Hope it is
both enjoyable and challenging to you. Of course it is just verse, so is not all strictly
theologically accurate! Called poetic licence!

VICTORY! (Part 3)

RIDING THE RIVER OF LIFE

“What is this I do hear?” the Spirit said,
“New words appearing, inside your head.
They are the ones I have been longing to hear,
So you my son, in a new direction, I can steer.”

“For I must explain,” the Spirit then told me,
“To move on, your decision only, must it be,
For to do the will of our Father is the highest call,
To attain this goal, you must sacrifice your all.”

“I can show you the way, point out the bends,
But the success of this journey, on you depends,
For this step involves 100% commitment,
Your own desires, being substituted for atonement.”

“Sounds good to me” I said, after some deep thought,
For giving up dreams is not what I had been taught
As being the real way to be successful in life.
But pursuing them, had only brought me strife.

“So how do we proceed?” I asked the Spirit,
“’Tis easy”, he said, “if you really want to do it.
Look over to the far side of the pool,
See there, the river starts, it’s so cool!”

Turning towards the river to look for a wee while,
“Not many swimming in it,” I think with a smile,
To my mind, that was so good to see,
Appealed to the adventurer, within me.

Seeing one person take the plunge,
Bobbing up and down like a sponge.
Struggling at first, fighting against the flow,
Before relaxing – now that’s the way to go!

Looking back at numerous people in the pool,
All happily swimming, many playing the fool,
Yelling out to them, “Hey, look what I have found!”
But no one hears me, by pleasure they are bound.

The stream is so inviting,
The journey so exciting.
Now I can no longer wait,
Others to join me at the gate.

Do a fine swallow dive, deep into the river,
Bounce in the current, hither and thither.
It is a new sensation to be unable to stop,
The water too deep, me on my toes to hop.

Hearing that gentle voice again inside,
“Relax now David, in me you do abide,
Obey me implicitly on this journey of life,
That’s the only way to keep out of strife.”

So relax I do, and float down the stream,
No effort on my part, life is but a dream!
So this is what living is all about!
For me there is, now no doubt!

Looking up to the sky, what do I see,
An eagle high above, flying so free.
Eagle eyes searching the river below,
A victory song, he does now bestow.

“But where will this stream take me?” I think,
Once again questioning, not wanting to sink,
“To the heavenly city,” the voice inside replies,
I believe him again, to me he never, ever lies.

“The heavenly city, wonder what its like?
I know!” The thought to me, then did strike.
For it is described in the guidebook Jesus gave,
The last two chapters - here it is - for it I did save.

Pondering this greatest of all cities as I float along,
“Is it possible that to it, one day, I will belong?”
Where the very glory of God has its home,
Living in perfect peace, no more to roam.

To view its great high wall, with twelve large gates,
Going in past the angels, now to be with my mates!
Seeing the names of the twelve tribes there inscribed,
With those of the Apostles on the foundations inside.

The wall is made of jasper, shining as clear as crystal,
The foundations of precious stones, emerald to beryl.
A main street of pure gold, like transparent glass,
Like everything else in this place, it has real class!

Floating down the stream,
Ever content in my dream,
I’m being cleansed inside,
No longer any sin to hide.

The voice inside now cries out – “Look! Look!
A city ahead – greater than any picture book!
The glory of God surrounds it from above,
And the light of the Lamb bathes it in love.”

Struggling against the flow to take a look around,
The voice said, “Don’t David, you’ll run aground,
Just rest in me, only I know the way to take you in,
Your own effort now, would merely end up as sin.”

So lying back, enjoying the current’s flow,
For the Holy Spirit, he knows where to go.
The goal of my life is now about to be achieved
With the Spirit’s help; ’tis what I’ve perceived.

One last bend, the river runs through the gate,
To a life full of gladness, no bitterness, no hate.
Entering the city, to be completely surrounded by gold,
More magnificent even, than the stories I’ve been told.

The river, from the very throne of God does flow,
Yes, I am in his will, that much I certainly know.
For the river flows through the main street of the city,
Its gurgling waters bubbling, bouncing - oh so pretty.

Looking to the left, then to the right,
The trees of life there, what a sight!
Twelve crops of fruit each year they bear,
An abundance of goodness for all to share.

Then coming to the final, eternal destination,
On a throne of gold sits the author of creation.
Welcoming there, truly magnificent in his glory,
I see it is my Jesus, long promised in his story.

Falling at his feet, overwhelmed by his glorious presence,
The air being charged with the most delightful fragrance.
His face smiling, radiating so much love and care,
I know it is he, for he still has his long black hair!

Then, the most amazing thing I have ever known,
A culmination of all that in my life has been sown,
By so many helpmates on my journey through.
He held out his hand saying, “David, I love you.”

As my hand grasps His, He gently raises me up,
Saying, “Come, be with me and share of my cup,
For you have overcome, won the final victory,
Earning the right, to rule and reign with me.”

Guiding me to my personal, hand built throne,
My heavenly glory reflects a little of his own.
For no longer does my earthly body smother,
The joy and fulfilment, of being his brother.

More of David's poetry here.....

http://wwj.org.nz/waxing.php

A DAVID MUSING

This week I had the opportunity to minister to a Men's Breakfast at the nearby Anglican Church.

As it is some time since I have been blessed with such an opportunity, I was naturally nervous about how it would go. With nothing formally prepared, I relied upon the Holy Spirit to lead me as I went. I was asked before I spoke, what I was going to speak about. My answer was that I didn't know! Not sure that impressed the introducer too much! LOL!

It turned out to be a testimony about my adventure through salvation, the Holy Spirit and on to a kingdom desire to do God's will in and for my life, so it flowed quite naturally.

No-one went to sleep! In fact, the comments afterwards were exactly the opposite!

It was interesting how a number of the group of primarily older men in a traditional church were hungry for more of God.

There is surely a latent desire throughout much of the church generally for more of God. We are living in an age when the 'lukewarm' are going to separate out into the 'hot' and the 'cold'. The Laodicean Church of Revelation 3 is a pattern of the church of this age. The lukewarm will be spit of God's mouth, but the overcomers, those who are prepared to open the door of God in their life, will inherit the greatest promise of all, to sit with Jesus on His throne.

Amen.

So until next week.....

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: HOLSTER

TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' b. 114

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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 website
wwj.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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