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: 710 Published: 08 Jun 2015
AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS - LOVE
What is at the heart of the end time, kingdom church?The answer is actually very simple in principle, if not so simple to activate! For the answer is found in one word - LOVE.
But what is love?
1. LOVE IS THE CHARACTER OF GOD
2. WE ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE GOD IN RETURN
3. THE ATTITUDE OF THE DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH
4. WE ARE ALSO COMMANDED TO LOVE OTHERS
5. CAN WE BECOME 'LOVE'LY BY OURSELVES?
6. GOOD WORKS AND LOVE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME
7. LOVE MUST CHANGE US
8. LOVE CHANGES THOSE WE LOVE
Today.....
9. LOVE IS THE SOURCE OF UNITY
There are now 30,000+ denominations in the world, as we mentioned earlier. We have seen over the past several hundred years since the Reformation that unity in the church will never be achieved through the denominational system.
Yet Jesus is returning for a single, a united, pure and holy bride.
7 Let us rejoice and shout for joy [exulting and triumphant]! Let us celebrate and ascribe to Him glory and honor, for the marriage of the Lamb [at last] has come, and His bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been permitted to dress in fine (radiant) linen, dazzling and white—for the fine linen is (signifies, represents) the righteousness (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) of the saints (God’s holy people).
I would suggest to you, that the definition of righteousness (and holiness) here (the upright, just, and godly living, deeds, and conduct, and right standing with God) is impossible to attain to without God given love coursing through our veins.
Holiness and righteousness must be built upon the foundation of love, specifically, God given love.This is what the 'Love Chapter' of 1 Corinthians 13 is all about. We can have human love, caring for the poor and needy, doing good works in human strength.....
3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3 AMP)
..... but fail to see God.
All that endures is God given love.....
8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. As for prophecy (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), it will be fulfilled and pass away; as for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away [it will lose its value and be superseded by truth]. 9 For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). (1 Corinthians 13:8-9)
We can have faith, we can have hope, both of which are great Christian attributes, but the greatest God given gift is love.....
13 And so faith, hope, love abide [faith—conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Without holiness, which must be built upon the foundation of love, no-one will see the Lord.
14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14 AMP)
Love is the foundation of the bride (singular) for whom Jesus is returning. True, spiritual unity only comes through God given love, which is reflected in righteousness and holiness in our lives.
Yes, God given love will bring unity to the bride of Jesus.
(Continues next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl (Matthew 13:44-6)
Followed by more parables.
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. A man found it, reburied it, and then full of joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
The kingdom of heaven is also like a trader looking for good pearls. When he found the most expensive pearl ever he went and sold all he had and bought it.
Parable of the Net (Matthew 13:47-52)
Once more, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net thrown into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. When it was full it was dragged ashore. The good fish were put into baskets while the bad ones were thrown away.
“That’s the way it will be when the end of the world comes. The angels will go out and separate the evil
people from the good, and throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
“Now do you understood everything?â€
“Every religious teacher who’s learned about the kingdom of heaven is like a house-owner who brings out
from his storeroom both new and old treasures,â€
Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 8:23-7, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-5)
When travelling to the other side of the lake.
“Let’s go across to the other side of the Sea.â€
When the storm came and the disciples woke Jesus.
“Be quiet! Be still.â€
“Why are you so frightened? Haven’t you learned to trust me?â€
(Continued next week.)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
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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.....
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
HOPE497. I am so glad that my hope is in you Lord. For I so often let myself down.
498. Hope in self is not at all comforting on ones deathbed.
499. Our hope in Jesus is retained in the mind, even when our body tells us that there is none other left.
500. Hope for the best? Be assured of it in Jesus!
501. Hope enables us to wake up in the morning, confidently prepared to share the uncertainty of the day ahead with a friend.
502. Hope builds faith, which is to be reflected in love. Without hope, there is no love.
503. Hope overcomes hopelessness.
504. ‘Hoping for the best’ is at best a gamble, hope in the salvation of Jesus, a certainty.
505. Hope expands horizons.
506. God’s hope gives life, but human hopelessness brings death. The choice is ours.
507. The hope of tomorrow helps us deal with the realities of today.
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: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues....... as we look at an unexpected turn in our lives.
Check out all the available teachings at...
*** ANOTHER DAILY EZINE FROM WWJ!*** 'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES' Subscribe Today
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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. ***
188. YOU DIRTY RAT - ER, RODENT
A pastor was spending the Saturday afternoon at a house in the little country town where he preached. After lunch he was sitting out on the front porch with his host and his wife when their two children rushed up, one of them swinging a dead rat over his head by the tail. "Look, ma! Don't be afraid, it's dead," exulted the boy, oblivious to his mother's embarrassment. "Yeah, ma," shouted the girl. "We bashed him in the head with a stick, then we stoned him, then we took a rake to him, and we whacked him and hacked him until" - and then catching sight of the amused clergyman, she finished in a lowered, respectful voice - "until the good Lord called him home."
187. BET YOU CAN'T TELL JUST ONE
The pastor had come home tired after a full day of visitation and counselling, when there was a knock at the door. A peek through the curtain revealed the pinched features of the church's resident busybody. "Oh, no," whispered the worn-out minister to his wife. "It's Miss Brisby! Tell her I went to bed early!" And he hurried upstairs to nominally justify the story by lying down on the bed.
After nearly an hour of reading and relaxing, he ventured out of the bedroom and listened at the top of the stairs. Not hearing anything, he started down, calling out to his wife, "Well, honey, did that dreadfully nosy old bore finally leave?"
As he finished the sentence he rounded the stair corner and saw his wife standing next to the woman in question. Both wore a shocked expression as they stared at him.
But his fast-thinking wife saved the day and said, "Yes, dear, she did; but now Mrs. Brisby is here and would love to see you! "
186. STUCK IN A RUT
An old gentleman at a small country church had given the same testimony at every meeting for the last twenty years. It was always, "I'm not making much progress, but Praise the Lord, I'm established."
One rainy afternoon his car slipped off the narrow dirt road and into the ditch. Try as he could, he couldn't budge, but simply spun his tires. Along came a deacon who could never quite accept the old fellow's testimony. Stopping to look the situation over he said with a smile, "Well, Brother, I see you're not making much progress, but you're sure established!"
"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 bird migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year?ANSWER: The Arctic Tern. This travelling bird flies nearly 22,000 miles (35,000km) each year in its migration (roughly the circumference of the Earth), making it the animal with the greatest migratory range. Takes six months to fly each way. It migrates to live! It lives to migrate! (Gets there, then ‘terns’ round and goes back!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What controversy involving Pluto occurred in 1999?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 549. HARD ROCK WORK
A scientific study has shown that Hard Rock music makes termites chew through wood at twice their normal speed. (To get away from it all?)
550. SACRIFICIAL LOVE
A female ferret will die if it goes on heat and can’t find a mate. (Reproduction is literally a life and death matter here.)
551. WATCH YOUR STEP
The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet, all the time. (And you thought donkeys were stupid for looking down!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
RAPTOR
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...
WHICH BOOK?
6. ___other than Matthew, records the birth of Jesus?a. Mark
b. Luke
c. John
d. Acts
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"""GOD SAID
!!!!!!! If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer?
!!!!!! If you never went through difficulties, how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?
!!!!! If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?
!!!! If you never felt sadness, how would you know that I'm a Comforter?
!!! If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I'm forgiving?
!! If you knew it all, how would you know that I will answer your questions?
! If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART
108. WHY?Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?"
"Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life," her mother tried to explain, keeping it simple.
The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why's the groom wearing black?"
109. ENDORSEMENT ANYONE?
Proud and pleased as she could be, the petite young bride, Mrs. Jones, strode briskly up to the teller's cage at the bank to cash her husband's pay check for the first time.
When the teller told her the check would have to be endorsed, the bride grabbed the pen and unhesitatingly wrote on the back, "I heartily recommend my husband, Mr. Jones"
110. IMPORTANT THINGS
While attending a marriage seminar on communication, Tom and his wife Peg listened to the instructor declare, "It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other."
He addressed the men, "Can you describe your wife's favorite flower ?"
Tom leaned over, touched his wife's arm gently and whispered, "Pillsbury All-Purpose, isn't it?"
The rest of the story is not pleasant.
111. TOUCHE!
Grumbled the new groom at dinner: "Why can't you make bread like my mother does?"
Answered his bride, "Why can't you make dough like my father does?"
More marriage and family humour here.....
The Good News Hiding Beneath the Headlines
Philip YanceyAfter listening to several dark reviews of 2014—recapped news of the beheadings in Iraq, the Ebola epidemic, racial strife, airplanes crashed or missing, ongoing violence in Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and several African countries—it’s no wonder we’re glad to put last year behind us. Amid all the fear and anxiety, where can we find some good news?
After a steady diet of cable news, you may be surprised to learn the following:
Abortions in the US are at their lowest rate since 1976.
Violent crime has hit a 20-year low, with overall crime falling for fifteen straight years.
Globally, absolute poverty (what’s necessary to afford minimal standards of food, clothing, health care and shelter) has reached the lowest level in recorded history.
Deaths from wars in this century are fewer than at any comparable period in the twentieth century.
Life expectancy continues to rise, reaching 78 in the US and 71 worldwide (up from 59 in 1970).
Child mortality rates have dropped dramatically in the last forty years while education and literacy rates have soared.
Statistics don’t always dispel doubt, I realize. Yet over the past year, I’ve also witnessed the good news firsthand, through my own travels and ministry.
At a conference of Prison Fellowship International (PFI), which ministers to prisoners in more than 125 countries, I met African Christians who bring soup and bread to prisoners and establish schools for children incarcerated with their mothers. In places like Brazil and Belize the government has turned over the administration of entire prisons to PFI with remarkable results.
The most prestigious medical college in the India, Christian Medical College Vellore, honored last year the legacy of Dr. Paul Brand, who revolutionized the understanding and treatment of leprosy, and his wife Margaret, who performed thousands of cataract surgeries in mobile eye camps. Although Christians constitute a small minority in India, they provide health care for almost 20 percent of the country. In much of Africa, Christian clinics and hospitals provide the majority of care.
In the US, I spoke before a thousand Hispanic pastors who run outreach programs for the growing Hispanic population. I participated in a gathering of BioLogos, an organization founded by Dr. Francis Collins, who directed the Human Genome Project and now heads the National Institutes of Health. To help bridge the perceived gap between science and religion, BioLogos brings together pastors, scientists, theologians, and ministry leaders to shed light on the most divisive issues.
At the end of the year, I went on a book tour to introduce Vanishing Grace: What Ever Happened to the Good News? Organizers arranged for a musician to round out the program: Anthony Evans, talent scout for The Voice. As we got acquainted, a holy irony sank in. Fifty years ago a young student at Carver Bible College was denied membership in the church I attended as a child, solely because of his race. That student, Tony Evans, went on to become the first African American to earn a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary and now leads a 10,000-member church in Dallas. The church later held a service of repentance, and Tony Evans’ son and I were appearing together on stage. Not all grace has vanished. “When I hear about the kinds of things my father went through, it almost seems like another world,†Anthony said.
Each of these experiences gave a different glimpse of how God’s kingdom advances: slowly, steadily, and mostly out of the limelight. Perhaps the most moving moment of the year came during a visit to South Korea, when I toured the Yanghwajin Foreign Missionary Cemetery, built to honor 145 missionaries, mostly British and American, who died while serving God in their adopted country.
Source: Christianity Today
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
TWENTY-FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUSNot 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!
Download your free PDF Files here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
Proving the spiritual gift of patience in an important decision is a real test. One, I am with difficulty, learning to live out!WAITING, WAITING
Waiting,
Waiting!
Frustrating'
Frustrating!
Challenging,
Challenging!
Trusting,
Trusting!
Growing,
Growing!
Strengthening,
Strengthening!
Acclaiming,
Acclaiming!
Rejoicing,
Rejoicing!
May your will be done, Lord.
Amen.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This weekend I will be on the other end of the microphone again as we have an afternoon/evening here in our own city - moved from the sound desk back to the microphone in a week.It is always, as Jesus experienced, difficult to minister in your home town.
We are arranging a last minute meeting as we have available the services of Graeme Cook, (photo) of ParadiseSong Ministries to bring his God given prophetic worship gift to share with us. Hallelujah! He can make the keyboard speak! An amazing gift!
Then the people will receive the kingdom teachings that it is my privilege to share with you each week. I pray that those who come will grasp the vision of building God's kingdom on the earth, now.
By the time you get this the meeting will have finished, (I have to write this in advance for I have a busy weekend) but I will let you know how it went next week.
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SKEPTIC
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' b. Luke
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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