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: 714 Published: 06 Jul 2015
THE PURGING of THE CHURCH
The Lord has led me to go back to a sermon/prophecy I received in a group mailing, and filed, some time ago. It is by David Wilkerson.David was the Founding Pastor of Times Square Church in New York City. He was called to New York in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book, The Cross and the Switchblade.
After the introduction, he gave 11 bullet points about THE GLORIOUS FUTURE JUST AHEAD. As the Lord leads, I will expand on these challenging but inspiring aspects over the weeks ahead.
1. A purged, purified ministry!
As we look around the world today, we can see how this is coming about throughout the 'ministry world'. From the rich and famous, worldwide ministries, to the local church on the corner of your town, God is purging His church.
Interestingly, Jesus saved His harshest words for the Pharisees and scribes, who were the religious leaders of His day. In summary, in the gospel of Mark.....
Warning against the teachers of the law
38 As he taught, Jesus said, ‘Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the market-places, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.’ Mark 12:35-40
The detailed criticism is found in Matthew 23, headed, Seven woes on the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. We all know these but I would like to offer something a little different, my idea and paraphrase of what Jesus could have said had He been ministering here today.
1. Woe to you ministers, you preach a feel good gospel designed not to upset the people. Both you and they will be excluded from the kingdom. You prey upon the susceptible and make long prayers. You will be condemned.(23:13-14)
2. Woe to you evangelists. You travel everywhere preaching a low cost gospel of forgiveness without responsibility and life change, committing the both of you to hell. (23:15)
3. Woe to you ministers, you teach, rules, regulations and theology that takes people's eyes off me and focuses them on you. (23:16-22)
4. Woe to you ministers, you preach tithing to the people and reward yourselves with power and lifestyles out of the sacrifices they have made. (23:23-24)
5. Woe to you ministers, to make money you sell books, prayer cloths, holy incense and other other indulgences that falsely promise to make followers spiritual lives better, while your own lives do not live up to the illusion you are trying to sell. (23:25-26)
6. Woe to you ministers, you wear robes and beautiful clothes to make your people look up to you, but your personal lives do not live up to the image you create. (23:27-8)
7. Woe to you ministers, you lift up on a pedestal the founders of your denomination, then fail to live yourselves the revelation and obedience they displayed in their lives. (23:29-32)
You hypocrites, I am now sending those who are prepared to speak about and live the truths of my kingdom. You ridicule and reject them. Therefore you will come under My judgement both now and upon My return! (23:33-39)
For Jesus is returning for a pure and holy bride. Purging of unholy elements starts at the top!
Are you convicted? I am!
(Continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
Jesus - The Bread of Life (John 6:22-59)
When the boat reached the other side the crowd asked how He got there. Jesus replied.
“I tell you the truth,†“you’re looking because you ate as much bread as you wanted, not because you understood the miracles. Don’t be preoccupied about food that doesn’t last, but concentrate on the
lasting food of eternal life which the Son of man will give you, for God the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.â€
“What God wants you to do is to trust in the one he sent.â€
“I tell you the truth, it wasn’t Moses who gave you bread from heaven,†“It’s my Father who gives you the true bread of heaven. For the bread of God is the one who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.â€
“I am the bread of life,†“Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry again, and anyone who trusts in me will never be thirsty again. But as I explained to you before, you have seen me, but you still don’t trust me. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and I won’t reject any of them. For I came down from heaven not to do what I want, but to do what the One who sent me wants. What he wants is for me not to lose anyone he has given to me, but for me to raise them up at the last day. What my Father wants is for everyone who sees the Son and trusts in him to have eternal life, and for me to raise them up at the last day.â€
Then they disagreed with Him.
“Stop grumbling to each other,†“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me attracts them, and I will raise them up at the last day. As is written in Scripture by the prophets, ‘Everyone will be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to and learns from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen God, except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth: anyone who trusts in him has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate manna in the desert but they still died. But this is the bread that comes down from heaven, and anyone who eats it won’t ever die. I am the life-giving bread from heaven, and anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread is my flesh that I give so that the world may live.
“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you cannot truly live. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I remain in them. Just as the life-giving Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. Now this is the bread that came down from heaven, not the kind your forefathers ate and still died. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever.â€
Many Desert Jesus (John 6:60-71)
Deciding the teaching was too difficult to accept.
“Are you offended by this? Then what if you were to see the Son ascend to where he was before? The Spirit gives life; the physical body doesn’t do anything. The words I’ve told you are spirit and life! Yet there are some of you who don’t trust me.â€
“This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is made possible by the Father.â€
Now speaking to the disciples.
“What about you? Do you want to leave as well?â€
“Lord, who would we follow? You’re the one who has the words of eternal life. We trust in you, and we’re convinced that you are God’s Holy One.â€
“Didn’t I choose you, the twelve disciples? Yet one of you is a devil,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
LOVE538. True love is motivated to give, rather than to get.
539. No one is beyond God’s love. Not even me!
540. Love overcomes hate – if we let it!
541. Love motivated kindness reflects Jesus to the world.
542. Love is to be found in actions rather than words.
543. Love talk is for the pillow. Love in action spreads the Kingdom.
544. In God’s economy, “Love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage,†or else societies wheels fall off!
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 continuesWith the conclusion of my testimony.
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. ***
200. FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Three friends die in a car crash, and they find themselves at the Gates of Heaven. Before entering, they are each asked a question by St. Peter himself.
"When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you?" asks St. Peter.
The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor and a great family man."
The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher who made a huge difference in our children."
The last guy replies. "I would like to hear them say.... 'HEY LOOK!!! HE'S MOVING!'"
199. NO BRAIN
A college student was in a philosophy class, where there was a class discussion about whether or not God exists, The professor had the following logic:
"Has anyone in this class heard God?" Nobody spoke.
"Has anyone in this class touched God?" Again, nobody spoke.
"Has anyone in this class seen God?" When nobody spoke for the third time, he simply stated, "Then there is no God."
The student did not like the sound of this at all, and asked for permission to speak. The professor granted it, and the student stood up and asked the following questions of his classmates:
"Has anyone in this class heard our professor's brain?" Silence.
"Has anyone in this class touched our professor's brain?" Absolute silence.
"Has anyone in this class seen our professor's brain?" When nobody in the class dared to speak, the student concluded, "Then, according to our professor's logic, it must be true that our professor has no brain!"
198. TOUCHE!
Old Pete, the town tippler, made it a habit to sleep off his drunks in the church cemetery every Saturday night. On Sunday mornings the pastor of the church would have to go out before services and rouse him, and escort him home before the services began.
Finally he grew tired of the routine, and on Halloween, which fell on a Saturday night that year, he decided to do something about Old Pete. Borrowing his son's skull mask, and donning a choir robe, he settled down in the dark cemetery to await Old Pete's approach. He planned on scaring the devil out of the fellow, and teaching him a lesson.
Finally Old Pete staggered through the graveyard about midnight, unsteadily picking his way through the headstones in the light of the full harvest moon. Rising up from behind a large tombstone, the pastor, calling upon his seminary theatrical training, moaned and swayed in the dimness. Old Pete froze, quaking in his tracks.
"Lord, have mercy!" he cried, much to the satisfaction of the disguised pastor. "It's Death, come for me!"
"Pete..." intoned the preacher in his deepest pulpit tones. "It is time for you to come with me!"
"Don't take me Mr. Death," begged the inebriated fellow. "I'm not ready to go!"
The minister saw his chance. "Then repent, and change your ways." He raised a ghostly arm and pointed to the church. "Seek out the man of God yonder and he will guide you into the paths of life."
Old Pete slumped down next to a headstone. "That won't do any good," he groaned.
The pastor was taken aback. "Why not?" he asked, forgetting his spectral voice.
"Because," explained the downcast Pete, "the pastor of that church is as dead as any of the stiffs out here in the cemetery!"
"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: Are fish more abundant in cold ocean water or warm water?ANSWER: Most people would guess that ocean life is more abundant in warm water. They'd be wrong. All kinds of marine life - plant and animal - are more abundant in colder waters. Many of the best fishing grounds are found in the coldest places. Why? Cold water holds more dissolved gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, which marine plants need to photosynthesize. The more plant food you have, the more fish and sea mammals you'll see. Antarctic waters are simply teeming with microscopic plankton that attracts whales and fish. (Do fish feel the cold?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Are there really such things as elephant graveyards?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 537. FLYING FUEL TANK
A Boeing 747 airliner holds 57,285 gallons of fuel! (Must be why it is such a big plane!)
538. Tourists Take Note
Those visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult! (Get an ‘icy’ reception!)
539. Pedal Power
In Tokyo, it has been proven that a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes! (Keeps you fitter too!) airliner holds 57,285 gallons of fuel! (Must be why it is such a big plane!)
538. TOURISTS TAKE NOTE
Those visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult! (Get an ‘icy’ reception!)
539. PEDAL POWER
In Tokyo, it has been proven that a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes! (Keeps you fitter too!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
PATRONESS
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?
10: …comes after Ephesians?a. Colossians
b. Galatians
c. 1 Corinthians
d. Philippians
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""GEMS FROM STEVEN WRIGHT (my favorite comedian)
22 - What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
23 - My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
24 - Why do psychics have to ask you for your name.
25 - If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
26 - A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
27 - Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
28 - The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
(Thanks to Rodney Francis of the GOSPEL FAITH MESSENGER for forwarding these to me.)
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
GREAT GROANS
240. HISTORYTeacher: "The Declaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia.
True or false?"
Student: "False! It was written in ink!"
Teacher: "Which son of old Virginia wrote the Declaration of Independence?"
Student: "I think it was Thomas Jeffer's son."•
THE PANDA
A panda walked into a restaurant and ordered a big meal. After eating it, he took out a pistol and put four shots into the ceiling and began to leave. The manager ran up and demanded: "What are you doing, shooting up my restaurant and trying to leave without paying?"
The panda answered indignantly: "I am a panda!"
"So?" replied the manager.
"Just look it up", said the panda.
They got an encyclopedia and looked up "panda". Sure enough, there it was. It said:" Panda, a large bearlike animal of Asia that eats shoots and leaves."
242. THE KING
Once there was a king of a small tropical island who had a rather large collection of thrones. As he acquired new thrones, he stored them in his grass hut. One night, a particularly bad storm hit the island, and the king's hut was struck by a bolt of lightning. The hut caught fire and burned to the ground.
The moral of the story is, people in grass houses should not stow thrones.
243. TALE OF TWO SEA MONSTERS
Two sea monsters were swimming around in the ocean, looking for something to do. They came up underneath a ship that was hauling potatoes. Bob, the first sea monster, swam underneath the ship, tipped it over and ate everything on the ship.
A little while later, they came up to another ship, again hauling potatoes. Bob again capsized the ship and ate it all.
The third ship they found was also hauling potatoes and Bob once again capsized it and ate the entire thing.
Finally his buddy Bill asked him, "Why do you keep tipping over those ships full of potatoes and eating everything on board?"
Bob replied, "I just can't help myself once I start. Everyone knows you can't eat just one potato ship."
244. COME HOME
A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official who apologized profusely saying, "I must have taken Leif off my census."
245. NO RECORDS
Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. However, all the league records were unfortunately destroyed in a fire. Thus we'll never know for whom the Tells bowled.
See more of my favorite humour here.....
Indonesia: Ex-jihadist starts 1200 Jesus communities
Joel NewsRaharjo (not his real name) was a school drop-out on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi looking for work, when he was recruited by a jihadist organization. Like many young Muslim men, he was paid to attack Christian villages with the aim to force the Christians out of the area. However, as a result of the increased ‘war on terror‘ by the United States after the 9-11 attack, his group fell apart and he lost his job. Raharjo returned to Jakarta, traumatized and depressed. There he joined a punk group and started to use heroin.
One night Raharjo had a dream. A person who introduced himself as Jesus (Isa) spoke to him in “bright and strong language†and told him to “Follow me!†In the dream Raharjo decided to follow this person. When he woke up, he found himself healthy, sober and without any desire to use drugs.
'I want to follow Jesus, but I’m not a Christian'
Looking for someone to explain his dream Raharjo turned to Samiton, the pastor of a large Christian community in Jakarta, who had done a great deal for Muslims facing social difficulties. “I want to follow Jesus, but I’m not a Christian,†Raharjo told him. Pastor Samiton did not really know how to deal with this request, and turned to his friend Wira (not his real name). Wira developed a relationship with Raharjo, spent a lot of time with him and introduced him to the teachings of Jesus.
His newfound faith struck deep roots in Raharjo and changed him over time. He introduced all his gang members to his new Christian friends, and one after another began to take an interest in Jesus. Wira noticed that the young men needed a meeting place and also a decent place to live. So he bought a house and called it ‘Father's House’. Here they met regularly and discovered more about Jesus and his teachings.
Raharjo's gang back in the early days
The method they used to ‘discover Jesus’ was simple: they followed the instructions of the Quran to read the Gospels and also parts of the Old Testament. Questions that arose were answered cautiously. In this way the young men were able to discover their faith by themselves, which is very important for Muslims.
Because the small discovery groups were mixed - men and women together - this quickly attracted new young Muslims. In contrast to everyday life in Indonesia, in the mosques the sexes are separated. But in the Jesus groups an obvious equal cooperation was practiced from the very beginning.
'With micro-loans he helped people develop small businesses'
Raharjo married and started a family. He wanted not only to pass on his faith, but also serve the poor. Together with an advisor he developed business models - funded with micro-loans of $100 - to help the people around him to develop small businesses. They started producing T-shirts and also tried a large number of other business ideas.
In the years that followed many of the young men in the community returned to their families in the countryside and shared their faith in Jesus. They had learned: “As soon as you begin to discover Jesus, invite your family and friends to dinner and tell them of your faith.†Most parents were happy that their sons had not been lost in the big city, but had found a good new life.
This way more and more small communities started to emerge in Jakarta and throughout the country, and these communities multiplied quite easily - always through personal contacts and along family lines. Like in the gospels it’s common for new Jesus followers to be baptized in the context of their family.
To date, through the life and witness of Raharjo alone, around 1,200 Jesus groups have been started among Muslims across the country.
Source: Withheld for security reasons, interviewed by Reinhold Scharnowski
Copyright © 2015 Stichting Joel Ministries
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DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
A REVELATION OF... GOD'S CALL TO HIS CHURCHWe live in a church system that has evolved over the past, nearly 2000 years. It is obvious that the church had problems of doctrine and organisation right from its formation. Many people are reluctant to admit to this, but there were difficulties between Jews and gentiles in a theological sense, as well as practical organisational problems in terms of looking after the needy widows. However, over the centuries, church structures developed and became formalised along human lines. While the Reformation saw some changes, both in theology and organisation, the old, unbiblical, structures have tended to replicate themselves within our modern denominations and groupings. The Bible warns of this.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:8)
Today, in these end times, God is calling His church back to basics. To its relational roots rather than formal structural organisation and methods that restrict, through human intervention, the Holy Spirit from truly working in the way He would wish.
Yes, God is calling us today to return to the principles set out in the New Testament, not to create the 'perfect church', for it will still have you and I in it, but rather, one capable of absorbing the promised bountiful end-time harvest.
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WAXING LYRICAL
It is amazing how verse can come to your rescue when prose fails! Well - maybe! You be the judge!INSPIRATION ZERO!
Busy week,
As we speak,
But what to write,
As blank as night!
Inspiration's a funny thing,
Comes and goes on a wing.
Often there, sometimes not,
Have no outline of a plot.
Well David, why not try a rhyme?
In for a penny, in for a dime.
Something may come of it, you never know,
It's working, from a beginning so slow.
Whether or not this is inspiration, is for you to decide,
You may think it is, or very well my intelligence deride.
But the lines of verse are getting longer and longer and longer,
The hitting of keys, stronger and stronger, yes, even stronger!
So if you lack inspiration,
A rhyme brings impartation.
It may not make sense,
Rather be nonsense!
Bit it fills the page.
Likely a sign of age!
Another job done!
Wasn't that fun!
(NO..... IT WASN'T! .....Well, at least I tried! .....Christmas madness, perhaps?)
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
Just for you today (The Aaronic blessing).....The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Amen.
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: TRANSPOSE
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' d. Philippians
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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