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: 732 Published: 09 Nov 2015
CHRISTIANITY - A CULTURE, ORGANISATION, OR A RELATIONSHIP?
Perhaps the most significant culture in Christianity today is the culture of 'theology'.Today there is said to be 40,000 denominations and Christian groupings in the world and the primary factor that separates them is theology.
What is theology?
Merriam Webster defines it as:
THEOLOGY
: the study of religious faith, practice, and experience : the study of God and God's relation to the world
: a system of religious beliefs or ideas.
I would define theology as 'mankind's interpretation of God's interaction with, and between, His people and the world as a whole.' (David Tait)
Unfortunately the Bible tells us that this study is futile as man, in his humanness, is unable to understand God.....
11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
And again in the doxology of of Romans 11.....
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
34“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?â€
35“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?â€
36For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-6)
The only way we can understand God is through His Spirit living in us.
10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?†But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Over the years I have been able to speak in many bible schools and theological colleges of of various persuasions. Sadly, without exception, these primarily have been based upon the studying the teachings of (learned) men rather than developing the Spirit within by seeking understanding from the Lord Himself through the Holy Spirit.
The result, as we can see, is 1,000's of denominations teaching their own interpretations of God and His interaction with His creation - well, if their theology agrees that God is the creator! But then again, God could have 40,000 different personalities? NOT!
We have so complicated God! We search for an understanding from the experience of others. God seeks a relationship with you and with me where He will reveal Himself to us PERSONALLY through HIS SPIRIT.
Unfortunately this would mean many thousands of highly qualified teachers would be out of a job!
Additionally, theological qualifications rather than God's call have become the priority in appointing pastors and leaders within the church - even the Pentecostal churches, who by definition, are meant to be led by the Spirit.
Maybe we will look at this next week..... As the Spirit leads.
Continued next week.
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
We are Not to Worry (Luke 12:22-34)
Speaking to the disciples.
“That’s why I tell you don’t worry about life, about what to eat, or about what clothes you should wear. Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing clothes. Look at the ravens. They don’t sow or reap, they don’t have any storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you’re far more valuable than birds! Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it? If you can’t do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest? Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work, and they don’t spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
“So if God clothes the fields with such beautiful flowers, which are here today but gone tomorrow when
they are burned in a fire to heat an oven, how much more will God clothe you, you who have so little trust!
Don’t be concerned about what you’re going to eat or drink—don’t worry about it. These are all the things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them. Search for God’s kingdom, and you’ll be given these things as well. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor. Get yourselves purses that don’t wear out: treasure in heaven that will never run out, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. For your heart will be wherever your treasure is.
Be watchful (Luke 12:35-40)
“Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit, 36like servants waiting for their master when he returns
from his wedding feast, prepared to open the door quickly for him when he comes and knocks. How good it will be for those servants that the master finds watching when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed, have them sit down for a meal, and will come and serve them himself!
“Even if he comes at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and
ready! But remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into. You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don’t expect him.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
KNOWING GOD351. The more I discover about God the more I realise there is to know.
352. The closer I get to God, the more I realise how big He is and how small I am.
353. While God graciously accepts me as I am, His desire is for me to become more like Him.
354. When God moves, the results are beyond our imagination. Why then do we try and do His work ourselves?
811. Sanctification is 'the means', holiness 'the end'.
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:SERMON ON THE MOUNT continues.......... as we look at righteousness and mercy.
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. ***
246. DRINKIN' 'TIL HE'S IN HEAVEN
Father Murphy walked into a pub and said to the first man he met, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
The man said, "I do Father."
The priest said," Leave this pub right now!" He then approached a second man. "Do you want to got to heaven?"
"Certainly, Father," was the man's reply. "Then leave this den of Satan!" said the priest.
Father Murphy then walked up to O'Toole and asked, "Do you want to go to heaven?" O'Toole replied: "No, I don't Father."
The priest looked him right in the eye and said, "You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole smiled, "Oh, when I die. Yes, Father. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."
245. PASTOR SEARCH
The chairman of the pastor search committee informed the congregation, "Next Sunday our visiting preacher will be the Rev. Bill Oaks. If you would like to see the other preachers, you will find them hanging in the vestibule."
244. TOP 10 WAYS TO LOSE YOUR JOB IN YOUTH MINISTRY
If you're going to lose your job . . . lose it in one of the top 10 ways!
10. Play Peanut Butter Chubby Bunnies to see if kids really do choke.
9. Leave your Pastor's kid at an orphanage in Mexico on your annual mission trip.
8. Replace the grape juice with actual wine during communion (this would only really affect Baptists)
7. Teach girls how to smoke cigars and gamble their babysitting money in a game of poker at the girls junior high Bible Study (teaching them to tithe their winnings of course!)
6. Cut up the church's choir robes to make flags for a capture the flag game.
5. Give your Sr. Pastor a free subscription to the Victoria Secret Catalogue, sent to the church address!
4. Start a food fight at the annual church spaghetti feed!
3. Start a food fight during communion!
2. Finance the down payment of your new Mustang convertible through your youth petty cash fund.
1. Bring Dennis Rodman to speak at your True Love Waits rally.
"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: Who invented Khaki military uniforms?ANSWER: The light-yellowish brown cloth, used generally for military uniforms, gets its name from the Persian word ‘khak’, meaning ‘dust’ or ‘ashes’. The word ‘khaki’ can be used to refer to the colour, the cloth, or the garment made from the cloth. Lt. Harry Burnett of the Queen's Own Corp of Guides developed the cloth in 1846. The goal was to produce a mud-coloured uniform that would camouflage English soldiers attempting to hide in dusty areas. (To help stop soldiers prematurely returning to ‘ashes to ashes and dust to dust’.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why do we call twins who are attached to each other physically, ‘Siamese twins’?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 480. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
In Somalia, Africa, it's been decreed illegal to carry old chewing gum by sticking it onto the tip of your nose. (By gum man. It’s just not done thing!)
481. DON'T DARE DRIVE DRUNK!
In San Salvador, drunk drivers can be punished by death before a firing squad. (The final solution!)
482. JUST TRY NOT TO!
In Pakistan, it is considered rude to show the soles of your feet or point a foot when you are sitting on the floor. (For inflexible Westerners this is almost impossible not to do. Try it now!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
LUNGFISH
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...
AN AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
For 2 days we had a pastors and leaders conference.The first day 2 groups of people, amongst others, turned up, that illustrate both an African and a church problem.
First, a more specific African problem. Two young pastors turned up on a Japanese motorbike (considerably more expensive than the Indian ones nearly everyone else rides!) They were dressed up in expensive clothing (spivs we would call them) and there main objective was to try and get money out of me! A dead end as I had none anyway! LOL!
They related to another friend of mine from Australia who was supporting them financially. Of all the people there they would need money the least. Sadly, for them, they missed out on my non-existent money and then my friends support. Unfortunately there are many 'pastors' in Africa and Asia who prey upon gullible Westerners to 'make a living'. Please check out those who request financial assistance from you. A common ploy is to request bibles, which the recipients then sell to others for money. Orphanages are another common money making venture. Obviously many genuine requests are made also. It does pay however to make whatever checks you can before making commitments.
The second group were of several more senior men, whom I would describe as 'religious pastors and bishops'. These were not rich people but they came dressed up in jackets and ties who desired to command respect amongst those present.
Those who know me personally know I have 'a thing' about wearing ties anyway, as I do not like the restriction around my neck. (As an aside, I found that many businessmen and civil servants in London also now agree with me, a big change over recent years.) However, in Africa, with the heat, ties, and jackets, for that matter, are both inappropriate attire for African conditions and an anachronistic carryover from colonial times. When questioned about this these men said that their congregants expected it. In reality though, it a a means of separating themselves from the people. Anglicans wear robes, Pentecostals generally dress better than their people. Simply, a slightly more subtle method of establishing spiritual authority. The ties were removed, but these men did not return for the second day either.
'Religion' , and a new priesthood of leadership remains entrenched in Africa and worldwide.
An interesting, and sobering, African experience.
(Continued next week.)
WHICH BOOK?
In which Gospel is this account found?8: Water into Wine?
a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John
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"""!!!!!!! He slept beneath the moon; he baked beneath the sun; he lived a life of going to do ~ and died with nothing done.
!!!!!! He who thinks by the inch, and talks by the yard, deserves to be kicked by the foot.
!!!!! Let us endeavour to live that when we die, even the undertaker will be sorry.
!!!! A hug is a round-a-bout way of expressing affection.
!!! Anger is momentary madness, so control your passion, or it will control you.
!! Before retiring one evening, Theodore Roosevelt, gazing at the galaxies of stars, turned to his men and said, "I believe we are small enough to go to bed."
! If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART
19. THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEMA very nervous man, accompanied by his nagging wife, was examined by a doctor. After checking the chart, he nodded and wrote the man a prescription for a powerful tranquilliser.
The man asked, "How often do I take these."
"Let's start off with once every six hours. But they're not for you." replied the doctor. "They're for your wife."
20. FAITHFULNESS
An elderly man lay in a hospital, with his wife of 55 years sitting at his bedside. "Is that you Ethel, at my side again?" he whispered.
"Yes, dear," she answered.
He softly said to her, "Remember years ago when I was in the Veteran's Hospital? You were with me then. You were with me when we lost everything in a fire. and Ethel, when we were poor - you stuck with me then too."
"Yes my dear," she responded again, so lovingly.
The man sighed and said, "I tell you Ethel, you are bad luck!"
21. FAIR GO!
Seven year old Johnny had finished his summer vacation and gone back to school. Two days later his teacher phoned his mother to tell her that John was misbehaving.
"Wait a minute," she said. "I had Johnny here for two months and I never called you once when he misbehaved."
22. SUPER BOWL DAY
A guy named Bob receives a free ticket to the Super Bowl from his company. Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realizes the seat is in the last row in the corner of the stadium - he's closer to the Goodyear blimp than the field.
About halfway through the first quarter, Bob notices an empty seat 10 rows off the field, right on the 50 yard line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way through the stadium and around the security guards to the empty seat.
As he sits down, he asks the gentleman sitting next to him, "Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" The man says no.
Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the game, Bob again inquires of the man next to him, "This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this at the Super Bowl and not use it?"
The man replies, "Well, actually, the seat belongs to me, I was supposed to come with my wife, but she passed away. This is the first Super Bowl we haven't been at together since we got married in 1967."
"Well, that's really sad," says Bob, "but still, couldn't you find someone to take the seat? A relative or close friend?"
"No," the man replies, "they're all at the funeral."
Laugh at Life here.....
Millions in Iran now have access to the Persian Bible on Smartphone App
By Michael Ireland, Senior Reporter, ASSIST News Service, answritermike@gmail.comALPHARETTA, GEORGIA (ANS, October 27, 2015) – News from Iran dominates our headlines, but behind the scenes God is building His church.
According to ELAM Ministries, (www.elam.com), thirty years of Islamic revolution have made Iranians the most open Muslim people in the world to Christ. And it is only the Gospel that can bring peace to Iranians and the whole Middle East.
Iranians can read the new Persian translation of the Bible on their smart phones and other devices via the YouVersion app.
The celebrated Persian Bible has been released on the world’s most popular Bible application and website. Millions in Iran have smart phones, meaning they can access the Word digitally.
This exciting milestone is the result of hard work by the Elam and YouVersion teams, God’s kindness and the prayers of faithful supporters.
But for the Gospel to be preached with power there must be prayer.
Please pray that this digital Bible will be a great blessing and encouragement to the Iranian church, and that it will help many seekers connect with the Word of God for the first time.
Pray also for: The news of this release to spread far so that many can benefit, many believers and seekers will be encouraged, and completion of the audio version of the New Millennium Bible.
The mission of Elam is “to strengthen and expand the church in the Iran region and beyond.â€
Elam Ministries is a registered charity in England & Wales and a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity in the United States.
Source: Assist News Service
Via OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
WALKING THE ROAD WITH JESUSAn illumination of Gods desire for our Christian walk as revealed in Revelations 12:11 Both a challenge and a hope
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WAXING LYRICAL
Busyness and creativity are not good bedmates. But I tried!CREATIVE!
Would like to write a poem
to express my creative side,
But first you need to 'knowem'
To be imaginative inside.
But that is just a struggle,
as with busyness I juggle.
So this offering will be very short,
Even though I have lot's to report.
Maybe next week I will have more time,
Time for the jingling bells to chime.
But then again, the weeks may be two,
Slipping both feet into a single shoe.
Or maybe three, or even four,
as we open, our new store,
Enough of this trash,
Now I must dash!
See you again soon,
Is what I croon,
Goodbye for now,
Don't be sour,
Still can smile,
Go extra mile.
Do wend,
The end!
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
For the sport minded, New Zealand, from last week's Rugby World Cup euphoria is being humbled this week by the defeated Australians in cricket! Can't win them all!It amuses me when people pray for their favorite sports team to win matches. Unfortunately for God, generally people on both sides pray! What does He do? My humble view is that He lets the game proceed, letting the best team win.
I believe He is more interested in souls and disciples. What do you think?
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: FLUSHING
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' d. John (2:1-11)
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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