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: 747 Published: 22 Feb 2016
CHRISTIANITY - A CULTURE, ORGANISATION, OR A RELATIONSHIP?
It is easy to criticize the church and its religious ways, but the real question is 'what do we do about it?' That is the challenge that we as God's disciples face today. Over these 12 weeks we are looking at practical ways God is calling His church, you and me, and the body corporate, to change today. These are taken from my publication A REVELATION OF……. GOD'S CALL TO HIS CHURCH, published 10 years ago. I do not pretend that the changes are easy, but they are necessary for God's kingdom to be established on the earth in preparation for the return of Jesus. Let's continue.....1: FROM MARTHA TO MARY
2: FROM GREEK TO HEBREW
3: FROM REVIVAL TO HABITATION
4: FROM KINGSHIP TO SERVANTHOOD
5: FROM RECEIVING TO GIVING
6: FROM SONG TO HEART WORSHIP
Worship is a most difficult subject to write about, for we all have our own views! Ask a pastor to itemise the areas of greatest controversy within their church and worship will almost certainly be included. We all have worship styles we enjoy and which we believe take us into God's presence. But they, and we, are all different! Praise the Lord for that!
True worship though, is far greater than our feelings or a desire for a particular music style. For true worship comes from deep within.
Whether it is King David in the Old Testament:
11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. (Psalms 86:11-13)
Or the greatest commandment of the New:
27 He answered: â€â€˜Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’†(Luke 10:27)
Worship is at the heart of our faith and walk with Jesus.
In the Tabernacle of Moses, worship comprised specific ceremony detailed within the Law, as given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The closest thing to a musical instrument was the shofar (ram's horn trumpet) used to call the people to the most holy, annual Day of Atonement, the time when the High Priest made sacrifice for all the unintentional sins of the people. Music however, didn't form part of the ritual ceremonies.
Then along came David! King David, that is! A man after God's own heart!
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.†(1 Samuel 13:14)
One who worshiped Him with musical instruments and with song. God liked it! And He still does! So David set up another Tabernacle, a simple tent, one where the people could see the Ark of the Covenant for the first time. David truly put his mouth where his heart was!
2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Psalm 26:2-3)
A picture of what Jesus would do when He died on the cross and the Temple curtain was ripped in two, from top to bottom.
Jesus opened up the Holy of Holies to us, which we may now enter through worship. True worship from deep within, from the spirit, and in truth. Not just by singing songs - whether hymns, choruses or full-on
pentecostal praise for an hour.
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.†(John 4:23-4)
Very quickly, whatever form of worship we participate in can become familiar and rote. We have done it all before! We know the method! Or maybe, we are just bored with it all!
Today, God is seeking worshippers with a 'David heart', ones who will worship Him with their whole being. Not just for an hour on a Sunday, but those to whom worship is a lifestyle. For our worship is to be reflected in our actions. Others should be able to see that we are sold out to Jesus in both word and action. A challenge? Yes! But the people God is seeking today.
PRINCIPLE 6: God is calling out to Himself today a people who will worship Him with their whole life and being.
DAVID'S DOUBT "But God, surely Sunday is enough?" "But you want Me to be with you 24/7, don't you?" "Okay God, I get it
(Continued next week)
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30)
Asked Jesus what is good to obtain eternal life.
“Why do you ask me what is good?†“There’s only one who is good. But if you want to have eternal life, then keep the commandments.â€
“Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, honor you father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself,â€
These he had done.
“If you want to be perfect, then go and sell your possessions, give the money to the poor, and you’ll have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.â€
This was too hard to accept.
“I tell you the truth,†“rich people find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven. I also tell you this: It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.â€
The astonished disciples asked, “Who then, can be saved?â€
“From a human point of view it’s impossible, but all things are possible with God.â€
The disciples asked about their reward.
“I tell you the truth: when everything is remade and the Son of man sits on his glorious throne you who’ve followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. All those who because of me have left their homes, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, and fields, will receive back a hundred times more, and will receive eternal life. For many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
The First Shall be Last Discourse (Matthew 20:1-16)
A parable of workers in a vineyard.
“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay the workers one denarius for the day, and sent them to work in his vineyard. Around 9 a.m. he went out and saw others without work standing in the marketplace.
“‘Go and work in the vineyard too, and I’ll pay you what’s right,’ he told them. So they went to work. Around noon and 3 p.m. he went out and did the same thing. At 5 p.m. he went out and found others standing there. ‘Why are you standing around all day doing nothing?’ he asked them. ‘Because nobody’s hired us,’ they replied. ‘Go and work in the vineyard too,’ he told them.
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his manager, ‘Call the workers in, and pay them their wages. Begin with the workers hired last and then on to those hired first.’ When those who were hired at 5 p.m. came in, they each received one denarius. So when those who were hired first came in, they thought they would get more, but they also received one denarius. When they received their pay, they complained about the owner. ‘Those who were hired last only worked for an hour, and you’ve paid them the same as us who worked the whole day in the burning heat,’ they grumbled.
“The owner answered one of them, ‘My friend, I haven’t treated you unfairly. Didn’t you agree with me to work for one denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to pay those who were hired last the same as I paid you. Can’t I choose to do what I want with my own money? Why should you give me evil looks because I want to do good?’ In this way the last shall be first and the first shall be last.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
FORGIVENESS583. Forgiveness is the healing balm of life.
584. ’Tis the oil of forgiveness that lubricates the journey of life.
585. ’Tis only by grace, we run the race.
586. To win life’s ‘race’, start it with a ‘g’!
587. Forgiveness first heals the forgiver.
588. Forgiveness heals both the forgiver and the forgiven.
589. To forgive is Christian, to forgive and forget - Godly.
590. Lord; please forgive me for forgetting forgiveness!
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 wise and foolish builders.
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. ***
287. LIQUID PLUMBER
A Pastor in Oregon called a plumber to fix a leak in the parsonage bathroom. When the plumber finished the job, he left a bill in the bathroom itemizing the repairs. There was also a P.S. He drew an arrow pointing to a bottle of Liquid-Plumber that the pastor kept in the bathroom, and noted: "How would you feel if you walked into someone's house and found a bottle of 'liquid pastor'?"
286. NON-PARTISAN PASTOR
A new pastor of a Presbyterian church in a southern city found himself in a difficult position due to the fact that two officers in his church were running for mayor. The young preacher had to walk with much caution the impartial, equal-time line.
At the post office one morning, a church member who was flagrantly partisan asked, "Pastor, what do you think about the election?"
"I'm praying about it," the pastor told her.
"Well, what are you praying for?" the partisan Presbyterian wanted to know.
And the preacher told her, "I'm just thanking God for the secret ballot."
285. BRIEF SERMON
A minister preached a very brief sermon and explained to the congregation, "My dog got into my office and ate all my notes."
On the way out the door, a visitor said to the pastor, "If your dog ever has pups, would you see that my minister gets one?"
"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: Which three of the United States are not states? Why?ANSWER: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Virginia are not states. They are all commonwealths. (Must be common, not stately?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why isn't Puerto Rico on the list of countries?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 440. IN THE LIMELIGHT
American chemist Robert Hare discovered that blowpipe flame acting upon a block of calcium oxide, that is lime, produces a brilliant white light that could be used to illuminate theatre stages. Hence, someone who faces the glare of publicity is now said to be in the limelight. (Should it really be whitelight?)
441. IMPERIAL MADNESS
There are 640 acres in a square mile. (Imperial measurements were surely deliberately designed to torture the minds of countless generations of students.)
442. YOYOS FOR YOUYOU TO VIEWVIEW
The world's largest yo-yo rests in the National YoYo Museum in Chico, California. Named "Big Yo," the 256-pound yoyo is an exact scale replica of a Tom Kuhn "No Jive 3 in 1 YoYo." Fifty inches tall and 31.5 inches wide, this monster yo-yo is made of California sugar pine, baltic birch from the former USSR, and hardrock maple. It was first launched in San Francisco on October 13, 1979. (Wouldn’t want to be around if the string broke!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
RESOUNDS
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...
GENERAL TRIVIA 1
3: Which mountain do the Samaritans claim as the true mountain of God?a. Sinai
b. Hermon
c. Carmel
d. Gerizim
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"""Some interesting thoughts . . .
If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's an erudite scientist who once said:
"I woke up one morning, and all of my stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates."
His mind sees things differently than most of us do. Here are some of his gems.....
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.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
GREAT GROANERS
68. MERGERS*** There has long been a rumor that W. R. Grace Co. was going to buy the Fuller Brush Co. and Mary Kay Cosmetics and then merge with the Hale Business Systems. This would result in the new mega-corporate entity known as ... "Hale Mary Fuller Grace."
*** A great number of years ago there was a proposed merger between Fairchild Electronics and Honeywell Computers. Rumor had it that the new company would be called Fairwell Honeychild.
*** There is a merger in the works involving Polygraph Records, Warner Brothers, and Keebler. It will be called ... Poly-Warner-Cracker.
*** And don't forget the failed merger between Yahoo and Netscape which would have brought us Net'n'yahoo....
69. ISAIAH AND HIS HORSE
A young lad came home from church one day, and his mother asked him what he had learned in Sunday school. He said, "We learned about Isme." Not remembering that name in the Bible, his mother asked, "Who is Isme?" "I guess it was a horse, the horse a man by the name of Isaiah rode." "What are you talking about, there's no mention in the Bible of Isaiah riding a horse", the mother responded. "Well, he must have", said the young boy. My teacher read from the place where Isaiah said "Woah, Isme!"
70. A MATTER OF TIME
If you cut yourself, rub thyme into the cut, because thyme heals all wounds. - Steve Jacobson
71. THE CALL OF NATURE
A mother firefly was taking her children for a walk near dusk, and they came to a dark woods. "All right, kids," she ordered, "line up, and whatever happens, don't shine your light. There are owls in the forest and they might fly down and eat you!"
The small fireflies did as they were told, with the youngest firefly at the end of the line. As they were moving carefully along, suddenly the mother saw a light far back.
"Stop!" she whispered. "Who lit the light back there?"
"I did," admitted the youngster.
"You heard what I told you," scolded the mother. "Why did you disobey?"
"Well," said the little one, "when you gotta glow, you gotta glow."
Groan with me here.....
Oldest Surviving Copy of the Old Testament Recognized as World Treasure
The oldest surviving copy of the Hebrew Bible has been officially recognized by the United Nations Educations, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world treasure.The Christian Post reports that the manuscript, called the Aleppo Codex, has been added to UNESCO’s International Memory of the World Register, a list of the most important discoveries in human history.
All current versions of the Old Testament are thought to originate from this ancient manuscript which was written around the year 930 A.D.
The Codex has been moved from place to place and around 190 of its pages are thought to be missing.
There is disagreement over who owns the Codex, but filmmaker Avi Dabach who is planning to make a documentary on the ancient manuscript, believes that it belongs to the Jewish community that fled Syria.
"In the 1960s the Aleppo-Jewish community sued the people who brought the Codex to Israel. … The Israeli Authorities decided to confiscate this item and then, from a position of strength, force on the community an arrangement," Dabach has said.
The manuscript was smuggled out of Syria and brought into Israel in 1958. It has been housed in the Israel Museum since the mid-1980’s.
Older manuscripts which contain portions of the Old Testament have been found, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls which date back to the first and third centuries B.C., but the Codex remains the oldest, most complete manuscript of the Old Testament.
Source: http://www.christianheadlines.com/
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
A REVELATION OF…….THE SEVEN REVELATIONS OF THE LAMBIt would be normal to think of a victorious God as a lion. But Jesus came as a lamb, the Lamb of God
The incredible story of how the Lamb of God is foreshadowed 4 times in the Old Testament, comes as the Lamb in the New, sets our example and will return to claim His kingdom.
Both a faith builder and a call to inherit the kingdom now.
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WAXING LYRICAL
As did King David and the other psalmists, we all go through ups and downs in life. This explains one of my harder downs, having been rejected by friends, followed by an up!A PSALM
Of David (Tait)
A cry of despair, trust and victory, during a time of difficulty in life.
Peering through the gloom,
All one can see is doom.
Mind in a place now, that can only see the worst,
No more, through the clouds, does the sun burst.
O Lord, my Lord, how did I miss your will!
Where are you Lord, my void to fill?
My God, My God, you seem so far away,
I so need you Lord, in my life today.
Together we did map out the road ahead,
Started on the journey, as I was led.
Traveled nicely along, until coming to a sharp bend,
Around the corner - suddenly - the road came to an end.
I screeched to a halt!
Hit by a thunderbolt!
My God, My God, this wasn't in the plan,
Is my way of you, or simply, my own man?
Those wise after the event say,
"We knew it would never work."
You should have said so yesterday!
Not stab me now, with my dirk!
Where can I hide?
Lost in my pride!
Hate being wrong!
It's not my song!
With back so sore, I'm hurt and dejected,
Did it helping those, who me rejected!
Life's a misery, that much I know,
To whom can I turn, where can I go!
But in you Lord, I put all my trust,
Without you, I am nothing but dust.
For Lord, You've always proved faithful to me,
Again, show me Your way Lord, help me to see.
The phone rings, once, twice, thrice,
An encouragement? That would be nice!
The voice on the phone settles my ruction,
By giving to me, a brand new introduction.
Back on the road, I see a mighty big change,
Where the road did end, is now an exchange,
A super-highway has been put into place,
I am back again, now running my race.
Your vision Lord, is much greater than mine,
Not surprising really, for You are divine!
As the Good Book says, Your ways are not my ways,
May I follow your path, through all my days.
For you Lord, know the road ahead,
Without you, I'm as good as dead.
I trust you with my life, my Master,
For you deliver me from disaster.
Forevermore I place my hands in Yours,
Lead me Lord, to fulfil your cause.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This weekend our city of Napier celebrated its status as the 'Art Deco Capital of the World', during our annual Art Deco Festival. The celebration arises out of tragedy, the Napier Earthquake of 1931 which destroyed the city and is still New Zealand's greatest tragedy in terns of loss of life, even today. However out of tragedy a new beginning came. Thousands of acres of land rose 2 meters out of lagoon, to make land on which the majority of the city is now built. Additionally, the central city was rebuilt in the Art Deco architectural style of the day, which is now famous worldwide. Triumph has arisen out of tragedy.It reminds me of the death and resurrection of Jesus. It was all over. The hope of the Jew's salvation was dead, at the hand of the all-powerful Roman occupiers. He was gone. Nearly everyone went home. It was all over.
Then, supernaturally, after 3 days and 3 nights in the grave, Jesus rose again! Wow! Jesus overcame satan and death on our behalf. And yes, we too celebrate His death and resurrection each Easter. For OUR LORD REIGNS!
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: DOURNESS
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' d. Gerizim (John 4:5,20; Deuteronomy 11:29)
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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