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: 748 Published: 29 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
7: TO CHANGE FOCUS FROM US TO HIM
What is the focus of 'your church'? On 'the house' or on 'the Lord'?
I guarantee that 99% of us will read the first question and see nothing wrong with it. The second may cause us think - a little.
But in reality, the first question is flawed, for it makes the incorrect assumption that the church is ours! The church, as God sees it, doesn't belong to us and never will. Rather, it is meant to be His people, created in accordance with His pleasure, not for our own purposes.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:4-6)
In our humanness, we focus on what can be seen rather than the unseen spiritual realm. We so easily slip into the way of substituting the church, the buildings, the priesthood and the programmes, for God, for our spiritual relationship with Jesus. We want to see the church (if we are really honest, our own church, not the one down the road) expand and grow. We claim it for God's glory, but that's only half the story!
Recently, I was in a large church where the pastor spoke about his vision for 'the house'. Only a couple of convenient scriptures were used and, to my recollection, God was not referred to once during the sermon. The church would grow, the church would become influential in the city, the church buildings would be improved, etc., etc.. The entire focus was upon 'the house'. I left the service feeling dejected and sad! Both God and I together!
Instead of making our services 'seeker friendly' why not make them 'God friendly'? Why not seek Him and His will in our meetings rather than providing professional entertainment designed to titillate our human senses? Should we not be more concerned with offending God rather than the world - or even the congregation?
On a personal level, why do we really go to church? To be blessed? To fulfil a weekly obligation before getting on with our day to day lives? To feel good through emotional worship? To receive a spiritual blessing from the pastor or priest?
Or do we go to worship the Lord our God with everything we have and to hear what He has to say to us personally, in whatever way He wishes. Prepared to be changed into His image, no matter what sacrifice this requires. This indeed, is the church our God desires.
As Jesus so simply stated in His single commandment:
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)
Let us focus fully on Him today.
PRINCIPLE 7: God is calling out to Himself today a church fully focused upon Him.
DAVID'S DOUBTS: "But God, if we don't be user friendly, people will get upset and not come." "Why not try being friendly to Me, and see what I will do." "Okay, God - it is Your church, after all.."
(Continued next week)
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
Jesus Predicts His death to the Disciples (Matthew 20:17-19, Mark10:32-4, Luke 18:31-4)
On the road to Jerusalem.
“We’re going to Jerusalem,†he told them, “and the Son of man will be betrayed to the chief priests and religious teachers. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the foreigners. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and kill him. But three days later he will rise again.â€
Request From a Mother (Matthew 20:20-28, Mark 10:35-45)
On behalf of her sons.
“So what do you want me to do for you?â€
To sit beside Jesus on His throne.
You don’t know what you’re asking,†“Can you drink the cup I drink? Can you be baptized with the baptism of pain I will suffer?â€
“You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the same baptism as me,†“But it’s not for me to grant who should sit on my right or on my left. These places are reserved for those for whom they have been prepared.â€
Jesus now responds to all the disciples.
“You realize that those who claim to rule nations oppress their people. The rulers act like tyrants. But for you it’s not like this. Anyone of you who wants you to be a ruler must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be the slave of all of you For even the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.â€
Blind Men Receive Their Sight (Matthew 20:20-24, Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43)
Including Bartimaeus.
“Tell him to come here.â€
“What do you want me to do for you?â€
“You can go. Your trust in me has healed you.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
TRIALS AND TESTINGS591. The view is from the mountaintops but growth comes in the fertile valley soils.
592. Trials are a real trial!
593. Trials build character, character Godliness.
594. A test done, a test won, while not much fun, it pleases the Son.
595. Tests require change. Little change requires greater tests.
596. If we were already perfect, we would no longer need trials and testings. Life tells me I have not yet got there!
597. A trial a day keeps the devil away.
598. Heat draws out dross. In gold, silver and me!
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 concludes........ as we consider the authority of Jesus.
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. ***
290. DO YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?" The man said, "I do father." The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall."
Then the priest asked the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?" "Certainly, father," was the man's reply. "Then stand over there against the wall," said the priest.
Then father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "No, I don't father." The priest said, "I don't believe this. You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes. I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."
289. LAND OF OUR FATHERS
A Jewish father was concerned about his son who was about a year away from his Bar Mitzvah but was sorely lacking in his knowledge of the Jewish faith. To remedy this he sent his son to Israel to experience his heritage.
A year later the young man returned home. "Father, thank you for sending me to the land of our Fathers, " the son said. "It was wonderful and enlightening, however, I must confess that while in Israel I converted to Christianity."
"Oi vey," replied the father, "what have I done?" So in the tradition of the patriarchs he went to his best friend and sought his advice and solace.
"It is amazing that you should come to me," stated his friend, "I to sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian."
So in the traditions of the Patriarchs they went to the Rabbi. "It is amazing that you should come to me," stated the Rabbi, "I too sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian. What is happening to our sons?"
"Brothers, we must take this to God," said the Rabbi. They fell to their knees and began to wail and pour out their hearts to the Almighty. As they prayed the clouds above opened and a mighty voice stated, "Amazing that you should come to Me. I, too, sent My Son to Israel."
288. FURTHER PASTORAL CANDIDATES
MELCHIZADEK: Great credentials at current work place, but where does this guy come from? No information on his resume about former work records. Every line about parents was left blank and he refused to supply a birth date.
JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn't dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders.
PETER: Too blue collar. Has a bad temper-even has been known to curse. Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon.
PAUL: Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with younger ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night.
JAMES AND JOHN: Package deal preacher & associate seemed good at first, but found out they have an ego problem regarding other fellow workers and seating positions. Threatened an entire town after an insult. Also known to try to discourage workers who didn't follow along with them.
TIMOTHY: Too young!
METHUSELAH: Too old . . . WAY too old!
JESUS: Has had popular times, but once his church grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all, and then this church dwindled down to twelve people. Seldom stays in one place very long. And, of course, he's single.
JUDAS: His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here.
"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: Why isn't Puerto Rico on the list of countries?ANSWER: Puerto Rico is not a nation because it is a commonwealth associated with the United States. Technically it's an American territory, not an independent nation. (Suffer split personalities?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What invention has resulted in less sleep times for humans?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS 437. RAILROADED
There is 1 mile of railroad track in Belgium for every one and a half square miles of land. (How many level crossing accidents?)
438. MANY SWEET SMELLS
There are ‘Odour Technicians’ in the perfume trade with the olfactory skill to distinguish 19,000 different odours at twenty levels of intensity each – that is 380,000 smells! (Wonder what perfumes their wives wear?)
439. WIND POWER
A balloon released into the jet stream would take two weeks to travel completely around the globe. (‘Round The World in 14 Days’ With oxygen!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
NYQUIST
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
4: By which brook did Jacob wrestle with the angel?a. Kebar
b. Habor
c. Jabbok
d. Shihor
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:
29 - To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
30 - The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
31 - The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
32 - The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.
33 - Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.
34 - If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
And the all-time favorite -
35 - If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART
78. UNCARING DEVOTIONThis elderly man was at home, dying in bed. He smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies baking. He wanted one last cookie before he died. He fell out of bed, crawled to the landing, rolled down the stairs, and crawled into the kitchen where his wife was busily baking cookies. With waning strength he crawled to the table and was just barely able to lift his withered arm to the cookie sheet. As he grasped a warm, moist, chocolate chip cookie, his favorite kind, his wife suddenly whacked his hand with a spatula.
"Why?" he whispered. "Why did you do that?"
"They're for the funeral" she replied.
79. TIPS FROM THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT
The efficiency expert concluded his lecture with a note of caution. "You don't want to try these techniques at home."
"Why not?" asked someone from the back of the audience.
"I watched my wife's routine at breakfast for years," the expert explained. "She made lots of trips to the refrigerator, stove, table and cabinets, often carrying just a single item at a time. 'Hon,' I suggested, 'Why don't you try carrying several things at once?'"
The voice from the back asked, "Did it save time?"
The expert replied, "Actually, yes. It used to take her 20 minutes to get breakfast ready. Now I do it in seven."
80. WHY GOD CREATED EVE
10. God was worried that Adam would frequently become lost in the Garden.
9. God knew that one day Adam would require someone to locate and hand him the remote.
8. God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.
7. God knew Adam would never be able to make a doctor's, dentist, or haircut appointment for himself.
6. God knew Adam would never remember which night to put the garbage on the curb.
5. God knew if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle the pain and discomfort of childbearing.
4. As the Keeper of the Garden, Adam would never remember where he left his tools.
3. Apparently, Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.
2. As the Bible says, It is not good for man to be alone!
And finally, the Number 1 reason why God created Eve...
1. When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched his head, and said, "I can do better than that." (Not true, of course. God is perfect all the time!)
More family fun here.....
Ark Encounter a Jaw Dropping Experience
by Paul Strand : Feb 22, 2016 : CBN NewsSeveral dozen Amish carpenters used their traditional techniques and authentic Bible specs to help build this largest timber-frame structure in the world.
(Williamstown, KY)—[CBN News] Did you ever doubt that Noah could have built an ark so large all those animals could have fit on it?
Well, visual proof is here as the Noah's ark re-creation near Williamstown is close to completion. CBN News went behind the scenes at Ark Encounter on an invitation-only sneak peek at the giant ark as it comes together. Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and head of the Creation Museum, gave the long and winding tour up, down and all around this structure that's almost the length of two football fields. With the ark looming far into the sky behind him, Ham told CBN News, "This is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, 51 feet high."
"It's built 15 feet off the ground," he continued. "One of the things people say when they come here, they stand and look at it and they say, 'Wow, we never realized this was so big.'"
That's a feeling every visitor will have as they park on a neighboring hill and take shuttle buses down through a valley and drive up towards the monstrous boat, finally queuing up in the vast space directly underneath it.
"The immensity of this structure—over 500 feet long—I would call it a jaw-dropping experience," Mark Looy, co-founder of Answers in Genesis, said. People are used to those bathtub arks with straws sticking out the chimney, about to sink at any moment," Ham said with a smile. "And when they see the size of this, then they start saying, 'Well maybe Noah could fit the land animal kinds on board.'"
"That's really what we're doing here: showing the feasibility of this: how could Noah feed them? How could they get rid of the waste?" Ham continued. It only gets better when you go inside this massive structure, the three decks and the top floor," Looy added.
Speaking of the 132 exhibits that will fill the vast interior, he said, "The exhibits in the ark itself will be stunning, very similar in professionalism and quality to what's seen at the Creation Museum 40 miles away."
"Up to two million people a year will come to this. It's going to be a world-class attraction," Ham said, quoting research done specifically about Ark. "I believe it's going to be one of the greatest Christian outreaches of our era of history."
Ark Encounter opens to the public July 7, and Ham said there's a special reason for that.
"In Genesis 7:7 it says that's when Noah and his family entered the ark," Ham explained. "So we thought the 7th of the 7th would be a good time to open."
Several dozen Amish carpenters used their traditional techniques and authentic Bible specs to help build this largest timber-frame structure in the world.
"What we want people to take away from this is 'I didn't realize Noah's Ark was so big and wow, they answered a lot of questions.'" (Screengrab via CBN News)
"And we're not forcing the Christian message on them, but it's going to be there for them," Ham said. "And if people just go away saying, 'Hmm, maybe I need to look into this. Maybe I need to consider what the Bible says,' then to me, we've accomplished a lot."
Ark Encounter won't stop with just an ark. There'll also be a massive petting zoo and a restaurant that sits more than 2,000. And as the money comes in to build more, Ham, Looy and their partners have planned out an entire theme park.
"Over the years, we're also going to recreate other events from the Book of Genesis and even the Book of Exodus," Looy told CBN News. "We'll get into other events of Biblical history like the Tower of Babel and also Exodus and the parting of the Red Sea."
Source: www.breakingchristiannews.com/
Via OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
A REVELATION OF……. 3 KINGDOM AGES OF GODAn excellent tool to help better understand Bible history and God's plan for mankind throughout the ages. Kingdom ages, that is! And to get a glimpse of the kingdom yet to come and how we can participate in it.
Download your free PDF Files here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
This poem was 2 years in the writing! The inspiration came, half was written, then I got busy on other things! In the last day or two I have had some spare time, so thought to finish it. (Actually I have had more spare time during the two years but never quite got 'a round tuit'!) I hope the result is worth waiting for!MR BUMBLE
The other day I met with a bumble bee,
The two of us together, just him and me.
I asked, "How are you, my high flying friend,â€
As our way down the road, we did gently wend.
“A ‘box of buzzes’ " said Mr Bumble, rumbling along,
In the prime of life - yes, a bee so buzzingly strong.
“I'm on the way to the garden down the road,
Plentiful pollen there, will get me a load.â€
“For I’m a worker bee you see,
One of many, in our big family,
We have a purpose for which to live,
Honey aplenty, to our hive, to give.â€
“Your life is a fulfilled one then,
A privilege not given many men.â€
“I guess it is, in following family tradition,
Feeding the hungry hive’s a real mission.â€
“I learned what to do from my brother,
The Queen you know, is our mother,
It was Jimmy who taught me how to fly,
Led by example, encouraged me to try.â€
“But soon flight, I did learn to master,
With practice, went faster and faster.
Till now I’m known as the ‘brmm-brmm bee,’
Always winning the race to the cherry tree.â€
“Of course, you know you can’t really fly!†I rashly said,
As diplomatic as taking a sledgehammer to his head!
“For the ‘Laws of Aerodynamics’ you know,
State that ‘up in the air,’ you cannot go.â€
‘Your shapes all wrong
To push you along!
Your body’s far too big!
Ever seen a flying pig?’
In full swing now, big in my bumble bee knowledge,
Intensively learned during five full years of college.
“Your little wings wear out beating ten thousand times a minute,
Therefore your life span is only sixty days – at the very limit!â€
Was somewhat surprised at my clever words’ effect,
For these, I thought, he would automatically reject.
But to take on board my knowledge, he did elect,
My erudite words, to him they did only deject!
“You humans are simply so superior
Us bumbling bees, greatly inferior!
You know more about me than I do!
So what you say, must surely be true.â€
“It's true then! I can’t really fly?
Yes, about to fall from the sky!
Life now seems just not worth the living!
Even with all the effort, I’ve been giving!
So at that very moment he gave up trying,
Knew he should, no longer now be flying,
From a rapid ten thousand beats a minute,
To wings folded, his heart no longer in it.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
This Tuesday evening at 7:30 we are having our first meeting of a new group to teach and share about the kingdom of God. If you live in Hawkes Bay you are welcome to attend. The details are on the notice shown.If you aren't able to come we would appreciate your prayers for this is really the first time that people in our area have requested teaching on the kingdom. I am excited and encouraged to see a change in people's attitudes, in recent times, where many more are desiring to get deeper into God and to learn about and experience His kingdom now.
Thank you Lord!
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SQUINTY
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' c. Jabbok (Genesis 32:22-25)
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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