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: 773 Published: 22 Aug 2016
WHO WILL DARE TO BE A DISCIPLE? (Part 6)
As we have seen earlier, Greek based, Western separation of our lives into 'independent' segments as opposed to the Jewish, Eastern based, 'interdependent' way of living is at the heart of discipleship. Put simply, to truly become a disciple of Jesus we need to adopt a 'whole of life' approach to our walk with Jesus.Jesus meant it when He said.....
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn â€a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:34-8)
Summarised in the next verse.....
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)
My friend Asher, in India, was rejected and separated from his Hindu family for many years, when he gave his life to Jesus. He has now been reconciled and some family members have given their lives to Jesus.
Over the years, since committing to Jesus, I have endeavored to take discipleship seriously, having tried, not always successfully, to 'walk the walk', not just 'talk the talk'.
Laying down our life is not easy, as Peter discovered.....
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.†38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! (John 13:37-8)
But eventually he did, both spiritually and literally, finally choosing crucifixion, at the Lord's request.....
IX. Peter
Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, "Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom He answered and said, "I am come again to be crucified." By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.
(Foxe's Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, [1848] Chapter 1)
We too are called to walk in the example of Jesus, at least spiritually, if not literally.....
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:24)
Each and every one of us is called to a life of discipleship, of giving Jesus our all. If we are ever going to impress the Jews (or the Muslims) of the Saviour-ship of Jesus, we will have to witness with our lives, not just our words.
Muslims, for example, see the Western world as 'Christian', with our church, government, moral behavior, etc., viewed as all being parts of the one whole-of-life entity. Naturally, they are not impressed with what they see!
Western society takes an opposite viewpoint, with the separation of the various elements of life. This has infiltrated our church thinking, so we promote the mental assent of the 'Sinners Prayer' as being sufficient to obtain salvation.
Looking at Jesus' life and culture, this is patently wrong. Unless our life reflects our verbal commitment, we are not truly Jesus followers. Believing may or may not get us into heaven by the 'skin of our teeth', but it certainly is not the 100% sold out commitment that Jesus requires.
Sets one thinking, doesn't it?
Will you dare to be a disciple? I will.
(Continued next week)
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
The Conversion of Saul (Acts 9:1-19, 26:12-18)
Where Jesus spoke supernaturally to Him.
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It’s hard for you to fight against me!â€
“‘I am Jesus, the one you’re persecuting,’ ‘But pick yourself up and get to your feet. The reason why I’ve appeared to you is to appoint you as my servant, to be a witness for me, telling others how you have seen me and everything I will reveal to you. I will save you from you own people and from the foreigners. I am sending you to them to open their eyes so they can turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, and so that they can receive forgiveness for their sins and a place with those who are set right as they trust in me.’
And to Ananias.
“Ananias!â€
“Get up, and go to Straight Street,†the Lord told him. “Ask at Judas’ house for someone called Saul, from Tarsus. He’s praying. He’s seen in vision a man called Ananias come and place his hands on him so he can regain his sight.â€
Who protested.
“Get on your way, because he is the person I have chosen to take my name to foreigners and kings, as well as to Israel. I will show him what he’ll have to suffer for my name’s sake.â€
Paul’s Vision and Thorn (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
Paul asks for his ‘thorn’ to be taken away.
“My grace is all you will need, for my power is effective in weakness.â€
(Continued next week.)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
***NOW***EIGHT BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!
8 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!Two extra ones have been added about the core of our walk with Jesus - AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS..... LOVE and another, TWENTY-FIVE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS.
All are available worldwide for electronic download on Amazon (Kindle) for $US0.99c . Unfortunately there has to be charge in order to list.
Your support would be appreciated and they could well change your life!
They are all found at this link.....
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=david+tait+books/
'THE WORDS OF JESUS' REMAIN 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.....
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
GRACE830. Grace is God's power overcoming our weakness.
831. Without grace, love will soon fail.
832. Love and grace are like bread and butter. The one complements the other.
833. When grace abounds, love resounds.
835. Grace builds, unforgiveness destroys.
836. The rain of grace waters the garden of love.
838. As grace grows, heartache goes.
839. The light at the end of the tunnel is called grace.
840. Grace given away is likely to return as love.
841. We readily understand our need for grace. Are others any different?
842. A partner's snoring is the ultimate test of grace!
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CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK:THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues.......... looking at LOVE AND HATE.
Check out all the available teachings at...
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***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. ***
360. HAVING THE PREACHER FOR DINNER
In a small town way out in the country, a local farmer invited the new preacher and his wife to come out to the farm for supper. While the women were finishing preparations in the kitchen, the men talked in the living room. The farmer was in the middle of telling the preacher that because he was sure that most ministers liked chicken, that's what he had asked his wife to prepare. The farmer's son, playing nearby, spoke up and said, "But I thought it was 'buzzard', not 'chicken' that we were eating today."
"Of course not, where did you ever get that idea?" demanded the farmer.
"Well, I overheard you telling mommy that we ought to hurry up and have the 'old buzzard'" for dinner and get it over with."
359. CAN YOU SPELL "GOD"?
Three people from different parts of the country passed away at the same time. All were met at the gates by St. Peter. The first was an architect from California. Peter said, "You've built beautiful buildings and served men on earth, but before you come in you have to pass one small test, spell 'God'". "G-O-D," replied the architect and St. Peter waved him through.
The second person to approach was a rancher from Texas. Peter looked at him and said, "You've served man upon the earth by providing food through the cattle you've raised but before you come in there's just one small test, spell 'GOD'". "G-O-D", said the rancher and Peter waved him through.
The third person was an attractive businesswoman from New York. Peter said, "You've served the world of commerce, but before you come in you'll have to pass one small test." At this the woman interrupted, "Oh come on now Saint," said the woman, "I've had to fight for every promotion I've ever gotten. I've had to take lower pay for the same job as a male colleague, and I've been continually harassed by bosses and peers for one reason, my gender. And now here I am and you're giving me a hard time too; what kind of test? Let's get it over with."
Peter thought for a moment and said, "Spell Czechoslovakia"
358. 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!"
"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: Where did the term ‘private eye’ originate?ANSWER: We get ‘private eye’ from the famous logo of the Pinkerton Detective Agency -a wide-open eye. The company, founded in the 1800s, had as its motto: ‘We never sleep’. (So can specialise in finding those who sleep together illicitly.)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who wrote the first detective novel?
SOME FUN FACTS 376. FIFTEENTH
A fifteenth anniversary is called a ‘quindecennial’. (No wonder it’s a name you don’t hear often. What was it again?)
377. UP IN SMOKE
A perfectly clean fire produces almost no smoke. Smoke simply means that a fire is not burning properly and that particles are escaping unburned. (Maybe ‘money gone up in smoke’ could be reconstituted?)
378. IN LESS THAN A FLASH
A nanosecond is one billionth of a second. (It took 96,587,403,521 nanoseconds to write this, to be exact!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
SONLESS
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA
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BIBLE OR NOT
Is this saying in the Bible or not?8. "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
a. BIBLE
b. NOT BIBLE
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
Answer at the end of A DAVID MUSING
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""SAYINGS FOR YOU TO PONDER
!!!!!!! What you are is God's gift to you ~ what you make of yourself is your gift to God.
!!!!!! Who passed the ball to you when you scored?
!!!!! Conscience is a playback of the still, small voice that told you not to do it in the first place.
!!!! The only fellow whose troubles are all behind him is a school bus driver.
!!! If you make money your god, it will plague you like the devil.
!! Man is the only creature that blushes ~ or needs to.
! Don't be afraid to be honest with God ~ you will never be short-changed.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
LIFE'S A LAUGH
121. QUICK QUESTIONWhy is five o'clock in the morning like a pig's tail?
It's twirly.
122. FLAT-LINED
I work in a busy office where a computer going down causes quite an inconvenience. Recently one of our computers not only crashed, it made a noise that sounded like a heart monitor. "This computer has flat-lined," a co-worker called out with mock horror.
"Does anyone here know how to do mouse-to-mouse?"
123. TWO BROOMS
Two brooms were hanging in the closet and after a while they got to know each other so well, they decided to get married.
One broom was, of course, the bride broom and the other the groom broom. The bride broom looked very beautiful in her white dress. The groom broom was handsome and suave in his tuxedo. The wedding was lovely.
After the wedding at the wedding dinner, the bride broom leaned over and said to the groom broom "I think I am going to have a little whisk broom!!!"
"IMPOSSIBLE!!" said the groom broom. "We haven't even swept together!"
124. THE ROTTWEILER
A man takes his Rottweiler to the vet. "My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?"
"Well," says the vet, "let's have a look at him."
So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says "I'm going to have to put him down."
"What? Because he's cross-eyed?"
"No, because he's really heavy."
125. WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE
A married man had only one complaint: his wife was always nursing sick birds. One February evening, he came home to find a raven with a splint on its wing sitting in his favorite chair. On the dining room table, instead of dinner, there was a feverish eagle pecking at an aspirin. In the kitchen, his wife was comforting a shivering little wren
she found out in the snow.
The furious husband strode over to where his wife was toweling down the cold little bird. "I can't take it any more! We've got to get rid of all of these #(@ birds!"
The wife held up her hand and cut him off in mid-sentence. "Please, Dear, no cuss words in front of the chilled wren."
126. I'M SORRY
I was being shown round a cheese factory the other day, when I fell into a giant vat of milk by-product.
"I'm sorry", I said.
"Am I in your whey?"
127. THE KING AND THE ANIMAL LOVER
Once upon a time there was a king named Ed who reigned over a small county in southern Utah. He was a good and wise king, but he had one very bad habit: King Ed just loved animals--all kinds of animals--and he kept bringing them in the castle with him.
He had deer and water buffalo and foxes--all sorts of game in every room of the castle. The people of the kingdom finally got fed up with this stinky situation, and decided that the king must be dethroned and all the game returned to their natural habitat.
It was the first time in history that the reign was called on account of the game.
Enjoy more of my favorite humour here.....
Desire for values-based education grows around the world
PUBLISHED ON 17 August, 2016BY Reagan Hoezee
International (MNN) — Education is a powerful tool that shapes lives and cultures. It can even make a difference for eternity.
By training and connecting educators to provide quality, values-based education to underprivileged people groups, TeachBeyond is prompting both personal and spiritual growth. According to the organization’s president George Durance, more people than ever are requesting this type of education, and not because of anything TeachBeyond is doing.
“To be really honest with you, we’re not going around, cultivating a sense of educational need, or a need for a values-based education,†Durance says. “And the other organizations with which we work collaboratively, they would say the same thing. It’s just an astonishing movement of the Holy Spirit around the world, prodding and probing, and the result is we have this outburst of interest in education.â€
Durance says in the past, in many developing countries, most parents haven’t been afforded the luxury of thinking about establishing a long-term Christian culture. Rather, they have desired quality, values-based education as a way to give their children a leg up in society. Now, Durance says, they’re beginning to view this as an opportunity for the Gospel.
“I think the parents themselves in much of the world, they haven’t really fully understood the values component, but they have understood two other things, and that is they can use this highly desirable thing called quality education to be a testimony and witness in their community,†Durance says. “And so they can use it as a doorway into the neighborhood, and it brings respect, it brings a certain appreciation for the church.
“The other thing is they really want…the transformational component. They want to see their children and their societies holistically transformed. I see that as slightly different than at least our Western idea that we can dust off the sort of negative things in our society by giving our children a good, values-based education. It’s got to be more than that for most of these people.â€
Durance says one reason why people are desiring this type of education so much is because of its potential for great impact. According to Durance, believers are realizing it’s a powerful way to transform their community in multiple different ways, specifically for Christ.
“When we talk about education as an attractive option, a Great Commission method, I think part of it could be folks just sitting down and thinking logically,†Durance says. “I’m thinking of one particular individual in a country where we have a great deal of work now. He’d been very involved in the communist system, and when he became a believer, he had this same desire to see his country undergo a revolution, but now it was a Christian revolution. And for him, because of his training as Communist, it was clear that the way to change the nation was through education.
“So it wasn’t a kind of breakthrough, inspirational moment. It was just a clear-headed, logical decision based on experience and what he’d seen around the world, that if I bring in a transformational message through education, I can change my country.
“This is what is shocking us, is we’re finding these catalytic individuals in many different countries who have this vision, and so even if the parents in the church are more concerned about immediate issues, which is, ‘I want a leg up for my children with a good education that includes some English so they can have an international opportunity,’ and so on, those people align comfortably with the visionaries, and we have this wonderful open door the Spirit has given us.â€
Durance says it’s encouraging to see the way God is working around the world through education, and comforting to know that the church is not on the defensive. He says the next step is for Christians to ask God what this means for them personally, understanding we can participate in God’s global adventure by being an agent of change wherever He has placed us.
Source: Mission Network News
Via: OpenHeaven.com
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WAXING LYRICAL
The ravages of time inflict themselves upon us all!BODY ‘Not So’ BEAUTIFUL? (Part 1)
So much more than ever there was before,
No, it’s not me - surely can’t be - I implore!
Poking a finger downwards, it wobbles on its own,
Surely that’s not my stomach, I inwardly groan.
But it is, it is, it is, it is,
Could be hers, maybe his,
For we all suffer from much the same,
As the invasion of fat, we seek to tame.
Now if nature seems mildly depressing,
When our youthful body, age is repressing.
God gave the answer to Adam and Eve,
Clothes for the body, others to deceive.
We learn how to dress our bodies, to disguise their shape,
Over sagging boobs and bums, various pieces we drape,
We pretend to be what we no longer are,
The spitting image of a Broadway star.
But now, to get more serious about this matter,
Recently had a friend die, of lymphatic cancer.
His body faded away to a shadow,
Before being buried in a meadow.
For we will all die one day you see,
As inevitably, as four follows three.
For our body has a limited life span,
So about it, we should have a plan.
There is only one plan, of which I know,
If grass over me, is not always to grow.
It’s called salvation by grace.
In meeting Jesus, face to face.
He died on a cross, two thousand years ago,
To rescue us from death, that much I know,
He rose from the grave on the third day,
To give us a new body, in which to play.
To receive our new body, all we do,
Is believe in Him, the one so true.
By seeking forgiveness for all our sin,
His eternal kingdom, we will enter in.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
THE OLYMPICS!!!As the Athletics nears its end (1 day to go) as I write this, I have just seen a 19 year old New Zealander, Eliza McCartney, amazingly get third in the Women's Javelin. And now, a few seconds ago, the Usain Bolt show concluded with Jamaica winning the 4x400m relay, surely the greatest sprinter ever with 9 gold medals over 3 Olympics.
But, again, the most striking feature for me has been the good sportsmanship shown by the athletes. They compete hard, but after all is over, the goodwill flows and congratulations follow. This, of course has been epitomized in the media by another New Zealander and an American who helped each other after falling in the 5000m heats.
Sadly, on the other hand, are the divisions in the church. The lack of understanding, and outright division, between denominations of whatever hue are simply ungodly. How far do we have to go.....
until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:13)
The immaturity displayed by the body of God, is reflected in the divisions we see today.
May we seek more of our God today in order to come into unity with with the Lord and with each other.
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: LESSONS
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: a. BIBLE (Psalm 73:26)
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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!
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