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: 780 Published: 10 Oct 2016
WHO WILL DARE TO BE A DISCIPLE? (Part 11)
TEACHINGS OF JESUS ON DISCIPLESHIPThe primary biblical teaching on discipleship, on living a kingdom lifestyle are found in Matthew 5-7, better known as the 'Sermon on the Mount'.
We do not know whether this was a single teaching on christian living, or a compilation of various teachings on this vital subject to every believer.
To find a quick summary on discipleship, all you need to do is read, reread, and apply these 3 chapters. Couldn't be easier! couldn't be harder!
While we are not going to go through these chapters in detail (you can do that for yourself) the 'summary of summaries', known as 'The Beatitudes' is worth reading here, as it contains the foundation of discipleship. The character traits are underlined, and their consequent blessings follow.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The character traits required are the opposite of those highly regarded in the world!
The rewards are out of this world!
The consequence of living the discipleship lifestyle is persecution by the world!
Experience has shown me that these principles CANNOT BE LEARNED in an academic way, but MUST BE RECEIVED BY REVELATION. They CANNOT BE APPLIED USING HUMAN WILLPOWER, but BE ABSORBED THROUGH SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO THE LORD.
The remainder of the 3 chapters fill out the above principles in regard to practical aspects of true christian living. The headings follow.....
Salt and Light
The Fulfillment of the Law
Murder
Adultery
Divorce
Oaths
Eye for Eye
Love for Enemies
Giving to the Needy
Prayer
Fasting
Treasures in Heaven
Do Not Worry
Judging Others
Ask, Seek, Knock
The Narrow and Wide Gates
True and False Prophets
True and False Disciples
The Wise and Foolish Builders
The reaction of the people afterwards was insightful.....
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28-9)
It is the same for us today. We can get all the teachings and sermons about God from man, but unless we have the personal revelation 'from the horses mouth', from Jesus, we will not be able to apply them to our lives!
Discipleship is not easy! Jesus understood this when He said, talking of believers within this teaching.....
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)
Will you dare to be a disciple? I will.
PS: For a more detailed understanding of the Sermon on the Mount see the Amazon BOOK OF THE WEEK below entitled 'SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAY' --- JESUS’ GUIDE TO LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE TODAY. It can also be downloaded for free at http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj57p39.pdf
(Continued next week)
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUSMay we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-26)
At Jacob’s well.
“Please could you give me a drink?â€
“If you only recognized God’s gift, and who is asking you, ‘Please could you give me a drink?’ you would have asked him and he would have given you the water of life.â€
“Everyone who drinks water from this well will become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give won’t ever be thirsty again. The water I give becomes a bubbling spring of water inside them, bringing them eternal life.â€
Upon requesting the water of life.
“Go and call your husband, and come back here,â€
“You’re right in saying you don’t have a husband,†Jesus told her. You’ve had five husbands, and the one you’re living with now is not your husband. So what you say is true!â€
About worshiping in Jerusalem.
“Believe me the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You really don’t know the God you’re worshiping, while we worship the God we know, for salvation comes from the Jews. But the time is coming—and in fact it’s here already—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for these are the kind of worshipers the Father wants. 24God is Spirit, so worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.â€
Talking about the Messiah.
“I AM—the one who is speaking to you.â€
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
***NOW***NINE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!
9 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!The final one to be added is THE PURGING OF THE CHURCH. It is based on 11 bullet points David Wilkerson, noted author of 'The Cross and the Switchblade', published about changes needed in the church of today to prepare it for the return 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/
BOOK OF THE WEEK
SERMON ON THE MOUNT - THE KINGDOM WAYJESUS’ GUIDE TO LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE TODAY
When asking the Lord what He wanted me to write about next, He has led me to look at HIS CHURCH, not in the way of standard church history, but from His viewpoint. I will try my best to be obedient to His wishes. But any errors will be mine!
As you will soon see, the history of His church revolves around the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit's activity upon the earth, rather than what we consider the church to be.
We look also at the future church, the kingdom church for whom Jesus is returning.
I trust it will both inform and challenge you about our future, both as individuals and the church as a whole.
Downloadable from Amazon for USD99c at.....
https://www.amazon.com/SERMON-MOUNT-KINGDOM-WAY-LIFESTYLE-ebook/dp/B01FVMVY4W/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1475806018&sr=8-6&keywords=David+tait
***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today
Receive one of David's sayings in your mailbox each day to inspire, challenge or maybe, amuse. To register today, simply click here SUBSCRIBE HERE go down to the bottom of the page, click subscribe. Then it's done! If you have an Irish heritage, you will love the background coloring! Should you wish, check out current and back issues (where you can also subscribe) at...
'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.....
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE915. Obedience to God's will for our life is the highest call.
916. Belief is of the mind, worship of the heart, but obedience is of the will.
917. The greatest change we can make is from gratifying our own will to obeying God's will for our life.
918. Obedience to God's will and ways is the very core of the Gospel.
919. Christian maturity develops as we submit to the will of God for our life.
920. In the world, submission is weakness, in God, strength.
921. In the world, submission comes from without, in God, from within.
922. I obey my master. The question is, "who is my master?"
923. Disobedience comes from Adam and Eve. Obedience is modeled by Jesus. Whom will we follow?
924. Disobedience is selfish, Godly obedience, selfless!
925. Obedience and suffering are common bedfellows.
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
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com TO READ THIS CARTOON AND SEE THE OTHER PICTURES IN THIS EMAIL YOU NEED TO BE ONLINE.Check it out at...
TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues.......... looking at GODS v GOD
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. ***
378. SUPERBOWL XXXIII - AFTERMATH
After John Elway dies and enters the Pearly Gates, God takes him on a tour. He shows John a tiny two-bedroom house with a raggedy Broncos banner hanging from the front porch. "This is your house, John. Most people don't get their own houses up here," God says.
John looks at the house, then turns around and sees one sitting on top of the hill. It's a huge two-story mansion with white marble columns, flowing fountains, a rolling lawn, and splendid patios. Flags for the State of Georgia line both sides of the sidewalk, and a huge Atlanta Falcons banner hangs between the marble columns.
"Thanks for the house, Lord," says John, "but let me ask you a question. I get this dinky little two-bedroom house, but Chris Chandler gets a mansion with brand new Falcon banners and flags flying all over the place. Why is that?"
God looks at him seriously for a moment, then with a smile God says, "That's not Chandler's house. It's mine."
377. NOT TO BE OUTDONE
During Sunday services, a Pastor is so overwhelmed with religious fervor that he drops to his knees, puts his forehead to the ground and says "Before you Lord, I am nothing."
Not to be outdone, the Deacon also gets down on his knees, puts his forehead to the floor and says, "Before you Lord, I am nothing."
Moved by their humility, a layman in the fourth row steps into the aisle. He falls down on his knees, puts his forehead to the ground and says, "Before you Lord, I am nothing."
The Deacon, noticing the guy, elbows the Pastor. "So," he whispers. "Look who thinks he's nothing."
376. DEAR GOD:
Why is Sunday school on Sunday? I thought it was supposed to be our day of rest. Tom
Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up. Bruce.
I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday. That was cool. Eugene
Our school teacher told us that Thomas Edison invented light. But in Sunday school they said You did it. So I bet he stoled your idea. Sincerely, Donna
"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 Roman emperor succumbed to smallpox?ANSWER: Emperor Marcus Aurelius succumbed to the ‘Plague of Antonine’, a smallpox epidemic that killed something between 3.5 and 7 million people in the Roman Empire in 180 AD. (A ‘Big’ man, but small to the pox!)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How long was the world's longest prayer meeting?
SOME FUN FACTS 345. COLD TO HOT
It takes as much heat to turn one ounce of snow to water as it does to make an ounce of soup boil at room temperature. (How about frozen soup?)
346. HOLDING US DOWN
Air pressure at sea level is roughly equal to the weight of an elephant spread over a small coffee table. (How did they get the elephant to stand on a coffee table to prove this? I know really!)
347. BETTER THIN THAN THICK
If hot water is suddenly poured into a glass, the glass is more likely to break if it is thick than if it is thin. That is why test tubes are made of thin glass. (Tested through ‘thick and thin’.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
ASTRONOMER (Two word answer - related.)
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...
BIBLE OR NOT
Is this saying in the Bible or not?15. "The world of Men will fall, and all will come to darkness, my city to ruin."
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"""HOW OLD?
!!!!!! He looks like a million bucks -- after taxes.
!!!!! She's discovered the secret of perpetual youth...she lies about her age.
!!!! She's been pressing 30 so long, it's pleated.
!!! When it comes to telling her age, she's shy -- about 10 years shy.
!! I've stopped exercising. Pushing 50 is enough exercise for me.
! He's so old he just got a prospectus from an old-age home marked "Urgent"
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
TIL DEATH DO US PART
135. HELPING YOU SEE THE GOOD IN YOUR MANThey've got that comfortable place on their shoulder that's perfect for snuggling into while we fall asleep.
They're at peace with their bodies, except for maybe some minor anxiety over height, weight, and baldness.
They fall in love so hard, once they finally fall.
Chest hair, forearm hair and the feel of a newly shaved cheek.
Bravery around snakes, waterbugs, bats and flat tires.
Their unapologetic lust for a nice hunk of beef or chocolate cake.
Their ability to solve problems simply by throwing a ball around.
The glimpse you get, when they wear their baseball cap backward, of their inner Little Leaguer.
How tender they get when they cry, and how seldom they do it.
What they lack in talk, they tend to make up for in action.
They make excellent companions when driving through rough neighborhoods or walking past dark alleys.
They really love their moms. They remind us of our dads.
They don't mind accompanying a woman to a party even though she looks like a movie star and they look like the chauffeur.
Their near-endless appetite for discussing the ins and outs of work and money - ours as well as theirs.
Their genuine ardor for tinkering with toilets, changing oil and assembling gas grills - jobs any intelligent woman can do but would be nuts to volunteer for.
They never care what their horoscope, their mother-in-law, nor the neighbors say.
They rarely lie about their age, their weight, or their clothing size.
How nice their hands look holding ours.
Their face is a treasure to behold when they give us a present they picked out.
Their ignorance is usually amusing.
They have a great sense of competition.
They give great hugs, (and always melt our hearts when a sweet "I love you" is added).
Though they often try to hide it, they're very tenderhearted and caring.
They have an uncanny ability to look deeply into our eyes and connect with our heart,
even when we don't want them to.
They don't care whether colors match, but are willing to be concerned if we want them to be.
They give us a peek at the little boy inside when they get sick or happy or hurt.
Enjoy more marriage and family humour here......
Why Don’t Small Churches Grow? (Actually, They Do) - Part 2
The presumption that small churches don’t grow is false. Some grow numerically. Most grow spiritually. Many grow in both ways.by Karl Vaters
With that preface, I’m now going to wade into this potential quagmire of misunderstandings and hurt feelings and give you three reasons some churches stay small.
1. Some Churches Stay Small Because Some of Them Aren’t Healthy
Many people seem to think that if a church isn’t growing numerically that’s all the evidence they need to call the church unhealthy. That’s just not true. I’ve addressed that issue in The Grasshopper Myth and many blog posts, so if you’re new here, check these out for starters:
9 No-Fault, No-Excuse Reasons Many Healthy Churches Stay Small
*Small Churches Are Not a Problem, a Virtue or an Excuse
*The Myth of Inevitable Congregational Growth
*It’s false to say that every church that isn’t growing numerically is failing. But it’s also false to claim that ill health is never a reason why some churches don’t grow.
*Of course there are a lot of unhealthy small churches in the world. Take a look around. Unhealthy small churches outnumber unhealthy big churches. But that’s to be expected, since small churches outnumber big churches by huge margins – healthy and not.
*If your church is small, don’t assume it’s not healthy.
*If your church is small, don’t assume it’s not healthy. I don’t. But take an honest look at it. If it is unhealthy, fix that first.
*The last thing the world needs is unhealthy small churches becoming unhealthy big churches. Getting bigger fixes nothing.
2. Some Churches Stay Small Because We Need Churches of All Sizes
Some people love worshiping Jesus in a big church. Some prefer worshiping in a small one. If current and historical statistics are any indication, those numbers are about half and half – with the lean being towards small churches.
At least half the Christians in the world choose to worship, serve and minister in a small church setting. So we need a lot more healthy, God-honoring, community-reaching small churches, not fewer.
And not just in small towns. A typical city may have one megachurch serving 10,000 people, but that same city will have at least 100 small churches serving the same number of people. Actually, it’s more likely to have about 1,000 small, medium and house churches serving about 100,000 people. Those are the usual percentages. That’s not bad. That’s normal.
3. Some Churches Stay Small Because That’s What God is Calling them to Do
I know this is counter-intuitive, but there’s no biblical mandate for individual churches to get bigger.
Of course, God wants the church to grow. Reaching people for Jesus is an undeniable aspect of what it means to be the church. But God grows his church in a variety of ways. Sometimes he grows individual churches bigger. Most of the time he plants more small churches.
If you’re wondering what you’re doing wrong that’s causing your church to stay small, my answer is simple. You may not be doing anything wrong.
Of course, there’s always room for improvement in every church. But if your small church is healthy, don’t let anyone bully you into thinking it isn’t healthy just because it’s small.
Your church is probably small because you’re one of the many healthy small churches Jesus wants in your city, town or rural area.
If there are big churches in your city, don’t play the church size comparison game. Nobody wins when we do that. Recognize your church’s place alongside them as an equally valuable member of the body of Christ.
The world needs more healthy small churches, not fewer. Yours can be one of them.
Source: Christianity Today
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GODKINGDOM LIVING TODAY
Looking at the kingdom of God from past, future and present perspectives.
Download your free PDF Files here.....
WAXING LYRICAL
Another Bowentown adventure. It is amazing how the Lord communicates with youwhen you are genuinely seeking Him. I am one of those strange people who enjoys
running – well, most of the time anyway. This poem shows how the Lord is not 2000
years behind the times, but communicates with us in ways that are relevant to our
circumstances and life.
ON THE RUN - Part 1
Running down the beach, exhausted I was feeling,
Reaching the end, before long I would be keeling.
So I stopped, taking some time to look around,
It was perfect, sea beaten rocks there did abound.
Stark cliffs, forcefully thrusting through the sand,
So powerful there, showing God’s mighty hand.
But from wee crags, big trees were able to grow,
A loving God too, one who we can get to know.
I sat down on a rock to rest my weary legs,
The water is close by, my attention it begs.
As I watched the meandering of the sea
The Lord said, "It has a meaning for thee."
So I looked through the rocks at the lip of a wave,
Rolling gently towards me, as though through a cave.
"Was the tide going out or was it coming in?"
"It could it be the Spirit", I thought with a grin.
I watched the waves, resting on my perch of ease,
Flitting in, sliding out, look at us! they did tease.
"What is it Lord, you’re trying to show me here?"
"Bide your time, my son, no need to shed a tear."
Patiently I waited as the waves lapped on the beach,
The Lord had a lesson, me he was trying to teach.
Yes, the tides coming in – no, maybe it’s going out,
My decision making process, churned all about.
I can see it now, for the water’s coming close,
An answer revealed, before I become morose!
"But what does it mean Lord, please reveal it to me,
This incoming tide, the meandering of your sea."
"Now I have your full attention, the time is here,
For in the right direction, you I will now steer.
The waves are those of My Spirit, my son,
With the tides of life, in and out, they do run."
Yes now I see, how the waves ebb and flow,
Like moves of the Spirit, they come and they go.
But the longer I sat, the more persistent they became,
Greatly increased in power, it was no longer a game.
The Lord said, "This is what happened, over the times,
For My Spirit is always with Me, He perfectly rhymes.
My Spirit’s tide was out, for many hundreds of years,
But now is coming in, will put to rest, man’s fears."
His Spirit’s tide returned in a captivating flow,
First it would come in, then out it would go.
Sometimes in more, then sometimes less,
But always seeking, God’s people to bless.
As I sat on my rock, His words became clearer,
Then a picture of my life, the waves ever nearer.
For I’d sat back and watched The Spirit, oh so long,
Did I need Him in my life, was it right, was it wrong?
Sitting there, the waves lapped playfully round my feet,
Ever closer now, for The Spirit’s coming, me to greet,
Then suddenly my special, bigger wave came,
Engulfing me, so I would never be the same.
When it happened in my life, came as a great shock
To myself and others. Thought I would never unlock
My heart to the wonders of The Spirit you see,
No, there was no hope for a stalwart like me!
So onto the top of my rock, did I hop,
There was no way now, I could stop,
For the wonders of scripture, I was eagerly seeking to behold,
Standing on the rock of Jesus, He would me, start to mould.
Standing on the rock gave a new perspective,
For of new truths, I was ever more receptive.
As I looked down there, into the water,
Seeing the tide flow, allowing no quarter.
More of David's poetry here.....
A DAVID MUSING
Not easy to do!WAITING FOR GOD
Everything has its time,
And all has its season.
Wait for the hour to chime,
At a time beyond reason.
For God's will to be done,
He must get ready - us,
Then the hour will come,
With very little fuss!
Amen.
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: MOON STARER
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' ANSWER: b. NOT BIBLE (Boromir, The Lord of the Rings (Fellowship of the Ring))
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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