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: 8 Published: 17 Dec 2001
THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB
Last week in Auckland, New Zealand, a 'follow-on' Evangelistic Conference to the Amsterdam 2000 World Conference, sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, was held. This conference was but one of forty planned or held around the world since the one in Amsterdam.The gathering included Christians of all shades and hues, both literally and spiritually. Large contingents attended from the various Pacific Island States as well as from Australia and New Zealand. Pentecostals mingled with Traditionalists, while Charismatics dined with Evangelicals, united in purpose of the necessity to more rapidly disseminate the good news of Jesus as He instructed us all to 2000 odd years ago - an instruction we often ignore or simply pay 'lip service' to.
26 National Denomination Leaders and 27 National Christian Agency Leaders sponsored it. On the one hand a great show of unity - on the other an illustration of how fragmented God's church has become over the centuries.
The Conference concluded on Saturday afternoon, with an address by Dr Robert Coleman entitled, 'The Triumph of the Church'. (See 'Tape of the Week') This was based on the verse the Lord gave me 10 years ago upon which to base this small aspect of His work, that is Revelation 12:11. The message was essentially simple, though not quite so simple to live. They (we) overcame satan through "the blood of the Lamb", the sacrifice of Jesus; through "the word of their testimony', telling others of what He has done for us; and through our example, "they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death", a total commitment to Him. Simple, isn't it! Isn't it? It isn't - but it should be!
Yet this verse, in its simplicity, provides a rallying point for all Christians to co-operate. For the theology is both simple and universal and the practical reality obvious and compelling.
Now, I am not a 'conference junkie'! Indeed my role there was as 'Assistant Tape Duplicator', helping our associate ministry, Inspirational Tapes, provide audio tapes for conference attendees to take home with them. One action is of course worth many thousands of words - I'm sure we duplicated millions! But there was a glimmer of hope that not only are we recognising a greater desire to take the word to the people in these troubled times, but also, that we can do it more effectively by working together, encouraging each other and learning from each others experience.
If we do increase our co-operation with and support of each other, the conference will have been a success and the fulfilment of the Great Commission a potential reality in our time. If not, God will wait upon another generation. The choice is ours.
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FROM THE WORD
"And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them!" (Revelation 12:7-12a)See some interesting God and Bible facts on ...
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
"When holiness meets with helpfulness a harvest is reaped.""If I was given a dollar for every minute I have wasted in my life, I would be able to waste the rest of it in absolute luxury."
"Our most dearly held beliefs often inhibit God’s further revelation to us."
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TAPE OF THE WEEK
In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministriesinspirational.org.nz we are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape - absolutely free of charge!
THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH
By Dr Robert Coleman
Dr Robert Coleman is director of the schools of evangelism at both Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and the Billy Graham Centre in Illinois, USA. He is also a founding member of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelisation and the author of 20 books. This outstanding message was presented at the NZ Evangelism 2001 Conference on 8 December 2001.
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JUST JOKES
LIFE IS TOUGH!A newspaper reporter was writing a feature story about prison life and was interviewing one of the prisoners. "Do you watch much television here?"
"Only the daytime shows," the inmate said. "At night we're locked in our cells and don't see any television."
"That's too bad," the reporter said, "But I do think it is nice that the warden lets you watch it in the daytime."
"What do you mean, nice?" the inmate said. "That's part of the punishment."
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: Thomas Edison did not invent, as many people believe, but improved upon electric lights. But which of these were Edison inventions? The phonograph, the motion picture camera, the mimeograph machine, the electric vote recorder, the dictating machine, and wax paper?ANSWER: They all were! His mind was so inventive that he applied for a new patent approximately every fortnight!
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: What happens to butterflies if their body temperature goes below 86 degrees Fahrenheit? Answer next week.
DID YOU KNOW?
?!? THE PRICE OF SIN!
Now, only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older. (Adam managed to live to 930years (Genesis 5:5) but it’s all been downhill from there!)
?!? HOW INSIGNIFICANT MAN IS!
In 10 minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all the world's nuclear weapons combined. (Puts the wind up me!)
?!? THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST
The cigarette lighter was invented before the match. (Took a bright spark to come up with it!)
Another WORD PUZZLE for you.
MONIMEY
Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’
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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
MODERN DAY RELIGIONA teacher asked her students to draw a picture of their favourite Old Testament story. Moving around the class she saw many beautiful and moving drawings. Then she came to Johnny (why is it always Johnny?) and saw his picture of a man driving an old car.
“It’s a lovely picture Johnny, but what is the story?”
It’s simple, Miss, “Doesn’t it say in the Bible that God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden!”
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IF YOU HAVE TIME TAKE A LOOK AT “BESIDE ME
A tribute to my long suffering wife, Kathy. The very first poem I ever wrote!BRO. ERNEST AND FRIENDS
This is a humor and inspiration site of Haywood Hills Baptist, Nashville, USA. Included are items either written by Ernie & Friends or collected and appreciated by them. Excellent stuff!A DAVID MUSING
At last week's Evangelism 2001 Conference, where I assisted in the copying of multitudinous audio tapes, I - or more literally, my legs - was/were stretched, for I had to stand on them for most of the day!My faithful and long suffering, sleek, bandy legs were just not used to this torture! For normally you see, they are prepared for either the full on rhythmical pounding of my daily fitness, 'cum semi-weight control', run, (I would rather run and eat, than not eat!) or else resting gently on the floor, as I sit at this infernal electronic machine that tries its hardest to rule my life.
Yes, my legs were fit for both running and sitting, but definitely not for long term standing! It took them about 3 days to come right, to stop telling me to sit down when I needed to stand up, in order to do my work.
Being surrounded there, by so many of New Zealand's spiritual heavyweights, I just couldn't help thinking that what was happening to my legs was not unlike that which is happening in the church. Yes, we can continue to take the easy and comfortable option, in which we have assiduously trained for so many years, of doing our own thing. Or we can take a giant leap into unity, of working with those we don't know so well, who maybe even have some different ideas to us. Yes, this can be painful at first, but once we get used to it, like my legs soon did, it makes us more effective members of the body of Christ. Worth more than thinking about, isn't it?
His servant and yours
David Tait
Word Puzzle Answer: "I'm in the money"
LINKS
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Mount Maunganui, 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
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
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