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: 865 Published: 21 May 2018
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY? Part 43
PRACTICAL KINGDOM LIVING
We will now have a look at some of the practical aspects, and differences, of kingdom living, as opposed to a church focus.
As I went through my email inbox, I came across this article and was prompted to include it today.
In the church we are encouraged to rely upon leadership for spiritual guidance and impartation. In the kingdom, our reliance and attention is to become God focused.
IDENTIFYING BLOCKAGES TO MOVING WITH GOD
By Bill Click
This week, rather than a lengthy message on the depths of intercession, I want to offer you a litmus for determining how current you are with the Spirit of God. Basically, evaluating to what degree you can and do initiate the Covenant Jesus came to establish. While I realize that revelatory descriptions of the encounters we can experience with God can have great value, without embracing our status for taking part in them, they can become of no worth whatsoever.
It is clear to me there are 3 easily identifiable blockages to moving with God that everyone can either say: "that applies to me," or "I really don't have that problem." In fact, I really believe this will let you see your life in a new way as you continue to read.
They are:
I must be in a public gathering of anointed leaders to be able to sense and feel the Spirit of God.
If our lives so grieve the Spirit by the daily choices we make based on the life-priorities we set, then what is above may very well be our present status. God designed for each one to know Him in the Spirit, and to be able to sense His presence by their personal spirit.
"An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth"
(John.4:23-24).
We must be honest with God about what we are really seeking. Am I truly seeking the Kingdom of God, or is it God's endorsement for a life on my own terms in which I occasionally turn to God for assistance? (Mt.6:33)
I must receive prayer from others before I am freed from dilemmas that rise up and remain unresolved in my mind, will and emotions.
The Lord gave us His Spirit so that we could fight the good fight of faith by donning His armor and thinking with His mind (Eph.6:10-18; 1Cor.2:9-16). Lies from Hell, soulish raging against the Spirit by our own (or others) unrenewed minds, emotional ties with the fears of loved ones or the railings of societal ills….they will continue (John.16:33). The key to being able to discern what God is saying and doing can be summarized by what Jesus said:
"If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself" (John.7:17).
When we really want what God wants for us, we know what to receive, reject, stand on, or rebuke and kick away from us.
I must be ministered to by others (activated or imparted to publicly) before I feel able, worthy or confident to pray for others effectively.
For us to be "living up to what we have already attained," we must develop and discipline ourselves to "maintain and sustain" our reservoir of functionality as members of the Body of Christ (Php.3:16). If the previous sentence only applies to ministers (in your thinking), then you either need to realign yourself with those who will equip and release you to flow in the Spirit, or you need to shake off the old religious wineskin that is preventing your mind from being renewed. The Lord has made it clear:
"to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good….one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills" (1Corinthians 12:7, 11). Jesus said: "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth"
(Acts 1:8).
Use the tools God has given you. Don't mourn what doesn't yet seem to be, or let the soul realm take you to places in your mind, will and emotions that will prevent you from entering and walking in the Spirit.
Rise up in what He has given you which is yours forever, and move about in it as land that belongs to you and only you. Take ownership of the deposit He has placed in you and only you. And as you do, you won't need to go to church to get refreshed, renewed, freed or activated, you'll go with a testimony of how you have been in the presence all week.
Then, you won't need to be prayed over, you'll either be promoted in the house or booted out of the house by God or those who don't want life, and you'll take it with you wherever you go. Then, you'll be living the life of witness you've been called to and completely empowered for.
Selah.
Another article came in. I am really pleased to be able to print other's understanding, so you can see it is more than just 'David's thinking'!
OPENING UP THE GATES TO THE KING OF GLORY
Psalms 24:7 "Lift up your heads, O you gates And be lifted up, you everlasting doors And the King of glory shall come in."
God has made us to be gates and doors of His glory. Jesus comes to us as the King to rule our hearts in His glory. It can be all too easy to get caught up doing lots of stuff and not experience the intimacy of Kingdom glory in our lives. When Jesus walked the earth He carried the weight of heaven, the glory of God. People constantly were encountering heaven's glory when they got around Jesus. What does it take for us to walk in this kind of glory ourselves? For certain, we must have intimacy with God, a living communion in His Presence. Here are a few things that help create a "good foundation" for His glory in our lives:
1. Make Jesus the Center
Some time ago, My wife Brandi had a dream where Jesus was at center stage. His Presence was in the place and because of this, people were drawn to Him. When we allow Him to be at the center, everything works. When He is not at the center there is only chaos and anarchy.
2. Invite & Interact with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit needs to be invited and stirred within us. He is the "treasure within us." We are not trying to get Him to come out of heaven. He is already within us if we are God's. Each of us are temples of the Holy Spirit. We need to take time to welcome Him to fill us, refresh us and saturate us. The Holy Spirit is the "living waters" that Jesus promised us that would spring up into everlasting life! Don't neglect the blessing that God has already deposited within you. Through a life of worship and prayer He fills us with His joy.
3. Major on the Majors
Major on foundational truths like grace, love, joy, peace, righteousness, the blood of Christ and other things that are central to the gospel that we need to focus on. Avoid controversies that have no profit, (ex. when Jesus is going to return). Just occupy until He comes. Don't wrangle about the carpet in the church and ridiculous things. Avoid heretical extreme teachings.
One of these teachings would be "sloppy grace" teaching. This is the type of thinking where people don't believe they can't sin and continue living ignorantly in rebellion. The grace of God helps us to overcome sin, not live in denial of sin. If someone does not think they can sin this is a "major" foundational truth that has been compromised, the result being a cracked foundation. All sin simply put is "wrong doing." Done anything "wrong" lately?
I John 1:8-10 "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 Cor. 15:34, Hebrews 12:1, 12:4)
It is true that in Christ we no longer live a "lifestyle" of sin, but to say that we no longer have the ability to blow it (or "miss the mark") is error. Although, a righteously lived life is the rule, not the exception for the believer. That is why Paul says, "Don't use the grace of God as an occasion to sin..." (Romans 6:1-2)
There is also teaching that says you can just continue to sin, knowing your sinning and God's grace covers you. This is heretical as well. The truth is we don't live in sin. Jesus has set us free. If we do somehow happen to sin then we can come to him in repentance and His blood will cleanse us. We are not His if we live in a lifestyle of sin ignorantly or knowingly foreign to relationship with Him.
(1 John 3:9)
4. Treasure His Presence
Moses would not go without God's Presence. (Exodus 33:15) Prioritize God's Presence as number one in your life. Christ in us is the hope of Glory. This is referring to the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Treasure Him more than anything. Nothing can replace our intimate relationship with God.
5. Engage in Presence-Valuing Community
Find pure-hearted people who love to spend time in God's Presence, those who are devoted to God with accountability to others in the truth.
There isn't anything more satisfying than having the Presence of God in our lives with a pure devotion to Him. Worship God without compromise devoting yourself to His everlasting purposes.
Let the Depths of Your Heart Call Out To God,
John Belt
www.overflowglobal.com
(Continued next week)
Find out more about us here.....
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Matthew the Tax Collector Called(Matthew9:9-13 , Mark 2:13-17, Luke 5:27-31)
“Follow me!”
Jesus was then criticized for mixing with undesirables, while eating at Matthew’s house.
“Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and discover what this means: ‘I want mercy, not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call those who do right—I came to call sinners.’”
Jesus Questioned About Not Fasting(Matthew 9:14-17, Mark 2:18-22, Luke 5:33-39)
By John’s disciples who did fast.
“Do wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them?” “But the time is coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a new patch on old clothes,
otherwise it will shrink and make the tear worse. No one puts new wine in old wineskins either, otherwise the wineskins will burst, spilling the wine and ruining the wineskins. No, new wine is put into new wineskins, and both last.
Healing at the Pool (John 5:1-15)
Of the man who could not reach the pool when it ‘stirred’.
“Do you want to be healed?”
“Stand up, pick up your mat, and start walking!”
“Look, now you’ve been healed. So stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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A REAL RED LETTER DAY!
AT LAST WE ARE OFFICIAL!
After much time and hassle we are now a registered 3A Medical Centre! This is between a Clinic and a full Hospital, which recognizes equipment we have. After much 'toing and froing' regarding names, we are now the KINGDOM FAITH BASED HOSPITAL. The name includes 'faith based' for two reasons.
1. Over here, the word 'kingdom' is very much associated with the Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall..... Here they are regarded as a satanic cult! Hence people resisted coming.
So surprising really as Jesus only talked about the kingdom of God (or heaven - are interchangeable) never about church, let alone a denomination! 'Many a slip between cup and lip' when you live in a completely different culture.
2. Being registered as 'faith based' or 'community' makes funding easier, as institutional donors trust that.
So we have a cause for celebration in what has been a very difficult time for us. While we are under current financial stress, the future is looking much brighter, as we will able to share shortly. Thanks for your interest and support.
AN 'ARRESTING' AFRICAN EXPERIENCE!
Further to Kathy's traffic police experience, the cops this time came to the hospital to arrest me! Over non-payment of a licence I didn't know we had to have! But (fortunately) I wasn't there, so (unfortunately), they arrested our senior staff member on site at the time, our lovely Clinical Officer Jacky-Lyn. Bundled her into the van along with several others from other unfortunate businesses and off 20km or so to a distant Police Station.
In the meantime, James, our Administrator, and I received several urgent phone calls of 'heeeelp'! We hurriedly withdrew money through the 'hole in the wall' and paid our bill and fine to the County Office.
We were able to rescue her shortly before she was sent to the cells! The rain was pelting down too, which didn't help matters,
Today we have received an apology and refund of the fine.
The amazing thing to Kathy and I was how well the staff, including Jacky-Lyn, took it. Not abnormal here! All part of life in Kenya. We were amazed.
A truly 'captiv'ating African experience!
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They are all found at this link.....
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***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today
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Subscription and back issue link is.....
'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
280. Faith and doubt are constant companions. For it is only in accomplished faith that we see the devil's defeat.
281. If there is no room for doubt in faith, there was no need for faith in the first place.
282. 'Blind faith' is 'blindingly blind'!
283. Doubt is to faith as butter is to bread.
284. Faith involves seeing the goal before it is achieved. Therefore, 'blind faith', by definition, must be a contradiction in terms.
285. A Christian without faith is like a newly beheaded chicken. Running round aimlessly flapping its wings, before collapsing in a heap - 100% dead.
288. Faith brings life. Without faith, we die in the Spirit.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
NEXT WEEK:
THE DAVIDIC COVENANT
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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. ***
QWIK QWIP: “Don't put a question mark where God puts a period.”
141. Hard?
Ever wondered what it was like for Jesus at Nazareth High?
Nazareth Secondary School Term Report
Student: J. CHRIST Form: III Term: 1
SUBJECT GRADE TEACHER'S COMMENT
RELIGION (D) To the question "Who made the world?" persisted in answering
'My dad'. Claims bible originated from the same source.
ENGLISH (D+) Tends to speak and write in archaic forms and uses outmoded figures of speech.
HISTORY (A) Excellent pupil of ancient and Religious History.
GEOGRAPHY (C-) Assignment on 'Hot, dry lands' was excellent, but shows little interest in the rest. In geology, keeps talking about the Rock of Ages instead of the ages of Rock.
SOCIAL STUDIES (B+) Shows keen interest in social issues.
MATHEMATICS (F) Lacks basics. Keeps muttering about 'Three in one' and 'I and the father are one'.
GENERAL SCIENCE (D) Lacks discipline - e.g., when asked to repeat the experiment for making hydrogen, claimed he knew a better way.
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
(D) Prefers to draw with a stick in the sand to pencil and paper.
CONSUMER EDUCATION (C+) Interesting ideas about alternative life style: Something about living like sparrows and lilies of the fields...too impractical.
ART/CRAFT (B) Obviously has imagination and creativity, a good potter - likes working with dirt and water.
MATERIAL STUDIES (A) Excellent in woodwork section. Obviously receives help and stimulation at home.
MUSIC/DRAMA (B+) A keen member of the school choir. On occasions can be frighteningly dramatic.
COMMUNITY (A) Keenly interested in all aspects of Living community.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION (D-) A trouble maker - e.g. during the learn-to-swim campaign insisted on trying to walk across the pool.
HEALTH CLASSES (A) Shows a remarkable aptitude for first aid and knowledge of the body.
CLASS TEACHER'S COMMENT: This boy has a very unhealthy tendency to form gangs. He has organised twelve of his friends into a gang and is seen constantly in the company of the children of publicans and sinners. He needs to be more selective in his choice of friends. Also, he should learn to keep his hair at a tidy length and not wear sandals with the school uniform.
QWIK QWIP: “When praying, don't give God instructions -- just report for duty.”
142. Abraham and Windows 95
Avraham (Abraham) wants to upgrade his PC to Windows 95. Yitzhak (Isaac) is incredulous.
"Pop," he says, "you can't run Windows 95 on your old, slow 386. Everyone knows that you need at least a 486 with a minimum of 16 megs of memory in order to multitask effectively with Windows 95."
But Abraham, the man of faith, gazed calmly at his son and replied, "God will provide the RAM, my son."
143. Acts 2:38
An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled "Stop, Acts 2:38".
The burglar quickly turned around and pointed his gun at her when she yelled again "Stop, Acts 2:38".
Well this time the man stopped, dead in his tracks. The woman calmly called the Police and explained what she had done. As the Officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked him "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a Scripture to you."
"Scripture?" the burglar exclaimed, "I thought she said she had an AX and 2 38s.
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 ..... https://www.wwj.org.nz/content/wwj18p47.pdf
A DAVID MUSING
It is most interesting to see how different cultures handle death.
Last week we went to the funeral of Fred, the senior brother of our host family. Kathy too is attending funerals to tell people about our hospital services, as funerals are one of the few large gatherings here. Politicians use them as a forum too!
What interests me most is the varied grieving processes.
In New Zealand, our Maori people have a Tangi, where they grieve for several days before the burial. Then get on with life.
Here in Kenya, most often, the family often 'celebrate' for up to 3 days and nights after the burial. Then get on with life.
In our Western culture, there is no formal grieving period. Before the funeral we are busy organizing, and straight afterwards, people go home, and the loved ones are left to grieve alone.
There is much we can learn from other cultures.
Photo is from Fred's funeral.
Until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
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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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