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
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Issue No: 880 Published: 03 Sep 2018
WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY? Part 56
THE CHALLENGE OF..... LIVING THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE
THE PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET
Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:1-14)
This parable was spoken in the Temple, just 2 or 3 days before Jesus was crucified. Jesus had been rejected by the Jews, in particular, the religious leaders. Because of their disobedience to God, being too enamoured with traditional religious form rather than the present substance of Jesus, they would miss out on the kingdom. As we have seen elsewhere, they would have understood, but again ignored the message.
Surely this contains a warning to us today as well? Are we letting our precious denominational beliefs and paradigms get in the way of entering the kingdom?
Jesus started His ministry with a wedding, at Cana in Galilee, and the final act of the age will also be a wedding, between Jesus and His church.
For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)
The wedding guests, i.e. the church, are to be dressed in the fine linen of righteousness.
8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:8)
Unfortunately, within the church, there are those who are not clothed in the wedding dress of righteousness. Sadly, there are many in this situation that will be thrown out to live in eternal darkness at judgment time. Jesus made the point here that there will be many who reject His saving grace, both outside and within the church.
This truth is taught in other parables also, such as the tares and the wheat and the wide and narrow roads.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. (Matthew 13:40KJV)
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)
Which road are you walking on?
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Parable of the Net(Matthew 13:47-52)
"Once more, the kingdom of heaven is like a fishing net thrown into the sea that caught all kinds of fish. When it was full it was dragged ashore. The good fish were put into baskets while the bad ones were thrown away."
“That’s the way it will be when the end of the world comes. The angels will go out and separate the evil people from the good, and throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. "
“Now do you understood everything?”
“Every religious teacher who’s learned about the kingdom of heaven is like a house-owner who brings out from his storeroom both new and old treasures,”
Jesus Calms the Storm (Matthew 8:23-7, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-5)
When travelling to the other side of the lake.
“Let’s go across to the other side of the Sea.”
When the storm came and the disciples woke Jesus.
“Be quiet! Be still.”
“Why are you so frightened? Haven’t you learned to trust me?”
There Heals a Demon-possessed Man (Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39)
Jesus talking to the evil spirits.
“What is your name?”
Legion, meaning many. The man begs to go with Jesus.
“Go home to your own people, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how he has been merciful to you.”
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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A VICTORY!
Finally, after 16 months of trying, we have been granted a Missionary Permit to stay in Kenya for 3 years!!!
This is a huge relief to us, as we had been surviving on effective, 6 month (3+3) Tourist Visas, meaning you have to leave and re-enter the country after that time. Kathy was OK, as she had been out and in twice during the year, but I had to go to Uganda for 15 minutes (was meant to be 2 days) and come back, costing me 2 lots of $50 for Visas.
It is also satisfying that Kenya actually wants us! LOL!
Permits have been hard to get as many, often undesirables, see Kenya as an attractive place to come to. Over election times (2) the system virtually ground to a halt.
After 3 years we have to re-apply for further 3 years, then at the end of that time, as we have been here a year already, (a 7 year requirement), full residence permits should be available.
Time will tell, but we are now secure for 3 years.
Thank you Lord.
***NOW***NINE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!
9 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!
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***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today
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'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.
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
382. There is no absolute measure of prosperity for our perception of it relates to what we see others have. I wonder what God sees?
383. The problem with prosperity is that we all want to own God's 'cattle on a thousand hills' personally.
385. It is a sad fact that if the rich gave all they had to the poor, poverty would merely be delayed, not allayed.
811. In the Old Testament, success is measured by prosperity, in the New, by sacrifice. Many believers prefer to live in the past!
812. May I learn to rest content with my 'daily bread'.
813. There is no problem with prosperity, only our definition of it.
814. In the Old Testament, prosperity is provision for the future, in the New, sufficiency for today.
815. Worldly provision comes through people, godly provision through the Providor, for whom people are but one resource.
816. Jesus redefined prosperity from wealth for the future to provision for today.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
NEXT WEEK: THE TABERNACLE OF MOSES - PART 3 (2) APPLICATION TO TODAY’S CHURCH
Plus a glimpse of the church yet to come!
*** ANOTHER DAILY EZINE FROM WWJ!*** 'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES' Subscribe Today
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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. ***
178. Lateral Wisdom
A preacher stepped into the pulpit one Sunday morning with a Band-Aid on the side of his face. He explained at the start of his sermon, “I cut myself while shaving. I guess I was meditating on my sermon.”
An hour and fifteen minutes later a sleepy member of the congregation whispered to his wife, “He should have meditated on his shaving and cut his sermon!”
QWIK QWIP: “You have the capacity to learn from your mistakes. You will learn a lot today.”
179. You Can't Win
The local post office received a letter addressed "To God." Not knowing where to deliver it, they forwarded it to one of the nearby churches.
The pastor read it at the next charity committee meeting. "Dear God," began the writer. "I hate to bother you, but my family is having it tough right now. The rent is two month's due, my wife is expecting, and my car is broke down. Plus I just lost my job as a night watchman due to sleeping on the job. Please send us $1,000 and I won't bother you again."
The pastor read the name and one of the committee members recognised it. "He lives right down the street from the church," she said. "This might be a good way to witness to him and show him we care."
The others agreed but the church fund was only to help members. Finally, after much discussion, they decided to pool their resources and give from their own pockets. They came up with $500, then wrote out a check from the church and sent it to him.
Months passed with no word of thanks or even acknowledgement. Some time later they received another letter forwarded to them addressed to God. It was from the same fellow. "Dear God," it read. "I hate to bother you again, but I lost my new job at the shoe store, my car was wrecked, and my wife is in the hospital again. Please send me $1,000 to get these creditors off our backs. Thanks again. P.S. Please send it to me directly this time. Last time you sent it through the church next door and those dirty crooks kept half of it."
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
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A DAVID MUSING
Tonight we have visitors from another city some distance away, whom I had not seen for several years. After introductions and pleasantries, out came the cell phones and all, except me, (for a while) were busy on phones. Conversation died!
Sadly, this is the case all over the world for phones now take priority over conversation.
Jesus was a superb communicator, sharing with people and growing disciples amongst those He ministered too - at least until they found His Gospel too hard or too costly in terms of sacrifice of earthly desires.
Building disciples requires both time and the sharing of experiences and encouragement one with another, in order to face the challenges worldly temptations put in the way of those desiring to live a godly life.
While I use the net and phones to spread the word of the 'kingdom on earth as it is in heaven', in the end nothing takes the place of relationship, for that is what the walk with Jesus is all about. Loving both God and others.
We neglect this at our peril. 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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