A Weekly World Wide Word of Encouragement to those in the Ministry
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A WEEKLY ‘WWW (world-wide word) OF ENCOURAGEMENT’
TO THOSE IN MINISTRY
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Issue No: 926 Published: 22 Jul 2019
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW?
This is a repeat of a teaching shared here 71/2 years ago. It is so important though, that it needs to be repeated, for many of the problems in the church today stem from a lack of understanding of the ingeritance of our faith. May we all learn together. David.
One of the major causes of the church not truly walking in the ways of Jesus is that we don't truly understand what the ways of Jesus were, and are!
How can you say that, David? Surely we have learned theologians to research and teach, pastors who diligently study and preach the Word, day after day, week after week, year after year. We can have knowledge coming out of our ears from spending time hearing, reading or watching the gospel being expounded in so many different ways.
Yet we continue to miss the point, to misinterpret, to misunderstand, what the walk with Jesus is truly all about. How terrible. How sad. For me, and for you.
How do our misunderstandings arise then?
It is because we come from a Greek rather than a Jewish mindset. And the two are poles apart. In reality, for 2000 years now we have assumed Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Peter, Paul and all, thought in the same way, but with different conclusions, to the many famous Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Plato, those who are responsible for the thought processes underpinning our educational system, and Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, to name but a very few. The Old Testament was translated into Greek in the 3rd century before Jesus, while the New Testament was written in Greek. Unfortunately, much of the intrinsic meaning and understanding of the Jewish culture in which Jesus lived and ministered, was lost in the Greek translation, in the way of thinking of those of us in a Greek thought pattern, dominated world.
Put simply, if we start out on the wrong road, we are most likely to arrive at the wrong destination.
Over the centuries, some people have had truths revealed through revelation from the Holy Spirit, but generally, these ones have been rejected by the established church, which has preferred to continue in intellectual, religious ways, leading to division and even hatred between believers through different, man made, interpretations of Scripture. "Jesus still weeps!"
In more recent times however, in particular since the re-establishment of the State of Israel, a greater understanding of historical Jewish ways is starting to emerge, being available to those with a desire to seek out truths that have been lost or ignored for the past 2 millennia of the Christian church.
Over the next few months we will look at some of these cultural differences and see how they impact our understanding of what Jesus really was all about. It should be life changing!
We need to learn to understand and think in an Eastern (Hebrew), rather than in our traditional and typical Greek (Western), way. The Gospels, being about the life of Jesus, are written from an Eastern, Jewish perspective while the writings, particularly of Paul, have much more of a Western perspective, as he was writing to a primarily European audience of Gentiles.
WRITING STYLE
Greek (Western) We think in abstract ideas, using logic, definitions, bullet points etc., to explain our ideas. Proseis our favoured median of writing. We are fact based. For example, Paul's outline of the qualifications for eldership.
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:5-9)
We love doctrine ahead of love itself! We kill each other, formerly literally, now mainly verbally, over it! Doctrine has become more important than Jesus in defining our relationship to other believers!
Eastern (Hebrew) Hebrew thinkers express truth in a concrete fashion, building word pictures and telling stories. Poetry is their favourite form of expression. Imagery and symbolism are used extensively to explain their ideas. eg. Book of Revelation - written by Jesus through John.
3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. 5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:3-6)
Jesus taught in parables, in word pictures, making spiritual applications out of every day activities. The most famous is the Parable of the Sower.
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:3-8)
And we are all familiar with the beauty and powerful poetry of the Psalms, particularly those of David. What an amazing word picture of God's comfort and love in times of trouble is found in the 23rd Psalm.
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-4)
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. Jesus is not about theology as such, of which there will always be differences, but relationship with Him and leading a godly life, of us representing Him in the world. He is interested in character, as expressed through the parables, rather than theological knowledge. (Ask the pharisees!)
2. Be careful not to translate imagery and symbolism literally, looking instead for the spiritual principles that undergird it.
3. Grasp hold of the emotions expressed in the Psalms, Lamentations and other spiritual songs, for the feelings expressed, the problems experienced and overcome, are as applicable now as they were when they were written.
4. Following Jesus is relational and experiential in the Hebrew, not theoretical, philosophical or theological as in the Greek.
(To be continued next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
On the Mount of Olives (John:15:1 – 16:33)
The farewell discourse.
The Vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every one of my branches that doesn’t bear fruit. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so it can bear even more. You are already pruned and made clean through what I’ve told you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it remains part of the vine, so it is for you: you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. I’m the vine, you’re the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit—for apart from me you can’t do anything. Anyone who doesn’t remain in me is like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Such branches are gathered together, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, then you can ask for whatever you want, and it will be given you. My Father is glorified as you produce much fruit, proving you are my disciples.
“As the Father loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you do what I say, you will remain in my love, just as I do what my Father says and remain in his love. I’ve explained this to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my command: love one another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than to give your life for your friends. You’re my friends if you do what I tell you. I don’t call you servants any longer, for servants are not taken into their master’s confidence. I call you friends, for everything my Father told me I’ve explained to you. You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I have given you the responsibility to go and produce lasting fruit. So the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command to you: love one another.
World hates the disciples.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before it hated you. If you were part of this world, it would love you as its own. But you’re not part of the world, and I chose you out of the world—that’s why the world hates you.
“Remember what I told you: servants aren’t more important than their master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them too. But everything they do to you will be because of me, for they don’t know the One who sent me. If I hadn’t come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin—but now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not given them such a demonstration through things that no one had ever done before, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin, but despite seeing all this they hated both me and my Father. But this just fulfilled what Scripture says, “They hated me for no reason at all.”
“But I will send you the Comforter from the Father. When he comes, he will give evidence about me. He is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. You will also give evidence about me because you were with me from the beginning.
“I’ve told you this so you won’t give up your trust in me. They will expel you from the synagogues—in fact the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. They’ll do this because they have never known the Father or me. I’ve told you this so that when these things happen, you’ll remember what I told you. I didn’t need to tell you this right at the beginning because I was going to be with you.
The Holy Spirit’s work.
But now I’m going to the one who sent me, and yet not one of you is asking me, “Where are you going?” Of course, now that I’ve told you, you’re full of grief.
“But I’m telling you the truth: it’s better for you that I go away, for if I don’t the Comforter won’t come to you. If I go away, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convince those in the world that they have wrong ideas regarding sin, what’s right, and judgment: Sin, for they don’t trust in me. 10What is right, for I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me any longer. Judgement, for the ruler of this world has been condemned.
“There’s much more I want to explain to you, but you couldn’t stand it now. However, when the Spirit of truth comes, he will teach you the whole truth. He doesn’t speak for himself, but he only says what he hears, and he will tell you what’s going to happen. He brings me glory for he teaches you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine. This is why I said that the Spirit teaches you whatever he receives from me. In a little while you won’t see me anymore, but then a little while after that you will see me.
From grief to joy.
“Are you wondering about my comment, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me’? I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy. A woman in labor suffers pain because her time has come, but once the baby is born, she forgets the agony because of the joy that a child has been brought into the world. “Yes, you’re grieving now, but I will see you again; and you will rejoice, and no one can take away your joy.
“When that time comes you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you haven’t asked for anything in my name, so ask and you shall receive, and your happiness will be complete. I’ve been talking to you using picture language. But soon I won’t use such picture language any more when I speak to you. Instead I’ll explain the Father to you very plainly. “At that time you will ask in my name. I’m not saying to you that I will plead with the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you—because you love me and believe that I came from God. I left the Father and came into the world; now I leave the world and return to my Father.
The disciples now understood.
“Are you really convinced now?” “The time is coming—in fact it’s just about to happen—when you will be scattered, each of you to your own homes, leaving me all alone. But I’m not really alone, for the Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that you may have peace because you are one with me. You will suffer in this world, but be brave—I have defeated the world!”
(Continued next week)
Download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
***NEW*** A MUZUNGU’S (White Man’s) THOUGHT
Seeing the West from Kingdom Village, through the light of the media – and anti-media – one gets a different perspective of the life we left 2 years ago when we came to live in Kenya. Africa is believed in the West to be the home of violence and in certain places of conflict it is, but on the whole I have found, in our country location, that things are pretty peaceful.
Yet, when I read in the media what is going on in New Zealand and other places, I wonder if we are not in a safer place!
The ongoing breakdown in the moral structure of society is even more apparent from a distance. Of course media glorifies violence, as it sells! But even so, the Judeo-Christian ethics on which Western societies were for a time generally based upon can be observed from a distance, to be being broken down steadily, day by day. Extremism, both right and left wing is causing society to splinter into factions diametrically opposed to each other.
From a Christian perspective, from which I unapologetically come, life is becoming more uncomfortable, as the teachings of Jesus are increasingly being rejected by society generally.
Jesus told us that people will fall away and we will become more and more persecuted as time goes on. Jesus was a revolutionary in His time and true followers of Christ have always been a revolutionary minority. While for a time, Christianity was socially acceptable, society is now moving once again towards operating more on worldly rather than godly principles.
For those truly sold out to Jesus, the world is becoming a more difficult place in which to live. Yet, with persecution, the true ‘church’, talking of God’s people with an intimate relationship with our Lord, not buildings or denominations, will thrive. The persecuted church in China is an excellent example.
Therefore our personal decision of whom or what we will follow is becoming more challenging every day.
Whom will you serve? My mind is made up – JESUS!
Shukrani
(Thank You)
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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ACTION AT KINGDOM!
After a quiet time things are starting to happen again.
A beautiful worship at Kingdom this morning with staff, patients and our New Zealand guest Jan. Thank you all.
Kathy, patients, Jan and David.
Brick throwing! Beats a wheelbarrow any day! Starting internal work at the Eye Hospital.
Dragging up a a borrowed pump 95m from the bottom of the well.
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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
818. Grace is God's strength blessing our weakness.
819. Grace is love unearned.
821. Grace comes when you let God do it.
822. Be graciously graced with grace!
823. Grace is so much more than a prayer before a meal.
825. Understand grace and you will join with Jesus - by His grace!
826. Apply grace. The response may surprise!
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A CHURCH OF DESTINY Continued
Points 10-15.
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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: “Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to MacDonald's makes you a hamburger.”
289. Land of Our Fathers
A Jewish father was concerned about his son who was about a year away from his Bar Mitzvah but was sorely lacking in his knowledge of the Jewish faith. To remedy this he sent his son to Israel to experience his heritage.
A year later the young man returned home. "Father, thank you for sending me to the land of our Fathers, " the son said. "It was wonderful and enlightening, however, I must confess that while in Israel I converted to Christianity."
"Oi vey," replied the father, "what have I done?" So in the tradition of the patriarchs he went to his best friend and sought his advice and solace.
"It is amazing that you should come to me," stated his friend, "I to sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian."
So in the traditions of the Patriarchs they went to the Rabbi. "It is amazing that you should come to me," stated the Rabbi, "I too sent my son to Israel and he returned a Christian. What is happening to our sons?"
"Brothers, we must take this to God," said the Rabbi. They fell to their knees and began to wail and pour out their hearts to the Almighty. As they prayed the clouds above opened and a mighty voice stated, "Amazing that you should come to Me. I, too, sent My Son to Israel."
290. Picture the Scene:
Moses and his flock arrive at the sea, with the Egyptians in hot pursuit. Moses calls a staff meeting.
(Moses) Well, how are we going to get across the sea? We need a fast solution. The Egyptians are close behind us.
(General) Normally, I'd recommend that we build a pontoon bridge to carry us across. But there's not enough time - the Egyptians are too close.
(Admiral) Normally, I'd recommend that we build barges to carry us across. But time is too short.
(Moses) Does anyone have a solution
Just then, his Public Relations man raises his hand.
(Moses) You! You have a solution?
(PR Man) No, but I can promise you this: If you can find a way out of this one, I can get you two or three pages in the Old Testament!
QWIK QWIP: “Some people complain because God put thorns on roses while others praise Him for putting roses on thorns.”
291. Daddy's Sermons
A pastor tried to prepare his two children for what he thought might be a boring high school graduation ceremony. "Graduations are sometimes long, boring events," he said. "I want you guys to behave and not constantly ask when it's going to be over."
"Don't worry, Dad. We'll live", his daughter replied. "We last through all of your sermons, don't we?"
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
This morning I spoke in church again, after some considerable time.
I am out of practice! Not in the Word, not in the Spirit, but in sheer exhaustion!
As it is planned that I will be doing more again in the near future, I need to get used to spending more time on my feet and less sitting at a computer!
When I speak, through the Lords Spirit, I give 100%. The way it should be.
It is so easy in life to get lazy, whether spiritually or physically. If we desire to succeed in any area of life we must train our body, mind and spirit so it can cope. Tomorrow is not a good time to turn off the the TV, when we can today.
Now it's time for a snooze! LOL!
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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