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: 957 Published: 24 Feb 2020
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW?
BLESSINGS AND CURSES
Greek (Western) In Greek thought, blessings and curses are related to circumstances.
When something good happens such as a promotion or financial success, a person is blessed. If something bad happens, we consider we are cursed. Adore God more and we will be blessed, on the other hand, ignore him and we will be cursed. Put simply, blessings are when good things happen, curses, when bad things happen.
Eastern (Hebrew) In Hebrew thought however, blessings are related to obedience and curses to disobedience.
Good and bad things happen in life, which are totally unrelated to obedience and disobedience. Knowing this, we can better understand the discourse between God, the devil, and Job. God held up Job as an example of one who was willing to suffer for Him, for He knew Job's faith was not dependent upon receiving physical blessings.....
7 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:7-8)
Satan, took the typical Greek thought attitude that Job's faith was only so high because he was materially blessed.....
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:99-11)
So God allowed Job to be tested.....
12 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. (Job 1:12)
As we know Job's 3 friends ridiculed him, and Job himself questioned God, but stood firm in his faith. God corrected them.....
7 After the LORD had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the LORD told them; and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. (Job 42:7-9)
As this is the Old Testament, where the kingdom was primarily expressed in the material as opposed to the spiritual of the New Testament, Job was rewarded with material blessings for his obedience.....
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
We fail to understand, because of our Western way of thinking, that all the promises of God are conditional upon obedience. We all too often take the 'blessings verses' out of context, not looking at the conditions upon which the blessings are based, that precede or follow them. We do not understand that there is a cost to following Jesus.
The classic New Testament example is the Beatitudes, where each of the 9 blessings comes at a cost. For example, if we want mercy, we need to show mercy to others.....
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7)
Jesus concludes this teaching with the statement that we must endure persecution in order to receive the blessings.....
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. (Matthew 5:12)
Paul too, understood this principle that he participated in the (spiritual New Testament) blessings, only because he was willing to pay the price of obedience.....
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
This is a profound truth, misunderstood by most believers today.
SOME SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY
1. The 'Father Christmas' Christianity of 'come to God and all will be well with you' that is so often taught today, is both a dangerous and false doctrine which inevitably ends in disappointment and rejection when it proves not to be true in people's life experience.
2. The primarily spiritual blessings of the New Testament are received by those prepared to pay the price of obedience to the Father's will.
3. Wealth, success and failure, expressed in worldly terms, are normally the result of the circumstances of life, rather than the blessing or cursing of God.
4. The spiritual blessings of God can, and often are, experienced by those in the direst physical and material circumstances.
5. God looks to what we are, rather than how we are or how much we have.
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Sermon on the Mount(Matthew 5:1-7:29, Luke 6:17-49)
The primary ‘life teachings’ of Jesus.
When Giving to the Needy (Matthew 6:1-4)
“Make sure not to do your good deeds in front of people, just so they can be seen. Otherwise you won’t have any reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites who blow their own trumpets to announce what they’re doing in the synagogues and in the streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth: they already have their reward. When you give to the poor, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand’s doing. That way what you give will be in secret, and your Father who sees what happens in secret will reward you.
Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15)
“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand up and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people can see them. I promise you, they have already got their reward. But you, when you pray, go indoors and close the door, and pray to your Father in private, and your Father who sees what happens in private will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on meaninglessly like the foreigners do, who think they will be heard because of all the words they repeat. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows what you need even before you ask him. So pray like this:
“Our heavenly Father, may your name be honored. May your kingdom come! May your will be carried out in earth as it is in heaven. Please give to us today the food we need. Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. Don’t let us be tempted to do wrong, and save us from the Evil One.
“For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive those who sin against you, then your heavenly Father won’t forgive your sins.
Fasting (Matthew 6:16-18)
“When you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites who put on sad faces and make themselves look terrible so that everyone can see they’re fasting. Instead, when you fast, wash your face and look smart, so that people won’t see you’re fasting, and your unseen Father who sees what happens in private will reward you.
(Continued next week)
Download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
A MUZUNGU’S (White Man’s) THOUGHT – Issue 26
It is becoming increasingly obvious, round the world, that even those who call themselves Christian and go to church, are reading their Bibles less and less.
What a sweeping statement to make David! How do you know that?
Actually it is relatively easy to work out.
For it is obvious that people are accepting teachings from church leaders and those of influence that are further and further away from what the Bible teaches. More and more teachings are designed to ‘tickle the ears’ of the hearers, and an increasing number are outright heresy.
I am really sorry to have to say this, but the standards of Christian teaching and morality are declining at an increasing pace. In spite of this, maybe, because of it, church attendances in the West particularly, are declining. As the Bible promises, many people will fall away in the end days. There is so much emphasis now on the show, on attracting people into the church with a good show and titillating their ears, that the Word of God takes a back seat.
I understand that we live in a world of instant gratification, where we can quickly access the best the world has to offer on a myriad of devices, at the touch of a button.
What is the solution?
Jesus, God’s son, was not an establishment figure. He was a rebel with a cause. After an initial period of popularity, he lived under persecution throughout His 3 ½ years of ministry. And of course, Joseph and Mary had to take Him to Egypt as a newborn, to escape the vindictiveness of Herod’s baby-killing campaign.
He got into trouble both with the church and governmental authorities. In fact, a combination of the two finally killed Him by the cruellest method they could think of - crucifixion. And both were experts in cruelty.
The harsh truth is that true Christianity is a minority grouping, not a community norm. Many may call themselves Christians, and go to church, but few have a truly personal relationship with Jesus.
I know from personal experience. For I was born and brought up in a Christian home, for all appearances was a good Christian, but it wasn’t until I went bankrupt in my early 40’s, that I truly gave my heart to Jesus and gave my life unconditionally to Him. In other words, became His disciple.
Just yesterday I was talking to a lady who said she was a Christian. I asked her who God is. The creator. How about Jesus. God’s son and the saviour. I didn’t go any further, but I should have asked, “Is he your Saviour and Lord?” But I could tell that it was not so. Knowing Jesus personally, as His disciple, is so much more than knowing about Him and going to church on Sundays. As a real disciple of Jesus, our life is fully dedicated to Him. Not necessarily in full-time ministry, but in how we live our life.
Again, being a disciple of Jesus is a minority position. There may be 2 billion nominal Christians, but relatively few disciples of Jesus.
True Christianity survives and grows through persecution as we can see in China, as an example, today.
Jesus promised we would be persecuted in the end days. And it is happening!
Praise the Lord! For now, the true followers of Jesus will grow, and through their lives influence others to join the Jesus Team.
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Lve Link.....
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ALBERT - A TRUE OVERCOMER!
On Saturday Albert arrived with a friend on a boda boda (public motorbike) to our KINGDOM EYE hospital, as he was having an eye problem.
Albert is now 60 years old. He was born healthy but contracted polio during his childhood. No treatment was available, so he lost the use of both legs.
That has not stopped him though, living life to the full. Albert is married with 6 children, some older, and some still at school.
He works as a cobbler to make a living.
Fortunately, his eye problem was relatively minor and easily treated.
Seen here having a consultation with Rosemary, our eye nurse for the day.
Sitting, waiting with some of our other clients to see Rosemary.
Walking on (padded) hands and knees and knees in for his appointment.
Nearly there.
Albert has made the most of his life with a serious disability. Let us not complain so much when we are facing our less serious health or other challenges.
THINK ALBERT!
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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.
Download the free PDF here.....
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
1152. The centrality of both sIn and prIde is 'I'!
1153. Sin is the external result of internal rebellion against God.
1154. Just because we grow up with sin doesn't mean we need to hold on to it all our life!
1155. Sin causes God to cry!
1156. The foundation of sin is 'self interest', that of righteousness, 'God interest'.
1157. As sin goes, righteousness grows.
1158. No-one has ever conquered sin by their own efforts!
1159. The deep darkness of sin cannot co-exist with the bright light of holiness, in the natural or spiritual.
1160. While we are forgiven of our sins through the cross of Jesus, upon request, we still have to live with the consequences. So it's best not to sin in the first place!
1161. Overcoming sin is a lifelong process of eliminating the 'self' from our life.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgment 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
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
NEXT WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues.....
As we continue our look at the problems that so quickly developed in the 7 churches of Revelation.
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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. ***
376. Chicken Dinner
After a community worship service, a farmer invited the local pastors, reverend, and priest back to the farm for dinner. At the meal, each clergy was served a whole young chicken. As the three returned to their cars, a rooster was seen strutting about, chest puffed out and held high. "He sure seems full of himself," commented the pastor. "He has good cause to be proud," answered the farmer. "He just had three of his children go into the ministry."
377. The Contest
Between moments of dispensing wisdom, it seems that historical religious leaders had also learned software programming. One day, a great contest was held to test their skills. After days and days of fierce competition, only two leaders remained for the last day's event: Jesus and Mohammed.
The judge described the software application required for the final test, and gave the signal to start writing code. The two contestants feverishly typed away on their keyboards. Routines, classes, applets and applications flew by on their screens at incredible speeds. Windows, dialogs, and other intricate graphics began forming on their monitors. The clock showed that the contest would soon be finished.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightening flashed and the power went out. After a moment, it came back on - just in time for the clock to announce that the last competition was over. The judge asked the two contestants to reveal their finished software. Mohammed angrily said that he'd lost it all in the power outage. The judge turned to the other competitor.
Jesus smiled, clicked a mouse, and a dazzling application appeared on his screen. After just a few moments, the judge was clearly impressed and declared Jesus the victor. When asked why the decision was made, the judge pointed out the unique characteristic that set the winner apart from all the other leaders: Jesus saves.
QWIK QWIP: “Isn’t it amazing how long a couple of hours spent at church, but how short they are when watching a movie.”
378. A Direct Line
Little 5 year old John ran to his Grandmother one rainy winter morning.
"Nana! Do they have telephones in Heaven? I've got to call God right now!" he said.
"John, why do you have to call God?" she asked
"Because I've been praying and praying for snow all morning and look, He made a mistake. All its doing is raining!"
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
There has been an incident in our hospital this week where love and forgiveness are requested, not in person but through quoting Scripture.
In this, and other cases in life, forgiveness is readily given.
However, for all our actions there are consequences, that have to be faced beyond forgiveness.
Once upon a time, many years ago in New Zealand, I was hit over the head several times, to within a centimetre of death, by a drunken and drugged staff member who had been caught stealing. Kathy was beaten up also. On the way to the hospital in the ambulance, my wise wife said we must forgive the man, which we did. Amazingly we suffered no pain or consequences. Neither the Doctors nor the Police could believe it. We shared the power of forgiveness with them.
However, the guy concerned was arrested and sentenced to 8 years in jail. He was forgiven, but the consequences remain.
It is the same for all of us. Sin can be forgiven and forgotten by God, but we have to live with the consequences in our life.
May we learn to think of these consequences before committing the sin.
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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