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: 958 Published: 02 Mar 2020
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW?
KNOWING v DOING
Greek (Western) The Greek way of thinking is knowledge based, dependent upon the development of logical thought.
In Christian circles too, it is often more important to believe and speak out "the right thing," rather than to live the right way. We are obsessed with creeds, doctrinal statements, Systematic Theologies, orthodoxy vs. heresy, and creating "Evangelical" or "Sabbatarian" or "Trinitarian" theologies.
Prophecy is seen as occurring on a time-line. We need to tick off prophetic events as they happen, in a logical order.
We also are inclined to abandon literal translation of the Scriptures in favour of allegorical explanations.
Eastern (Hebrew) Hebrews are concerned with actions, about living a righteous life.
They look to the moral, rather than the intellectual.
They also look to the 'day of the Lord', knowing that He will act in His time, rather than to a specific prophetic timetable.
A COMPARISON BETWEEN HEBRAIC AND WESTERN THINKING
This table, taken from www.godward.org sums up the differences between the two cultures.
WESTERN APPROACH ….HEBRAIC APPROACH
- Life analysed in precise categories.
....Everything blurs into everything else.
2. A split between natural & supernatural
....Supernatural affects everything.
3. Linear logic
....Contextual or "block" logic
4. "Rugged Individualism"
....Importance of being part of group
5. Equality of persons
....Value comes from place in hierarchies
5. Freedom orientation
....Security orientation
6. Competition is good
....Competition is evil (cooperation is better)
7. Man-centred universe
....God/tribe/family-centred universe
8. Worth of person based on money/material possessions/power
....Worth derived from family relationships
9. Biological life sacred
....Social life supremely important
10. Chance + cause & effect limit what can happen
....God causes everything in his universe
11. Man rules nature through understanding and applying laws of science ....God rules everything, so relationship with God determines how things turn out.
12. Power over others achieved through business, politics and human organizations.
....Power over others is structured by social patterns ordained by God.
13. All that exists is the material.
....The universe is filled with powerful spirit beings
14. Linear time divided into neat segments. Each event is new.
....Cyclical or spiralling time. Similar events constantly reoccur.
15. History is recording facts objectively and chronologically.
....History is an attempt to preserve significant truths in meaningful or
memorable ways, whether or not details are objective facts.
16. Oriented to the near future
....Oriented to lessons of history
17. Change is good = progress
....Change is bad = destruction of traditions
18. Universe evolved by chance
....Universe created by God
19. Universe dominated and controlled by science and technology
....God gave man stewardship over his earthly creation, being based on accountability to God.
20. Material goods = measure of personal achievement
....Material goods = measure of God’s blessing
21. Blind faith
....Knowledge-based faith
22.Time as points on straight line ("at this point in time…")
....Time determined by content ("In the day that the Lord did…")
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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.
Seek Treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-24)
“Don’t pile up wealth here on earth where moths and rust ruin it, and where thieves break in and steal it.
Instead, you should pile up your wealth in heaven, where moths and rust don’t ruin it, and where thieves don’t break in and steal it. For wherever you pile up your wealth, that’s where your heart will be too.
“The eye is like a lamp that lights the body. So if your eye is healthy, then your whole body will have light. But if your eye is evil, then your whole body will be in the dark. If the light in you is darkness, how dark is that! No one can serve two masters. Either you’ll hate one and love the other, or you’ll be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Money.
Not to Worry (Matthew 6:25-34)
“That’s why I’m telling you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about what to eat, or what to drink, or what clothes to put on. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds—they don’t sow or reap or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? Who of you by worrying can add a minute to your life? And why are you worried about clothes? Look at the beautiful flowers in the field. See how they grow: they don’t work hard, they don’t spin thread. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these flowers. So if God decorates the fields like this, grass which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, won’t he do much more for you, you people who trust so little? So don’t worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ These are all the things that the heathen chase after, but your heavenly Father knows everything you need. Seek his kingdom first, and his way of doing right, and everything will be given to you. So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow can worry about itself. There’s already enough evil in every day.
Do Not Judge Others(Matthew 7:1-6, Luke 6:37-42)
“Don’t judge others, so that you won’t be judged. For whatever standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you, and whatever measurement you use to measure others will be used to measure you. Why do you see the speck that’s in your brother’s eye? Don’t you notice the plank that’s in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take out that speck from your eye’ when you have a plank in your own eye? You’re being hypocritical! First get rid of the plank that’s in your own eye. Then you’ll be able to see clearly to take out the speck from your brother’s eye.
“Don’t give dogs what’s holy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs. That way the pigs won’t trample them underfoot, and the dogs won’t turn and attack you.
(Continued next week)
Download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
A MUZUNGU’S (White Man’s) THOUGHT – Issue 26
Moral issues are becoming a real challenge and problem amongst God’s people today. The Western world, at least, is moving further away from the Biblical principles on which it has been based for the past few hundred years. Or you could say c.1700 years, going back to the time of the conversion of Emperor Constantine, who forced a form of Christianity on the dominant Roman Empire of the time.
Buy today, as humanism is taking over as the Wests dominant force, everything is allowable that pleases oneself. The original, additional criteria of not hurting others, seems to have been dispensed with, in the selfish move to satisfying self.
Along with this has come a sinister move to criticize fiercely those who don’t agree with the new moral norms. This has gone to extremes when US President Obama threatened to withdraw US Aid if Kenya didn’t accept h----exality. The Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta told him to keep his aid for both major faith groups in Kenya, Christians and Muslims opposed it.
At the time of the Kenyan elections, all new applications for NGO’s were put on hold for many were endeavouring to influence Kenyans into the so-called ‘progressive’ ways of Western thinking.
Keeping to Biblical tenets of morality where it is becoming the minority rather than the norm, challenges churches and individuals alike. Some, perhaps many, of each, have succumbed to the anti-biblical views of society today.
Why does the Bible make such a point about sexual purity? It is simple really, but many won’t receive it. Our body is the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’. Other sins do not affect our body, but sexual sins do. Again, it is that simple.
Africa, where we now live, has a different problem, but one just as bad. African society, before the teachings of Jesus arrived, was a polygamous society. Men took many wives, for as in early biblical times, men would get killed in battle and there were surplus women. In Kenya today, multiple marriages are still legal, although most of the younger generation restrict themselves to one, as the cost of living, health and education is so high.
So again, a biblical standard of morality where one man has one wife, without prior sexual relations, is ignored. When our team goes round schools talking about eyes, they are normally requested to do a ‘sex talk’ too, as the greatest problems teachers have are with STD’s, pregnancies, and AIDS. None of which would happen, of course, if biblical principles were followed.
Today, we Christians are a minority in Western society, at least. Persecution is beginning in the West, along with other non-Christian countries. Many are falling away, as Jesus prophesied.
The good news though is, throughout history, from the time of Jesus until today, real Christianity thrives in persecution. China is a current example.
May His true disciples thrive and grow in Him today.
Shukrani
(Thank You)
xxx
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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KATHY IS MULTIPLYING!
Not in weight, if that is what you thought!
Nor in having babies - as far as I am aware!
But Kathy now has 3 lovely Kenyan babies named after her - two in the last couple of weeks!
It is a real honour for her and a recognition of all the work she has done in the community attending meetings of all sorts, from Barasas (community meetings) to funerals, to speaking in churches, and now, in schools.
Well done Mama Kathy Nafula!
PS: This photo is a boy! They love her too
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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
1162. God never asks us to deal with more than we can currently handle. So eliminating sin is a lifelong process!
1163. The revelation of sin in our lives deepens, as our walk with Jesus intensifies. But we only need to deal with the revelation of our current step.
1164. Sin is like an onion. God reveals it and we peel it off, with tears, a layer at a time!
1165. Sin is neither to be loved, nor feared, but dealt with!
1166. We cannot truly say we hate the sin in our lives if we are not prepared to do something about it!
1167. Contrary to common Christian exhortation, sin can be enjoyable - for a time. Many of us test the limits!
1168. Sin grows as it onward goes!
1169. Sin intensifies with repetition.
1170. Finally, thrills turn into spills!
1171. On Judgement Day, my sin is no-ones responsibility but my own.
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
NEXT WEEK: TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM continues.....
... as we look at the churches of Thyratira and Sardis.
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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. ***
382. Windows 95
Abraham is trying to load Windows 95 on his computer. His son, Isaac, walks in and says, "Dad, what are you doing? You can't load Windows 95 on to your computer! You need at least a 486 with 14 megs of memory; you only have a 386 with no available memory."
And Abraham said, "Don't worry, son, God will provide the Ram."
QWIK QWIP: “Character is like a fence - it cannot be strengthened by whitewash.”
383. Wake Up Call
A certain pastor was upset with a man in his congregation who was frequently going to sleep during the sermon, so the pastor decided to teach the man a lesson. Near the end of the sermon, the pastor, in a normal voice said, "If there's anyone here this morning who wants to go to hell . . ." he began - then raising his voice to a near shout, continued, “PLEASE STAND UP."
The sleeping gentleman, startled from his slumber, sprang to his feet. Then he slowly looked around and then said, "Well, Pastor, I'm not sure why it is that I'm standing, but it looks like it's you and I are in the same boat."
384. God's Field
A pastor drove out into the country to visit one of his parishioners, a farmer. As he approached the farm, he noticed the man alongside of the road, leaning over the fence gazing out at his expansive field of corn, nearly ready for harvest. As the pastor approached, the farmer exclaimed, "Look at this, isn't it beautiful?" "Well I think you should be careful not to be too boastful," the Pastor noted. "After all, it is God who created this field." "Maybe so," the farmer replied. "But you should have seen this field when God had it all to Himself."
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
Happiness comes, happiness goes, but joy goes on forever.
The reality of life is, we cannot be happy all the time. We all experience the waves of life. We can ride the crest of a wave for so long but eventually, it will reach the shoreline and powerfully crash in a great heap of froth and sand or stones. Then we are truly brought 'back to earth' as the saying goes. We have all been there and done that many times, I am sure!
Joy, on the other hand, comes from the living presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and remains when happiness turns to grief or just the humdrum of much of day to day life.
I had a beautiful example of this in my Great Aunty Ina, who in spite of being in great pain in her latter years from arthritis, always had the presence of the joy of the Lord upon her, as she sat by her fireside, Bible in hand. You could see the joy of the Holy Spirit reflected through her, helping her to cope with the grating bones.
May we too seek intimacy with the Lord, so that His joy remains with us and comforts us during our times of pain.
Until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
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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
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Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567
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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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