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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: 738 Published: 21 Dec 2015
CHRISTIANITY - A CULTURE, ORGANISATION, OR A RELATIONSHIP?
Last week we saw that under the New Covenant, we are all priests, not just the clergy, for the clergy are no more or less priests than the congregation. However we persist in 'preaching' from the pulpit to a passive audience, which simply is ineffective. How many sermons have you heard? How many can you remember?
The 2 pictures today illustrate how far we have got from the pattern of Jesus, who was the ultimate teacher, explaining through parables and in other ways the truth of the kingdom, and interacting with His audience. Of the 90 times Jesus was addressed directly in the Gospels, 60 of those He was referred to as 'teacher'.
13 'You call me "Teacher" and "Lord", and rightly so, for that is what I am. (John 13:13
So what can we do to correct the (religious) situation we have developed over the centuries, to come back more to the pattern modeled by Jesus?
The following is drawn from the 'DAVID DOWNLOAD' "PREACH, TEACH - OR 'TREACH'?", that (by chance!) is the next in the series of teachings to be included this week.
I would strongly suggest that you download this teaching for a fuller explanation of this.
Alternatively, click here.....
http://www.wwj.org.nz/pdf/wwj51p29.pdf
I quote.....
While a case can be made for preaching (proclaiming) the Gospel truths to unbelievers, the ineffectiveness of our current method of 'preaching a non-interactive 20-60 minute sermon' to a passive audience of believers, Sunday after Sunday, is neither effective nor scriptural. But what options are there? I will share some indicators from Scripture of where our 'speaking' should be coming from.
1. HUMILITY
Other than Jesus, the closest man to God in the Bible was Moses. Moses was the Old Testament picture of Jesus. Ironically, he was not good at public speaking! Aaron often spoke on His behalf, at least initially in his dealings with Pharaoh. Others were jealous and thought they could do a better job! But not the Lord!
3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) 4 At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward, 6 he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. 7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" 9 The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them. (Numbers 12:3-9)
All godly speaking must come from a position of humility.
2. HOLY SPIRIT INSPIRED
Put plainly and simply, if we are not inspired by the Holy Spirit, we should not
speak!
13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2:13)
I know a pastor who spent 40 hours a week preparing his Sunday sermon. A workaholic! Yet his finest sermon came the day he lost his notes! His people commented that this was his best sermon ever! He then understood his mistake.
3. KINGDOM AND PRIESTS
Who are the priests? Not just the guy or girl up the front! We ALL are! The preacher, teacher, or treacher, is not set apart, is not elevated, is not the listeners' God substitute. Each and every believer is a 'priest' and needs to be encouraged to seek God's wisdom and guidance for themselves. This requires a huge mind set change on the speakers and listeners alike.
9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10)
4. SAINTS TO DO THE WORK
All ministry is to be orientated towards training and motivating the body, the people, to do God's work. Ministry is a function, not a position, lest the ministers become proud and the people abrogate their personal spiritual responsibility to relate to God themselves and to minister to others.
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11)
There is a saying, 'Actions speak louder than words'. Words require actions to be effective. We can't enter the kingdom merely by hearing about it.
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17)
While a call to action is good, 'active action', people involvement, is better. For we learn, and are convicted, more, when we use all our senses, not just that of hearing. Even Jesus had to participate to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit!
21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Luke 3:21-2)
Continues next week.
Find out more about us at.....
http://www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
Parable of the Banquet (Luke 14:15-24)
Given to the host.
"Once there was a man who prepared a great banquet, and invited many guests," Jesus replied. "When it was time to eat he sent his servant out to tell everyone who had been invited, 'Come, because the banquet's ready.' But they all started to make excuses. The first said, 'I've just bought a field and I have to go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I've just bought five pairs of oxen and have to go and try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I've just got married, so I can't come.' The servant returned and told his master what they'd said. The home-owner became angry and told his servant, Quickly, go out into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
"Then the servant said, 'Master, I did what you told me, but there are still empty places.' "So the master told the servant, 'Go out on the country roads and lanes, and make people come—I want my house to be full. I tell you, not a single one of those people I invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"
The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:25-35)
Addressed to a large crowd.
"If you want to follow me but you don't hate your father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters—even your own life—you can't be my disciple. If you don't carry your cross and follow me, you can't be my disciple. If you planned to build a tower, wouldn't you first work out how much it would cost, and see if you had enough money to complete it? Otherwise, if after laying the foundation you weren't able to finish it, everyone who saw it would laugh at you, saying, 'Look at him: he started building but he couldn't finish it.'
"What king goes to war with another king without first sitting down with his advisors to work out whether he and his ten thousand can defeat the one marching against him with twenty thousand? If he can't, he'll send representatives to ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off. In the same way every one of you who doesn't give up everything can't be my disciple. Salt is good, but if it loses its taste, how can you make it salty again? It's no good for the soil or for fertilizer—you just toss it out. Whoever has ears, then listen!"
(Continued next week.)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
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'THE WORDS OF JESUS' NOW 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
TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE
474. Faith grows through a conviction of the truth rather than in the understanding of knowledge.
475. Knowledge enhances a faith already secure in the truth.
476. God's truth is constant, but knowledge is defined by our circumstances.
477. God's truth is progressively revealed to those with a heart willing to embrace it.
478. Faith is built by embracing God's truth, enabling further truths to be revealed.
479. Faith and truth are heavenly lovers.
480. Faith and truth is a marriage made in heaven.
481. Genuine faith revels in godly truth, but human faith is dependent upon earthly knowledge.
482. It is so easy to be beguiled by the complexity of knowledge when seeking the simplicity of true faith.
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now over 1300 David sayings for you to view at ...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com TO READ THIS CARTOON AND SEE THE OTHER PICTURES IN THIS EMAIL YOU NEED TO BE ONLINE. Check it out at...
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THIS WEEK:SERMON ON THE MOUNT continues.....
..... with 'an eye for an eye' and 'loving our enemies'.
Check out all the available teachings at...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/teachings/index.php
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http://www.wwj.org.nz/laughing/index.php
***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. ***
261. ZEAL AND THE GRADUATE
A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great!" he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not.
Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his joy.
"Hey," asked the boy in return, "don't you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle."
The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the "realities" of the miracles of the Bible. "That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10 inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across."
The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open on his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor, naive young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go.
Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.
"Wow!" exclaimed the boy happily, "God is greater than I thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water!"
260. GOD WILL PROVIDE
A young woman brings home her fiancee to meet her parents. After dinner, her mother tells her father to find out about the young man. The father invites the fiancee to his study.
"So what are your plans?" the father asks the young man.
"I am a Bible scholar," he replies.
"A Bible scholar. Hmmm," the father says. "Admirable, but what will you do to provide a nice house for my daughter to live in, as she's accustomed to?"
"I will study," the young man replies, "and God will provide for us."
"And how will you buy her a beautiful engagement ring, such as she deserves?" asks the father.
"I will concentrate on my studies," the young man replies, "God will provide for us."
"And children?" asks the father. "How will you support children?"
"Don't worry, sir, God will provide," replies the fiancee.
The conversation proceeds like this, and each time the father questions, the young idealist insists that God will provide.
Later, the mother asks, "How did it go, Honey?"
The father answers, "He has no job and no plans, but the good news is he thinks I'm God."
"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 ...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What's the difference between a turtle and a tortoise?
ANSWER: A tortoise is a terrestrial turtle, one that lives entirely on land. Other turtles are amphibious, living on both land and water. (Has nobody taught the tortiose to swim?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the connection of May Day to Robin Hood?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
467. MODERN TECHNOLOGY
'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer', written by Mark Twain, was the first novel ever to be written on a typewriter. (Handwriting started to deteriorate from that point – my excuse anyway!)
468. EVERLASTING - NEARLY!
Some Persian rugs last as long as 500 years before wearing out. (What happens when everyone has one?)
469. BEFORE HEAT
The hardness of ice is similar to that of concrete. (And even more slippery when wet.)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
Answer at the end of A David Musing
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can download the full version of our Trivia Book at TRULY TRIFFLING TRIVIA Or view all 1232 online at...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/facts.php
WHICH BOOK?
In which Gospel is this account found?
14: The Good Shepherd?
a. Matthew
b. Mark
c. Luke
d. John
Source: http://biblequizzes.org.uk
Heaps more fun and serious 'God Facts' are found at...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/gfacts.php
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""
!!!!!!! Good parking places are always on the other side of the street.
!!!!!! Consistency isn't always good especially if you're consistently wrong.
!!!!! Whenever you need something you can't find it, if you don't need it, it's all over.
!!!! When you have a pain someplace, everyone will hit you on that spot.
!!! When you try to be sophisticated something will happen to make you look bad.
!! Never remember what you can afford to forget.
! Never say never, and always avoid always.
100'S MORE TO BE FOUND AT...
http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
119. MOTHBALLS
A hillbilly's old wife sent him to town to get something to rid the place of moths that had troubled them. The druggist sold him a box of mothballs.
Months later, the hill man came into the drugstore, complaining that "them mothballs wouldn't work nohow, noway. Marthy and me we aimed carefully, too. But we ain't hit a single moth! Maybe you got a bigger size, like one of them pool table balls."
120. SOMETHING FAMILIAR
While traveling in Quebec, my father complained that all the street signs were in French. His comments and sarcasm went on and on. Then after passing a billboard for a restaurant that featured filet mignon, he belted out, "Finally! Something in English!"
121. HOW OFTEN?
When I go to a local discount store to get oil and filters for my car, I buy my wife a bouquet of flowers on display near the checkout counter.
During one trip, some women in line behind me were oohing and aahing about a husband getting flowers for his wife. "How often do you do that?" one asked.
Before I could answer, the cashier, more than familiar with my routine, said, "Every three months or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first."
122. IT'S SIMPLE
A reporter was interviewing Jack Nicklaus. He said, "Jack, you are spectacular, your name is synonymous with the game of golf. You really know your way around the course. What is your secret?"
To which Jack replied, "The holes are numbered!"
Take time out from your busyness just to have a laugh at life.....
He and his team have led 18,000 imams, mullahs and emirs to Christ in West Africa
December 8, 2015 Godreports
By Mark Ellis
At 19, a leper first introduced him to Christ and a blind man led him to salvation.
"His reading braille captivated me," says Brother Thomas*. "I asked him where I will go when I die." In response to the young man's request, the blind man quoted Scripture from the Book of John.
The power of God's Word left a lasting imprint on his heart and propelled his future ministry. "I didn't understand the cross or what my decision meant, but I went ahead and received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior."
Raised in a Muslim home and community in West Africa, he experienced hostility, but took it in stride. "Every true believer should experience opposition," he maintains. "The important thing is the discovery of the life-given Spirit in Christ. I found a new life."
Two years after his life-changing conversion, he felt an overwhelming desire to share the Good News. "I saw my people were living in darkness," he says.
Although he had little training, he began to travel from village to village for several weeks at a time. "Nobody told me to go. I didn't know many of the Scriptures," he admits, "but I wanted to tell people that Jesus can give you eternal life."
Through eventual contact with SIM, he received further training. In 1990, he went on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and served with them for a decade, utilizing the impactful JESUS Film.
In 2000, he started his own organization, which targets Muslim leaders throughout West Africa. "They (the leaders) are sincerely deluded," he observes. "Satan has blinded their eyes. They cannot see the light of the gospel."
"They were born into it," he continues. "Nobody told them anything different. Most people in West Africa are not Muslim by choice. They are born into a community that believes in Islam."
Brother Thomas decided he and his team would have to approach the "custodians" of the community of Islam, something very few are willing to do. "Christians never take the initiative to go to them," he observes. "The Bible never tells us to wait for them to come to us. The Bible says to go. The lack of going to the Muslims is disobedience."
Brother Thomas and his team develop relational connections with Muslim scholars slowly and privately. It may take weeks or months of meetings before an Islamic scholar will discover the Truth.
"We met with a Shia leader in one country for a year," he notes. After Islamic services on Friday, this Muslim leader would drive several hours to spend a weekend with Brother Thomas.
"I went through the Word teaching him. The turning point was when he realized that Jesus is God."
Remarkably, this imam actually stayed in the mosque, but his message changed dramatically as a follower of Jesus. The man's changed perspective did not go unnoticed. "They took him to a psychiatric hospital and took his wives away. They said he was mad," Brother Thomas says.
After his release from the psychiatric facility, Brother Thomas urged the man to escape. "We don't know where he is today. Quite a few of these leaders who converted have died."
Another Muslim leader who met with Brother Thomas made regular appearances on national TV during Ramadan. "He came to Christ because we proved to him the Quran is not the inspired word of God and is not in the program of God for salvation," he recounts.
One Friday evening a mob of other scholars came to kill the recent convert, but were unsuccessful. "He was fearless," Brother Thomas says. "They gave his wife to his best friend and took his daughter away because he rejected Islam. This year he was poisoned and died."
Brother Thomas believes that in the top ranks of Islamic scholars, many are atheists, because they no longer believe in the inspiration of the Quran.
In the last 15 years Brother Thomas and his team have led 18,000 imams, mullahs, and emirs to Christ in West Africa. "We have led several Al Qaeda commanders to Christ, including some who penetrated our center as spies."
His team of 300 people has dwindled to 65, due to the intensity of the fight. "Some have died, some left us, and some became afraid," he says.
He has developed a training program, "Engaging the world of Islam," that is bearing fruit in many countries where it has been employed.
Brother Thomas believes the church has been ineffective reaching Muslims because they have concentrated on methods and strategies, including an over-emphasis on relief and compassion. "Christians want to bribe the Muslims to become Christians, but those methods do not save. If you give relief to him it will not save him. Even dreams and visions will not save."
For salvation, he believes that Muslims must discover the deity of Christ – demonstrated by the efficacy of God's Word. "Salvation is God in Christ reconciling humanity back to Himself."
*name changed for security
Source: Godreports
Via: OpenHeaven.com
DAVID'S DOWNLOADS
PREACH, TEACH, OR 'TREACH'
A 23 page e-book questioning the effectiveness of, and offering suggestions about, the way we communicate the gospel of Jesus in the church today.
Download your free PDF Files here.....
My wife likes crosswords. I prefer Sudoku. But it is fun to play with words occasionally!
'USING'
It's amusing
Is no musing.
Mind abusing.
Now accusing.
Brain fusing.
Never 'using'!
More of David's poetry here.....
http://wwj.org.nz/waxing.php
A DAVID MUSING
Christmas has come around again! At the same speed as birthdays!
From Kathy and I, every best wish for the for you and your family, both of physical and spiritual inheritance. May we show the love of Jesus to all we encounter.
So until next week.....
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: NIGHT
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION' d. John 10:1-21
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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 website
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Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
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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