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: 990 Published: 05 Oct 2020
THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW
WRITING STYLE
Greek (Western)
We think in abstract ideas, using logic, definitions, bullet points etc., to explain our ideas. Prose is our favoured median of writing. We are fact based. For example, let’s look at 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.
Acknowledgements: http://www.followtherabbi.com and http://hethathasanear.com and http://www.wildbranch.org
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FROM THE WORD
We are Not to Worry (Luke 12:22-34)
Speaking to the disciples.
“That’s why I tell you don’t worry about life, about what to eat, or about what clothes you should wear. Life is about more than food, and the body is about more than wearing clothes. Look at the ravens. They don’t sow or reap, they don’t have any storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you’re far more valuable than birds! Can you add an hour to your life by worrying about it? If you can’t do anything about such small things, why worry about the rest? Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work, and they don’t spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
“So if God clothes the fields with such beautiful flowers, which are here today but gone tomorrow when they are burned in a fire to heat an oven, how much more will God clothe you, you who have so little trust!
Don’t be concerned about what you’re going to eat or drink—don’t worry about it. These are all the things that people in the world worry about, but your Father knows you need them. Search for God’s kingdom, and you’ll be given these things as well. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for your Father is happy to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have, and give the money to the poor. Get yourselves purses that don’t wear out: treasure in heaven that will never run out, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. For your heart will be wherever your treasure is.
Be watchful (Luke 12:35-40)
“Be dressed and ready, and keep your lamps lit, like servants waiting for their master when he returns from his wedding feast, prepared to open the door quickly for him when he comes and knocks. How good it will be for those servants that the master finds watching when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will get dressed, have them sit down for a meal, and will come and serve them himself!
“Even if he comes at midnight, or just before dawn—how good for them if he finds them watching and ready! But remember this: if the master knew when a thief was coming, he would keep watch, and not allow his house be broken into. You must also be ready, for the Son of man is coming when you don’t expect him.”
Peter’s Question (Luke 12:41-48)
Is this parable for us or for everyone?
“Who then is the trustworthy and wise manager, the one person in the household that the master puts in charge to share out their food at the right time? It will be good for that servant when his master returns and finds him doing what he should. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of everything. But what if the servant were to say to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and then starts beating the other servants, both men and women, feasting and getting drunk? That servant’s master will return unexpectedly one day at a time he wasn’t aware of, and will punish him severely, treating him as totally untrustworthy.
“That servant who knew what his master wanted and yet didn’t get ready or follow his instructions, will be beaten severely; but the servant who didn’t know and did things deserving punishment will be beaten only lightly. From those who are given much, much will be required, and from those who are entrusted with more, more will be demanded.
OUR AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
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It has been along and tough week! So will have a break from posting.
We hope to have good news to share with you next week.
Shurakini
(Thank You)
OOOPPPPSSSS AFRICAN TIME!!!!!!!!
The turkeys (not ours) sheltering in the rainstorm
My friend, not much more than a puppy herself, has had her first litter.
My friend, not much more than a puppy herself, has had her first litter.
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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
115. You must clamber over the rocks of failure in order to ascend the mountain of success.
116. It takes the Holy Spirit to transform a 'churchian' into a 'Christian'.
117. The world will meander, as long as men philander.
118. Sleep refreshes body, mind and spirit, but you have to wake up to experience the benefits.
119. Failure is often the first rung on the ladder of success.
120. 100% success is unattainable, but 100% effort is available to all.
121. Easy success breeds arrogance, but success hard-earned, builds character.
122. God accepts us as we are. As we learn to accept this, he develops us into what we can be.
123. Let failure breed experience, not despair.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK:GOD AND MAN - The Relationship Between God and Mankind continues.....
We will consider the 3 individual parts that go to make up the soul, plus the spirit.
*** 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. ***
57. Revenge
A 10-year old boy named Freddie wanted to be Joseph in the Sunday School pageant. Instead the teacher cast Freddie as the landlord. Freddie objected loudly, but to no avail.
When the pageant was presented, Mary and Joseph knocked on the door and asked Freddie if he had a room for them at the Inn.
Freddie smiled and said, "Sure -- lots of room. Come on in!"
458. The Virgin Mary
Little Kiana, under the tutelage of her grandfather, was becoming quite knowledgeable about the Bible.
Then one day Kiana floored her grandfather by asking, "Which virgin was the mother of Jesus? The Virgin Mary or the King James Virgin?"
QWIK QWIP: “Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.”
459. Which Way?
Epitaph
The following caption was found written on a gravestone...
"As I am now, you soon shall be, so be content to follow me."
Graffiti
Someone had scrawled the following note on that gravestone...
"To follow you I'm not content, until I know which way you went!"
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
Kathy and I have just watched a video of our church of 25 ++ years ago, having their first service in a new building. It was in this, Abundant Life Church in Tauranga, New Zealand, that I came into the Holy Spirit realm and learned a lot about God.
It was Mike and the people who taught and sometimes encouraged me, to help us, to where we are today, both in God and in location, here in Kenya.
The church is not a building. It is the people who are the church, not the building. For we are the 'kingdom and priests', not just the leaders!
It matters not whether we worship God under a tree, or in a new building, whether 2 or 3 or a large congregation, God is with us when we reach out to Him.
Of course, He is still available for each one of us 24/7, in good times and bad, by yourself, or with others.
I greatly enjoy spending time with God in bed in the morning, before I get up to face the often, many challenges of the day!
We can meet with God anywhere, any time. He is waiting for you now.
Until next time.....
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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david@wwj.org.nz