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: 1084 Published: 25 Jul 2022
TRANSITION FROM ‘THE CHURCH’ TO ‘THE KINGOM’
FROM “MUSICAL” TO “HEART WORSHIP” `
After spending time looking at the 'organic' nature of the kingdom church, we will now consider one of the most contentious areas of 'organised' church life, the area of worship.
Ask any pastor, priest or minister what causes the most ructions within their church and you can virtually guarantee that the form of worship will be near or the top of their list! Why is this? Simply because we take a group of individuals, each with their own level and way of interacting with their God, and try to unite them as one in the tradition of the church in they are worshipping. Impossible!
You see, as God intended it, worship is an ongoing personal experience between us and our Lord, not a 10, 20, 40, or 60 minute experience, on the 1 or more times a week we gather together. We relate worship to singing, God relates worship to living. Worship is more than a song, it is a lifestyle.
I love worship! I love singing (even dancing at times!) and worshipping my God in a group situation. I can adapt to many different worship styles, for I have learned to through visiting different types of churches in many varied cultures.
Within the Pentecostal tradition, a 'formula' (yes, even in worship!) has been developed to bring the people into the presence of God. You start with songs of THANKSGIVING.....
10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: “He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.” (Ezra 3:10-11a)
.....which are followed by PRAISE songs.....
11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD: “He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.” (Ezra 3:11)
.....to lead into WORSHIP...
4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds— his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him. (Psalm 68:4)
Interestingly, I could not find a single verse, directly relating song to worship - as opposed to thanksgiving and praise. 'Extolling', as used here, is probably a better description of what we do during our worship times!
Worship through song and dance, in the Old Testament, is epitomized by King David dancing in his underwear, in front of the Ark, as he took it from Obed-Edom to Jerusalem.....
14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, 15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. (2 Samuel 6:14-15)
This was hated by the 'religionists', symbolized by his wife Michal.....
16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. (2 Samuel 6:16)
Nothing has changed today. Try exuberantly dancing and shouting with unbridled enthusiasm, in your underwear, during worship today, and see what reaction you get!
However, David's motivation came not from voyeurism, but from a heart sold out to God. That is why God chose him to replace the 'people’s choice' King Saul (Michal's father), as king.....
14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (1 Samuel 13:14)
The worshipful heart of David is shown throughout the Psalms he wrote. Just one example.....
2 Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; 3 for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Psalm 26:2-3)
At the exact time of the death of Jesus, the curtain in the Temple was supernaturally ripped open from top to bottom, and we were given access to the very throne of God, 24/7.....
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-6)
In the words of Jesus, that ‘summarise’ the New Commandment.....
27 He answered: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27)
.....we are to worship our Lord with our entire being, all day, every day of our life.....
23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-4)
This, total worship, is the way of the kingdom.
(Concluded next week.)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.....
Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19)
Jesus’ request of 2 disciples.
“Go to the village further on. As you enter it you’ll find a colt tied up that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Pharisees request Jesus to silence His followers.
“I tell you that if they kept quiet then the stones will shout!”
Jesus weeps for Jerusalem.
“I really wish today that you, even you, had known the path that leads to peace!” he said. “But now it’s hidden from your eyes. The time is coming upon you when your enemies will besiege you, building ramps to attack you, encircling you and closing you in from every side. They will smash you to the ground, you and your children within you. They won’t leave one stone on another within you, for you refused to accept salvation when it came to you.”
Cursing the Fig Tree ( Mark 11:12-14)
That had no fruit out of season.
“May no one eat fruit from you ever again.”
Second Temple Cleansing (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, Luke 19:45-6)
Throwing out the merchants.
“Doesn’t Scripture say, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’?
But you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
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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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PHOTO: Possible look of Jesus in society of the time
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
CHARACTER
1099. Testing builds a godly character. Many Christians do their best to avoid both!
1100. As the church develops the character of Christ, so it will conquer the world for Him.
1101. To fulfil our potential in God we need to inherit His character.
1102. Character cannot be bought but must be developed through the trials of life.
1103. Salvation is instant, but developing godly character takes a lifetime.
1104. Feeling come and feelings go but character is eternal.
1105. An ounce of character outweighs a ton of enthusiasm, any day.
1106. Gifts are given, character developed. We prefer gifts but God seeks character, for the gifts are already His!
1107. Spiritual gifts are temporary while character lasts through eternity.
1108. Believers believe in God, while disciples build a godly character.
CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THIS WEEK: A REVELATION OF……. THE WAY OF HOLINESS
Moses Tabernacle is just so important as an Old Testament picture of how we should live our life, as well as setting the pattern of God's church through the ages.
It never ceases to amaze me how God has had everything planned from the beginning of time. But then, He is outside of time, so it is understandable. Another study there!.
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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. ***
217. Preaching and Praying
There was a Pastor that died and went to heaven. Upon his arrival he was given an old shack to live in. He noticed a cab driver who had entered was given a huge mansion.
The pastor had asked Peter why he was given this shack after he had given his entire life to serving the Lord. He also inquired how a cabby reap such a reward. Peter responded, "It's simple, when you preached people fell asleep but when he drove people prayed "
218. Top 10 Reasons for Not Reading the Scripture
In one church, members were asked to read Joshua Chapter 1 in preparation for the following Sunday's sermon. A few members failed to read - here are their top ten excuses:
10. I was absent last week, and thought that the bulletin I received in the mail was for spending quality time making paper aeroplanes with my grandson.
9. I tried, but finally gave up trying to find the book of Joshua in my handy pocket New Testament.
8. I procrastinated until Saturday night, but the excitement of my wife's favourite WWF show was too distracting.
7. My dog ate my Great Chapters assignment sheet.
6. Spiritual giants like me read the Bible as guided from above, not as directed by mere man.
5. My Bible could not be found - prior to Y2k I had buried it in a metal box in the woods so I could access it when Anti-Christ takes over the world.
4. When the Pastor said "Joshua one", I thought he was telling us that "Joshua won" at the Israeli marathon race last week.
3. I'm a visual person so I looked at the Bible comic book pictures.
2. I'm an auditory person so I listened to the song, "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho".
And the number one top excuse for not reading the assigned Bible chapter:
1. I started to read the chapter, but then came under persecution when an officer pulled me over and forbade me to read while driving on I - 80.
QWIK QWIP: “God does not wish us to remember what he is willing to forget.”
219. Married Bliss
Adam and Eve had a unique advantage for starting married life: he didn't have to hear about the men she could have married and she didn't have to worry about not cooking things the way his mother cooked them.
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
Spiritual attacks are real!
In my experience, they mostly come when God is wanting to do a new thing with you, to jump up a further level.in the Spirit and in life.
Actually, they are a way, if an unpleasant one, that there kis a positive life change coming.
Lord, I await You.
Until next time.
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 website
wwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
P O Box 2
Webuye 50205
Kenya
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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