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: 344 Published: 26 May 2008

TRANSFORMATION OF THE CHURCH: 3. FROM KINGS TO KINGDOM (continued)
Last week, we saw that a fundamental difference between church and kingdom eras, is centered round whom we are to follow. In the church, people are expected to follow and help implement the vision of the pastor or leader of the church. In the kingdom - the will of the Father for the individual.The hardest, often most thankless, job in God, is that of leadership. To overcome the difficulties, leaders have effectively gone back to the Old Testament concept of an (although often poorly) paid priesthood, trained (with a theological qualification) to again become intermediaries between parishioners and God. I fully understand this and have a great sympathy for those in this position.
However, in kingdom understanding, we are brought back to God through Jesus and guided by the will of the Father, as expressed to us through the Holy Spirit. The role of the pastor therefore changes to one of encouraging and helping others fulfill the visions given to the individuals rather than recruiting people to his or her vision.
This role of leadership is described as;
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 4:11-12)
In church culture, it is accepted that the highest calling is to be a fulltime minister of the Gospel. This has led to a 'we' and 'they' division in the church. This is often encouraged by the laity, the 'theys', as they see it is a convenient way to pass over their responsibility to the 'spiritual professionals'. It is therefore natural for this superior/inferior mindset to develop.
Once again, this is not Biblical. For the Bible emphasises servant leadership. Sadly, I have seen so many start out with the calling of servant leadership, but almost inevitably it seems, we fall back into the worldly patterns of human leadership.
However, servant leadership - of going down rather than up - is the leaders call.
4 For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3)
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus changed the balance of power in the church away from the paid priesthood of the Old Testament to the priesthood of all believers working together, in the New.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:6)
Personally, I know how hard it is to resist the spiritual hierarchy. If you want to have influence in the church you need to follow the system of the particular grouping you belong to. I have had much soul searching and heartache balancing the Word on one hand and the system on the other. Of course I want to be effective. Of course I want to be accepted. But more than all, I want to follow the Word and revelation of the Lord.
I have been truly blessed to share the principles of the Lord in many different situations, from Lutheran Seminary to Anglican Nunnery, to Pentecostal Bible Schools, to poor villages in Africa and Asia where the people are illiterate and struggling too much to survive to be worried about theology.
I have seen the Holy Spirit move and minister to the people in all these situations. More than once I have had Doctors of Theology and Bible teachers, at first very skeptical, come up and say that although they have had years of theological training, for the first time they truly understood the principles of God, the reality of what Jesus has done, newly grounded in them by the Holy Spirit - not me. Doctor or peasant, Jesus reaches out to each one of us personally.
There is no educational or positional hierarchy in Jesus. In His kingdom, both on earth and in heaven, whether prince or pauper, we will simply be rewarded for our obedience to the will of the Father for our lives.
(Testimony to be continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
FINAL WARNINGS"This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.†I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down." (2 Corinthians 13:1-10)
LIVING FOR GOD
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:1-11)
TO ELDERS AND YOUNG MEN
"To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.†humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.' (1 Peter 5:1-11)
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DAVID'S DOODLINGS
LEADERSHIP156. In God, being led to lead is a calling. Leading when not led, guarantees an appalling mauling!
157. A Christian leader is but an ordinary person called to an extraordinary task. Both leaders and the led need to be reminded of this!
158. Worldly leadership builds up self, but godly leadership builds up others.
159. In God, understanding and sharing vulnerabilities is a sign of maturity and success, not an acknowledgement of failure.
160. In God, if you’re not led to lead, you’ll be bled to death.
161. To lead or be led? The difference is ‘a’ for attitude!
162. Only God has the required glue to attach ‘super’ to ‘natural’.
372. To be a leader in the world is difficult, in the church, impossible. However, with God's help, we can do the impossible.
373. God loves obedient leaders.
374. Leaders are not God - for only God is perfect.
375. Our leaders are not God substitutes. They too, make mistakes, just as we do.
376. Truly godly leaders are more precious than diamonds - and equally hard to find.
377. The Bible tells us that there is only one God. Some leaders need to be reminded of this fact.
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 ...

KIWI WINS INDY 500!
Just 15 minutes before PGIM is distributed, the New Zealander Scott Dixon has won the Indianapolis 500 motor race for 2008!I know, I need to be healed of my enjoyment of motor racing! Just shows I haven't reached perfection yet!
The publicity in the USA for New Zealand will be greater than advertising money could buy. So come and visit us here in NZ!
It is a beautiful country, but we so do really need the message of the love of Jesus here at this time.

CRANWELL'S CARTOON
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Stretch out your hand with your staff over the streams and canals and ponds, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.’â€
6 So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs came up and covered the land. (Exodus 8:5-6)
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TUESDAY TEACHINGS
THE NEW COVENANTAll the Old Testament covenants, from the time of Adam onwards, point to the coming of Jesus and the final 'New Covenant' that God would make with His creation - you and me.
As this is the final covenant, we simply have the option to accept or reject it. There is no other alternative. After we die, there are no more chances. This is it!
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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." ***
723. JESUS AND THE FISH
What did Jesus have in common with the fish that swallowed Jonah?
Jesus had dinner with a sinner, and the fish had a sinner for dinner.
722. GLADLY
A child came home from Sunday School and told his mother that he had learned a new song about a cross-eyed bear named Gladly.
It took his mother a while before she realized that the hymn was really "Gladly The Cross I'd Bear,"
721. KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
A minister was talking to a children's Sunday School class about kindness to animals. He cited the Biblical references to substantiate his case.
"Now let's suppose," he said, "that you saw a bad person cutting off the tail of a cat. What Biblical quotation would you use to tell him of the terrible wrong he was doing?"
"I would point out to him," one of the class said, "What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder."
FREE DOWNLOAD: You can now download the book 'Laughing At Ourselves' in PDF format at LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
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FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: What invention has resulted in less sleep times for humans?ANSWER: Electric lights! Americans, on average, now sleep 1 1/2 hours less each day than before they came along. (Is TV is helping redress the balance?)
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Why do we ‘bless’ somebody after they sneeze?
Answer Next Week.

537. FLYING FUEL TANK
A Boeing 747 airliner holds 57,285 gallons of fuel! (Must be why it is such a big plane!)
538. TOURISTS TAKE NOTE
Those visiting Iceland should know that tipping at a restaurant is considered an insult! (Get an ‘icy’ reception!)
539. PEDAL POWER
In Tokyo, it has been proven that a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes! (Keeps you fitter too!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Make another word from this word using all the letters.
CANOE
Answer at the end of A David Musing
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BIBLE QUESTION - WORKERS AND TOOLS
13) What was the occupation of Demetrius?A - Tentmaker
B - Soothsayer
C - Silversmith
D - Fisherman
Source: www.biblequizzes.com
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IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
"""OTHER'S SAYINGS TO ENLIGHTEN, AMUSE, OR BEMUSE"""!!!!!!! Having a spirit of non-forgiveness is like drinking poison - and waiting for the other person to die!
!!!!!! The Ten Commandments aren't prefaced with "If you're in the mood." -Laura Schlessinger
!!!!! If I keep saving at the present rate, by the time I die I will owe $21, 473,249.13 - Lawrence Brotherton
!!!! I'm astounded by people who want to 'know' the universe when it's hard enough to find your way around Chinatown. - Woody Allen
!!! In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. - Douglas Adams
!! I've Learned. . .
that 5,000,000 people have read "I've Learned" and passed it on to 15,000,000 who read it and passed it on to 45,000,000, and everyone of them is sending it to me.-Lawrence Brotherton
! First National Bank of Dad. Sorry, Closed.
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WHY? Some of Life’s Most Puzzling Questions
144. Why are we afraid of falling? Shouldn't we be afraid of the sudden stop?145. Why is it called a bust, when it stops right before the part it is named after?
146. Why is it a good thing to brush your teeth, brush your hair, or brush your cat, but it is NOT a good thing to have a "brush with death"?
147. Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?
148. Why are there 5 syllables in the word "monosyllabic"?
149. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where the train stops. On my desk, I have a work station...
150. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do ... write to these men? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
151. How much deeper would oceans be if sponges didn't live there?
152. Since light travels faster than sound, why is it that people appear bright until you hear them speak?
153. If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be?
154. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?
155. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
156. What hair colour do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men.
158. Why do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?
159. Why is it necessary to check into a hospital to be an out patient?
160. Why does the sun lightens our hair, but darken our skin?
161. Why can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed?
162. Why you don't ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
163. Why you have to click on "Start" to stop Windows 98?
164. Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavour, while dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons?
165. Why there isn't mouse-flavoured cat food?
166. Who tastes dog food when it has a "new & improved" flavour?
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BIBLE TRIVIA
LOCUSTSThe locust is the most commonly mentioned insect in the Bible.
They destroy crops and plague people, being one of the 7 plagues inflicted upon the Egyptians in the time of Moses.
They may however, been permitted as a food, because John the Baptist ate locusts and honey when in the desert. (Mark 1:6)
Adapted from: '1001 Surprising Things You Should Know About The Bible' MacGregor & Prys
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Seeker Sensitive Church Plans to Switch Gears After Serious Christians Contemplate Leaving
by Matt Branaugh, Christianity TodaySOUTH BARRINGTON, IL - After modeling a seeker-sensitive approach to church growth for three decades, Willow Creek Community Church now plans to gear its weekend services toward mature believers seeking to grow in their faith.
The change comes on the heels of an ongoing four-year research effort first made public late last summer in Reveal: Where Are You?, a book coauthored by executive pastor Greg Hawkins.
A quarter of the "close to Christ" and "Christcentered" crowd described themselves as spiritually "stalled" or "dissatisfied" with the role of the church in their spiritual growth. Even more alarming to Willow Creek: About a quarter of the "stalled" segment and 63 percent of the "dissatisfied" segment contemplated leaving the church.
The people who love God the most, are the most disappointed by their local church.
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WALKING THE ROAD WITH JESUSAn illumination of Gods desire for our Christian walk as revealed in Revelations 12:11. Both a challenge and a hope - 22 pages from 'Eagles Fly High!'
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WAXING LYRICAL
Just couldn’t leave out this story of the sailing of my friend Neil’s yacht from Whangareito Tauranga, a 30 hour journey down the North Island of New Zealand’s east coast.
One of the longest 30 hours of my life!
DAYS OF ‘CHUNDER’!
Feeling good again, I must be spent,
For my guts apart, they had been rent,
Nothing left inside, now to come out,
Surely nothing left, for me to spout.
I slept well for a couple of hours,
Fully in control of all my powers.
Now surely I have conquered the sea,
But if not the sea – well, at least me!
For an hour or two throughout the night,
I enjoyed the trip – the stars were a sight.
My mate Neil, was able to have a snooze,
Confidence in me, again starting to ooze.
But the sea, was not yet ready to finish,
Determined my pride, to fully diminish!
Yes, the swells they did rise in an uncomfortable way,
‘Old man sea’, always determined to have the last say!
By now my stomach, surely was bare,
Empty of food, with the sea to share!
But how little about myself, do I know,
For there was still a little left, to let go!
And let go I did, four times more,
The sea now, really settling the score.
Before calming down all the rest of the way,
"Beginning to enjoy this," I could now say.
Of course, all adventures do come to an end,
Back on solid earth, my time now to spend.
I had conquered the challenge inside of me,
My fear overcome – with a little difficulty!
(The pain will be extended into next week!)
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A DAVID MUSING
THIS WEEKI would like to write good things about this week,
With a magnificent achievement of which to speak.
But reality is, the week's been hard!
Really, truly, caught me off guard!
Would love to have huge shop sales of which to skite,
But to be truthful, Kathy and I just had a fight!
It doesn't happen very often between her and me,
Been together for thirty-eight years, you see.
But all is now well, for we finally sorted things out.
After a slow week, on Saturday, sales turned about,
You see, all in all, I can't now complain,
Life wouldn't be life, without some pain.
If life was a bed of roses, from week to week,
My Jesus I would have, no real need to seek.
But life, like roses, does have thorns,
We all have, both good and bad morns.
So I do hope this little ditty may now encourage you,
That in tough times, light can still shine through.
For Jesus has come, not the perfect to save,
Nor the streets of earth, with gold to pave.
But to offer us comfort and support through life,
Also to correct us, when we argue with the wife!
For in Him, we have a friend in whom we can trust,
Until that day we too, go from 'dust to dust'.
Then we can be with Him in heaven, forever to reign,
No more worries, no more arguments, no more pain.
"But first Lord, establish Your kingdom here on earth,
So as a very human human, I may be of some worth."
This week I will again seek to become more like Him,
Spiritual sails, to His wind of wisdom, will I trim.
"Lord, please mould me in your image,
May I truly grow into your visage."
Until next week...
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: OCEAN
TODAY'S 'BIBLE QUESTION': C - Silversmith (Acts 19:24)
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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
290 Flaxmere Avenue
Flaxmere
Hastings
New Zealand
Phone: (06) 8799 911 International (+64) 6 8799 911
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!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz