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: 826 Published: 28 Aug 2017

WHOSE CHURCH IS IT ANYWAY? Part 10
325-600AD
THE MONASTICS Continued
AUGUSTINE (AD354-440) (Pictured) Converted in 387, Augustine went on to become bishop of Hippo, in North Africa. Due to his influential thinking and voluminous writing he has become widely regarded as the most influential of the church fathers. In fact much of the theology of both Catholicism and Protestantism is based on his thinking.
Interestingly, he had 2 differing positions on the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit during his life. Initially, in his homily 'The Epistle of Saint John', he referred to the tongues at Pentecost as a sign "adapted to the time" that had passed away. He goes on to say that that the witness of the Holy Spirit's ministry is no longer manifested through miracles but is reflected by the love of God in one's heart for the church.
I trust you can see the subtle change here from an emphasis on relationship directly with God to a focus on the church as being the depository of God, with the priesthood being the only ones able to communicate God's will to the masses.
However, later in life, Augustine had a change of heart and embraced the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit. In his work, 'The City of God', a chapter with the long, convoluted title, "Concerning Miracles Which Were Wrought in Order That the World Might Believe in Christ and Which Cease Not to Be Wrought Now That the World Does Believe", Augustine says, "For even now, miracles are wrought in the name of Christ, whether by His sacraments or by prayer or the relics of His saints".
Augustine then proceeds to describe various miracles which he knew of personally. These included healings from blindness, cancer, gout, haemorrhoids, demon possession and even the raising of the dead. Some were healed as a result of a simple prayer, and a paralytic was healed at the moment of baptism. So miracles were obviously not uncommon at this time, for he says, "I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record all the miracles I know".
Augustine also discusses a phenomenon that he called 'jubilation', which is very similar to what modern Charismatics would call "singing in the Spirit," or, in other words, tongues. According to Augustine, a person begins to jubilate when the mouth is not able to express with words that the heart is singing. The person continues to make sounds, but the sounds are inarticulate because the heart is speaking what it cannot say in words. He then says: 'And for whom is such jubilation fitting if not for the ineffable God? For he is ineffable whom one cannot express in words; and if you cannot express him in words, and yet you cannot remain silent either, then what is left but to sing in jubilation, so that your heart may rejoice without words, and your unbounded joy may not be confined by the limits of syllables'.
While, in later life, Augustine came to believe in the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit, the damage done by his earlier writings was eagerly embraced by a church that desired spiritual power for itself. It is therefore generally regarded that Augustine is to this day, regarded as the father of the 'Cessation Theory' of the miraculous ministry of the Holy Spirit.
I am sure he would be upset to be held responsible for this in view of his spiritual experience in later years.
BENEDICT (AD480-547) Sent by his parents to Rome as a teenager for a good education, Benedict of Nursia, shocked by the vice of the city, decided to live as a hermit in a cave east of Rome. Around 529, he founded the famous monastery at Monte Casino, destroyed in World War 2.
In his writing, 'The Rule of Benedict' he set the pattern for life, worship and work under the communal monastic system. It became highly influential in determining the methodology of monastic life throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.
Benedict was renowned both for his powerful prayer and for facilitating miracles. One time, a monk was raised from the dead. When building the monastery wall, it collapsed on him, killing the monk. His mangled body was brought to Benedict's room. Benedict shut the door and prayed most earnestly. Within the hour the young man revived, went out from the room back to the wall, where he continued working normally!
Benedict did not confine himself to the monastery but also ministered to the people of the area. It is quoted by Michael Walsh, in 'Butler's Lives of the Saints' (San Francisco, CA: Harper, 1991), 212., "He cured their sick, relieved the distress and is said to have raised the dead on more than one occasion."
In his writing "Dialogues", Gregory (see his story next) relates incidents in which Benedict cast evil spirits out of certain individuals. On one occasion, an evil spirit entered one of the monks and threw him to the ground in a violent convulsion. When Benedict saw what was happening, he struck the man on the cheek. The evil spirit immediately left and never returned.
Benedict also displayed the revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit and was active in the gift of prophecy. He was often able to describe to his fellow monks what they had done while he had been away.
Additionally, he foretold future events, including his own death. When God forewarned him of his impending death, He told others and got his disciples to dig his grave 6 days beforehand. He died in the chapel of the monastery with his hands raised towards heaven.
(Continued next week)
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FROM THE WORD
THE WORDS OF JESUS
May we hear what the Lord is saying to us.
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!”
Parable of the Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)
Three parables addressed to the Pharisees who were criticizing Jesus for mixing with tax collectors and ‘sinners’.
“Imagine a man who had a hundred sheep lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and search for the one that’s lost until he finds it? When he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders. Once he gets home, he calls his friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found my lost sheep!’ I tell you that there’s more joy in heaven over a sinner that repents than over ninety-nine good people who don’t need to repent.
Parable of the Coin (Luke 15:1-7)
“Imagine a woman who has ten silver coins, and loses one of them. Wouldn’t she light a lamp and sweep the house, carefully searching until she finds it? When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I’ve found the silver coin that I lost.’ I tell you there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner that repents.
Parable of the Son (Luke 15:11.32)
“Once there was a man who had two sons,” “The younger one told his father, ‘Father, give me my inheritance now.’ So the man divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son packed up what he had and left for a distant country. Here he wasted all his money living a reckless life. “After he’d spent everything, the country was hit by a severe famine and he was starving. So he went and took a job with one of the farmers there who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He was so hungry that he would
have eaten even the pig food, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘All of my father’s workers have more than enough to eat—why am I dying from hunger here? I’m going home to my father! I’ll tell him, “Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Please treat me as one of your hired workers.”’ So he left and went home to his father.
“Even though he was still far away in the distance, his father saw him coming, and his heart went out to his son. The father ran to his son, hugging and kissing him. The son said to him, ‘Father, I’ve sinned against heaven and against you. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father told his servants, ‘Quick—bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we’ve been fattening and kill it. Let’s have a feast to celebrate because this is my son who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found.’ So they started celebrating.
“Now the older son was working out in the fields. As he walked towards the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.
“Your brother is back,” he replied, “and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he’s come home safe and sound.”
“The brother became angry. He refused to go in. So his father came out to plead with him.
“He told his father, ‘Look, all these years I’ve served you, and never disobeyed you, but you never once gave me even a young goat so I could have a party with my friends. Now this son of yours comes back, having spent your money on prostitutes, and you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘Son,’ the father replied, ‘you are always here with me. Everything I have is yours. But we should be happy and celebrate! This is your brother who was dead, but who has returned alive; he was lost but now he’s found!’”
(Continued next week)
You can download the complete 'Words of Jesus' here.
DAVID AND KATHY EXPERIENCING LIFE HERE IN WEBUYE, KENYA, EAST AFRICA
Arriving in Kenya on 14 July 2017, we would now like to share with you our life and observations, so you too may also share in our experience. We much appreciate your prayers, and as the Lord leads, your contributions to the work of the kingdom here.
Enjoy!
Karibu! (Welcome)
Check out our website here.....

THE KENYAN ELECTIONS
All is quiet currently, on the election front as the losing Presidential coalition, NASA, has referred the matter to the Supreme Court, which has another week to come up with a judgement on the fairness of the election process.
In a sense this comes down to distrust, likely reflecting a lack of understanding, of the sophisticated computer system upon which the results were tabulated.
Being Africa, it is likely that there will be some discrepancies in reporting of polling booth totals and accusations of vote rigging, but the final winning margin of 1.4 million votes to the incumbent Ururu Kenyatta, is very conclusive of the people’s overall will.
While NASA are promising further action when the result inevitably goes against them, the cooling down period waiting for the Court’s judgement should have settled things down a lot.
Being Africa, we will wait and see…..

THE EYE CLINIC/HOSPITAL
As mentioned last week, our Dutch visitors had arrived and after a conference they ran, we have been able to discuss the future with them.
The end result is that we will oversee the compound here for them, but will build our Eye Clinic/Hospital on land that we are now seeking to purchase nearby.
While this will cost an additional $NZ10,000 (US6,500) for a 1 acre plot, which we will need to find, the advantage is tha it will provide more room for future expansion.
We immediately are seeking out a site. Our big advantage is that the people here are desperate for the facility.
More news next week! Nothing is ever simple, and faith and prayer are essential commodities in God's work, both here and everywhere.

COMPUTER GAMES ARE ADDICTIVE WORLDWIDE!
Kathy has made extra good friends with the young kids, Joshua and Peter, in the family, and some of their friends, by letting them play games that are on her computer.
Two rules! Her supervision and no downloading of 'extras' from the internet!
The quickest way to get your computer virused or broken, is to let the kids at it! LOL!
It is amazing, that even here where, as we have said previously, their X-Box is an old bicycle or motorbike tyre, when given the opportunity, computer games rule!!!
Another African - and worldwide, experience!

GOING TO CHURCH
Going to church is always an opportunity to dress in 'Sunday best'!
This is part of our African family, David and Selina, Sarah and Elly, ready to leave. A large proportion of Kenyans go to church on a Sunday, well over half, at my estimate. It can be as much a cultural thing as a true seeking God one.
I remember when I was a kid, that was the case in New Zealand too.
In the end, it is how we live 24/7 that shows our true faith!

DAVID WORKING!
Thought you would never see it! LOL!
(Weed spraying)

KATHY WORKING TOO!
In her tomato patch.....

***NOW***NINE BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!!!
9 BOOKS are now available on Amazon (Kindle)!
All are available worldwide for electronic download on Amazon (Kindle) for $US0.99c . Unfortunately there has to be a charge in order to list.
Your support would be appreciated and they could well change your life!
They are all found at this link.....
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=david+tait+books/

'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.
Download the free PDF here.....

***DAILY EZINE!*** 'DAVID'S DAILY DOODLINGS' Subscribe Today
Receive one of David's sayings in your mailbox each day to inspire, challenge or maybe, amuse. To register today, go down to the bottom of the page link below, click on the subscribe link dd-on@wwj.org.nz (or paste the address in an email yourself and send) Then it's done! If you have an Irish heritage, you will love the background coloring!
Subscription and back issue link is.....

DAVID'S DOODLINGS
1174. Do fear - judgement will come!
1175. God's grace is no excuse to sin!
1176. Under grace we keep the law, not through compulsion, but because we desire to please God.
1177. A true disciple walks away from sinfulness towards godliness.
1178. Sin comes - sin grows!
1179. Sin comes with a reward - Hell!
1180. Sin separates, righteousness unifies.
1181. A sin a day keeps God away! (With apologies to doctors and apples!)
1182. Sin appeals; satan steals; Holy Spirit reveals; Jesus heals; God seals.
1183. There is no such thing as hidden sin. God's eyes are everywhere!

CARTOONS FROM TOON FEVER
Visit the Toon Fever website for more cartoon fun..... http://www.toonfever.com
Check it out at...

TUESDAY TEACHINGS
A REVELATION OF……. THE WAY OF HOLINESS
THIS WEEK: THE WAY OF HOLINESS PART 4 OF 9 PARABLE OF THE SOWER
The Parable of the Sower too, points the way to holiness. In fact, most of the teaching of Jesus does, one way or another, particularly the parables.
A short, summarised teaching of the full version found elsewhere.

*** ANOTHER DAILY EZINE FROM WWJ!*** 'LAUGHING AT OURSELVES' Subscribe Today
As Christians, if we can't laugh at ourselves, others will! A fun way to start your day. To register today, go down to the bottom of the page link below, click on the subscribe link lao--on@wwj.org.nz (or paste the address in an email yourself and send) Then it's done!

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. ***
QWIK QWIP: I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.
40. Genesis 3:C-D
A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"
Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you anymore. We are lonesome here and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us."
And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."
And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.
And it was a good animal.
And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.
And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."
And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."
And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.
And they were comforted.
And God was pleased.
And dog was content and wagged his tail.
After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."
And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."
And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.
And Cat would not obey them.
And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.
And Adam and Eve learned humility.
And they were greatly improved.
And God was pleased.
And Dog was happy.
And Cat didn't care one way or the other.
41. Whose Funeral?
The old man had died. A wonderful funeral was in progress and the country preacher talked at length of the good traits of the deceased, what an honest man he was, and what a loving husband and kind father he was.
Finally, the widow leaned over and whispered to one of her children,
"Go up there and take a look in the coffin and see if that's your pa in there."

A DAVID MUSING
Finally, after 6 weeks at an altitude of 5000ft above sea level, here in Webuye, Kenya, Kathy and I have become adjusted to the thinner air we live in.
Of course, Kenya is very famous for its distance runners, where training at altitude gives a huge advantage. They train at Runners City, just outside Eldoret, about an hour and a quarter from here. The altitude there is 6000ft+.
In fact, 2 brothers from New Zealand, the Robertsons, went to live there to train fulltime when they were 18, and now in their 20's are experienceing the benefits of it, as their race results show.
Maturity in Christ takes time, and has to be given 100% committment too. It is not a function of age though, but of giving ourselves to God and letting Him change us into His image.
The question is, "How desperate are we for Him?"
Until next week.......
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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