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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| 5. IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY - THE CALL TO UNITY |
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 As we have learned together about the cultural differences between East and West, a key difference has been the emphasis upon the individual in the Western world, while in Eastern culture, the greater good of the group, the family, the nation, took precedence over the individual.
Put succinctly, we promote the 'rights' (of the individual), whereas Eastern cultures emphasize 'obligations' (to the community).
It is true that, under the New Covenant, salvation has become a decision of the individual.....
Mark 16:15-16
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 .....but it also says that all Israel will be finally also be saved.....
Romans 11:25-7
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 This indeed, as it says, is a mystery to us, with our Western mindset. But it will make sense to the Jews, for it is the way God has dealt with them in the past, as prophesied through Isaiah.....
Isaiah 45:15-17
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 Unity is a concept that we, in the West, do not truly understand. For us, unity involves full agreement on every aspect of the area of unity we are considering. For example, take the supporters of a team at a football match. They are united in the support of their team. As are, of course, the supporters of the opposing team!
Unfortunately however, this unity does not exist in the ultimate winning team of all - the 'Jesus Joy Jumpers'! See, we can’t even agree on the name - for we don't jump for joy in our church! How unseemly! How sad, actually! For if we put two Christian theologians together, we will likely end up with 3 opinions! Opinions that have divided the church into over 30,000 denominations and groupings! Perhaps a lot more! Sadly, what divides is greater than that which unites.
Jews too, have many differing opinions. Paul knew how to exploit this.....
Acts 23:6-8
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 However, when it comes to the crunch, as is well illustrated in Israel today, if the nation is threatened, the people come together as one.
In the Old Testament, when the people agreed and operated as one, the Lord was with them.....
2 Chronicles 30:10-14, 26-27
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 I am certain, that next to lost souls, the thing that upsets the Lord most are the divisions amongst His people. His appointed leaders’ prime function is to bring unity of faith to His people.....
Ephesians 4:11-13
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 May we put aside our differences and learn to love and support each other as we are instructed to do.....
Colossians 3:12-14
Amen.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> THINKING GREEK OR HEBREW continues..... |
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 ..... as we bring our study to an end with the CONCLUSION.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 We have never walked in such a divided church as we have today, with over 30,000 denominations and groupings, each doing their own thing, with very little co-operation!
This is not going to change by itself, but only through a movement to God's kingdom, a worldwide people unified, not physically, but one in God's Spirit.
Amen.
THE HAAST EAGLE
The Haast eagle, the largest, most powerful, eagle the world has known, the females weighing as much as 13 kilograms and with wings spanning almost three metres. As herbivores, such as the Moa (see last week), evolved large body size, the eagle did too, allowing it to exploit a food source reserved in other lands for the great cats. Indeed the Haast eagle had talons comparable to a tiger's and was capable of killing a human.
The New Zealand eagle was a forest eagle that could not soar but probably hunted like other similar eagles by perching high on a branch until a suitable prey came within range and then diving on it at speeds of up to 80 kilometres an hour (50mph). The impact, which could knock even the largest Moa off its feet, was cushioned by powerful legs. The brutal talons were then used to crush and pierce the neck and skull of the immobilised prey. The eagle and its mate could remain near the kill for several days.
The picture shows the 3m (10ft) wing-spanned eagle with the 3m tall Moa, which it preyed upon.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
213. United we stand, divided... God will wait upon another generation.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
If Only I'd Thought of it: http://www.wwj.org.nz/thought.php
Laughing at Ourselves: http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php
A look at some of lifes curious questions: http://www.wwj.org.nz/why.php
Everything you ever wanted to know about....: http://www.wwj.org.nz/exex.php
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We too are called to unity in Jesus.....