This description of the kingdom focuses upon division and demonstration.

DIVISION
How sad I get when I see the deep divisions, inbred through many generations, in the church, yesterday and today.

No, I do not expect everyone to agree with my revelation and viewpoint. Nor will I agree with everyone else's. For none of us has a full revelation at the present time.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

We men, in particular, 'lose our love' when it comes to theology! I thought of listing some of the major areas that separate us, but I just don't want to go there! We all know what, at least some of them are. Reality is, we are hurt more by other Christians than by those in the world! How sad that is.

As this passage mentions, satan's method is to divide, and he is very successful at it. I am not going to comment any more but leave you with some scriptures with which I hope the Holy Spirit will convict the both of us.......

1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. (Psalm 131)

22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17:22-3)

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all........ 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:3-5, 12-13)

10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (1 Corinthians 1:10-14)

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)

DEMONSTRATION
Demonstration goes hand in hand with unity. A unity of love. A unity of submission unto God, towards perfection.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

We are living in the days, as we have mentioned before, of the Laodicean church. Paul too, along with Jesus in Revelation 3, had a special message to them, and to us.

I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. (Colossians 2:1-4)

Our primary demonstration of the kingdom comes through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And forgiveness.......

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

"Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness- the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.

Freedom From Human Regulations Through Life With Christ

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

Rules for Holy Living

401. Unity in Christ is so close to God's heart but so far away from ours!

402. Why do we keep asking God for more strength, when He has already given us the answer - unity!

403. We keep looking for the unity of one world government to arise in the nations, but constantly fail to seek it in the church.

404. The Godhead is the ultimate example of how a many faceted Church is to become united as one.

996. Unity cannot be imposed from without, but needs to grow from within.

997. True unity is birthed in the Spirit, not imposed through a structure.

998. Unity develops in times of oppression. Bring on oppression Lord!

999. Satan divides, the Spirit unites. Who is winning the battle of your life?

335. CARS IN HEAVEN
It seems the head Deacon died and went to heaven. When Saint Peter met him at the gate, he explained that because of all of his good deeds done on earth, he would be given a Mercedes for his heavenly transportation. "It could have been a Rolls Royce", the Deacon commented. "But there were a number of deficiencies in your record, so this is the best we can do for you."

A while later, the Music Director died, and also appeared before Peter. He didn't fare quite so well, but was given a Yugo to drive. Although he accepted this graciously, inwardly he was upset, especially when he saw the head Deacon driving around heaven in his silver grey Mercedes.

Then one day, as the Deacon rounded a corner, he saw that the Music Director had had a terrible accident. His Yugo had crashed into a tree, and it appeared to be totally wrecked. And then he noticed that the Music Director was outside the car, and was laughing uncontrollably.

So the Deacon pulled his Mercedes to the curb, and jumped out to inquire what had happened. "What's going on?" he asked. "Why are you standing here laughing when you just smashed up your car?" "Because," said the Music Director between gasps for air, "I just saw Pastor Hester go by on roller blades."

334. NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
A man appeared at the Pearly Gates and knocked. St. Peter came out and asked him what he wanted. He said "I want to get in please."

St. Peter asked him to name one thing nice he had done for someone during his life. He replied that one time he saved an old woman in front of a convenience store. She was getting beat up and shoved around by a large gang of bikers out front, and so "I just went up and kicked the biggest biker in the shins, and the old lady got away."

St. Peter was impressed, and asked, "How long ago did this happen?" The man replied as he looked at his watch, "Oh, about 25 seconds ago!"

335. CARS IN HEAVEN
It seems the head Deacon died and went to heaven. When Saint Peter met him at the gate, he explained that because of all of his good deeds done on earth, he would be given a Mercedes for his heavenly transportation. "It could have been a Rolls Royce", the Deacon commented. "But there were a number of deficiencies in your record, so this is the best we can do for you."

A while later, the Music Director died, and also appeared before Peter. He didn't fare quite so well, but was given a Yugo to drive. Although he accepted this graciously, inwardly he was upset, especially when he saw the head Deacon driving around heaven in his silver grey Mercedes.

Then one day, as the Deacon rounded a corner, he saw that the Music Director had had a terrible accident. His Yugo had crashed into a tree, and it appeared to be totally wrecked. And then he noticed that the Music Director was outside the car, and was laughing uncontrollably.

So the Deacon pulled his Mercedes to the curb, and jumped out to inquire what had happened. "What's going on?" he asked. "Why are you standing here laughing when you just smashed up your car?" "Because," said the Music Director between gasps for air, "I just saw Pastor Hester go by on roller blades."

334. NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED
A man appeared at the Pearly Gates and knocked. St. Peter came out and asked him what he wanted. He said "I want to get in please."

St. Peter asked him to name one thing nice he had done for someone during his life. He replied that one time he saved an old woman in front of a convenience store. She was getting beat up and shoved around by a large gang of bikers out front, and so "I just went up and kicked the biggest biker in the shins, and the old lady got away."

ANSWER:
Yes, flea circuses first appeared in Europe in the 1820s and featured such spectacular diversions as the re-enactment of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. They - but not their fleas - died out sometime in the middle of the last century. Trainers use the fleas' natural responses to stimuli to encourage them to jump and move around and even pull props. Of course, the performers are tiny, so a magnifying glass is necessary for a good view. ('Flea bitten' trainers?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Do sword swallowers really swallow the sword?

SOME FUN FACTS

73. MAGNETIC ATTRACTION
Besides Earth, only Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are known to have magnetic fields. (Poles apart?)

74. WELL AHEAD OF HIS TIME
Aristarchus, a Greek astronomer living about 200BC, reportedly was the first person to declare that the Earth revolved around the sun. His theory was disregarded for many hundreds of years. (A bright idea that took a long time to see the light of day!)

75. NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON'T!
There are thousands of varieties of shrimp, most are so tiny that they are more likely to be eaten by whales than people. People round the world, however, eat several hundred types. (Most shrimps are indeed 'shrimps'!)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

PICKETS

A - osprey
B - swallow
C - ostrich
D - turtledove

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

!!!!!! She's been pressing 30 so long, it's pleated.

!!!!! When it comes to telling her age, she's shy -- about 10 years shy.

!!!! I've stopped exercising. Pushing 50 is enough exercise for me.

!!! He's so old he just got a prospectus from an old-age home marked "Urgent"

!! I've heard it's bad luck to be superstitious?

34. TEACHER'S PET
On a special Teachers' Day, a kindergarten teacher was receiving gifts from her pupils. The florist's son handed her a gift. She shook it, held it overhead, and said, "I bet I know what it is, some flowers."

"That's right" the boy said, "but how did you know?" "Oh, just a wild guess," she said. The next pupil was the candy store owner's daughter. The teacher held her gift overhead, shook it and said, "I bet I can guess what it is, a box of candy." "That's right, but how did you know?" asked the girl. "Oh, just a wild guess," the teacher said.

The next gift was from the son of the liquor store owner. The teacher held it overhead, but it was leaking. She touched a drop of the leakage with her finger and touched it to her tongue. "Is it wine?" she asked. "No" the boy replied, obviously delighted that he was the first student to at least temporarily defy the teacher's apparent insight.

The teacher repeated the process, touching another drop of the leakage to her tongue. "Is it champagne?" she asked. "No," the clearly delighted boy answered. Once again the teacher tasted the leakage and finally ,"I give up, what is it?"

The boy enthusiastically replied, "It's a puppy!"

35. LET YOUR DOG TEACH YOU
If a dog were your teacher, you would learn stuff like:

According to the new report published by U.K.-based Christian Medical Fellowship, those who have faith carry positive health benefits such as coping with illness, faster recovery, as well as protection from future illnesses.

The report, "Health Benefits of Christian Faith" by Drs. Alex Bunn and David Randall, drew its evidence from over 1,200 studies and 400 reviews.

It reads, "In contrast to the popular myth that Christian faith is bad for health, on balance, and despite its limitations, the published research suggests that faith is associated with longer life and a wide range of health benefits. In particular, faith is associated with improved mental health."

One of the studies, where more than 20,000 American adults participated, shows that income and education had little impact but those who went to church regularly had seven years added to their life expectancy. It highlights that life expectancy doubled for African Americans with an extra 14 years.

People with mental health problems, such as psychosis, also proved to cope better when religion was involved. They also showed to be more compliant with their medication.

The report notes that the mental health benefits for believers include: "well-being, happiness and life satisfaction; hope and optimism; purpose and meaning in life; higher self-esteem; better adaptation to bereavement; greater social support and less loneliness; lower rates of depression and faster recovery from depression; lower rates of suicide and fewer positive attitudes towards suicide; less anxiety; less psychosis and fewer psychotic tendencies; lower rates of alcohol and drug abuse; less delinquency and criminal activity; greater marital stability and satisfaction."

CMF emphasizes that health benefits depend on how devoted Christians are in their faith. For example, those who are genuinely devoted to God are less likely to associate themselves with "risky heath behaviors for instance problem drinking, smoking and permissive sexual behavior."

"One study even found that religious attendance was associated with a more than 90 percent reduction in meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicemia), in teenagers, a protection at least as good as meningococcal vaccination. Furthermore, religious involvement has been associated with improved adherence to medication."

For those living with an illness, studies have also indicated that spirituality or religion plays a positive role. "In one robust study of people living with HIV, those who grew in appreciation of spirituality or religious coping after diagnosis suffered significantly less decline in their CD4 counts and slower disease progression over a four year follow-up."

While much-debated questions arise on whether to "prescribe faith" or not, the doctors personally support spiritual care but with caution because, in some cases, "They argue further that prescribing faith might be coercive, given the implicit authority gradient in the doctor-patient relationship, and that doctors could cause psychological harm by suggesting that patients' illnesses are caused by a lack of religious devotion."

The report concludes that although faith has positive physical benefits on each person, "The Christian faith is not to be judged by its material benefits, but by whether it is true," especially when ronically, "suffering helps Christians to trust not in themselves but in God."A new report indicates that those who believe in God not only live a healthier life but also add 14 years to their life.

According to the new report published by U.K.-based Christian Medical Fellowship, those who have faith carry positive health benefits such as coping with illness, faster recovery, as well as protection from future illnesses.

The report, "Health Benefits of Christian Faith" by Drs. Alex Bunn and David Randall, drew its evidence from over 1,200 studies and 400 reviews.

It reads, "In contrast to the popular myth that Christian faith is bad for health, on balance, and despite its limitations, the published research suggests that faith is associated with longer life and a wide range of health benefits. In particular, faith is associated with improved mental health."

One of the studies, where more than 20,000 American adults participated, shows that income and education had little impact but those who went to church regularly had seven years added to their life expectancy. It highlights that life expectancy doubled for African Americans with an extra 14 years.

People with mental health problems, such as psychosis, also proved to cope better when religion was involved. They also showed to be more compliant with their medication.

The report notes that the mental health benefits for believers include: "well-being, happiness and life satisfaction; hope and optimism; purpose and meaning in life; higher self-esteem; better adaptation to bereavement; greater social support and less loneliness; lower rates of depression and faster recovery from depression; lower rates of suicide and fewer positive attitudes towards suicide; less anxiety; less psychosis and fewer psychotic tendencies; lower rates of alcohol and drug abuse; less delinquency and criminal activity; greater marital stability and satisfaction."

CMF emphasizes that health benefits depend on how devoted Christians are in their faith. For example, those who are genuinely devoted to God are less likely to associate themselves with "risky heath behaviors for instance problem drinking, smoking and permissive sexual behavior."

"One study even found that religious attendance was associated with a more than 90 percent reduction in meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicemia), in teenagers, a protection at least as good as meningococcal vaccination. Furthermore, religious involvement has been associated with improved adherence to medication."

For those living with an illness, studies have also indicated that spirituality or religion plays a positive role. "In one robust study of people living with HIV, those who grew in appreciation of spirituality or religious coping after diagnosis suffered significantly less decline in their CD4 counts and slower disease progression over a four year follow-up."

While much-debated questions arise on whether to "prescribe faith" or not, the doctors personally support spiritual care but with caution because, in some cases, "They argue further that prescribing faith might be coercive, given the implicit authority gradient in the doctor-patient relationship, and that doctors could cause psychological harm by suggesting that patients' illnesses are caused by a lack of religious devotion."

The report concludes that although faith has positive physical benefits on each person, "The Christian faith is not to be judged by its material benefits, but by whether it is true," especially when ironically, "suffering helps Christians to trust not in themselves but in God."

"Christians should not promote health benefits as the primary reason for coming to faith in Christ. Jesus came into the world to work a far deeper transformation in human lives than simply curing disease."

"Christians should not promote health benefits as the primary reason for coming to faith in Christ. Jesus came into the world to work a far deeper transformation in human lives than simply curing disease."

1. The Way of Salvation: Finding Jesus as your personal Saviour.
2. Life Through the Spirit: Christian living through the teaching of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. Jesus is Lord: Living our lives for Jesus.

So if you desire a deeper relationship with your God, this can help point you in the right direction. You still have to make the effort though! Can't do that for you!

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT IT

"____Thankyou for sending the 'Walking With Jesus' material to us. Your material has been a great challenge and blessing to us, as we begin to really focus on why the Lord has me in this particular "tent-making" business. I am so excited to to be going about the Lord's business of making disciples FIRST, having Accounting as the "front" to the world. I will be including "A Very Special Offer" in my next newsletter to clients____" (PA Auckland, NZ)

"I love your Jesus tapes____" (AH Timaru, NZ)

"_____I thank God for this special offer being offered to a youth like me in Papua New Guinea____" (CS Rabaul, PNG)

"_____We have a small Home group which meets in our home every Wed. morning and although we all know and love the Lord we found your tapes and the books helpful & interesting. It's always good to hear someone else's experience and teaching____" (RT Nelson, NZ)

"____I actually found this very comprehensive, although I have been a Christian for many years. I had been interested to enable me to learn, hopefully, to pass on to others the way of salvation____" (JH Taupo, NZ)

"When I initially responded to the invitation in the Catalogue from 'Your Garden', it was with the idea of maybe receiving material suitable to pass on to those questing for answers. At the time I myself was going through a time of testing & what I can only term a 'wilderness walk.' However, after receiving the second lot of teaching tapes I can no longer contain my excitement & simply felt that now I must write you____(VS Sarina, Australia)

"____I wonder if you would allow our church to make use of these tapes as we are setting up a library and I am sure they would make a very valuable addition____" (KA Whangarei, NZ)

LORD - HELP ME!

Now's the time when you are feeling low,
All your effort, with so little to show.
When life is getting on top of you,
God's Word doesn't seem true.
You're looking for a boost,
Chickens home to roost!
Nothing's working,
Life so hurting!
Indescribable!
Unbearable!

"Hey!
Pray!"
"Do I hear,
Voice in ear?"
"Now, listen to me,
One plus two, can be three!
If today, you will let me help you,
Your dreams, they can still come true.
When you rest your all in my gentle hand,
Your horizons, I will again, begin to expand."

Why do we ignore His advice?
Unwilling to pay the price,
Of giving all our being over to Him,
Rather let life's light, grow so dim.

Until next week___

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SKEPTIC