David John Tait, Malala Road, Webuye (2025)

16/09/2025

OBSERVATIONS OF THE CHURCH – Part 5
MINISTRY QUALIFICATIONS
A person has a revelation from God. They build up several followers, who are enamoured by the person and believe in the revelation they share.
Usually, a new denomination is formed. For example, John Wesley provided a 'method' of belief, and the Methodist movement, which later became churches, was formed.
When Wesley died, no longer having Wesley's inspiration, his followers formulated his revelation into a doctrine, with differences from other doctrines of the time. Thus, the Methodist Church of today was formed.
Naturally, as the following generations lacked Wesley's inspiration, they formed a Bible College or Seminary to teach the principles of Wesley to them.
Of course, these teaching schools presented their graduates with a certificate describing their qualification.
The denomination recognized these people as having the Church's teachings, and they were appointed as Ministers in the Methodist Church. As more graduates qualified, it became compulsory to have this qualification to lead a church in their denomination.
I experienced this personally. I was attending a Pentecostal denominational church and attended a couple of their conferences. I also ministered overseas at a conference on their behalf. After the second local conference, I received a Ministerial Appointment for the denomination in the mail.
A few days later, I had a visit from my pastor, who wanted to take my card back as I had not gone through their 3-year, denominational Bible Degree as their Assistant Pastor had just completed. It wasn't fair that I should get this without the training! I was easy about this and gave him back my card. He commented that he didn't expect it to be so easy to get it back! Six months later, the Assistant Pastor had an affair with the Office Secretary! I was amused!
God's plan for me was for all believers everywhere, so He worked it out well.
The issue, though, is that formal training is so entrenched in the church that it is more important than the character of the person and their calling by God.
Another situation I have had described to me before these people died of old age was the introduction of the Holy Spirit-led movement, which arrived in New Zealand with the meetings of Smith Wigglesworth in 1924. People were healed and filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Of course, being new and strange to the existing churches and to the p***c, there was limited acceptance of the movement. These believers met in homes where those with the Godly anointing of pastors and teachers (see Ephesians 4:11-16) taught and looked after them.
The enthusiasm and godliness of these people were amazing, and similar to those of the believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), hence they were given the name, Pentecostals.
The denomination I mentioned earlier grew in the same way. It expanded, churches were formed, and pastors appointed. Then a Bible School was started and people were trained until, as you read above, a degree became compulsory to be a Pastor, by most of the churches.
Sadly, our churches have turned into businesses, where qualifications are required for senior positions. Each of us needs to prayerfully consider this situation and act, either within or outside of the church organization, to change back more towards the churches in Acts and throughout the rest of the New Testament.
Let us take particular notice of the churches mentioned in Revelation, chapters 1 to 3, where Jesus, through John, detailed the issues within the churches formed in the era AD40-100.
The church in Laodicea needs particular attention, as it is the church most similar to ours today.
May the Lord bless us with wisdom and strength to make changes, among the opposition that will surely follow.
David Tait
wwj.org.nz

28/08/2025

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHURCH - Part 4
CHURCH IS UPSIDE DOWN!
Today, we have a church, generally based on authority from above. Our hierarchy places men or women in positions above the people in the church.
Ordinary people look up to those in positions above to lead them in their Christian walk. You have the head of the denomination or grouping, who is the boss of the hierarchy below. The extent of the hierarchy levels usually depends on the number of adherents it has. Hence, the largest church worldwide, the Roman Catholic Church, has the Pope at the top, and layers of authority below him. Most other churches may have a similar system, either formal or informal.
Of course, the Reformation was intended to overcome the issue of top-down authority structures, but the reality is that they have reemerged, as this is the way the world works.
Sadly, today reminds me of the Old Testament Priesthood. A priesthood, where the priest was an intermediary between the people and God, but which Jesus came to replace. The Priesthood was to be the descendants of Aaron, the brother of Moses.
Unfortunately, by the time of Jesus, it had evolved into an annually elected position, which was bought, not inherited.
The true last descendant of Aaron was John the Baptist, and it was fitting that he should pass over the priesthood to Jesus at His baptism, the final priest who still today, and thankfully, intercedes on our behalf with God the Father.
Jesus came to bring a different way, for which He paid the ultimate price on the cruel, but victorious cross at Calvary, dying for your sins and mine.
Unfortunately, though, most of the church has slipped back into the ways of the Old Testament Priesthood.
Jesus came to bring a new way, one where we can have a personal relationship with Him. No longer are we to rely upon priests, pastors, or ministers to relate to God on our behalf. We have direct access to our heavenly Father through Jesus. Wow! Amazing! But we have to make the effort to build a personal relationship with Jesus, through the Word, prayer, listening to what God has to say to us personally, through prophecy, words of knowledge, and in other ways also.
God wants to speak to us. We have to listen to Him. Then do what He asks us to do! Scared? Don't be, for He will never ask us to do anything beyond our level of faith.
The reflection in the mirror in the illustration below shows how the church should be. Instead of the boss at the top of the inverted pyramid, the people are.
The leadership, at its various levels. It is there to serve those who belong/attend the particular church with Jesus as head.
The PRINCIPLE OF SERVANTHOOD is not very popular today, when kingship is being promoted. Unfortunately, this is not what Jesus, talking about the Gentiles lording over the people of Israel, says.......
But this is not how it is among you; instead, whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mark10:43-45)
There needs to be a huge change in church leadership today to serve, and not to be served, following the example of Jesus when he was on the earth.
David Tait
wwj.org .nz

08/08/2025

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHURCH – Part 3

THE CURSE OF THE CHURCH – THE PROSPERITY DOCTRINE

This insidious doctrine, grew in the 19th century, as a result of an elderly Scottish lady's dream. It was latched onto by unscrupulous preachers and teachers seeking popularity and money, Their names do not matter, for this article, except for an example, is about the doctrine, not people.

The essence of the doctrine is to give, to get. Many preachers have become very wealthy through expousing it!

It was, sadly, picked up by the Pentecostal movement in the USA, not at its inception, but as the 20th century progressed. It spread like wildfire with the introduction of TV,. Today, it has spread round the world, moving from Penteostal to most other churches, albeit in a watered down form.

The principle that you can get money and riches, or live a comfortable life by becoming a Christian, is palpably false. If this was so, everyone in the world wold become a believer! This is not the case, is it!

Jesus Himself taught that it 'is harder for a rich man to get to heaven than for a camel to get through the eye of a needle.' We see that as impossible in our experience of a needle, but at the time of Jesuus, the small gate, inside the main gate into the walled city, was called a needle. The camels of a rich man had to go down on their knees to get through, when the main gates were closed. How do we come to God? On our knees!

I first came across this doctrine as I was growing up, as a churchian, not a true believer in Jesus. This was a long time ago! LOL! It didn't make sense to me even then, through observation.

When our eldest son was getting married in Scotlnnd to a lass from the Isle Of Skye, we took our 2 youngest sons to Disneyland in Los Angeles, as it was on the way from New Zealand. On the way to our hotel, I saw a big sign. saying Keneth Copeland was taking a series of meetings at the huge Anaheim Convention Centre, We went along. Kenneth Copeland came on the stage and said he had inviited his friend Creflo J Dollar, to speak.

Creflo gave his story of giving away a very small car and being given a bigger one in return, until finally he ended up with a Rolls Royce! The people there, mainly poor black Americans, clapped and cheered. At the front was a section for pastors, and they cheered the loudest. Then people came up and started throwing money at his feet. The pastors cheered, but geve no money.

It was so sad to see poor being manipulated to make the preacher rich. Afterwards, we went down to the carpark, where we saw old jalopies, not rich mens cars!

I cried to myself. This couldn't be be God! Surely! It wasn't! Poor people were being manipulated to make a few rich!

Unfortunately, this teaching, in a milder form, has permeated most churches, around the world. Preaching is of what God will do for us financially and otherwise, rather than the sacrifces desired by the Father, up to losing our lives for Him, as the Bible teaches.

We are living in the day of the Laodicean church of the book of Revelation. People had lost their first love for Christ because of the riches they had. The Bible teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and our daily needs, not our desires, will be given to us.

True Christianity is putting aside the things of the world that distract us from Jesus and the Father, being prepared to live our lives completely for Him, even to not shrink from death.

There have been many maytrs for Jesus over the past 2000 years. Are we prepared to give our lives completely to Him today, and die for Him, if it is required?

29/07/2025

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CHURCH- Part 2
COUNTRY CULTURE IN THE CHURCH
Once again I have been blessed to travel to many countries, and ministered lots of churches. The culture of each country is different, sometimes even differing between areas in a country.
Whether we recognize it or not, culture plays a big part in our churches.
My mother was born in Ireland, coming to New Zealand when she was 3. Dad's parents came from the Shetland Islands, north of Scotland. Yet my sister and I have grown up as true 'Kiwis', New Zealand's unique flightless bird, our national symbol. Other immigrants come here, from very different cultures, and assimilate within 1 to 2 generations.
Are we ebullient in our worship, as is generally found in Africa, or more reserved, as in many churches in the Western world, such as here?
Where do the congregation sit? In many countries, looking towards the front, men sit in the much smaller left side, while women are to the right. Of course the aisle is not in the middle! All over the world, there are at least twice as many women in the church as men. So sad.
In some cultures, only men are allowed to participate, while in others, it depends on the rules of the particular church. I was in one church in Nigeria where a young lady in our party spoke for a few minutes. I thought nothing of it. However, later I found out that this was a real honour, being the first time a woman had spoken publicly, in this large church.
Often we equate loud worship to Godly worship. I was caught in that trap until one day I realized that this was cultural, the ebullient nature of the people. It was wonderful to see, and participate in, but may or may not really be of the Lord. Worship in India can still be worshipful, even though the culture is less boisterous.
Speaking too, follows the same pattern. Africans are loud in their presentations, which the people there are used to. I always remember in our home church in Kenya, where we lived for 5 years building a hospital, speaking one day and becoming really forceful and loud. After I spoke, the pastor said I was becoming an African! The people laughed.
But if I did that in New Zealand I may well be not invited back! LOL! But if an African came and did it here , it would be acceptable, as they were African! LOL!
The question really is, WWJD! (what would Jesus do)? Middle Eastern culture is different again. The Bible tells us about worship in the Temple and the Synagogues, pre Jesus of course. Paul too, gave instructions for worship, but we do wonder what those early churches, house groups really, were like.
Let us remember, when we criticize other cultures, that our culture is different to them also!
May we learn to separate culture from Godliness.
David Tait
Walking With Jesus Ministries
wwj.org.nz

21/07/2025

OBSERVATIONS OF THE CHURCH- Part 1

WORSHIP

What an unusual place to start! Yes it is. But in my experience in 78 years (young!), the first key element in a church meeting, Sunday or otherwise, is worship.

Without Spirit-led worship, the meeting is just going to be an ordinary one. May be if some interest if the speaker is good, or more likely to put you to sleep, if they go on too long!

A bit radical! YES! But it is built from a pretty long lifetime of experience, both good and bad. I have been in many meetings, of all hues, over my life, as a listener or speaker. Good, bad and indifferent. From Traditional, to Evangelical, to Pentecostal/Charismatic.

I have slept in many, been interested in others, and inspired in all too few. Part of it has been my stage of walking with Jesus, of course, most of the sleepy ones, for I didn't truly give my heart to the Lord until I was 43. In the 35 years since, God has worked miracles in my life and incredibly to me, in other lives as well. Praise the Lord (PTL).

I have spoken in many countries and been inspired by God to write a number of books, with an emphasis on “the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven”.

My greatest experience of the heavenlies was in a Nigerian village. The power went off. Then the generator ran out of fuel. What did we do? Go home, or continue worshipping We elected to continue, and heaven came down to earth! It was an incredible experience! No need to share the word after that, for God had superceded it!

The essence of Revivals is worship, where the presence of God fills the building. Very little needs to be said, for God speaks directly to individuals.

Worship is not singing a few hymns, choruses, or songs. The purpose of worship is to release the presence of God in the meeting. Worspip needs to come from deep within our heart, from the Holy Spirit, yours and mine, to be effective.

Pentecostals have come up with a pattern that does work – thanksgiving songs, followed by praise songs, and finally worship. It works but it is not essential. Worship songs though, surely are. But worship ones surely are. For we should be here or there to worship our God with “all our hearts, soul, mind and strength” for that is the worship our God desires.

Again, my experience speaking and listening over all these years, has shown that, without the Lord's presence, the message will not be a truly memorable one for those hearing it.

Finally, I ask people to stay in the Spirit when I speak. For too many speakers think that their message is the most important event of the meeting, and cut off the Holy Spirit's presence, with a few words. Not deliberately, but is the reality. All who speak need to consider the worship as an integral part of the meeting, not just an add-on.

I worship you Lord, with all of me.

How about you?

David Tait
Walking with Jesus Ministries

David John Tait

16/09/2025

28/08/2025

08/08/2025

29/07/2025

21/07/2025

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