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With a storm on the way, it is more important than ever to find the center of God will. That place is the safest place. It is the place where chaos turns to adventure; where fear has no place; where our houses will stand as a refuge for others. This is the place we want to be; so how do we find it?
God’s eternal will is for the restoration of the three things that He lost in man’s rebellion: His reign over our hearts, His intimacy with us, and His habitation in us. I believe that our pursuit of His purpose in these three areas will supernaturally propel us into His will for this strategic season.
This article relates to the restoration of God’s habitation in us as the body, church and bride of Christ. The articles and assessments for the remainder of this series can be found at the following locations:
Our Preparation under His Reign
Our Preparation for Intimacy with Him
Many in the body of Christ are recognizing the inevitability of the storm. That recognition has created urgency for preparation; and a desire to know how we are doing in that preparation. Assessing our preparation as His habitation is critically important.
Is there a biblical way to assess our preparedness, and receive wisdom and revelation in the ways God would have us strengthen our house? I believe so. In fact, we are encouraged and commanded to do exactly that: Read the rest of this entry »
Imagine for a moment that you are a good and faithful steward of a rich man’s estate. As that good and faithful steward, you would be encouraged to hear your master say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.” It would be right to expect such a response to your wise investment of his resources.
This is true in the world; and more so in the kingdom of God. In fact, these are Jesus’ words; words He used in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). It is His desire to reward those that take their stewardship seriously. He is looking for those that will invest His talents faithfully. Read the rest of this entry »
If you had your head in the sand, would you know it? We are such busy people these days. We are bombarded with information, whether we want it or not.
I find it way too easy to cruise through my day without really noticing what is important. Am I the only one?
I have a strong suspicion that many of us, and many more in our spheres of influence, are distracted by the world; so much so, that we are missing much that God has given us eyes to see and ears to hear. Most of the time, this is a subconscious action to avoid bad news. Sometimes, it is intentional.
Most don’t want to see the picture or hear the story about the persecuted young girl. Most don’t want to think about the decline of society. Most would say that they have enough to worry about.
Let me share the truth with you – in love. What I have just described to you is a form of deception. The problem with deception: When you are deceived, you don’t know it. That is the nature of deception. Consequently, it is best to assume – or at least be suspicious – that we are being deceived in some way or another. It is one reason why we need to find true Christian community.
On the other hand, the Body of Jesus Christ has the ability to discern the times; and the responsibility to share the truth with others. People in your spheres of influence may not be able to hear, or understand, what you have been given to say; but, they will remember – when the time is right – that you knew something that they did not. They will want to know more.
Sharing the revelation we have been given is our responsibility as ambassadors of Jesus and agents of His reconciliation. It is being salt and light to a needy world. It is being instruments and weapons of righteousness for God’s kingdom. It is loving people with the truth.
Workplace Ministry Tip: So, I encourage you – for God’s sake – to force open your ears and eyes, to bravely search out the signs of the times, and to boldly share what you are hearing and seeing. Do so with everyone in your spheres of influence. I commit to do the same.
Let me know how I can help you be a Watchman for the LORD, and His people.
Humbly yours and forever His,
I have been thinking about Change Theory quite a bit lately. Surprisingly, it has a lot to do with our spiritual state – our relationship with the LORD. I learned Change Theory as an Enterprise Architect. Since beginning this ministry, God has used it to help me understand and communicate the spiritual concepts of transformation and disciple making. I believe He would have me share a part of that theory with you.
As a management philosophy, Change Theory seeks to explain how systems, individuals and groups are motivated and managed from one state to another. In my vocation, that included the implementation of new technology, new technology development processes and new business processes (all in the banking industry). In a more general sense, Change Theory applies to every part of our lives: Adding quality controls in manufacturing, moving to a new town, changing church fellowships, becoming a married person, etc.
It shouldn’t surprise you that Change Theory also applies to our spiritual lives. Read 2Corinthians 3:18 and you will understand what I mean. The normal Christian life is a life filled with change; at least it should be. Moving from one state of “the glory of the Lord” to the next is God’s way for our maturing in Jesus Christ. Read the rest of this entry »
In Starting a Ministry to Marketplace Leaders, I promised to provide the curriculum for discipling the Workplace Ministry Leadership Team. What follows will make more sense if you read that article first.
Now that the lesson outlines have been completed, I can offer you the Curriculum Overview. The lessons will soon follow. NOTE: While the following is written with the local church setting in mind, this curriculum is also impactful for ministry leadership development in the workplace and community.
Introduction
God is moving in the Workplace. There are hundreds of Workplace Ministries moving with Him. Regrettably, the vast majority of these are operating outside the local church (e.g., peer-to-peer groups, business chaplains). A few are attempting to minister in the local church setting, but success has been elusive.
It is our conviction that, while the reasons for our lack of success are many, the solution is quite simple. To successfully launch a Workplace Ministry in the local church setting, the local church must establish and maintain a Ministry Leadership Team with the same intentionality it would have for any other ministry. It must provide its leaders with the spiritual and practical tools necessary to be successful.
No serious local church would try to start a Children’s Ministry by purchasing a bunch of Children’s Ministry programs. They would first select and inculcate the leadership team with the church leadership’s vision and mission for Children’s Ministry. Then they would send them to ministry leadership training. The same is true for every ministry in a local church; including the Workplace Ministry.
With this critical success factor in mind (i.e., preparing the Workplace Ministry Leadership Team), we offer the following curriculum. As you will discover, this curriculum (and any follow-up coaching we provide) is based on a very simple premise: Whenever possible, establish and maintain the Ministry with God’s purposes at the forefront, in the way God prescribes, and with God’s power. Read the rest of this entry »
God is interested in every aspect of our lives. Consequently, planning God’s way includes the spiritual, personal/family and vocation portions of our lives. This is sometimes called whole life planning, or balanced life planning.
Furthermore, for Kingdom people, planning God’s way must be done in the context of His ultimate purposes. These are the restoration of His reign, habitation and intimacy with His children. This is all review to make the following point.
As we look back on the accomplishments and disappointments of 2014, it is important to review what has happened in the same holistic way that we planned. It would be easy to focus on one area or another. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, as they say.
For many of us, failure and disappointment tend to get an inordinate amount of our attention. If we are not intentional, we may miss what God has done and the opportunity to praise Him for it. We may become trapped in regret and sorrow, failing to see how God has positioned us for the future.
God works all things to the good of those that love Him, to those that are called to His purpose. The activities of our past, and God’s involvement in them, help us discern the path He desires for the coming season. Even when He is doing an entirely new thing, our perspective of the past can either blind us to the possibilities of the future, or encourage, edify and equip us for the adventure of a new year.
Marketplace Ministry Tip: I hope and pray that you consider all that God has allowed in your life in 2014 – the good and the bad; and that you will consider it in the context of His eternal purposes for your whole life, and for those in your spheres of influence. Be intentional to involve God and others in your review. He speaks in community.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Business is built and sustain on relationships. Good hires, synergistic partnerships, mutually beneficial deals/sales. Discernment is needed – from two perspectives. The most commonly understood is our discernment of the other person’s façade. We all have them – consciously or subconsciously. Few are totally transparent.
Less understood is affect of our own paradigms: The way we view the world and the people in it. Upbringing, fears (real and false), preferences, personality and a dozen other factors affect our initial impressions of other people. Failure to correct faults in our filter make understanding the value (or danger) of someone else more difficult.
Here’s a good place to start:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24
Marketplace Ministry Tip: The end of the year is a good time to assess your business plan, your resources, etc. How about your relationship filter? Could you use a little adjustment in the way to view other people? Ask God for an in depth yearend review.
Share the truth; it will make someone free.
Humbly yours and forever His,
Those that find the will of God in good works walk in the empowering grace of God – the supernatural power and resources of the kingdom of heaven. They experience the God glorifying work of Matthew 5:16; and the “more than” works of John 14:12. In good works, the signs and wonders of the kingdom bear witness to the gospel of His grace (Acts 14:3).
This is the normal Christian life; for every child of God, and for those called to lead them. It is a tragedy that so many have chosen to settle for less. The purpose of this series is to encourage, edify and equip Marketplace Leaders (and those in their spheres of influence) to search out, discover and walk in such an adventure.
In Part 1, we learned that the “good” of good works is far more important that the “works” themselves. In Part 2, we began searching out the Scriptures that describe good works and the challenges we face in our attempts to walk in them. Here in Part 3, we will conclude with an exploration of God’s provision, our preparation, and His ultimate intention for good works.
God’s Provision for Good Works
Have you ever considered that Jesus could have died, been buried and rose again in less than a week? That is all the time it would have taken for Him to accomplish what many believe to be His only mission. So why was He about the Father’s business for more than three years? It is simple: Because death, burial and resurrection was not His only mission. Read the rest of this entry »
Well, here we are again; the end of another year – and time to plan for the next. Hopefully, you have been working this year’s plan (and not the other way around), and it has brought success to your business and the spheres you influence. Remember, God has positioned you to make an impact for His kingdom. This is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.
One way to get serious about your role as a Marketplace Leader is to plan for positive outcomes. This may mean something different than you initially think; particularly if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow?” While this does not mean “don’t plan”, it does indicate that we should plan in a particular way.
Proverbs 16:9 tells us, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” This does not mean the LORD follows our plan; for we are also admonished, “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24) As you can see, this leaves us in a somewhat vulnerable position.
As Marketplace Leaders, we are responsible to make the most of the resources and spheres of influence we have been given to steward. The consequences of not doing so are quite severe. As humans, we have a propensity to mess up this planning thing. Consequently, fear drives many into the avoidance trap; an incredibly tragic place to be (Matthew 25:14-30).
With all this in mind, I want to suggest you fight off fear and procrastination, and begin planning for next year with the following context:
- Planning is a process of communication. The owner of your company wants you to succeed and He has the wisdom and resources to make that happen, even in the worst environments. He enjoys conversations with His children. Come to Him with expectation; come to Him often. Check out James 4:13-16 for some greater understanding of this.
- Transformation is the primary goal. Moving your company and spheres of influence from one state to another is the prime objective. This is both a practical and a spiritual endeavor; and it begins with you. Consider 2Corinthians 3:18 and Matthew 5:16 as guiding truth.
- Plan with a broad perspective. This has a double meaning. First, start with God’s eternal purpose. How will He use you to accomplish His kingdom objectives? Subjugate you plans to His. Second, do not forget the rest of your life. Why would you plan for your business, and not spend the same time and effort planning for the success of your family and other relationships. Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks to the importance of our relationships in these challenging days.
Marketplace Ministry Tip: Block off the necessary time to plan for next year in a way that involves and pleases God. Commit your way to the LORD, and He shall bring it to pass. Let me know how I can help you (rob@inlightconsulting.com).
Humbly yours and forever His,
Every follower of Jesus Christ has been saved by grace, through faith, to walk in good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). God intends to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2Chronicles 9:16). The empowering grace of God is available to those that will faithfully walk in the good works prepared for them. Don’t miss this: We are talking about the supernatural power and resources of heaven, manifested in our midst. For this, we were created!
Search out this matter out with a surrendered heart, and you will discover what good works means for you specifically, in this season of your life. You will also come to understand what it means for the Body of Christ and your spheres of influence. In the end, you will find yourself better prepared to walk in the supernatural grace of God.
In Part 1 of this series, we learned that the “good” of good works is far more important that the “works” themselves. Here in Part 2, we will begin searching out the Scriptures that describe good works and the challenges we face in our attempts to walk in them. This will set the stage for Part 3, where we will explore God’s ultimate provision and intention for them.
As we survey the following passages, ask the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (our teachers) to reveal the truth of each one for this season of your life. Listen for the word that will become faith for your journey. Allow the truth to do the work necessary to make you free.
For this article, I have made a particular effort to keep my commentary to a minimum; that the word of God would dominate your attention. Use the short comment after each passage to direct your mind toward the main point; but keep your focus on the power of God’s word in the passage. Remember, these passages may not mean what I think they mean, but they must mean something. You find the meaning in them.
The Bible’s Description of Good Works
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Works will not save us. However, we were created for good works – to walk in them. NOTE: Many translations suggest that we are to do the good works. This is a mistranslation of the Greek word peripateō. Keep this in mind as we explore further. Read the rest of this entry »
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