Wealth is Nothing to Fear

Wealth is Nothing to Fear


The Next Spiritual Discipline - Multiplying finances and converting money to ministry is a spiritual discipline as important as prayer, prophecy and healing. Wealth is the engine that grows the Kingdom. Mentoring multiplication is natural part of our disciple-making process for Kings. As we've considered God's direction for marketplace ministry, Releasing Kings, and the current season we've seen three over-arching goals or steps: 1) communicate the message, 2) make the money, and 3) convert the money into missions. We've also updated the vision graphic to show how those three areas are going to change the world. Take a look. I'm interested in your comments.

There is an emphasis in all three areas but I see the second (wealth creation) as a major focus for 2009. Breaking the yoke of poverty off God's people starts with a correct theological foundation that is the theme of all our books and newsletters. Once the foundation is laid, we naturally move toward God's favor and a fruit bearing season in our lives.

Solomon obviously felt prosperity was important! We've listed nine aspects of wealth creation from the book of Proverbs.

1. The Connection between Wealth and Wisdom - Wealth is the fruit of Godly wisdom.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Prov 3:16



2. Prosperity Is From God - Wealth is the blessing of God for the righteous, but it only comes to those with diligence, dreams and a plan to fulfill them.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. Prov 8:17-21 NIV

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. Prov 10:4 NIV

The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Prov 10:22 NIV

Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. Prov 13:21 NIV

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Prov 21:21 NIV


3. Desires of the Heart - Having strong desires is the healthy fuel that enables us to be diligent. Don’t be afraid of your desires. Discern the difference between Godly desires and vain fantasies and “work” to fulfill them. Have a purpose you care about and help others to value their own heart’s desires. Plans lead to profit!

The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath. Prov 11:23 NIV

The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Prov 13:4 NIV

He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. Prov 12:11 NIV

The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Prov 20:5 NIV



4. The Plans - We’re responsible to have a plan, not just wait for God to show us one. God's guidance is quite often general. Servants wait for specifics that never come, while Kings fill in the blanks and build the Kingdom.

The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. Prov 12:5 NIV

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Prov 21:5 NIV



5. Generosity - Wealth is a tool for ministry that blesses us in return. True generosity is not just giving men fish, but teaching them how to catch their own fish (buying and selling). Notice the "s" word is in the Bible!

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. 26 People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell. Prov 11:25-26 NIV



6. the Home - The home of a wealthy person has nice things in it that are "prized" and well cared for.

The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble. Prov 15:6 NIV

In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has. Prov 21:20 NIV

27 The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man prizes his possessions. Prov 12:27 NIV


7. The Family - We're not too spiritual or too worried about the rapture to have a plan to provide our children and grandchildren with an inheritance... including houses and wealth! Not too many Christians have that base covered. Do you?

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children... Prov 13:22 NIV

Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Prov 19:14 NIV


8. The Goal - The goal isn’t wealth itself: it’s the ministry to others that wealth makes possible. Wealth is just a tool for ministry. If greed puts our focus on the wealth instead of the Kingdom, the wealth flies away like a bird. We have to enjoy the process of our work and the purpose of our ministry. It’s fun to multiply money and do ministry!

Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Prov 23:4-5 NIV



9. The Mindset - We have to convert from servants that can’t hear this new message to Kings that are comfortable with wealth and ministry who look for opportunities. It’s a new way of thinking that isn’t supported by our old “obedience” theology. It's more "caught" than "taught". We no longer servants (Jn 15:15).

A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond. Prov 29:19 NIV

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Prov 25:2 NIV




Bless your 2009,



John and Sue www.Releasing-kings.com

Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2009

Merry Christmas and a happy new Year 2009. Harapan kami di malam Natal kita sekali lagi berjumpa secara pribadi dengan KRISTUS. Doa kami sekeluarga ada penghiburan dan kekuatan yang baru di malam Natal ini.

We that love and care for you,

Dave and Novie

Teamwork and Leadership

Teamwork and Leadership
by John C. Maxwell www.maximumimpact.com
________________________________________
Leadership Inspiration from Nature

Leadership lessons are all around for those who know how to look for them. I’ve observed some- powerful motives for leading through teams from the trees around me.

A few winters ago, parts of the southeastern United States, including Atlanta where I now live, endured a much tougher than usual winter. Following a wet, six-inch snowfall, pine trees made a great parable of the need for teamwork.

Along the roads I noticed that where tall, young pine trees grew in large stands, even though the branches were bowed with the heavy snow, the trunks and branches were able to lean against one another, thus providing support. When the snow melted, those trees that had support sprang back into their usual vertical positions. But where that same species of tree stood alone, the snow’s burden had a much different effect. Branches bent until they snapped. Occasionally, the trunk even split in two. Otherwise healthy, young trees lay broken in the snow.

On the West coast, where I previously lived, a different type of tree provided another dramatic parable. The giant redwoods only achieve their great size in forests of redwoods. The root systems of these mammoth trees are relatively shallow. Planted alone, they will inevitable topple in high winds. But in redwood forests, their roots become entangled and bound together below the earth’s surface. Each tree is tethered by all its neighbors, and together they can withstand hurricane force winds.

Leaders who go it alone will fail alone. Collaborative leadership takes more effort, but it yields greater results. Collaborative leadership takes more time, but it provides a greater probability of success. The adage, “None of us is as smart as all of us” becomes evident when your failure is a direct result of failing to enlist the input of your team.
1. Plan Together.
This allows you to share the victory with your team, and allows your team to share with you in the face of defeat.
2. Prepare Together.
Getting input from your team members not only improves your chances of winning, it also prepares others for leadership roles. When leaders and potential leaders work together, they learn from each other new ways of processing information and planning strategically.
3. Celebrate Together.
Never pass up an excuse to throw a party. One of the most common flaws I see in leaders across the country is when they reach a significant milestone; they immediately set their sights on another without stopping long enough to celebrate the victory they’ve just won. Do it! Not for you, but for everyone else who gave so much to make the win a reality. And if you lose one once in a while, celebrate the fact that it could have been worse!
4. Debrief together.
After each win or loss, schedule a brief meeting to find out from each participant what went well – and what could have gone better. You’ll see the situation from multiple viewpoints, and you’ll also see first-hand who on your team is growing in their ability to handle success and defeat.

When you apply the lesson of the trees, you’ll emerge from the storms of life intact!