Kings and self concept

Kings and Self Concept
Passion has roots - We talk a lot about releasing Kings into their passion. That's easy for some and hard for others. Here's why... before I can have passion regarding something I believe in, I have to believe in myself.
Most of us think of ourselves as "sinners saved by grace." We detest prideful people and we've retreated to being God's obedient servants. We charismatics talk a lot about praying and obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit. We just do what we're told and we're prone to goofing that up too. Can you see how that whole line of thinking would prevent you from being passionate or excited about your personal calling - as a servant, you don't have one!
Let's take it a step further; other people form their opinions of your potential primarily from the opinions you have about yourself. Others see you exactly the way you see yourself. You and I act in ways that are exactly consistent with our self concept. If you want to be a King you have to align your self-image with God's role for you in the Kingdom. That means changing some attitudes about "self."
The Value of People - Here's the Kingdom reality about people that our "humble theology" deceives us from seeing. Everyone, saved or unsaved, was created in God's image with a natural desire and ability to lead in the area of their calling or metron (Let them rule). People that are already leaders understand that every person was created to fill a need. Everyone has a unique ability that no one else has and is indispensable in bringing the kingdom to the marketplace. Because of our unique gifts and perspectives, each of us is a solution to certain problem that needs to be solved. When we help others connect with God and their Kingdom purpose another leader that can rule is born... to greatness, prosperity, power, and influence according to God's covenant plan for us.
"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Gen 12:2-3 NIV
The Value of Purpose and Passion - Kings don't just obey, they "feel" the passion for what they do. It continually motivates and inspires them. They are connected with a larger plan of God that began before they arrived, continues after they are gone and is hardwired into their heart's desire. Contrast that mentality with that average person with a job. They put in their hours, and like a slave, they play a role for their employer that starts at 8 and ends at 5. They are not connected with purpose or passion - just a paycheck. It's selling your body in exchange for money. God has something better with an entrepreneurial ingredient and a shared vision.
People that do exploits for God aren't the smartest, most educated, most spiritual, richest, or most charismatic. They are simply the people that have accepted God's verdict of who they are and what they are called to do. Real humility is accepting the greatness of God's plan for your life and implementing it in a way that blesses the most people. The war is being fought with people who know who they are.
They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings — and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers." Rev 17:14 NIV
If Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who do you think the rest of the "Kings" and "Lords" are? It's you and I... duh! Surrender isn't giving in to poverty and obscurity; it's saying yes to the greatness of God's call on your life and the resources to complete the mission. It's your natural passion; you've been given the stature of King so you'll be willing to take initiative. Here's a little secret about initiative. Authority is 20% given and 80% taken by an enthusiastic, eager vessel who asks to get out of the boat. It's a step beyond willing toward "bold as a lion." Be the Lion King.
The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Prov 28:1 NIV
If you're waiting to obey, the Kingdom is moving on without you. It doesn't work that way after we grow up. Servants cannot ask for "whatever" is in their heart's desire - Kings can and do! Kings know who they are and how to use the influence and wealth God gives them to build the Kingdom and release more Kings. It's a party out there. We need you to say "yes Lord," to your area of dominion and rise up and join the team.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15:15-17 NIV
We all have a natural passion for greatness that is usually pushed well below the surface over our fear of pride. Becoming a King and taking dominion over your calling to bless the nations is the only legitimate way to fulfill God's call on your life to become the hero of your dreams. Be humble enough to accept greatness - for the sake of the King.
 
Recommended reading - The Spirit of Leadership by Dr. Myles Monroe
 
Love,
 
John & Sue   

GOD'S PLAN FOR GLOBAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

God's Plan for Global Economic Collapse
by Dr. Steven Lambert www.slm.org

In this crucial hour when not only Americans but all peoples of all nations collectively are faced with the catastrophic effects of the most expansive economic collapse in the annals of human history, it is calming, comforting, and cheering to know that the Sovereign and Almighty God has a plan, has eternally known what the plan is, and that His plan—for individual believers and His true Body alike—is not for harm, calamity, disaster, or destruction, but welfare, good, prosperity, peace, and a hope-filled future.
'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’ (Jer. 29:11, NASB)
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Ibid; NIV)
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Ibid; AB)
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Ibid; NLT)
In the present tumultuous times in which talk of crisis, collapse, and calamity fill the air and images vividly portraying same fill our television screens, it is vital for believers to understand one thing—God has a plan. He’s always had a plan. In fact it is not just a plan, rather His plan is THE plan. The various translations of this oft-quoted verse cited above reflect some poignant points concerning the plans that He has for us.
First, it’s thrilling to just know that the Almighty has a plan for our welfare and well-being—that a plan actually exists. How often do people—believers and non-believers alike—languish in life for lack of a plan and because they don’t know what God’s plan is! One of the most pitiful divine laments in the Word of God is: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). In other words, those who profess to be God’s people and wear the badge—“Christian”—don’t know that God has always had a specifically and intentionally devised plan for their life, and they have no clue what that plan is.
Many don’t know where they’re going, nor how to get to wherever it is they are going. As someone has said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there.”
Lack of knowledge or ignorance of God’s plans for us is not just a “bummer,” as people say today, but it will cause you to live a defeated and destroyed life. Myriad are the professing Christians living lives of devastation and destruction due to ignorance of God’s plans, pledges, and promises for them.
Secondly, God says He knows the plans He has for us. Just the knowledge that He already knows the plans He has for us should be extremely comforting, calming, and cheering to us in the troubled and tribulation-filled times comprising our current collective life as Americans here in the fall of 2008, as the world reels in the wake of ubiquitous financial devastation for which there are no ready remedies.
Thirdly, the plans God has for us, by His own pronouncement, are NOT for calamity, disaster, devastation, or evil, but on the contrary for our welfare, good, prosperity, peace, and to give us hope and a hopeful future. Again, if there’s ever been a time a plan that will engender all those results is needed, especially hope and a hopeful future, it is now!
Yet, the stark reality at this present hour is that the scenario before us as a nation appears to be completely antithetical to what God declares concerning “the plan” He has for His people. Over the last few days the economy of the world’s greatest super-power has been officially, albeit reluctantly, diagnosed by the economic experts and the politicians charged with overseeing and managing it, as “collapsed”—in unprecedented, historic proportions. Our national economy lies listless on a blood-soaked gurney on life-support in the ICU. The team of highly-skilled ER physicians have signified with the familiar side-to-side swivel of their heads that at this point there’s nothing much they can do for the dying patient but provide comfort. And, since believers, though not of the world, are in the world, they are impacted much the same in the natural as the rest of the world.
The financial “fall” long predicted by a number of prophetic voices over the last two decades finally became an undeniable reality on Rosh HaShana, New Years Day for the year 5769 on the Hebrew calendar, signaled by the most precipitous one-day decline ever recorded on Wall Street with the leading stock market index plummeting precisely 777 points—a mark that surely is a divine signature. “Black Monday 2.0.” “The Super-Fall in the Fall 2008,” it could be dubbed. Humpty-Dumpty has fallen off the wall, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men it now appears are incapable of putting Humpty-Dumpty back together again.
Virtually all of the longest standing financial institutions heretofore forming the economic foundations of the greatest nation ever to exist in the history of the world have totally collapsed; many literally are no more. The highest, mightiest, and smartest of our republic are totally bankrupt of credible answers and viable solutions. The nation’s most powerful and highly positioned government leaders cannot even begin to account for either the genesis or the denouement of the most immense national debacle in time immemorial. The most brilliant economic and political minds of the free world are totally stymied by the sheer scale of the dilemma and basically unable to offer a stunned and reeling American citizenry any plausible strategy for resolution and recovery. All that the entirety of Washington can offer is some hastily-devised dubious and purely speculative proposals that in effect transfer the retributive burden for the sins of the true offenders onto the collective back of the present generation of Americans, to bear for the whole of their and their children’s children’s lifetimes.
The cause, of course, we know with absolute certainty. Basic greed, bare avarice, and brazen aggrandizement are the uncontested and undeniable motivators. That—we all know. No debate needed in that regard. The proverbial chickens have come home to roost, and barring divine intervention the people of “the land of the free” will be suffering the wages that inure to those who foolishly disregard the biblical adage concerning the borrower becoming the slave of the lender. Unless and until Americans return to Biblical principles regarding financial integrity and morality, we will remain incarcerated in a debtors prison, where one of the horrible consequences is forfeiture of common human freedom and the freedoms we as the most prosperous nation on earth have enjoyed for well over two-hundred years.
For decades our national adversaries have well known and implemented strategies based on the understanding that there is no need for them to resort to expending massive amounts of their resources on a military aggression against “the great Satan,” when they can use American resources to bring the nation to its knees through economic and entrepreneurial exploitation of our national Achilles Heel—materialism, and more specifically the ills that unrestrained and pandemic avarice produce. The unfortunate result of decades of moral decline and spiritual apostasy in this country is that our gates are now overrun and our nation is overflowing with mortal enemies filled with venomous enmity.
What is critical for the true Church—the Church Jesus is building, the Remnant Church—to recognize in the face of current events, the presidential race in particular, is that, though the matter of what candidate and political party prevails in the election will certainly affect us all, nevertheless, our destiny does not rise and fall on who is president and vice president of the United States. Bona fide believers, one and all, cast their vote for the ultimate Commander-in-chief the day they accepted the risen Christ as their personal Lord and Savior! The Born Again Child of God can take solace in the fact that Jesus is Lord over all and has been permanently given a Name which is above every other Name—on earth and in heaven.
In a sense, so far as our own life is concerned, each of us are electors of the supreme electoral college that does not convene every four years for a new election, but once and for all. For those of us who by virtue of the New Birth have been become members of the Holy Race, earthly political races are of only minor consequence. We are IN this world, but we are not OF this world. The world’s systems and kingdoms are not the system and kingdom in which we operate. Oh our natural lives are surely affected by the earthly systems and kingdoms, but we are preeminently spirit-beings operating in the system of the Spirit—the kingdom of Christ—which cannot be seen with natural sight. Thus, we must ensure that we not limit ourselves or consign our destiny to the natural systems of this world, but rather seek to effectually function in the Spirit realm on a daily basis.
When compared with Jesus’ explicit description in His didactic discourses unto His contemporary disciples of “the last days,” can the current tribulation-filled times possibly not be the manifestation in earnest of His preternatural predictions (see Mat. 23; et al.)? I think not. Are these the times concerning which Jesus said, when you see these things taking place, LOOK UP, for your redemption draweth nigh? I think so. Are there those among us who seriously believed, say thirty years ago, that theirs would be the generation who would experience these scriptural predictions? I think not many.
Yet are the events that produced the present circumstances part of the Divine Plan of which I speak—meaning, did God orchestrate them? The answer is a resounding “No!”
Succinctly stated, God gave dominion of the earth to man, namely Adam and Eve, but Satan wrested it from man in the Garden of Eden through the aegis of man’s fall into perdition. “The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth he has given unto the sons of men.” In Jesus, the Second Adam, God sent the Kinsman Redeemer and Prototype to generate Redeemed Mankind, the Holy Race, but it is now up to that Holy Race, the Church, Christ’s Betrothed, to wrest dominion back from Satan’s control. That is the Church’s ultimate mission, and heaven shall retain Christ until that mission is fully accomplished and all things are restored, at which time He will return to claim the Church as His Eternal Bride.
Clear and plain, Mankind—unredeemed humanity—in cooperation and collaboration with Satan, “the ruler of this world,” “the prince of the power of the air,” is responsible for the present circumstances. Man, operating through the aegis of the powers and principles of the kingdoms of this world, which are under the sway of the original rebel, Satan, has produced these circumstances.
Indeed all this is what makes the fact that God has an eternal plan that holds the welfare and prosperity of His People, the Remnant Church, in the midst of global tribulation, so indescribably magnificent.
As I said at the beginning, God clearly and unequivocally declares in the verse cited at the beginning that, one, He knows the plans He has for us, and, two, those plans are NOT for calamity, disaster, or evil, but rather for our welfare, good, prosperity, peace, and a hopeful and blessed future.
God knows the plans He has for us, but there are some things we need to know and understand concerning His plans for us, however—things that even His people, His Body, the Church, His betrothed, often, unfortunately and to their detriment, do not understand. As He says in His Word, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6). Now we know and have little problem assimilating that the unbelieving people of the world are destroyed and live decimated for lack of knowledge or spiritual understanding. That is pretty much a given. But, the lament of God through His prophet Hosea in this verse is that God’s people—what today is Born Again Children of God—are destroyed and experience destruction in their lives, needlessly, due to their lack of knowledge concerning God and His Kingdom.
It is what we don’t know that allows destruction to invade and oftentimes prevail in our lives. It is not—as the world, the occult, and the New Agers erroneously proclaim—“the truth” that sets us free. That is a misquote and twisting of Scripture. Jesus never said that. Rather, He said it is the truth of His Word that we KNOW from abiding in His Word that sets us free, and the ones the Truth sets free is not everyone and anyone, but rather only His disciples (John 8:31,32)! The obverse of that adage holds true as well, however: the fact that what we do not know of the Truth precludes our liberation and permits our bondage and slavery to continue.
So there are some things we desperately need to know about the plans that God has for us, which we will look at in the next edition of this article. But, the most important thing of all to understand in the interim is that God has a plan and knows exactly what that plan is, and how He is going to implement it. In fact, everything is right on plan, despite what we see and hear going on in our world today. So there is no need whatsoever for the true believer to despair or become dispirited at all. Yes, the kingdoms of this world are being shaken to their core, but we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Moreover, the True Remnant Church that Jesus is and has been building for two millennia should be rejoicing, and again I say, rejoicing, at the events and circumstances transpiring at this time, because (this much I will share in this edition regarding what the Lord has shown me) where it is all leading is the most monumental transference of wealth and earthly means in human history.
But, hear this, and hear it good, this massive transfer will be only unto the proven righteous, the third part remnant who have been tested as gold is tested in the fiery furnace, refined as silver is refined (Zech. 13:8,9). God will get it TO these, because He knows He can get it THROUGH them to fulfill His purposes and plans the ultimate end of which is the glorification of the Bride:
Haggai 2:5-9
‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’
“For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.
‘I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.
‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts.
‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”
God has a plan, and He knows what that plan is, but even more exhilarating is that He promises to reveal those plans to us, His Children, through the Spirit:
But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. (1 Corinthians 2:9,10; AB)
Kingdom Matters features commentary, teaching, and prophetic words relative to the establishment and advancement of the Kingdom of God on Earth through the Church that Jesus is Building.

MUDAH TERGODA DENGAN BISNIS LAIN

Mudah Tergoda Dengan Bisnis Lain
(Salah Satu Penyakit Penyebab Bangkrutnya Usaha)

Kasus:
Mudah tergoda dengan bisnis lain adalah salah satu ”penyakit” yang juga sering menghinggapi para pengusaha. Pada saat bisnis sudah lancar, penghasilan juga makin mantab, pundi-pundi kekayaan juga terus mengalir, maka biasanya akan muncul ”godaan” untuk terjun ke bisnis lain.
Katakanlah Anda adalah seorang pengusaha yang sukses mengelola usaha konveksi. Disaat usaha Anda sedang maju-majunya, tiba-tiba ada relasi Anda yang mengajak Anda bisnis jual beli besi. Sudah barang tentu relasi Anda sudah menyiapkan estimasi keuntungan yang menggiurkan bagi Anda. Nah, banyak pengusaha yang tertarik hanya dengan melihat angka-angka ”manis” yang tercantum dalam business plan. Akhirnya tanpa melihat kemampuan dirinya dan kemampuan dari relasi yang mengajaknya berbisnis besi, tawaran itupun akhirnya diterima. Dan diapun rela mengalokasikan sebagian dana (yang sebetulnya dana milik perusahaan konveksi) untuk dialihkan sementara sebagai modal berbisnis besi.
Ketika bisnis besi sedang dalam proses, tiba-tiba ada saudara Anda yang datang menawarkan program investasi. Dengan sangat meyakinkan dia mengajak Anda untuk terjun ke bisnis investasi. Semua dunia bisnis yang belum pernah Anda kenal sebelumnya. Entah karena benar-benar tertarik dengan estimasi bisnisnya atau sekedar karena tidak enak dengan saudara, maka Anda pun kembali ber-investasi ke bisnis saham tersebut.
Sudah barang tentu Anda sangat berharap dengan mengalihkan sementara uang dari usaha konveksi ke bisnis besi dan saham itu, Anda akan mendapatkan keuntungan besar dalam waktu singkat dan kemudian hasil keuntungannya bisa digunakan untuk mengembangkan usaha konveksi yang selama ini sudah dijalankan. Sebetulnya itu bukan logika yang salah. Dan kedua jenis usaha itu juga memang termasuk jenis usaha yang cukup menjanjikan dan sedang menjadi trend bisnis saat ini.
Namun masalahnya adalah, banyak pengusaha yang berani terjun ke bisnis lain yang sama sekali tidak diketahui seluk beluknya. Dia sama sekali buta dengan proses yang harus dilalui sebelum keuntungan didapatkan. Dan seringkali karena ketidaktahuan Anda, karena ketidakcermatan Anda, maka bisnis-bisnis sampingan tersebut akhirnya gagal. Padahal uang yang digunakan adalah uang bisnis konveksi Anda yang sebetulnya sudah berjalan baik.
Wah, jika itu yang terjadi, bisa saja bisnis konveksi Anda yang sebetulnya tinggal pengembangan itu terganggu cash flow nya. Dan tidak menutup kemungkinan jika dana yang Anda tarik untuk investasi ke bisnis lain terlalu besar akan membuat bisnis konveksi Anda terancam gulung tikar.
 

TRANSITION TO CONGRUENCE

Transition to Congruence
Times and Seasons - I had the opportunity to attend a conference last week (the Kingdom Economic Summit) and I heard some new ways of articulating this pioneering phase of market place ministry we're currently in. It was encouraging and enlightening.
Hearts are longing for purpose - Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life was prophetic in the sense that it captures a move in the heart's of God's people right now. Believers are hungry to be "congruent" with their gifts, calling and destiny. We are longing to connect with God's plan for the Kingdom and make a difference in our world. Sitting in a pew doesn't do it for Kings.
Where's the local church? - Pastors and local churches are also in a huge transition. The concept of church growth (as opposed to Kingdom growth) has caused the church to become an introverted, preachy, self-perpetuating organization to the point of cultural irrelevance in the US. In the past we joined a the church and signed up for the vision of the house defined by the senior pastor. Ministry was a job that helped the church to run smoothly. Saving souls was the goal, evangelism would grow the church, and revival would reach the world and result in more churches. It's not happening and our approach is failing for basic theological reasons. We were planning to save some souls and go to heaven. We preached a gospel of salvation instead of the gospel of the Kingdom. We forgot about the Kingdom! We abandoned our nation instead of redeeming it. Our job is to disciple nations - that's the gospel of the Kingdom.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations Matt 28:18-19
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations… Matt 24:14
What's Next? - We're not giving up on the local church (although certain aspects of our prior philosophy simply have to die). We need to see the church in the context of the Kingdom. Our goal is to establish His Kingdom on earth; the church is not the end or the goal; she is simply the equipping organ that prepares the saints to take the Kingdom. She should be exporting believers that do exploits in society. Instead of criticizing and abandoning society (Hollywood, the news media, academia, politics, and business) we should be infiltrating them with God's power and anointing. We're called to conquer! We are here to plunder the strong man's house and take back the leadership of these same "mountains" that are currently led by people serving the wrong kingdom.
28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  29 "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. Matt 12:28-29  NASU
What's it look like? - The best recent example of a saint infiltrating an enemy stronghold is Sarah Palin. Regardless of your political views (Republican or Democrat), we all have seen a spirit-filled women upset a national apple cart. She used anointing to touch a nerve in both the politics and the media. It will be a huge firestorm before it's over because she is not submitted to the current strongholds over the media and politics. A modern Deborah was quietly equipped in a local church and is now competing for leadership in a couple of mountains that are currently held by the enemy.
Sarah could have said no to the opportunity. She could have made the same excuses Moses did. But she said "yes we can" and took the leap just like Joshua and Caleb did. God is calling you and I to do the same. Instead of wearing our faith like a bumper sticker, preaching and whining from the sidelines, we are called to get in the fray; to use our anointing to offer better solutions, new ideas, superior creativity, and courageous leadership. We're called to be the head and not the tail. Our destiny is to be at the top of the mountains defining the philosophy that leads every area of society.
Here's the real secret that Sarah has helped us to see. When you allow God to promote you, you are really taking Jesus with you and exalting Him. God get's glory from his Deborah's, David's, Joseph's, and Daniel's. The nations rally to their anointing, the Kingdom of God is expanded, and the Lord Jesus is glorified.
But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."       John 12:32-33 NIV
God's plan depends on you becoming "congruent" with your heart's desire and your Kingdom calling. It's an exciting adventure. Your life has more drama than the script of any movie and you are destined to be the hero. Say "Yes Lord!"

APOSTOLIC SAINTS

Apostolic Saints
The Old Wineskin - We've heard a lot recently about seeing apostolic ministries come to the forefront and we've naturally focused on a crop of people that are networking and doing great exploits for the Lord. There are now apostolic conferences and networks breaking new ground. We celebrate those changes and the great vessels God has raised up. However, the guy in the pew often translates or "hears" those exploits and the message into something like this:
"The closest I can come to having a destiny is sending money to someone who really does have one so they can do the work of the ministry."
The New Wineskin - The real Ephesians 4 goal of five-fold pulpit ministries is to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. For example, the real measure of an apostle isn't primarily what they have done, but what have their sons done? Have they released any saints into ministry? The Kingdom will be built by saints / Kings and funded from their own prosperity in the market place. Their ministry will be located in the marketplace and the fruit will be seen in the cultural change of cities and nations... not just disciples.
Exhibit A - The best way I make this point is with an example. Duane Smith is a local realtor and friend. He's educated as a civil engineer; soft spoken, thoughtful, conservative, yet willing to follow the Lord where ever. He leads a home group in his church and is occasionally invited to preach in his own church. However, you wouldn't necessarily think of this engineer/realtor as a dynamic speaker or miracle working evangelist. He's really just like you and I. We should admit that he has come under the influence of Howard Ferris; another civil engineer Duane went to college with. They both fund their own missions trips. Neither are sent by a church or an apostle... they just make plans and go! They both work jobs / businesses and use vacations and personal finances to minister. Said another way, they are taking Lakeland to the third world. Although I'm not suggesting we call them apostles, they are both functioning in that anointing complete with the signs following. What's the point?
If they can do it, so can you can you and I. Every willing saint is invited by the Lord to minister at his level. That is the new wineskin.
Duane's story - I (Duane) have received several requests to summarize our recent ministry trip to the Philippines. I will attempt to give a reader digest version, since the volume of what God has done would take several pages. I humbly submit our testimony according to Rom 15:18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through us, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word & deed.
We conducted 3 two-day healing crusade meetings with supernatural results at each meeting. The Philippine people were open and responsive to the gospel and healing faith. There were about 1,000 people who received Christ and hundreds healed. Each night God would back up the simple gospel with attesting miracles to confirm His word. Many deaf received hearing, cataracts & clouded eyes cleared, goiters reduced, arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease healed; to name a few. Several testified of being healed in the crowd as the gospel was being presented. Praise God for the simple power of His Word!
One young lady was in the final stages of cervical cancer. She received immediate relief from an oppressive spirit and the pain which was throughout her body. She testified on the second night about being pain free from the cancer and a year of chemo treatments.
One of my favorite miracles was a woman that had given birth 3 months prior, and had not urinated since. Her body was grossly swollen and distorted, skin molted, and eyes clouded. She looked like death warmed over. We prayed and she felt some relief. The following night she returned and testified of urinating last night and having all pain released. We prayed for her eyes and they cleared as we spoke. The interpreter said “her face shown with the glory of God”. This one was snatched from the grave.
The team was awesome, a great mix of gifting, intercession, and ministry. Both Karen & Alison preached the gospel with boldness and clarity. Deann separated the children each night and lead them in the gospel and salvation prayer. Our Philippine host led worship and helped release an environment for expectation and faith.
Prayer time together with the Philippine team was sweet. We prayed and sang together in tongues, worshiped, and broke the powers of darkness each morning for 2-3 hours. The Lord released multiple visions and prophetic direction. The dreams & visions were new to the Philippine pastors. It was a wonderful confirmation of the moving of His Spirit when they began seeing in the Spirit. We all gained an increase of God consciousness and the closeness of the Sprit realm. This was way too much fun!
After the crusades we held meetings at each location with the new believers, teaching them about the Kingdom and the authority of every believer. At the conclusion we had them demonstrate healing to each other with wonderful results. At one meeting I had eight infirmed people come to the front and asked a new believer to pair off with each one. I simply said to the crowd “if the message I have just preached is true, each of these will be healed by the authority of these new believers”. They were instructed to find out the infirmity, lay on their hands, and command the sickness to leave in Jesus' name. All eight testified of healing. One lady had a large goiter that completely disappeared before the peoples eyes. She testified, "I can’t find it any more” as she felt around her neck. (we saw goiters the size of golf balls to volleyballs)     
The Philippine pastors believed that healing was only administered through the clergy, so this was a breakthrough for them also. This again validates the mandate to preach and demonstrate the gospel.
I Cor 2:4-5 And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that you faith should not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God.
God is amazing!
The pastor’s conference released the Holy Spirit in demonstration I had not experienced before. We spoke little but focused on worship, repentance, and the release of fears and limitations that keep us bound short of God’s Glory. I am in awe of what God did in breaking the “high ground” of men’s hearts. Their sincere devotion made available an environment for God to work. We had 80-90 pastors and leaders that lay and wept on the rough concrete floor until it was wet with their tears. When joy came, they testified of indescribable visions and presence of the Holy Spirit. Deann danced a prophetic dance that moved us to higher heights. No one left untouched, including each of us.
If you are still with me, I apologize for the lengthy narrative. I have so much in my heart to share. Thank you to those who prayed and help support this outreach. I am deeply thankful for the privilege of sharing life and love with these precious people. Truly Jesus correctly said “the poor in this life are rich in faith”; such treasure in simple packages. Life is good! Blessings Duane, Karen, Alison and Deann.
Duane Smith - Investment Specialist - Realtor®
 
Love,
 
John & Sue  

ANSWERING THE CALL IN BUSINESS

Answering the Call in Business
by Doug Hunter www.fcci.org

Answering the Call, by trusting God, no matter the circumstances.
This is an amazing time to be in business – especially to be a Christian in business. Watching the stock market tumble, feeling the credit squeeze, the back-and-forth of a political campaign where the candidates have dramatically different approaches to the needs of the nation’s economy, on-going global tensions on so many fronts … on and on. You don’t have to look far to find uncertainty…apprehension…anxiety…yes, and fear.

In addition, as a reminder that we are all in this together, David Smick has written a new book entitled The World Is Curved: Hidden Dangers to the Global Economy. In an obvious play on Thomas Freidman’s The World is Flat, which generally looks at the upside of globalization, Mr. Smick reminds us that there are ramifications to that globalization that we may not always be able to see – because they are beyond the horizon, out of sight – around the curve. Ramifications even now being felt by people, businesses and governments half way around the world following the unexpected failure of one or two major financial institutions here in the U.S.

So why does that make it such an amazing time for us as Christians in business? I would suggest it is because these kinds of global tremors, including those that have not yet come over the curve, that cause all of us – Christians and non-Christians alike – to take a hard look at what we really believe. At the foundation upon which we have been building our lives…and our businesses. Are we going to find biblically based solid rock, or have we been lured onto the same unstable sand that has been so in evidence throughout the business world lately?

At this point, let me assume you are finding rock. Does that mean you and your company aren’t being impacted by challenging economic circumstances? Of course, not. Even buildings constructed on the most solid foundation can suffer damage in a storm, but having confidence in that foundation should have an impact on how you and I view the storm…and even the damage.

For Christians in the marketplace, now is a great time for us to be living in the reality of I Peter 3:15: “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
If you and I are looking for God in our circumstances, trusting in His character as we expect Him to be “working all things together for good” (Romans 8:28), “rejoicing in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4), confident that “He is able to meet all of our needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19), and expecting that “these momentary light afflictions are working in us an eternal weight of glory” (II Cor. 4:17) …not blind to challenging circumstances, but not overwhelmed by them either…not just sitting and waiting for God to do something, but moving ahead and looking for God’s Word to be “a lamp for your feet and a light for your path” (Psalm 119:105) …people WILL ask. They ARE asking. Are we ready to answer? ...strong...of good courage...not afraid...not dismayed...and ready to give the answer so many are needing to hear. May your week be filled with hope - and with questions!
 
Have you and I set apart Christ as Lord in our hearts – and are we trusting Him as Lord in our companies?
 
This is a great time to remind each other that we serve a God who says to us:
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:8-9)
 
This truly is an amazing time to be a Christian in the business world

FINANCIAL MELTDOWN

Financial Meltdown: Sin Amok
by Gerald Chester www.strategieswork.com

For the second time in my business career, the government is stepping in to execute a major cleanup of the financial industry.

The first time was in the 1980s. The problem was overdevelopment of commercial real estate funded with loans largely from savings and loans whose deposits were insured by the FSLIC (the savings and loan equivalent of the FDIC). Many times these loans were made for 100 percent or more of the value of the property. This enabled real estate developers and investors to build commercial buildings with virtually no down payment. With little to no requirement for a down payment, many investors without deep pockets were able to obtain loans. After a few years of reckless lending, the commercial market was overbuilt, leading to a glut of vacancies. This meant that the income from most of the properties was inadequate to cover the mortgages. Because many of the investors did not have deep pockets, they were unable to pay the mortgages. The result was a rapid drop in property values and a glut of foreclosures.

This time the problem is residential real estate. During the past decade the financial industry made mortgages using a concept known as an “adjustable rate mortgage,” also known as an ARM. An ARM starts with an interest rate below market. In a few years, the rate is adjusted up to market or, in some cases, above market. It is this adjustment that caused dramatic increases in mortgage payments that many borrowers could not pay. Since many sought to sell their homes to escape the escalating mortgage, the residential real estate market was flooded with houses for sale. As a result it became a buyers market, which drove down the values of the homes causing many people to be unable to sell their homes for enough money to pay off their mortgages. The result was a glut of foreclosures.

For more than a year, the mortgage crisis has impacted the financial markets. Financial institutions participate in the mortgage industry in a variety of ways including securitizing mortgages, buying and selling these securities, and insuring mortgage payments for borrowers with marginal credit. Furthermore, many financial service companies invested in mortgage-backed securities. As a result of these various activities, the financial industry was exposed to the risks of the mortgage industry, which until the summer of 2007 was not deemed to be significant. Today we know differently.

During the past fifteen months, the problems in the mortgage industry have become increasingly evident. For the past year, financial institutions have frequently stated that they did not know the full extent of the impact of the mortgage meltdown. In recent days the picture has become clearer. Three of the top five investment banking firms have failed. The largest mortgage company was barely saved from failure by an acquisition. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, quasi-government agencies, whose charter is to facilitate an orderly secondary market for mortgage paper, were nationalized. And most recently, a leading insurer of mortgages was bailed out by the taxpayers through a loan from the federal government.

The financial crisis is so dire that many people are in a state of near panic. For example, some recent headlines from FastCompany’s daily e-mails were: "China could easily end up owning the lion's share of the US and UK's financial systems" and "We are in the most serious crisis since World War II."

As I am writing this, Congress is debating whether or not to approve new legislation to buy impaired mortgage-backed assets from financial institutions. The effect of this would be to move bad loans from the private sector to the public sector. To allow for this expenditure, the ceiling on the public debt would be raised to more than 11.3 trillion dollars. Also, undoubtedly part of this new legislation would be more regulation of the financial industry.

In the midst of the panic, the blame game is in full swing. Who is to blame? Is it President Bush, lawmakers, government regulators, borrowers, Wall Street, management of the financial companies, or the mortgage industry?

Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson said that the root issue is the irresponsible lending practices of the mortgage industry. Lawmakers blame the president, the mortgage industry, and the regulators. One of the presidential candidates blames everyone. The finger pointing is ubiquitous.

Whoever is to blame, there is plenty of blame to go around. But we need to go deeper than blame. All blame does is identify a scapegoat, which frequently impairs our ability to see the root issue. We need to understand the real root issue. Why did this mortgage meltdown happen?

May I suggest that the root issue is sin? Sin is anything inconsistent with the character and nature of God. Furthermore, the Scripture makes it abundantly clear that sin has economic consequences. For example, note the following:

“Ill-gotten gain . . . takes away the lives of those who get it.” Proverbs 1:19 (NIV)

“The wicked man earns deceptive wages.” Proverbs 11:18 (NIV)

“Ill-gotten treasures are of no value.” Proverbs 10:2 (NIV)

It may seem strange that economics is coupled to sin, but it is. Just read the Old Testament. The nation of Israel was told that if they worshipped God alone, they would be blessed economically and politically; but if they turned from God and worshipped idols, they would be judged with economic and political calamity (see Deuteronomy 28). The Israelites turned away from God and suffered economic and political judgment.

The experience of the Israelites illustrates that sin brings economic calamity. Despite the testimony of Scripture, we wrongly assume that economics has nothing to do with God, but this is a false assumption. Remember that God created everything, including the laws of business and economics. And God has chosen to respond to sin by withholding economic blessings and, in some cases, bringing calamity and judgment. Note the Scripture below:

“The income of the wicked brings them punishment.” Proverbs 10:16 (NIV)

“A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.” Proverbs 17:20 (NIV)

“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.” Proverbs 20:17 (NIV)

At the root of the mortgage meltdown is sin and sin leads to economic crisis. The sin of the financial industry, the government, and, yes, the American public is great. At the very least, there is greed on the part of the lenders and investors, lust on the part of borrowers, and laziness by regulators.

So what is the solution? Congress will offer sin management as the solution. Sin management seeks to put boundaries on how far sin can go, but does not address the real issue. The real issue is sin in the hearts of people. The solution for sin is Christ.

Therefore the first step is to call everyone to repent and turn to Christ. Repentance means to change the way you think, that is, to change your worldview. All of us need to reject worldly thinking and turn to the Lord. We need to accept the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Then as we grow in Christ, we will increasingly think and act like Christ. As we do this, sin in us, in any form, is progressively and continually eliminated.

Imagine a financial industry managed and operated by people who are Christ-like. These people would be growing in Christ, which means that sin would not have a foothold in them. Such people would be wise, responsible, and prudent about their business practices. Their primary concern would not be their money, but seeking to do what is right before God. Because of their integrity, they would need little regulatory oversight. They would be like the workers mentioned in Second Kings 12:15 of whom it was said, “They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty” (NIV).

The real solution to the current crisis is Christ, because sin does not work. Sin creates economic calamity and poverty. It costs enormous amounts of money to manage and the management of sin is woefully ineffective in the end. Only Christ can free us from sin enough to enjoy long-term success, blessings, and prosperity in God’s universe.

The workplace needs godly men and women doing what they were called by God to do and doing it according to God’s values and principles. We need men and women in America who are being discipled in the biblical philosophy, values, and principles of business.

Imagine if the workplace was filled with spiritual fathers discipling men and women in the ways of God for business. We would find an unprecedented level of success, blessings, and prosperity—all because people rejected the worldly ways of business and repented, turning to God for wisdom and discernment.

Such people would need little sin management, that is, regulatory oversight. We could save the cost of this sin management. But more importantly, disciples of Jesus Christ are the only real lasting solution for the problems of the financial industry and, indeed, for every industry.

And may I add that if our government’s solution to the current financial crisis is simply more sin management, this will fail. Remember that twenty years ago we had a similar problem. The solution that we enacted then was sin management and now twenty years later we are in a very similar financial crisis. So if we repeat our mistake and assume that sin management is the solution, then we can expect another financial crisis in the future.

Let’s spare ourselves another financial crisis by approaching this financial meltdown biblically. Consider the following action items as steps toward a solution, which, I believe, are consistent with a biblical approach:

Call the people of the United States to a day of prayer and repentance.
Strongly urge all organizations (i.e. churches, schools, businesses, etc.) to begin teaching a biblical worldview of business and finance.

Encourage all participants in this crisis to repent and make restitution for ill-gotten gain.

Set up a fund to receive restitution payments and use the fund to help those in genuine need (for example, distressed homeowners who want to align with biblical principles).

Don’t bail out any companies, rather call them to repentance (some will probably fail, this is the short-term pain that we must endure for long-term stability).

Elect public servants who embrace a biblical worldview. and
Require the federal government to be fiscally responsible, including balancing the budget each year and eliminating the national debt.

This approach may seem radical to you, but it is what we need if we want to build a future of success, blessings, and prosperity for our heirs. The reality is that we must embrace God’s ways to prosper in His universe; after all, the only principles that work long-term are His principles.