February 06, 2010
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Just
do it
– I’m in a personal season where the Lord is pruning a
few bad ideas out of my head. My church and pastoral heritage left
me with
some baggage regarding how we release Kings. My bias has been to focus
on
teaching people how. That shows up in our web site, books,
newsletters,
conferences, etc. This revelation of marketplace ministry is profound
and
foundational. I get calls and emails all the time from those touched by
it. But
there is a growing enthusiasm in my heart for the practical side
because of my own experience with mentors. We’ve
emphasized “revelation” and underemphasized “wisdom.” And we’ve got a
false
idea in our heads that wisdom and revelation are approximately the same
thing.
They are not! Having a bunch of facts (information), knowing a subject
well
(knowledge), and connecting the dots on how and why things work
(understanding) is a
long way
from “wisdom” - doing something that bears ministry fruit and
multiplies
finances. Christ
Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from God… 1 Cor 1:30 NIV I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph 1:17 NIV Wisdom
is what you do
– We all know opinionated, educated and sermonic
people who have little direction or purpose in
their lives and
no finances. They aren’t doing anything
themselves. My “pulpit oriented” background actually helped produce
some of
these “pew paupers.” What is most scary is that one of those people is
me! As a previous
pastor learning the Kingly lifestyle, the Lord and other people
(mentors) adjust
my theology and perspectives often…
I
feel like a recovering alcoholic! My theology is just beginning to show
up in
my checkbook and my job / business / ministry. We’ve all heard, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Most of us have no clue what that means. I want to suggest that in means purpose – God has scared us into doing something outside the church in the marketplace. Said positively, it means all those sermons are finally bearing some fruit in action that expresses our real purpose in life (our calling or destiny). For 98% of us, "full-time ministry" isn't on the church staff; it's in one of those other six mountains out in the marketplace. Biblical wisdom is knowledge and understanding applied in our life via our work and business and ministry in the marketplace. How do I get wisdom? Ask
for it
– Solomon asked for wisdom and understanding (1Kgs 3)
and James tells us if we lack wisdom, we can ask for it and
God
will
generously supply it (James 1:5). Unfortunately, our emphasis on
revelation
causes us to hear these verses and think that wisdom comes just like
revelation. It doesn’t! Wisdom comes in the context of verse 2-4.
Listen to
this! Consider it
pure joy, my
brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that
the
testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish
its work
so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James
1:2-4 NIV Wisdom does come from God. It is part of our relationship with Jesus. You might even say Jesus is our wisdom. However, we receive it in the caldron of real life experiences; in perseverance and trial and work and failure and starting over and patience. That doesn’t mean all old people are wise. It does mean people that have learned how to get things done have learned some lessons through life experiences that go far beyond knowledge. When you are cornered and don’t know what to do, wisdom is a belief that an answer exists and knowledge of where to get help – who to ask. When we ask God for wisdom, the answer comes back through a person. Humility
–
Wisdom is not haughty or loud. It’s a still, small voice that must be
listened
for. I want to suggest that the way God imparts wisdom is most often
through another
person… a mentor. Those folks with experience are quietly available if
we look
for them and if we are willing to learn from their experience and
receive
their
adjustments. Wisdom doesn’t come in a prayer closet. It’s more likely
to show
up on the floor of a factory. A teacher can tell us facts, but a wise
man can
show us how to do something. Huge difference! …but
with humility comes
wisdom. Prov 11:2 NIV The
fear of the Lord
teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Prov
15:33 rebuke
a wise man and he
will love you. Prov 9:8 NIV A
man who remains
stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed — without
remedy. Prov
29:1 NIV He
who ignores discipline
comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.
Prov 13:18
NIV Let a righteous man strike me — it is a kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Ps 141:5 NIV The
fruit of wisdom is Life
– What does wisdom look like? Listen… For
whoever finds me
(wisdom) finds life
and receives favor from the Lord. Prov 8:35 NIV The fruit of
the righteous
is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise. Prov 11:30 NIV People
who know how to get things done have “Life;” a
certain vitality that springs from doing what they enjoy, and operating
out of
their heart’s desires. We might call it entrepreneurial, creative, and
industrious. They are not servants, plugged into another man’s vision;
they have their
own
dream. They have the favor of the Lord. Even through difficulties, they
prevail
and conquer. That life is contagious. They are a Tree of Life to
others. Their inspiration
sparks the same spirit in those they touch. They don’t just lead people
to the
Lord so they can sit in pews, these Kings put new disciples in touch
with their purpose and
destiny and
spark their enthusiasm for building the Kingdom in the marketplace. The
second aspect of life and vitality and enthusiasm is
health and long life. People who have learned to be productive, enjoy
life,
feel the satisfaction of accomplishing things and feel the voice of the
Father
saying, “well done.” It’s a healthy lifestyle that causes us to live
longer. Through
me (wisdom) your
days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
Prov 9:11 NIV Long
life is in her
(wisdom) right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
Prov 3:16 For
they (commandments of
the wise) are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole
body. Prov
4:22 NIV The
path of life leads
upward for the wise to keep him from going down to the grave.
Prov
15:24 NIV The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life. Prov 13:14 NIV The
fruit of wisdom is favor and wealth –
People who are wise
enough to pursue their purpose and obtain it, attract wealth. Kings
create and
produce things that bless people so much we gladly pay for them. Kings
are rich
in every way. Kings have cups that overflow in integrity, character,
ministry,
products, services, honor, and wealth. Blessed
is the man who
finds wisdom... Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are
riches and
honor. Prov 3:13-16 NIV I love those who love me (wisdom), and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. …bestowing wealth on those who love me (wisdom) and making their treasuries full. Prov 8:17-21 NIV A
longing fulfilled
– All of us have longings in our heart
that yearn to find expression. I used to equate them with lust and
repress
them. No longer! God placed desires in my heart that serve as
motivation to
pursue the Kingdom first and let every blessing follow. We understand
how
entrepreneurs and artists are fueled by deep desires… that’s us. As
Kings, God
is inviting us into the desires of our hearts. Wisdom is simply the
mentor who
has done it before and can hold our hand until we have the diligence
to
excercise the same skill. He
who gathers money
little by little makes it grow. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but
a longing
fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov 13:11-12 NIV A
longing fulfilled is sweet
to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. He who walks with the
wise
grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Prov 13:19-20 NIV What
the wicked dreads
will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted. Prov
10:24 NIV The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. Prov 13:4 NIV I found another one – There are plenty of teachers in marketplace ministry (a good thing), but not that many fathers. We are prone to link the concept of fathering to church apostles. The real fathers for Kings are mentors who can give us the wisdom to go out and get something done. They aren’t found in pulpits. They are already out in the marketplace. They can teach us how to come up with a great idea, write business plans, manage cash flow, multiply finances and convert money into ministry around the world. Wayne Thomas is the most recent interview; a great example of a mentor who has a career-long reservoir of financial and management experience in large and small businesses (CPA and CMA). Wayne and Marlene are the perfect balance of spiritual maturity and business expertise with a heart to release Kings. I
think you’ll also enjoy getting acquainted with Andrew
Ferguson
and David
Tinney. I believe there are hundreds and thousands more
mentors like
these
being raised up by God in this hour… to release Kings. God is building
the Kingdom by satisfying the longing in our hearts. It's His longing,
too. I received a recent email expressing a little frustration about the difficulty in finding a mentor. We’re looking for folks with experience in our field who are spiritually mature and who are willing to take the time to help us. It is a unique skill set, but I believe we can find them when we start looking. Our Interviewing Kings page was designed with that in mind. I’m not pretending to have them all listed. But I am alerting us to a current reality. Mentors are available by divine appointment when you are ready to seek them. God will provide one… start looking. "When the King is ready the mentor will appear."
Desire to Destiny is available now at our store along with reviews. Not sure what your dream is? This book will help you pull the curtain back on your future. Newsletter - If your newsletter comes incomplete (filtered), you can always catch the latest version in our archive along with 200 others. 1700+ people from around the world get Kingly encouragement from our weekly newsletter. Invite a friend to subscribe - they will be blessed. How to Start a Small Group - Kings are increasingly getting involved in Bible study or mentoring groups to facilitate their "Release." Here are some helpful suggestions www.Releasing-Kings.com/Starting-a-Group.html. We've also updated our Vision Brochure with graphics to show how to become a King and how you can help Release Kings. Lastly we've created a guideline to help you take your dream to the next level by considering the elements of a business plan. See Write Your Business Plan. French Translation - Releasing Kings is now available in French thanks to the efforts of Cees Bakker and Support Ministries in the Netherlands. In France, copies can be obtained from Editions Menor or Librairie Chretienne CLC. The Title in French is “Libération des Rois pour le ministère dans le monde du travail”. Cees is also the guy who made the Dutch translation possible - available through his website. He can be contacted for Releasing Kings conferences in France and throughout Europe. Facebook - I'm posting more information on Face book at http://www.facebook.com/john.garfield1
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