subscribe, view past issues  and  Get Releasing Kings Wealth vs Money In the course of “Releasing Kings,” one of the challenges in the church is getting Christians to get their hands dirty with filthy lucre. Money is really just a medium of exchange, and it is neither good nor evil. In fact, all ministry costs money, so the folks who are too spiritual to make it or handle it are usually in the offering camp of poverty – “please send me your money.” Our minds ask, “Does God want me to have money?” Here is one answer, of many.  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   Our hearts ask, “Why does God want me to have money?” The simplest answer is ministry. If you want to be part of the Kingdom, it starts with learning to multiply finances so that you can convert some of it to ministry. If fact, the newest spiritual reality of marketplace ministry is that if you haven’t learned how to make and multiply money, you’ve missed out on one aspect of the gospel… the one that results in ministry. First we learn to make money and then we learn to convert it to the true riches of eternal ministry. Not too complicated, is it? When you are involved in an activity that generates a lot of money, you are considered rich in money, but when you create a system of activity for others to generate money and success, then you are considered wealthy, having true riches. Then, those you bless can also convert money into ministry. It’s actually quite contagious and fun.  "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? Luke 16:10-12 NIV It’s not magic – Our tradition is that if we seek the Kingdom first, then God will give us money and take care of all our needs (Mt 6:33). The problem is that we haven’t usually made a distinction between “church” and “Kingdom,” so that verse translates seeking the church first and putting money in the offering plate and hoping for a miracle…  in reality, a formula for poverty! There are seven mountains in the Kingdom. The church is one mountain; that equips the saints for the work of ministry in the other six. Our mandate is to “go” into the other six. Wealth and wisdom are connected in Scripture. “The wealth of the wise is their crown” (Prov 14:24). Just as in the parables of the talents and the minas, we are given the opportunity to multiply money and, depending upon our success, we are rewarded with the opportunity to be stewards over cities / ministry. Wisdom is a wealth mentality that has both a strategy to make and multiply money, and a vision to convert it to ministry. That’s how Kingdom ministry works. We’re not throwing rocks at the church. Taking offerings for priests who make disciples is great. By contrast, Kings operate in the six other mountains and they fund their ministry out of their own ability to multiply wealth. The Wealth mentality – What’s the wisdom behind people who live in abundance and minister out of the overflow of their hearts and their finances? They all have a few common ingredients. 1.    Heart’s desire – Wealthy people enjoy what they do and they see the connection between their work to generate wealth, and ministry. They are doing the Father’s business and putting the Kingdom first, and they enjoy the process because they realize that God put that desire in their hearts. They are not ashamed to simply do what they enjoy in the marketplace. What is in their heart and what is in God’s heart is the same thing. Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:19-20 NIV 2.    Blessing people and nations – The wealth mentality blesses other people. Wealth isn’t defined by the amount of money in the bank. It’s the wisdom, integrity, character and creativity that will generate money and ministry in the future that define true riches. People who have wealth always include others on their team in a way that blesses them and helps those people reach their goals… employees, partners, investors, customers, suppliers, etc. "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 3.    Character – People with the wisdom to create wealth and convert money into ministry have a hidden depth of character, as opposed to a public display of spirituality. They are willing to work hard on their heart’s desire. They are also willing to invest in themselves to improve their performance. John Wooden is considered the most successful college coach in sports. He coached basketball at UCLA and won eleven national championships. His trademark skill was his ability to bring the best out of his players both on and off the court. He loved them, and his goals for his players went far beyond the game. He invested in their lives. Over the years he developed a Pyramid of Success that summarized the character qualities required to achieve greatness. I want to suggest that it is one of the great contributions to understanding Biblical integrity. Developing those character qualities is one of my continuing lifetime goals – I’m investing in myself when I develop them. The integrity of the upright guides them… Prov 11:3 NIV 4.    Hidden – Just as a practical example, I doubt that Mike Huckabee or Sarah Palin can get elected as president in the US. They are both Christians with excellent credentials and I would vote for either of them. However, in public, they have worn their spirituality on their sleeve in a way that alienates others. They have not been wise in their public display of spirituality. Politicians are elected on the merits of their political ideas that make others successful – nothing else. The best ideas are Godly, but it is unwise to suggest that we have a special connection with God, with the unstated implication that others do not (even if might be true!). It disrespects the values of others whose votes they need to get elected. Giving glory to God is a private devotion based on our public success. Giving glory to God publicly, in the church mountain, is great; it doesn’t work the same way in the other mountains. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matt 6:17-18 NASU Substitute your work in your mountain for “fast / fasting” in the above verse and read it. You’re invited - We are all being invited to a place of wealth and abundance both financially and spiritually so that we can bless the nations practically and invite them into a Kingdom that is led by Jesus, the King of kings. It all starts with a “wealth mentality.” PS: the video version of this newsletter is also available. We're Dancing   John and Sue     www.Releasing-kings.com   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. 1800+ 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. Other language websites – Ukraine http://releasingkingsua.com/ Poland http://www.releasingkingspl.com/ Face Book – I’m posting more information on Face book at http://www.facebook.com/john.garfield1 PS: I want to recommend some follow-up reading. Who is God by Harold Eberle provides the best explanation of a more relational view of God. It’s must reading that connects our perception of God with everyday life. Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace takes that foundation into marketplace ministry and the entrepreneurial nature of Kings. Fruit in the marketplace naturally springs out of sound doctrine. Desire to Destiny – Takes the foundation and marketplace ministry and puts them in the context of seven practical keys or stages of growth you can apply in your own life. You’re invited into the vision to release Kings; communicate the message, make the money, and do the mission. The Message - Our first goal is to get the Releasing Kings message into the hands of the messengers that will carry it... do it, preach it, teach it, example it. The Money - The second goal is to help Kings break out of poverty by networking them with practical opportunities to prosper. We want to introduce them to the right people, the right opportunity, and the right financial approach. The Mission - Network Kings with opportunities to mix business and missions. Accomplish the great commission through the marketplace and occupy the Seven mountains of: business, media, arts & entertainment, education, family and government in addition to the church. See video #1 and video #2 ____________________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace or Desire to Destiny at 1-800-308-5837 (or) www.releasing-kings.com