Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace (Friends Tell Friends) Harold and I have both been hesitant to "market" this book... sounds self-serving.  Here's the "grassroots" reality.  God has given us a great tool to communicate a message that sets people free in an amazing, contagious, life-changing way.  If you haven't read it - get it.  If you have read it - give it.  http://www.releasing-kings.com/Ordernow.html We've gotten a ton of positive feedback on the newsletter too... get it, give it.  Reloading Seniors was powerful.  Pass the link on. http://www.releasing-kings.com/Newsletter.html   Choose Life (part 2) IF you missed part 1... Click Here The Christian walk has the unique promise of “life”.  I like the King James, “Life and life more abundantly."  That’s an amazing promise when you think about.  9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:9-10  In Matt 7 Jesus also explained that the way to life is narrow and only a few find it. 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14  Most apply this verse to salvation.  I believe we need to distinguish between those that are saved and on their way to heaven (with no spark) and those that have abundant life.  This year 40 million church-attending Christians went to the polls.  That’s a big number and I believe they are on their way to heaven.  My question is, “How many have abundant life?”  The vast majority of heaven-bound Christians would probably admit that their life is something short of “life and life more abundantly”.  How am I going to have all the “life” Jesus provided for me?  Here are a few thoughts (mostly from Releasing Kings – we recommend it highly of course).  1.  The Joy Ahead - Jesus “endured the cross for the joy set before him” (Heb 12:2).  What got him through those 12 hours of the “Passion” was the knowledge of the glorious victory ahead.  You and I have to have our eyes on the “joy set before us”.  Heaven is great, but the joy I’m talking about is here and now. Your action – What does God have ahead that makes it all worth while.  You need to know.  If you don’t, “ask”.  29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.  Mark 10:29-30 (from New International Version)   2. Heart’s Desires - That joy is released we allow ourselves to dream about the desire of our heart.  The “few” Christians that have found life are pursuing the desires that God put in their heart. "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Heb 10:16 (see also 8:10) Your action – What has God put in your heart and mind that really energized you.  It’s your ministry – often in the marketplace.  Name it, pray for it, prophecy it and pursue it. Note: Most of us have been taught a theology of denying our hearts desires – killing them in fact!  We’ve been told to be led by the Holy Spirit we must be in neutral.  It’s just not true or Biblical.  Do you know why “many are called, and few are chosen?”  It’s because God is looking for people that want to pursue what God has put in their hearts and minds!   3.  Answered Prayer - Once you have a dream and you’ve started pursuing it, a supernatural dynamic takes place.  The Holy Spirit starts to show us what’s in Heaven’s storehouse and we experience answered prayer.  You feel empowered to ask for the desires of your heart!  You’re action – The Holy Spirit is inviting you to tweak any leftover theology of death and suffering and ask him for the desires of your heart.  The more you ask and receive, the more you’ll come to life.   4. What to Ask – God is inviting Kings to ask big – beyond what they can think of.  Why??? You see we’re not just asking for our needs.  We’re asking for many others as well.  Kings are channels of blessing to take the great commission into all the earth.  We have to ask big – many are depending on us. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us Eph 3:20  NKJV You’re action – Ask big so you can cover the needs of all those God will ask you to bless.  Abraham is one of the prototypical Kings – you’re one of his offspring.  Here’s what God “covenanted” with Abraham.  …and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you     Gen 12:3   5. Choose Life – The enemy doesn’t want you to find your Life in Christ.  Your treasure is the unspeakable joy that comes from knowing your heavenly father.  Just like your earthly father, God wants you to find what you were created for and to see His sons and daughters pursue the passion of their heart… the same way he does.  See, you’re created in God’s image.  Your passion is Holy and Life-giving. Choose it. 19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.           Deut 30:19-20 You’re action – Don’t allow the enemy to steal your “life” anymore.  Choose it!    6. Knowing God – Here’s the secret that the “few” employ.  God is not really blessed by people that obey him as servants, but don’t really want to.  Knowing God isn’t about everything you can discipline yourself to do.  You may start there, but maturity is all about really connecting with the desires God put in that heart of yours that he created.  Doing the right thing for the wrong reason probably won’t keep you out of heaven, but it will keep you out of the joy of knowing God intimately and personally in this life. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly,   'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matt 7:21-23 You’re action – Thank your Father God that he’s put your life together as a perfect package in a perfect circumstance at the perfect time.  Find the treasure of your heart’s desire and the authority to make your dream come true – its God’s dream too!  You won redemption and you have spiritual capital, now spend it.     Recent comments posted on our Feed back blog releasing-kings.com/Feedback.html   (11/22/04) Hi John - Glenn Love, Lighthouse Leaders, introduced me to your book. Awesome! I have moved from business owner to Marketplace Ministry. My question is about the resistance from the church structure. One way I have been thinking of bridging this is by teaching a class at my home church and a few others that are receptive, on "releasing kings".  What are your thoughts?  Mike Kerr, Charlotte, NC Hi Mike, - Go for it by all means.  I've given copies to four pastors I know personally with the thought of helping them reach Kings in their own church. None have responded so far - but I expect something good to happen in the near future. I would make the offer to the pastor (some will be interested and some won't).  Here's why.  It's not just bucking tradition.  Some churches working with newly saved people are about equipping the saints but at a level of overcoming sin.  The Releasing Kings message assumes some level of maturity and focus on market place ministry (no longer weighed down by the conviction of the Holy Spirit and condemnation from the enemy over sin issues).  If the church has a lot of newly saved people, the focus may need to be on overcoming sin and a book like Releasing Kings may be perceived by the pastor as counterproductive - depends on the vision and personality of each church.  One other factor is that many Kings like to encroach on Priestly/pastoral ministry.  Kings are not primarily called to equip the saints inside the church.  Some pastors will veto the idea for that reason. All that to say - I'm not assuming every pastor should start preaching the book.  I would make the offer and if the door isn't open try another route.  I do know that some pastors that have read the book, or been exposed to something similar, are very supportive.   Glenn's pastor is obviously one of those. Glenn has a great model for the “other route.  He's reaching out to businessmen in their environment... discipling groups outside the church.  You can do the same.  Another option is a conference with a marketplace ministry theme.  We're having our first in Spokane in December 27-29. I preached Releasing Kings in our church for 18 months.  Some people really bought in and responded.  I was a little surprised that others tired of the message.  When we share these things with the whole church, you just have to realize that not everyone is inspired by the message.  Some aren’t at the right stage in their spiritual maturity; others are called in a more priestly direction.    Keep me posted on your progress.  I'd be glad to chat on the phone.  We're also going to develop some materials to train people.  I've been stalling for a pilot opportunity with a live audience.  Blessings, John Garfield   (11/02/04) Thank you for your newsletter (referring to Kings and Pastors) - I was a square peg in a round hole in the church, yet in business (since I have had the courage to stop worrying about what the church is saying to me and start my own business) I am having FUN & connecting with people.  All the sayings of "you should run with the "in" crowd in church" "You are a leader so why don't you settle & take up a leadership role etc., etc. are irrelevant. I am now leading outside of church, taking up my gifting of connecting people to each other, and mentoring others in many ways that were not possible inside the church.  I love the marketplace! There is a freedom that is growing there where people are seeking something more than money - call it "sea-change", idealism, Gen X, Gen-Y or "Why Not?", there are open doors where people who have no contact with Christians and are wanting to find LIFE, and won't go into a church to find it – but will go once they have found it.  Anyway, I never thought of myself as a King - blessings, Kate Hughes, businesswoman     Kingly Bio's We're in the process of putting together a study guide that will include some testimonies of kings.  Their successes, failures, vision, etc.  If you have a story that would bless others, let us know.  We've got several done and more planned.  We'd love to interview and write up your story as well.  The goal is dozens. john@releasing-kings.com or johnsue@3-cities.com 509-308-6873 Blessings, John & Harold PS: don't forget to look at the free reports - Especially the one on your heart's desire. http://www.releasing-kings.com/free-reports.html   ___________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace at 1-800-308-5837 (or) www.worldcastministries.com