To subscribe or add a friend click Here   Kings – And Adversity (Pt 2)   2005 is the beginning of breakthrough for many Kings in the marketplace.  Most of us can sense that.  What we may have underestimated is the level of warfare that goes with breakthrough.  Since Kings are in the business of expanding the Kingdom, overcoming adversity is part of our lot in life.  David is a great example of King who shaped his nation and was a man after God’s own heart.  He knew breakthroughs and adversity.  He knew warfare in terms of personal failure (murder and adultery – self inflicted) and the trauma of external attack from Absalom (his own son) and the Philistines, etc. He overcame it all because he was prepared for it – in three ways that you can add to your life too.   Who’s your Jonathan? – Every Kings needs a friend.  Adversity can be wearing and the soothing balm of an advocate in your corner is a great encouragement.  In the end David describes his love for Jonathan as more wonderful that that of women. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Sam 18:3-4 But Jonathan was very fond of David…  1 Sam 19:1 I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. 2 Sam 1:26 Jonathan’s ministry to David as a friend was really that of an intercessor.  In 1 Sam 19:1-7 we see Jonathan approaching his father on David’s behalf.  Here’s the take home message.  Every King needs a friend that knows us well enough to intercede with the Father on our behalf and stand with us in the battles.  Those are rare people, but if you ask the Lord to show you one he will.  Don’t take the story too literally and rule out your own spouse.  He or she may be your best friend, intercessor, and advocate. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.   For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.  Matt 18:19-20   Who’s your Nathan? – Later in David’s life we see Nathan operating in somewhat the same capacity as a prophetic intercessor.  When David wanted to build a temple, Nathan’s first response was to encourage him to pursue his heart’s desire. Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you." 2 Sam 7:3 But, the Lord spoke to Nathan to modify that plan to have his son build the house for God.  David put Nathan in a position to speak to him at that level.  Pretty Amazing!  I hear more and more stories of businessmen making room in their lives for intercessors and prophetic voices… not just for the personal benefit, but for the sake of the business.  It’s wisdom.   Who’s your daddy? – Many Kings are confused on the subject of spiritual authority.  We’ve placed a premium on being in a local church and under the authority of a pastor during a season when spiritual fathering was kind of lean for Kings.  The church growth movement encouraged pastors to graduate from “shepherds” to “ranchers” in order to grow their church.  That meant senior pastors spent less time with their people and tried to delegate one-on-one ministry to home group leaders, etc.  Somewhere in the shuffle we’ve devalued pastoral ministry.  When a King comes back from warfare, he really does need a caring, soothing, encouraging pastoral person to relate to.  It’s healing to receive that ministry.  There is also a “fathering” ministry that is really healthy for Kings.  It includes instruction, mentoring, modeling, counseling, etc.  Many Kings know these things and search for them in a man, can't find it, and give up.  Here’s the reality.  God will show you pastoral and fathering ministries if you look – especially in your youth.  He will also gradually wean you away from them so you’ll learn to look more and more directly to him as you mature.  Of course, the enemy will accuse you of having a rebellious heart and an independent spirit at this stage... and so will a few of your friends.   It’s a very confusing process; first we resist those ministries (pastoral and fatherly), then our hearts long for them (and we're greatly blessed), then God begins to draw you to himself so he can be the father, and finally the Lord asks you to become a father.  In the end you’ll relate to the Father more directly and become a pastoral father to sons of your own through your ministry in the marketplace. Your Kingly ministry in the marketplace will complement the priestly ministry in the church. …because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,  Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.       Rom 8:14-17   When the Father is your father – When you really look to your heavenly Father to play the role he wants too… you’ll touch your inheritance. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."  So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. Gal 4:6-7 Here’s the most amazing thing about David’s life.  He was a great King.  He overcame all kinds of adversity.  Yet through all of that responsibility and warfare, he was a man after God’s own heart that took the time and had the depth of spirit to write most of the Psalms.  His greatest Kingly feat was his personal relationship with the Father.  One step farther – all the poetic and wisdom books of the Bible that show the greatest intimacy (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Songs of Songs) were written by Kings. As a King you are called to take new land, know prosperity and generosity, and overcome great resistance… but along the way you will walk with the Father and write some Psalms of your own.  That walk is your personal well spring of creativity, drive, prosperity, vision, and heart.     Blessings,   John & Harold        _____________________________________________________________________    Conference in Holland March 28 - April 5   Harold has made ministry trips to the Netherlands for the last few years. When Releasing Kings came out they wanted to translate the book into their native Dutch language. So It's natural that this trip have a Marketplace Ministry theme. One of the seminars has a Dutch web site at www.modernekoningen.nl.  Please Keep this trip in prayer. We're expecting God to do great things on the international scene... Sue and Linda are both going as well.   Here's the tentative schedule.  March 30th     19.30 hrs. meeting in Anna Palona Church   April 2nd          Releasing Kings / Marketplace  WHOLE day SEMINAR  in Almere                April 3rd.         Ministering in Churches                         Morning: Pinkstergemeente Almere with Pastor Ton Verdam                         Afternoon: Rafael-gemeenschap with Pastor F. Obdam               April 4th.          Marketplace  Seminar BELGIUM      Progress - Kingly Bio's are Up We've completed the first round of interviews with Kings.  These are real people that have been blessed by God in the Market Place and have hearts for ministry.  Check it out at http://www.releasing-kings.com/Interviewing-Kings.html.  If you have a success story, we'd like to post it by giving you a web page on our site.     Progress - A Teacher's Guide We've completed the first version of a study guide that targets those teaching the material in Releasing Kings.  It includes a page of notes on each chapter, all the graphics suitable to make overheads, and a PDF file of the book with the key points highlighted that includes marginal notes, comments, and questions.  This material is available for purchase on the teacher's guide page of the web. john@releasing-kings.com 509-308-6873     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   PS: don't forget to look at the free reports - show your pastor the article on marketplace ministry from the pastor's perspective.  You can simply email him this link or print a copy to give him. http://releasing-kings.com/pastors-perspective.html     ____________________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace at 1-800-308-5837 (or) http://www.releasing-kings.com/Ordernow.html