subscribe to this Newsletter   Kings – Finding God in Your Heart There was a time when I would have scoffed at the title of this newsletter. Most of us have been taught that our hearts are desperately wicked; an unreliable source for any kind of “guidance.” Here are a few of the scriptures the old John would have used to prove your heart is evil. The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. Gen 8:21 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"  declares the LORD. 9 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isa 55:8-9 My view on those passages and others like them was tainted by my theological roots (see last weeks newsletter and summary of dualism. Here’s what I’ve come to realize. Our hearts or souls have to be discerned. There are lots of instances in the Bible where evil in men was discerned. That doesn’t mean men are totally depraved and wicked all the time. God is in the process of redeeming our heart and soul and conforming us into the image of Christ. We were created in God’s image and redemption is all about living there. Now I’m quoting the rest of the Bible regarding our hearts. The world is full of good people with good hearts. Many many good people still need to meet Jesus and are very open to finding salvation. They don't need to become sinners in order to be saved. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.     Ps 37:4 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. Ps 145:19 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:7-8 God is leading many Kings through a thrilling process of getting connected with their hearts desires. Here’s the secret – you’re going to find the will of God in your heart's desire. Sure you have to judge those desires and discern which are Godly and which are not. But for Christians, the will of God goes through the desires of your heart. I used to feel quite spiritual when I was doing something for God I didn’t enjoy. Now, I’m still willing to sacrifice and live a disciplined life, but the reason is for the joy set before me… in this life. Kings love the will of God and delight in expanding the Kingdom. To be creative, entrepreneurial, fruitful, and prosperous is both naturally and spiritually the great adventure Christianity. Example - It's not going to be a sacrifice to do the will of God and go to the Netherlands. It's going to be a party, an adventure, and a thrill for me and many will be released as Kings in the process. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Heb 8:10   That's the theology. But how do we make it practical. Jacob has a few hints. #1 Acknowledge your heart’s desire - Jacob had a job working for his uncle that he did extremely well but didn’t enjoy very much. The desire of his heart was to get away from punching the clock and do something for his own family. Notice this transition. The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?" Gen 30:30 The Holy Spirit has put this question in many Kings right now. You’ve worked for another man or corporation, you've been faithful, and now God wants to give you that which is your own. Something for your own household instead of just prospering the company you work for. And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? Luke 16:12  KJV   #2 Weaned from Wages – Laban didn’t want to lose Jacob because he’d been a great employee for 14 years. Jacob entered the negotiation with a history of good performance. Instead of asking for a raise, Jacob says, “Don’t give me anything” (Gen 30:31) for wages!!! Pretty amazing! He could have asked for a raise, a pension, insurance, tenure, six weeks vacation and a goat herders union. Jacob is pursuing the desire of his heart through an entrepreneurial contract. #3 The Business Angle – Jacob now sets himself up in business through a contract with Laban. Note the business principles he employs The Dream - Jacob's desire to do something for his own household had a progression; first a thought, then a dream, then a vision, then a plan, then a change, then the practice, then reality. Quit his job - Jacob's contract is performance-based and he is paid per goat instead of just selling his time on the job. Laban agrees that Jacob is going to keep all the spotted goats raised from the flock. Multiplication - Jacob sets a wealth-building principle of multiplication in motion. The goats are now Jacob’s employees and they are multiplying his wealth with every new spotted lamb. This a key principle in building wealth. There is no particular advantage to starting a business over a job until you discover how to leverage your time, talents, money, and ideas to multiply your efforts. It’s called working smarter instead of harder and it's the command of Gen 1:28: "Be fruitful and multiply." Entrepreneurial creativity - Jacob also employs some new technology so that when the goats mate in front of some branches the offspring are spotted (Gen 30:37-42). He used anointed creativity to enhance his business. I’m not sure how this worked and I’m not aware that anyone in agriculture has ever duplicated Jacob’s genetic science. The results – after working for 14 years in a job at a subsistence level where his employer changed his wages 10 times (Gen 31:7), Jacob now becomes wealthy in the following six, short years. He still worked hard. But now he's working smarter and working for himself and God instead of Laban. 43 In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.    Gen 30:43 God has breakthroughs in mind for you. Kings just need to learn to cultivate a Jacob-like pursuit of the blessing. "Exceedingly prosperous" is not an accident or a miracle. It's the conscious plan of Spirit-filled people throughout the earth. We're called to be vessels through whom God can bless all nations. You'll have to be really blessed to fulfill your part of that promise. Go for it!   Life is an adventure. People are a blessing. God is amazing. We're winning.   John & Harold     www.releasing-kings.com PS: John is going back to the Netherlands in November (More later)   PS: If you enjoyed this article you might also like "Marketplace Ministry from a Pastor's Perspective." The full story is in our book Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace. I also recommend two books by Harold entitled "Developing a Prosperous Soul" Volumes 1 How to Overcome a Poverty Mindset and 2 How to Move Into God's Blessing. Several friends have made helpful recommendations for book and tape series that I found enlightening. Visit We Recommend on our web and check out "Things I've Read Lately." PS: Send us your feedback! We get lots of interesting emails at "You Wrote Back" http://www.releasing-kings.com/you-wrote-back.html      _____________________________________________________________________ Interested in your own WEB? We've posted information on the software we use to create this web site. If you survive the learning curve without losing your sanctification (mine is barely intact), it really is easy to use and the cost is $299 a year - much less expensive than hiring someone. The primary benefit is the ease of making your own changes. Additional info is at: http://www.releasing-kings.com/releasing-websites.html     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. johnsue@3-cities.com 509-308-6873     Friends Tell Friends 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