Developing A Kingdom Mentality, Part II

Developing a Kingdom mentality takes time. For the most part, those of us in the west have been programed with a 'church mentality'. Here's what I mean. When we meet another Christian, we'll ask questions like these:

"where do you attend church?"

"what church are you affiliated with?"

"do you attend church?"

Once we've attained this church mentality, we'll make statements like these:

"lets go to church this Sunday."

or

"I'm not happy at this church, lets find another church to go to."

The list could go on and on. I'm not anti-church, far from it. In the New Testament, the Greek word for church is 'ekklesia' and it means, 'a calling out'. In reality, the church is a many membered body with Jesus Christ the Head. It is not an institution or organization, rather it is a living organism, consisting of all the saints on earth and in Heaven. There is one church and its definitely not a man-made entity. Anyone who says their organization or fellowship is the 'real church' is sadly mistaken, perhaps even deceived because the church is universal and spans through time to include all 'the called out' ones.

The church's mission is to equip the saints for the work of ministry, Ephesians 4:11-12. Ministry that is correct builds and expands the Kingdom of God. And it is not confined to the meeting place or behind a pulpit. Ministry is to happen every day, in your world, wherever your world is. I'm a businessman and my world is commerce. Am I looking for someone to pray for in the business world? No, although once in a while, it does happen. My ministry is conducting business according to Kingdom principles, spreading the influence of God throughout my sphere of influence.

I know musicians who are doing the same in the world of art and entertainment, politicians in the political realm, teachers in the educational realm, etc. etc. Where ever your passion and talents are, your field of ministry is very close by. When you are ministering at this level, you are expanding the Kingdom of God.

Many years ago, I heard it put this way: A kingdom is the realm in which a king rules. So given this simple definition, the Kingdom of God is where ever the King is ruling. The Bible says in II Corinthians 5:20 that we are ambassadors of Christ. So that means King Jesus rules through each of us from our hearts. This fits nicely with the fact that WE are Kings and Priests of God and shall reign on this earth, Revelation 1:6 and 5:10.

Like most, I was taught in my early years as a Christian that I must crucify the 'selfish desires of my heart' and submit to the will of God. I tried this for a season and then what? My desires have been discarded for the will of God but no one could direct me to God's will for my life. I tried Sunday School teacher, youth leader and finally, we pastored a church. All to no avail, there was only a little satisfaction and a lot of very hard work with little fruit to show for it. I realized this was a long way from the abundant life promised by Jesus.

Fortunately, for lack of a better term, I stumbled into my calling. In 1991 my father and I started a travel agency for the main purpose of providing wholesale airline tickets to missionaries. I love sales and I really loved selling airline tickets for this purpose. In 1995, I was invited to Ukraine with a short term mission team. God put a love in my heart for the Ukrainian people and we began to return with short trips on a regular basis. I saw scriptures that pointed out our responsibility for taking care of widows, orphans and the poor. So we formed a legal entity that allowed us to legally provide aid to government controlled orphanages. We also helped feed poor families in several cities with the permission of local and regional governments.

To make a long story short, I would raise funds from friends, relatives and my own business to purchase this aid for these projects in Ukraine. After a couple years, I was tired of being a fund raiser so in 2001 I began teaching Ukrainian business people their responsibility to help the poor, the widows and the orphans. In the process, I naturally began to share from my experience how to operate a business more profitably using Kingdom principles.

Because of these actions, hundreds of Ukrainians have started profitable businesses. Many of these business people have in turn started their own mercy type ministries to the less fortunate. Every pastor who has sponsored our business seminars have thanked me for raising up their business people. The pastors indicate these businesses were generous and support the work of the church.

I work with churches but I don't have a traditional ministry within a church. My paradigm goes beyond the four walls of a building to the world around me. I am spreading my affluence and influence in my world. I'm pursuing the desires of my heart and God and I are on the same page. This is Kingdom mentality.

Hopefully, sharing my experience has triggered some desires deep in your heart. So let me ask you, "What is the desire of your heart?"

The Marketplace, The Storehouse and the Tithe

I have a thought today that I want to throw out and let you chew on. Those of you who've known me for any length of time know that I take a pretty strong stand against the controversial and un-scriptural teaching the tithe belongs to the local church you attend.

Pastors who promote this teaching use Malachi 3:10-12 to prove their point of view. They say the local church is equal to the "storehouse" in this passage. Aside from the fact I believe this is an extreme stretch of interpretation of scripture, let me add this thought to debunk their theory.

If the local church is the storehouse, funded by your tithe, why is it the flow into the storehouse is only one-way? Why is it the storehouse won't help you fund a business venture? Or invest in a proven Christian business that wants to expand?

I'll tell you why. Because the church today is outdated. They continue to hold onto the old tradition that came from the Dark Ages that separates the sacred from the secular. Hand in hand with that tradition is a separation from the clergy and the laity. The "full time" ministers, those who are paid by the people's tithes and offerings, do not consider anyone who is not in their elite club as true ministers. Furthermore, their concept and ideology of ministry is it's behind a pulpit within the four walls of the church.

This is wrong and not New Testament Christianity as revealed in the Book of Acts and forward to the end of the Book. Ministry takes place everyday, everywhere. Not just on Sunday. Ministry is supposed to be accomplished by everyone in the Body of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-12 "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ"

Ministry is a whole lot more than preparing a sermon or acting as an usher for a church service. A whole lot more.

If you can accept the fact your job, your business is a ministry, it will change the way you think and it will enrich your faith from just a Sunday thing to an everyday, life-changing fact!

More than 99% of the Body of Christ spend a better portion of their day, whether its in an office, on a job site or in the home raising children, "on the job". That's where our ministry is, "on the job" and "in the marketplace".

The storehouse, in ancient Jewish culture, was a place to help people from. If the pastors of today want to call their churches a "storehouse", perhaps they should begin to help people with more than just a sermon and a handshake.

The Kingdom of God and Marketplace Ministry

An integral component of the advancement of the Kingdom is Marketplace Ministry. Why? Because the expansion of the Kingdom of God into all areas of society includes the marketplace, the economic sphere of society. Perhaps one of the most influential spheres, yet the least understood by Christians.

John Garfield has written two unique and highly targeted books, Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace and From Desire to Destiny: Seven Keys to Your Marketplace Ministry.

Garfield says, "Marketplace ministry is the passion that starts when God connects your job, business, ministry, and life purpose into one package."

Too many Christians are falling short in the economic arena. Either we live from paycheck-to-paycheck or we're behind on our bills and unable to make ends meet. What is the answer?

Here it is: God wants to bless you so you can bless others. Yes, God's plan for us is to literally bless the nations. For far too long the sacred calling has been separated from the secular workplace. Finally, Christian entrepreneurs are connecting vocation, ministry, and life purpose; marketplace ministry has started another reformation. Passion is fueling entrepreneurs in the workplace, they're full of optimism, dreams and hope of a better future. Moreover, Marketplace Ministers are helping others to achieve their dreams and impact their generation through mentoring and practical coaching.

Join the reformation!

North America Revivals

As to North American "revivals", I am not impressed at all. Toronto, Brownsville, Smithton and others have had no lasting effects. And what effects they did produce were rather dubious anyway.

Brownsville's crime rate was not effected positvely by the revival. Overall church attendance in the city did not rise during or after the revival.

In the revivals in America in the 1800's, these things DID happen. Crime rates went down, bars closed, overall church attendance rose dramatically.

Sadly, the results today's evangelists look for is how many people came to the alter, were slain in the spirit, got "touched" with holy laughter. You get the picture. Its all a sham, and a big part of today's charismatic/pentecostal leaders are in it for the money, living lavish lifestyles.

Todd Bently is leading another revival in Lakeland Florida. It would great if it would be different from the others, but reports indicate its following the same old pentecostal path as the Brownsville revival.

Really, we don't need another revival, we need a reformation. This wineskin of charismatic/pentecostalism is old and cracked.

Charismatics targeted as would-be Orange Revolutionaries?

RUSSIA: Charismatics targeted as would-be Orange Revolutionaries?

This article was published by F18News on: 14 February 2008
By Geraldine Fagan, Forum 18 News Service

In the run-up to Russia's 2 March presidential election, a Ukrainian-based church involved in that country's 2004 "Orange Revolution" has twice been the object of hostile attention by the Russian authorities, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. The Ukrainian founder of the Embassy of God's Moscow community was turned back from the Russian capital's Sheremetyevo Airport on 3 February. Pastor Aleksandyr Dzyuba believes he was barred for religious reasons. "For a long time Russia has been afraid of the Orange Revolution, and they connect me with it because I am a pastor of that church." FSB security service officers broke up an Embassy of God Bible school graduation ceremony in the Volga city of Tolyatti on Sunday 20 January. They interrogated all the church leaders present. "They asked us everything - where I'm from, what I teach, my link with the school, with the Orange Revolution," the church's Kiev-based bishop, Anatoli Belonozhko told Forum 18. The Orange Revolution wa s the issue which most interested the FSB officers according to another of those questioned, Pastor Ivan Semenets.

In the run-up to Russia's 2 March presidential election, the FSB security service have twice struck at a Kiev-based charismatic church due to its support for Ukraine's Orange Revolution, affected pastors have suggested to Forum 18 News Service. The Ukrainian founder of Embassy of God's Moscow community was deported from an airport in the Russian capital on 3 February, he told Forum 18. On 20 January an Embassy of God Bible school graduation ceremony in southern Russia was reportedly disrupted by the FSB. FSB representatives have denied involvement to Forum 18.

The Ukrainian capital Kiev's Embassy of God church - which claims 25,000 members - gave practical support to demonstrators during the country's 2004 Orange Revolution, the church's Nigerian founder, Pastor Sunday Adelaja, states on its website: "We got involved with the Orange Revolution because the communist people were trying to come back and they were dominating and we took all the people to the streets and they stood their ground that no we are not going to allow any oppression to come back." Pastor Adelaja was deported from Russia on 31 May 2006 (see F18News 7 June 2006 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=794).

The Ukrainian founder of Moscow's Embassy of God community was turned back from the Russian capital's Sheremetyevo Airport on 3 February, he told Forum 18 from Kiev on 12 February. Intending to lead Triumphant Zion's church's Sunday worship service, Pastor Aleksandr Dzyuba was instead told by border guards that he was barred according to their database: "One said I posed a threat to the Russian Federation, but wouldn't explain why."

After an hour's detention at the airport, Pastor Dzyuba was told his passport was with airline staff and would be returned in Kiev, "so I didn't run away." His passport returned unmarked, the pastor did not receive any documentation confirming deportation, he told Forum 18.

Pastor Dzyuba believes he was barred for religious reasons. "Through my own channels, I found out it was because I am a leader of Pastor Sunday's church. For a long time Russia has been afraid of the Orange Revolution, and they connect me with it because I am a pastor of that church."

With a valid Russian residency permit - Ukrainian citizens do not require visas - Pastor Dzyuba had been making similar monthly visits to Moscow since handing over leadership of Triumphant Zion church to a local pastor a year ago, he told Forum 18. Believing responsibility for his deportation lies with the FSB, he suggested that the timing of the incident could be due to Russia's imminent presidential election.

"We don't bar anyone from entering Russia," an FSB representative at Sheremetyevo Terminal 1, where Pastor Dzyuba was detained, insisted to Forum 18 on 13 February. "We don't deal with such things." He added that the Federal Migration Service was the responsible body.

The Federal Migration Service questioned why Forum 18 was turning to them on 13 February, however. "We aren't even at the border," a press spokesperson remarked. "It isn't us - it would be the Border Service."

A press spokesperson at the Border Service, which comes under the FSB, directed Forum 18 to its public relations department on 13 February. A spokesperson there insisted he did not have any information about Aleksandr Dzyuba's case and did not know where it could be found. "Look on Interfax [a Russian news agency]!" he exclaimed, before slamming the phone down.

12 FSB officers also broke up an Embassy of God Bible school graduation ceremony in the Volga city of Tolyatti on Sunday, 20 January, according to the church's Kiev-based bishop, Anatoli Belonozhko. After identifying themselves and showing an order to conduct a check-up from Samara Regional Public Prosecutor's Office, the FSB claimed that the school, diplomas and rental agreement for the hall where the event was taking place were all illegal, Bishop Belonozhko told Forum 18 from Kiev on 12 February. They then interrogated all the church leaders present and the hall's landlord, he added. "They asked us everything - where I'm from, what I teach, my link with the school, with the Orange Revolution."

The Orange Revolution was the issue which most interested the FSB representatives, suggested another of those interrogated, Pastor Ivan Semenets. While they also asked about the rented hall and diplomas, "any sensible person realises the FSB doesn't deal with that kind of stuff," he pointed out to Forum 18 on 13 February. At the end of the interrogation, he said, "they asked about our connection with Pastor Sunday's activity - were we planning an Orange Revolution?" Pastor Semenets was surprised by the officers' level of knowledge, and deduced that they must have an informer in the church. "They knew the names of all the pastors, elders, administrators, what they do, who visits from Ukraine, who advertised 'Civic Position', when the church was founded, when the diploma ceremony was to be."

"Civic Position" is a Russian-language book by Pastor Sunday Adelaja which "not only explains the importance of every believer playing a part in the reformation of society, but also shows how to do it."

A press spokesperson at Samara Regional Public Prosecutor's Office was initially doubtful that it had ordered the check-up when contacted by Forum 18 on 13 February. The Public Prosecutor's role is supervisory, she pointed out, and such a move would usually only follow a court ruling establishing illegal activity. After checking with relevant colleagues, she told Forum 18 that they knew nothing about it: "Try the FSB."

A spokesperson for Samara Regional FSB told Forum 18 on 13 February that he had no information about the check-up. He insisted that he would know if it had taken place, even if conducted by the local FSB in Tolyatti rather than his department.

Following the recent change of regime in Ukraine, concern has risen in Russia about Protestant influence in particular. Commenting on a local evangelical missionary initiative in the wake of the Orange Revolution, for example, a spokeswoman for Arkhangelsk Regional FSB maintained: "Experience shows that this type of religious project is usually used as a cover for activity by the secret services of foreign states" (see F18News 7 September 2005 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=644).

Faith Harvest, Pastor Ivan Semenets' Embassy of God church in Tolyatti, now faces prosecution for conducting commercial activity without a licence, he told Forum 18. A hearing at Samara Regional Arbitration Court has been set for 27 February. While the FSB officers maintained the church requires a licence for educational activity, the pastor rejects this, stressing that only existing members of the church are students. This is in line with the 1997 Religion Law's stipulation that an unregistered religious group has the right to teach its existing followers (Article 7, Part 2). Pastor Semenets also pointed out that an educational licence is required only by a professional religious educational institution seeking to have publicly recognised qualifications (Article 19). While the FSB officers were particularly displeased by the school's receipt of a 600-rouble (132 Norwegian Kroner, 17 Euros, 24 US Dollars) donation from each student, he remarked to Forum 18, "I told them th is doesn't even cover our costs."

Begun in May 2007, Faith Harvest's Bible school offers four-month weekend courses on church organisation, mission and social work. While the FSB confiscated its diplomas, a computer, posters, tests, enrolment documents and pastors' recommendations during the 20 January check-up, these have since been returned.

Confusion persists over what type of religious educational activity requires a state licence. Moscow-based religious rights lawyer Vladimir Ryakhovsky has maintained to Forum 18 that only educational institutions require licences for educational activity, a view broadly supported by Viktor Korolev of the Federal Registration Service. However, an informal Pentecostal Bible school in the Volga republic of Chuvashia was dissolved for being unlicenced in September 2007 (see F18News 15 November 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1048).

A charismatic Bible college in the Pacific region of Primorsky Krai was similarly shut down in 2003 (see F18News 21 April 2003 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=35).

Elsewhere, two Pentecostal congregations continue to resist threats to their church buildings. Told on 30 January to evacuate their church within five days to make way for the construction of a music theatre, members of Astrakhan's Jesus Christ Church vowed to go on hunger strike should eviction occur, Pastor Aleksandr Kalinin of the church confirmed to Forum 18 on 12 February. The congregation's stance proved effective, he believes, as on 11 February the regional authorities offered a good quality building as compensation, to which the church has orally agreed. "We decided on a hunger strike as we couldn't have asserted our rights otherwise," Pastor Kalinin explained to Forum 18. "No one would have listened."

Pastor Kalinin previously complained to Forum 18 that the authorities had been offering compensation premises far inferior to the church's present building, a former cinema in a central city park (see F18News 30 October 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1040).

Despite ongoing fire safety, tax and other inspections in a similar case, Word of Life Pentecostal Church in Kaluga continues to occupy its building, Pastor Albert Ratkin of the church told Forum 18 on 12 February. Bought in 2002, the church's building and land are now situated in the middle of a shopping mall construction site (see F18News 30 October 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1040).

In Russia, threats to demolish places of worship are most usually encountered by Muslims and Protestants. However, the state authorities may also stop other confessions - including the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) - from retaining or acquiring worship premises (see F18News 23 October 2007 http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=1038).

Kingdom Business Journal

Once in a while, I come across a site or blog that really catches my attention. Today was no different, while I was surfing about Kingdom principles and business, I came upon Kingdom Business Journal. According to founder Rich Forster, Kingdom Business Journal's purpose is to promote, teach and share Kingdom principles for success and ministry in the Marketplace.

I couldn't agree more with Forster's purpose, more emphasis should be placed upon practical Christianty and how that fleshes out in the marketplace. Afterall, according to Forster, only 2% of North American Christians are in a paid position at a church.

With more than 20 contributing authors, Kingdom Business Journal will certainly have articles and resources to help you and your day-to-day life in the marketplace. I'm adding KBJ to my list of favorites, I believe this site will be a hit in the long run.

Kingdom Mentality in Eastern Europe

The church in the Western hemisphere has lost much of it’s power and influence. I’ve been working a number of years in Eastern Europe, specifically Ukraine where it is much different there. The evangelical church had a significant impact on the outcome of the Orange Revolution of Ukraine in late 2004.

The main difference between the East and West is this: the leadership in the East and consequently the members, have a Kingdom mentality. Whereas the church in the west has what I call a “box” mentality. Let me elaborate. Everything happens within the “box”, or 4 walls of the church. Practically all forms of ministry take place within the “box”, therefore, only a small percentage of the membership are actively involved in ministry. They, for the most part, are professional ministers. The rest are required to be faithful at filling their spot in the pews…and do nothing as pertaining to Biblical ministry. For example, personal witnessing has digressed to “inviting people to church”.

From my personal observation, the leaders in the East are adept at equiping the membership as ministers and empowering them to complete their God-given ministries. We are all ministers: Ephesians 4:11-12. The leadership are to equip us, the members, to do the work of the minstry.

In the Eastern European churches, very few own their own church buildings. After the fall of Communism, many people were getting saved through the efforts of western missionaries and the few believers who resided within Eastern Europe. They began meeting in homes and renting public theaters and halls. Even today, almost 20 years after the collapse of the Berlin wall, very few evangelical churches own their own facility. Because of this, the leadership never cultivated the mentality we have here in the West about church buildings. We “go” to church. They consider themselves “the” church.

Back to Kingdom mentality. The western church is infected with “church mentality”. Everything is about the church. Church growth, church finances, etc. etc. Jesus didn’t come preaching, saying, “The church is at hand.” No, He said, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” John the Baptist preached the same message and so did the first generation believers. The church is the agent that is to extend and manifest the Kingdom of God here on earth, just like Jesus Christ did when He walked this earth. If the Head of the church preached “things pertaining to the Kingdom”, then so should the Body.

The focus should be the Kingdom, not the church.

But now, the Eastern European church is wanting to help the Western church regain what has been lost. It will take a real shift in our thinking in order to regain power and influence we once had. One of the pastors I know and work with, Sunday Adelaja, is kicking off in February 2008 what I call a movement, sharing what they've learned. You can read about it on his website, ChuchShift.

Developing a Kingdom Mentality, Part I

I was speaking with a relatively new Christian the other day about how to develope his spiritual life. In the course of the conversation, I explained to him it was most important to learn to worship God in the privacy of his home first.

He asked, "But I thought we are supposed to worship God publicly?"

I responded, "We are, but private worship comes first. You develop intimacy with God in your 'closet', then when you're in public, worship will be natural to you. Many people are embarrassed to worship God in a public setting because they are not intimate with Him in private."

Herein lies a great principle of the Kingdom of God. It is the key to progressing spiritually and developing a Kingdom mentality. Learn to do everything in secret, don't let your left hand know what the right hand is doing. Don't blow a trumpet, heralding all your good works to all men. Keep it secret, just between you and God.

I gave this young man three disciplines to master:
1. Learn to worship God privately.
2. Consistently read the Word of God and faith filled books about God.
3. Learn to give consistently in secret. The amount is not important, but the attitude of the heart is.

If this young man will practice these three disciplines, he will make much progress in the Kingdom of God.

Things Done In Secret

I received a letter today from a local ministry I used to be affiliated with. After explaining how many good things they were doing in a certain foreign country, the ministry leader explained they needed $10,000 per month to keep this good work going. Enclosed with the letter was a self addressed offering envelope from the ministry that I could send my donation in.

I pondered the letter for awhile. I thought of one of the teachings of Jesus, who said, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing so that your giving may be in secret.Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:3-4 NIV

Somewhere along the way, we've gotten away from the principals of the Kingdom of God. Our way is to tell the world how good a job were doing blessing the less fortunate and, by the way, send us an offering so we can keep it up.

In the Kingdom of God, the way is to do things in secret, don't let a soul know what you're up to. God will see it though and He will reward you. You won't have to send appeal letters or beg over the TV screen.

Pastors in Repentance

As pastors and ministry leaders within the local church we have believed and operated with the mindset that all ministries were church related and that they were to be under its government and control. We have not understood the Kingdom of God or how it was to manifest on the earth. As a result we have used people to build our churches and ministries. In doing so we have not honored those called by God to minister in commerce, media, arts, government, social services and most other occupations outside the influence of the organized church. If individuals could not or would not serve our vision for our churches, we undervalued them as less important - but accepting them as sources of income.

Most of these people have been ignored and as a result they have become discouraged and disconnected. Many have left in frustration, anger and disillusionment, believing somehow that they were less spiritual. Others have given up trying to fit themselves into the limited space within the local church structure and ministry.

We have attempted to make business executives into intercessors, sales people into children.s nursery workers, business administrators into Sunday school superintendents, and so the list goes on and on.
As pastors and ministry leaders we want to tell you that we have been wrong. What we have taught and demonstrated for generations within the church has been shallow and selfish. We are sincerely sorry, and we come in repentance for our bad attitudes, wrong beliefs, and our poor behavior towards you. Please forgive us.

We honor you as Kingdom people . called by God to the marketplace. We believe you are ordained by God to occupy and to transform your sphere of influence and the territory to which you have been called. We release honor, blessing and favor on your life and personal calling to the marketplace. We as pastors and ministry leaders are prepared to stand with you and support you in your God given ministries. You have dreams ordained by God. It is our privilege and heart.s desire to call them forth, and to see you fully established in the destiny for your life.

Pastors and Ministry Leaders of Sonoma County, CA
(Facilitated by Pastors. Prayer and Ministry Alliance of Sonoma County)

Kingdom Mentality vs. Church Mentality, Part 1

*** CAUTION, DO NOT READ IF YOU'RE FAINT OF HEART ***
John the Baptist came preaching the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ, came preaching the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. The Gen 1 church (1st generation) preached the Kingdom of God.

Why did Apostle Paul, who wrote more than half the new testament, fail to write one single letter about the seven steps to church growth? Why did it take more than 1900 years for a pastor from southern California to come up with the revelation of the "purpose driven church"? Why do many pastors, especially those in the United States, preach church growth?

It's because they have little or no concept of the Kingdom of God. It's not really their fault, the seminaries and Bible Schools that taught them failed them in communicating the truth about the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Church mentality involves thinking everything spiritual revolves around the church, particularly the church organization of any pastor infected with this mentality. Programs are developed to grow and sustain the church. Members are recruited to help the pastor and leadership to keep the church wheels greased and rolling.

Monies are collected to finance the various programs and pay the professional clergy. Lay people are recruited to work for free. Most supporting staff, secretaries, assistants, etc., work for much less than if they had regular jobs in the marketplace. Pastors of mega-churches make hundreds of times the average salary of their membership.

Pastors who are infected with this mentality are often jealous of other pastors and churches in their area. Said pastors are often very competitive with the competing churches in their area. Said pastors are rarely in unity with other local pastors. They only fellowhip with other pastors of their denomination or ministerial alliance.

This mentality is often communicated to the members of these church driven churches. Often, said members try to recruit members from other churches to "their" church. Why? because they are convinced their church is better than the other competing churches.

Pentecostal and charismatic churches often obtain their church growth from denominational churches who do not "preach the full gospel" or have little to no emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. "Hungry" believers from these churches often leave to attend full gospel churches. Proselyting is allowed, even encouraged, in the effort to have the largest church in town.

Believers who leave their denominational churches for the "freedom of the Spirit" often have to learn the new discipline of shepherding and being "under a spiritual covering". These new believers must learn the pastor is their shepherd and he knows best for them. Second discipline to learn is you must be "under" a more mature and spiritual believer. This usually means your pastor, who can also be a self proclaimed prophet or apostle. being "under" someone else is a two-fold concept, believe and obey. Believe everything they say, question nothing, and obey everything they tell you to do without hesitation. Not too hard.

Another phenomena is "having a spiritual father". Sometimes a leader will decide they are your new spiritual father, other times you get to pick your spiritual father. If your present spiritual father falls, because of a gay lover, other sexual sins or drug/alcohol use, then its quite alright to search for a new daddy.

Here's the bottom line on having a "spiritual father": the "child" rides on the coat tail of his "spiritual father's" fame and popularity. By being connected to the more famous ministry, the lesser is hoping to increase their own fame. Honestly, I've not seen of too many "fathers" seeking "spiritual children". It's usually vice-versa.

Having the largest church in town is a great honor for the pastor. Members who attend the largest church in town can take great pride in this accomplishment. Church pastors and members who are not from the largest church in town are allowed to criticize, backbite and gossip about the largest church.

Sometimes, churches infected with this mentality have bitter disagreements within their memberships. When this happens, usually a group within the church gets mad and leaves said church. Often, the angry group who left will start another church. The non-believers in the community look on this with sheer amazement. Its further confirmation to the non-believer not to attend church.

Often the bitter disagreement is over the color of the new carpet or pews that are going to be installed.

Does any of this sound familiar? Do you know a pastor or church with this mentality? Or worse yet, have you been a part of a church like this? Don't despair. There is hope yet.

Kingdom blessings

Catherine Marshall writes:

"If we are to believe Jesus, his Father and our Father is the God of all life and his caring and provision include a sheepherder's lost lamb, a falling sparrow, a sick child, the hunger pangs of a crowd of four thousand, the need for wine at a wedding feast, and the plight of professional fishermen who toiled all night and caught nothing. These vignettes, scattered through the Gospels like little patches of gold dust, say to us, 'No creaturely need is outside the scope or range of prayer.'"

You don't have to go very deep into Scripture to discover that God loves to provide for his creation. The Garden of Eden was a place of abundance, and it was said, "the gold of that land is good" (Gen. 2:11). Consider the description given at the end of the Bible of our eternal home: "The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass" (Rev. 21:21).

Many teach that God's provision is for "spiritual things" and not the physical. Not so. The abundance of scripture plainly show God provides both the spiritual and physical alike.

Of course, we must keep our priorities right, for the love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Timothy 6:10. No one in their right mind disputes that. But it's just as wrong to throw out any physical blessings from God because a few abuse the doctrine.

There is a good and dark side to money. Being generous and under His Lordship will protect you from the dark side of money.

An Ordinary Life

How would you define your life, ordinary or extraordinary?

Dwight L. Moody was a poorly educated, unordained, shoe salesman who felt God's call to preach the gospel. Early one morning he and some friends gathered in a hay field for a season of prayer, confession, and consecration. His friend Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him."

Moody was deeply moved by these words. He later went to a meeting where Charles Spurgeon was speaking. In that meeting Moody recalled the words spoken by his friend, "The world had yet to see!...with and for and through and in!...A man!" Varley meant any man! Varley didn't say he had to be educated, or brilliant, or anything else. Just a man! Well, by the Holy Spirit in him, he'd be one of those men. Then suddenly, in that high gallery, he saw something he'd never realized before. It was not Mr. Spurgeon, after all, who was doing that work; it was God. And if God could use Mr. Spurgeon, why should He not use the rest of us, and why should we not all just lay ourselves at the Master's feet and say to Him, "Send me! Use me!"

D.L. Moody was an ordinary man who sought to be fully and wholly committed to Christ. God did extraordinary things through this ordinary man. Moody became one of the great evangelists of modern times. He founded a Bible college, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, which sends out men and women trained in service for God.

You may consider yourself just an ordinary man or woman, GOOD! God wants to do extraordinary things through your life. Today, believe that God will do great things in you and through you for His Kingdom.

Kings and God's Favor

The following message comes from John Garfield's Releasing Kings newsletter Even though it's rather lengthy, it's a great read and will help your walk with God.

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Genesis 6:8-9

Finding Favor - Finding God's favor is not a great mystery available only to a few. It's for you too. Noah had three ingredients that brought the favor of God (Genesis 6:8-9)

1. He was righteous - right standing with God. Maybe not perfect, but forgiven

2. Blameless among the people - He was honest, likable, productive... a good citizen

3. He walked with God - not "for God"; not "followed God"; but "with God"

Walking "With" God - Most of us have a vague sense that God is far to busy to go for a walk with us. We also think of "His ways as far above our ways" so that he wouldn't be interested in any of our inputs - we're just supposed to hear, trust, and obey. Our obedience language is couched in the priority of "following he leading of the Holy Spirit." Folks like Noah and Moses did serve and obey, but their relationship went a lot farther.

Walking with God implies a knowledge of what He's doing and engaging our initiative in co-laboring with Him to make it happen. The reason most people miss out on this level is because they are passive... they assume they should wait until God tells them what to do.

I often hear the phrase, "I don't know what God's doing?" The answer is nothing! He's waiting for you to do something. He does have a plan and he moves to empower us as soon as we get on board and implement the details for our area of responsibility. Walking with God is a lot different than waiting on God. One works and sees fruit; the other sits and wonders why God doesn't move.

Presumption - Until recently, I've carried a large concern over getting ahead of God and falling into presumptuous sin. The classic sermon illustration is: Abraham and Sarah don't see the promise of Abraham's offspring multiplying like the stars of heaven so Sarah volunteers Hagar and they make something happen. Now I've always heard that this was one of the onerous sins of presumption committed in scripture. But listen to what God has to say about it. Although it was God's plan to extend the covenant through Isaac, he also blesses Ishmael (the product of their initiative). I'm not saying Sarah had a great idea; I'm only suggesting that God didn't categorize it as sin. In fact, he seems to expand the tent of covenant blessing to include Ishmael.

Then the angel of the LORD told her, "Go back to your mistress and submit to her." 10 The angel added, "I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count." Gen 16:9-10 NIV

And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. Genesis 17:19-20 NIV

Bottom line - God loves your initiative and willingness to co-labor with his vision so much that a few mistakes don't really bother Him. On the other hand, doing nothing does bother Him... he doesn't put his favor on passive people.

Jacob's Initiative - Jacob and his mother push initiative to ethical outer limits in contending for the favor of God. However, God's judgment ends up more on Esau than Jacob. Again, God loves those that cooperate with his plan even in their imperfections.

Jacob was also the one that wrestled all night seeking the favor of God (Genesis 32:26-30). We're a little fuzzy on who it was, but Jacob clearly thinks it was God himself. Here's the crux of the question, "Do you want God's favor enough to wrestle Him for it?" The answer is what separates those that have God's favor from those that are waiting for it.

Moses - Moses takes this amazing initiative even farther. In Exodus 32-34 God is so mad at the Israelites he's ready to start over again with just Moses. However, Moses took the liberty to "seek the favor of God" and... reasoned Him out of it. That's a pretty high level of partnership in walking with God. It didn't happen once either; it happened several times. Intercession can change certain aspects of God's intent.

Kings Walk with God - Here's what people that have a significant level of God's favor on their lives look like. They don't subscribe to "God helps those who help themselves." What they really believe is "God helps those that help Him build the Kingdom." Once they understand the big picture of what God is doing, they jump in with both feet and try everything at their disposal to make it happen.

Moses' mother didn't just throw him in the river. She put him in a water-proof basket where pharaoh's wife would find him under the watchful eye of his sister... who recommend mom for wet nurse duty. Hi level of initiative and it worked!

Joseph didn't just wait for God's deliverance. He used every natural and spiritual gift at his disposal to work his way up to effect the plan of God. It wasn't an accident of God's providence; it was everything Joseph could do plus God's anointing.

Hezekiah became ill and Isaiah prophesied his death in no uncertain terms (thus saith the Lord). Amazingly, however, Hezekiah still appeals to God for 15 more years and before Isaiah has left the court he returns to reverse his prophecy (2Kgs 20).

David prayed that Bathsheba's child would not die because he knew there was a possibility God might extend mercy. The Lord didn't answer David's prayer but that didn't keep a man after God's own heart from asking.

Our initiative has far more influence over circumstances and God than we've realized. You already know what God is doing... building his Church, the great commission, releasing Kings, etc. The next question is, "What are you doing?" and God is the one asking.

Understanding the Kingdom of God

Dr. C. Peter Wagner said, "For the last twenty or thirty years, the theme of the kingdom of God has been much more prominent among Christian leaders than previously. We have begun to understand that God's kingdom is not confined to the four walls of the local church. It exists wherever men and women acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and King.

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke17:21). Jesus also told us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." If we take this literally, our goal must be nothing less than the transformation of society. The principles and values of the kingdom must be reflected in human society to the highest degree possible."

The Gospel of the Kingdom

After Jesus' death there was a huge emphasis on the Kingdom or the “Gospel of the Kingdom.” That was the primary message of Good news… not just the death and burial (that we identify with in salvation and baptism) but the resurrection life where we live out our Christian life.

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3

But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:12-13

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," Acts 14:22

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. Acts 19:8

They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Acts 28:23

Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 28:31

What’s the message of the Kingdom?

1. You have an inheritance! - There’s an inheritance for us in “This Life.” We do have to be saved, etc. but the glass is “half full” – actually it’s a cup running over. The Kingdom is much more than a life of duty and sacrifice and then eternal life after we die.

"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

2. You have power! - Once we’re saved God equips us for the “work of the ministry” through our local church. We start co-laboring with Christ and doing the “works” outside the church in the Kingdom.

I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:12-14

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Cor 4:20

3. You have God's Heart! - God’s imprinted us with his own heart so that our heart’s desires match His. It’s His goal to give us the desires of our heart.

Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:4

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

4. We're winners! - The real emphasis of the “Gospel” seen in its Biblical entirety is not just death, burial, repentance, surrender, trials, and persecution (we don’t deny any of those things); it’s also being victorious overcomers, healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out demons.

As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Matt 10:7-8

5. We Bless Others! - The Gospel of the Kingdom also means learning to receive and use wealth for ministry. We’re called to bless all nations.

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. Deut 8:17-18

"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

And the good news is... Instead of just warning people how hard it is to be a Christian and how bad they are, tell them how good Jesus is and how blessed they will be by their inheritance in the Kingdom. That's when your presentation of the Gospel will really be balanced. That my friend, is the Gospel (good news) of the Kingdom!

Work as Ministry

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24

An important concept of the Kingdom of God is your work is your ministry.

Os Hillman said,

"The Bible is very clear that the purpose for our work life is to reflect Christ in and through our lives. It is an attitude that says our work is to have an overriding "ministry" objective to it. Our work is our worship to God. These two words even originate from the same Hebrew word, avodah."

Somewhere along the line, Christians separated the sacred for the secular. In ancient Israel, Jehovah God occupied the center of the Israelites life. The tabernacle Moses erected was the central point of the Israeli camp, all the tribes were camped around the tabernacle.

Today, Christians "go" to church once or twice a week. They do not understand the church is not a place, it's who they are. Apostle Paul's revelation the church was the Body of Christ needs to be rediscovered, especially in the Western Church.

Once that revelation has been rediscovered, Christians will realize they no longer have a "secular" life and a "spiritual" life. The two go together, rather than being neatly divided into two separate lives.

Then Christians will be able to see their work life as an extension of His life in them. Christians they will be impacting those around them in the work place.

Let the Lord live in and through your work life today.