Global Regime ChangeThis week we celebrate a hostile takeover. Now most people don't typically associate the birth of Jesus with a term usually referencing corporate business wheeling and dealing. However, the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem was very much a divinely orchestrated power play to return control of the earth to its rightful shareholders. Don't get it twisted. Although he showed up as sweet baby Jesus, he arrived in the earthly boardroom with an agenda of eternal proportions. He came to implement a regime change. He came to restore a Kingdom that was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. He came to snatch back dominion from our common enemy and return it to those whom God had intended to have it in the first place. And although he may not have come with a sword-wielding, horse-riding army (that will be the next time), nevertheless he came with unquestionable power and authority. The Government Shall Rest Upon His Shoulders"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. Not only did Jesus come to reestablish his Kingdom on earth, he came to re-delegate the responsibility of running that Kingdom to us. As executors of his earthly estate, his expectation is that we will expand his Kingdom exponentially before he returns for his final eternal rule. Of course this Kingdom expansion is not about gaining more land, it's about growing his family through spiritually transformed lives. Fortunately for us Jesus has already done the heavy lifting. His marvelous victory on the cross conquered ALL of our enemies and resulted in us becoming royal heirs of an infinite, immeasurable inheritance. He made us kings and priests unto God. He made us governmental ambassadors with divine rights. He gave us everything we need for life in godliness. He gave us every spiritual blessing. He gave us powerful weapons to claim our victory. And he gave us a comforter and counselor in the Holy Spirit to direct our decisions and empower us to manifest his promises. Time for a Personal Regime ChangeAs wise investors, if you want to profit from this heaven-directed hostile takeover all you have to do is receive what Jesus has already done. You don't have to be in the 1%. You don't have to be rich or have the inside scoop on the IPO. You don't have to know the right people or work for the right company. All you have to do is receive the gift that's been freely given to you. And he promised that the profits you receive from that transaction will be exceedingly and abundantly far beyond all that you can ask think or imagine.
If Jesus is not the CEO of your life it's time for a personal regime change. You will know if he's your real CEO based on how you treat other people, the content of your thoughts, how you spend your time, how you apply your talents, and how you spend your money. If you don't acknowledge and obey him in all of your ways he's not the CEO. And although he was hostile in taking control of the earth back from the enemy, he won't be hostile in taking control of your life. He will only do that with your permission. The greatest profit you can receive in your life is to allow Jesus to become your personal CEO. And now is the perfect time for a change. Now that the election is over, it's back to school for Christian entrepreneurs. Why? Because I believe there are some lessons that God wants to remind Christians of related to our misplaced trust (and fears) in people, including presidents. And based on the election results, there are almost as many people who are elated that Barack Obama won as there are that are disappointed that Mitt Romney lost.
Regardless of which side of the fence you are on, this country is still facing some daunting economic challenges. High unemployment. Slow high-caliber job creation. Fiscal cliff. Foreclosures. Housing values. Skyrocketing healthcare costs. Child poverty. Do you see a pattern here? All of these major issues are directly or indirectly related to economics and finances. Economics and finances are not just your concern, they are God's business. He is interested in your spiritual, physical, and financial welfare. Unfortunately, many times we do not seek His wisdom, will, or ways when it comes to our money, which means we do not get His results. The current financial challenges faced by this country and the world are tied directly to the fact that we have been doing things our own way without God's input. As a society, we want God's favor and blessings without submission to His will. We often choose to operate in business with our eyes focused on the bottom line instead of our eyes focused beyond the hills where our help truly comes from (Psalm 121:1). We are not the first people to make this mistake. Jesus' own parents nearly fell prey to our human tendency to move in a direction different from God's. Early on in Jesus' life, Joseph and Mary realized that if they didn't understand or follow God's plan, they would miss out on what He was doing. Luke 2:41-52 reads, “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.” And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Also read A Kingdom Perspective on Politics This story has some powerful lessons for business leaders and our society as a whole as it relates to us recovering our financial health and stability. Let's look at a few of these lessons. 1) Make Sure God Is With You Like many of us have done in business when we were too busy to focus on eternal things, Joseph and Mary lost track of God's Son while on the way to their planned destination. They assumed he was with him although he was not. This happens to us to when we make choices and decisions in our business while excluding God from the process. When we have not dedicated our business to the advancement of God's agenda, we lose track of what God is doing and what He desires from us. Like parents who have just realized their child is missing, it is a scary feeling to look up and realize God is not with you like you previously assumed. Many people in this country are fearful right now because there is economic chaos and confusion in the land. They may or may not realized that at some point in the past God was left out of the boardroom, Congress, White House, Wall Street, city councils, school boards, classrooms, and other significant places where they thought they could handle their challenges and opportunities better without Him than with Him. Furthermore, many people mistakenly thought He would be ok with only being God on Sunday in a church building. We are now eating the financial fruit of that kind of thinking. 2) Look For God In The Right Places As the story continues, when Joseph and Mary finally realized that Jesus was missing, they went looking for him in all the wrong places. They sought Jesus among relatives and acquaintances who had no knowledge of where he was (Check your relationships. Are they pulling you closer to or further away from Jesus?). It took them three days to find him in the temple. Why didn't they find him sooner? Because the last place they looked for him should have been the first place. This is reflective of many people today who are looking for answers to this financial mess that we're in. They are looking to Wall Street and they do not have the answers. They are looking to the White House and they do not have the answers. They are looking to economic “experts” and they do not have the answers. They are looking to radio talk show hosts and they do not have the answers. They are even looking to pastors, and unfortunately many of them do not have the answers either because they are representative of point #1 (God is not with them). The answers to our financial problems will be found in the Word of God. Jesus was found in the house of God, teaching from the Scriptures. The answers to poverty, profitability, healthcare, housing, unemployment, and all other economic issues are tied to one Source. God gives answers to those who diligently seek Him (Psalm 84:11, Hebrews 11:6). 3) Operate Your Business With A Kingdom Purpose When Joseph and Mary finally found Jesus, he was in his Father's house, engaged in his Father's business. It is very interesting that Jesus would use the words “about My Father's business” to describe what he was doing in the temple. Jesus knew his Kingdom assignment from an early age. He was operating in his purpose before he was even old enough to drive. He was doing Kingdom business at an age where all the other kids were still playing with toys. As a Christian entrepreneur or business leader you must understand that God's mandate for you in the marketplace is different than everyone else's. Money should not be your primary focus. The advancement of God's business should be your obsession. Your business is a platform for God's purposes. He wants to use your business savvy and skills to demonstrate His glory. He wants to give you influence and affluence to use as tools to shine your light before people that they may see your good works and glorify Him as a result. When you are focused on God's purpose for your business, you realize that your business is an answer to someone's prayer. Your business can be a job generator. Your business can be a solutions provider. Your business can be a poverty destroyer. Your business can be an economic engine. Make the advancement of God's Kingdom your #1 business priority and watch Him blow your mind with opportunities that far exceed your expectations (Matthew 6:33, Ephesians 3:20). 4) Refocus Your Business To Do What God Is Blessing Ideas are a dime a dozen. However, ideas that work are extremely valuable right now. The financial experts are scrambling to come up with strategies and plans that will reverse the negative economic trends that are currently plaguing our economy. Regrettably, we often fail to realize that God is not bewildered or baffled by our present circumstances. He already has all the solutions we need before we even ask Him the question. We must get to place where we are like the sons of Issachar, “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). Our attention needs to be on doing what God is blessing, instead of continuing to ask God to bless what we're doing. Based on the current environment, some things are going to work and others will not. How do you know if you are in the right lane? Ask God. One thing you must keep in mind is that God only reveals His deep secrets to His sons and friends through His Spirit (John 15:15, 1 Corinthians 2:10-16). If you do not have an intimate relationship with God, do not expect Him to reveal fresh ideas, key concepts, and ground breaking inventions that will prosper you in the midst of an economic famine like He did for Isaac (Genesis 26). If you are too busy to consult God in your business dealings, then you are too busy. If you are too focused on transactions rather than getting transmissions from His Spirit, your vision is blurred and your blessings will be blocked. If you are too anxious to wait on God to make critical decisions, then you are rushing to get into trouble. If you are too fearful to trust God for your livelihood, then you will be stuck in a position of paralysis. No matter who the President is, God will allow your business to prosper only when you are doing business that He is blessing. How can you as a Christian entrepreneur demonstrate more of a commitment to keep God in the middle of their personal economy? Please leave your comments below... "... choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." ~ Joshua 24:15 *Special Note: Watch a live stream of my Passion in Action interview with guest Pastor Matthew Brown at www.InternetFabulous.TV As the Presidential Election of 2012 draws closer there are so many choices to make: Barack Obama vs Mitt Romney. Democrats vs Republicans. Liberals vs Conservatives. These choices aren't as easy to make as they may seem on the surface when viewed from a Kingdom perspective. Many Christians take sides with their favorite candidates for reasons that sometimes fall outside the bounds of how we should judge candidates based on Biblical criteria. God's agenda is often left out of the conversation by those who fight for their choice selections. And it's not as easy as looking at just one or two divisive issues, such as abortion or gay marriage. Other issues such as poverty, healthcare, justice, foreign policy, the environment, and others are those which God communicated His standards and expectations for us throughout the Bible. A passage in Joshua 5 gives a small glimpse as to how God deals with human conflicts, such as political battles. General Joshua was preparing to lead the Hebrews into war against Jericho when an angel showed up on the scene. Joshua asked him whether he was a friend or foe. The angel's response was "Neither, but as commander of the Lord's army I have now come." He then commanded Joshua to take off his sandals, because he was standing on holy ground. Joshua quickly complied (Joshua 5:13-15). The lessons we can learn from this account is significant, because they demonstrate to us that God's agenda always comes first. The angel wasn't there to help Joshua's plan to destroy Jericho. He came to help Joshua fulfill God's plan to get His children to their promise land, and Jericho was in the way. Joshua recognized this, and we also need to recognize the things God is trying to accomplish in the earth and who/what needs to get out of His way. Another political Biblical example to consider is King Saul. The people wanted a king, but God didn't want them to have a king, because He knew where that would lead. However, He allowed them their choice, but they ultimately suffered for it. So how does this relate to our politics today? I'm glad you asked. The responsible thing to do as a Christian is to view all candidates and issues from Biblical perspective, not from the biased perspective of a party agenda or platform. Any time you assume one political party has a corner on God's agenda then you're in error. And any time you relate to a political party or racial identity more than how you relate to being a Kingdom citizen you're headed down the wrong path. Jesus identified with his Jewish heritage, but he never let his ethnicity keep him from dealing with his own people in truth. God is just as concerned about aborted babies as He is about people living in poverty. He is just as concerned about healthy families built on the Biblical definition of marriage as He is about people not being stuck in oppressive cycles and systems of welfare. He expects people not to be lazy and use the gifts and talents He gave them, but He also expects us to utilize a system of justice that is moral, ethical, and fair to all people not just those with money. He is just as concerned about wars and famine as He is with people getting equal access to the healthcare resources they need to live high-quality lives. God is not a conservative. God is not a liberal (other than how He loves). God is not a capitalist. God is not a socialist. God is not a communist. God is God and no man-made political party or economic system can define Him. The common denominator in all this is that God is passionate about all people and their well-being. And He's against anyone or any thing that hurts, oppresses, manipulates, or marginalizes any of those He created. I'm not writing to tell you who to vote for. I'm writing to encourage you how to vote. Christians should vote with a Kingdom-consciousness. With the Holy Spirit's leading, choose the candidates who most closely align with God's overall plan for this planet. So when election day comes, just make sure you're voting for God. What are you thoughts about how Christian should engage politics? Subscribe to Get Your Free ebook and Newsletter!The Kingdom of God is advancing in the marketplace and He is using influential leaders to mentor others. Bishop T.D. Jakes and a host of other Christian leaders are descending on Atlanta November 15-16 to teach their God-inspired business ideas to current and aspiring Christian entrepreneurs. Conquer Atlanta is going to be a very special experience. It's very rare that this many Christian business leaders gather in one place to equip other Christian business leaders. Business should not be viewed by Christians as a secular activity, but a sacred opportunity to influence and impact people both naturally and spiritually. Christians can be anointed to excel in business thereby bringing glory to God in areas where He is often excluded. God can use you just as significantly in your profession as He can in a pulpit. If you believe that God has called you into business, you need to hear from those with a similar calling. If you believe God has called you into full-time ministry, you need to hear from those who have learned how to leverage their calling in ministry and the marketplace. Don't take this opportunity for granted to learn directly from some of the wisest voices in the Body of Christ. Click here to register for this once-in-a-lifetime event... Subscribe to Get Your Free ebook and Newsletter!After being on hiatus for about 6 months, I am excited to announced that Passion in Action is relaunching Thursday, October 11th! Our new partnership with Nebo Media Group (creator of Brotha Online Magazine and others), will allow us to get more creative and strategic in bringing you insightful interviews with influential guests who will motivate you to turn your passion in action.
Our first show this season will be "Double Platinum", because we will livestream musical artist Lisa McClendon and her husband, pastor and motivational speaker Marcus Brailsford. So I'm sure you're asking where can you watch this incredible show? We livestream online Thursdays at 7pm est on InternetFabulous.TV. Also, while you're watching you can send us questions and comments, which we can respond to during the show. Or you can watch past and present shows on demand at your convenience. Either way you're going to get some great information to help you move forward in fulfilling the life calling that God has for you! More about Passion in Action... Passion in Action is an Internet TV show that ignites Christians for purposeful, passionate, and prosperous living. Believing that changing the world starts with changing one life at a time, we promote people, businesses, organizations and events that serve to empower, educate, enrich, enhance, and equip others to thrive on purpose in every area of life. Learn more at www.realpassioninaction.com. Revelation 1:6 states, "And hath made us kings and priest unto God…" Dual Domination is a concept in which Christians learn strategies of how to dominate in both the ministry and the marketplace. No more are the days in which we are only good at the ministry or everyone has to go into full time ministry to fill successful. Dual Domination teaches how we can have joint ownership in both realms without anything being watered down. Kingdom Business U. Dual Domination Entrepreneurship Boot Camp focuses on the following areas:
Immediate Benefits:
KBU Facilitators:Paul Wilson, Jr., President of Kingdom Business University, is a "Dream Catalyst" and Marketplace Pastor for leaders and entrepreneurs. He equips leaders with creative, faith-based strategies to flourish spiritually and professionally, while operating from several multi-media platforms, including TV show host, inspirational speaker, and stimulating writer. He is the author of the life purpose igniter “Dream B.I.G. in 3D: How to Pursue a Bold, Innovative God-Inspired Life!” He is also the host of Passion in Action, a motivational and educational faith-based Internet TV show for social entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community change agents. Learn more about Paul at www.paulwilsonjr.com. From the classroom to the boardroom, Alton Jamison, Kingdom Businss U. Chief Operations Officer, is the living embodiment of making it against all odds. Alton’s unique style of speaking, his personal story of triumph, and his innovative presentations separates him from the ordinary motivational speaker. His life models his teachings and he has been on a pursuit to making this world a better place for more than a decade. A former successful engineer in Corporate America, Alton is a now a full time professional speaker and entrepreneur. Prepare to be blown away and experience why Alton is one of the country’s most dynamic speakers. Learn more about Alton at www.altonjamison.com. Teaching specialties include strategic planning, social media, and marketplace ministry. Rev. Perry L. Austin is the Founder and Overseer of W.O.W. Gospel Ministries, Kingdom Technology Alliance, and The Kingdom Culture Connection Movement (KCC Movement). He has been an effective leader for over 20 years within business and ministry. He has a passion for helping people increase their potential by empowering them with biblical principles; as well as concepts and precepts to increase their quality of life. Mr. Austin is a man of many talents and has been successful in many areas of business. Known as a “Team Builder” he has built businesses in the technology and healthcare industries. His first company was a small business called Shore Computers, a Dell authorized dealer, made $100,000 in their first year of business. He currently operates a small consulting firm, named AE Consultants, whose mission is to develop teams in the business marketing arena by helping leaders to focus on the people, not just the money. For more information about the Dual Domination Boot Camp please text "KBU" to 55469.
"If an ax is blunt and the edge isn't sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success." - Ecclesiastes 10:10 With all the challenges that entrepreneurs are facing today, we desperately need God-inspired, Biblically-based strategies to continue to grow our businesses. Kingdom Business U. is committed to providing top-notch educational experiences that give Christian entrepreneurs, non-profits, and churches the spiritual strategies and practical tools you need to succeed in spite of what's happening in the economy or community around you. These dynamic Boot Camps will focus on two critical areas for entrepreneurs and non-profits - finances and marketing. Our expert KBU faculty along with some special guests will teach you how to use the most recent innovative concepts and resources in finance and marketing to get maximum results for your business or ministry. Click each of the links below to learn more about the upcoming Boot Camps:
Don't miss these great learning opportunities to exponentially grow your business, ministry, or non-profit!
Contact us today at (678) 310-3017 or info@biznovations.com for special group rates for your church or organization. Do you think of God as creative? It amazes me how some Christian entrepreneurs, when looking for a creative jolt, don't initially seek the Creator of the universe for ideas, innovations, and inventions. Further, you were created in the image of God so creativity should be oozing out of you. In fact He expects you to be clever, imaginative, and resourceful, because it reflects some of the brilliant aspects of His character. One necessary attribute of entrepreneurs is that we must be creative in dealing with the myriad of challenges that are thrown at us. This post is just a small reminder for you not to overlook or underestimate the most creative force in the universe the next time you need a spark of ingenuity for your business. Here's seven scriptures to help spark your entrepreneurial energy:
God cares about your and your business. You can ask Him for all that you need, including creative energy, and He will help you. What scriptures do you use to spark your creativity? Comment below... Check out this video I created a few years ago about God-given creativity... I have received multiple questions about the "Business Pastor" title that I use on my web site and social media profiles. People are intrigued by this interesting combination of terms that on the surface may not seem like they fit together. However, if we dig a little deeper we will find these two terms should actually be used together more often. Before I delve into exactly what a business pastor does, let's look at a few of the Biblical roles of a "church pastor", who is called by God to lead a group of people according to His will:
There are definitely other roles that we can associate with the traditional pastoral role, but these particular functions are key to being a business pastor. Now this term business pastor has a Biblical foundation if you consider that Peter called us a "royal priesthood" in 2 Peter 1:9. So in reality we are both kings and priests, which represents both a secular and sacred calling. Hence, a business pastor isn't very strange after all (I go further in this teaching two of my other articles, Marketplace of Healing and Kings & Priests in Business). The model of a religious leader providing spiritual support to a secular organization is nothing new (I really don't believe in the concept of the separation of sacred and secular, but I will use these terms for the sake of this discussion. That will be another post later :). Corporations, the U.S. military, and even the U.S. Senate have chaplains who serve them in various ways, including some of what I listed above. Unfortunately, what isn't common are those who operate in a chaplain role for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Entrepreneurs face unique marketplace challenges, and it's often hard for them to find people and places where their personal issues and professional difficulties are understood and addressed relevant to their situation. If a person isn't an entrepreneur, it's typically hard for them to put themselves into the mindset of one. This is where I come into the picture (and many others who may not yet know it). I am passionate about caring, praying, discipling, teaching, encouraging, and advising entrepreneurs to maximize their talents, pursue their calling, and find fulfillment so they can build extraordinary businesses. In addition to spiritual support, I also provide strategic consulting solutions built on Biblical principles to address the necessary practical activities needed to grow a profitable business. So in short I assist entrepreneurs professionally, spiritually, and operationally. I don't have a church building, but I'm being the church by providing spiritual and professional support to entrepreneurs and business people who need to be pastored in the marketplace. Entrepreneurs need love and care too! And God has called me to do that for them. Do you need a business pastor? Are in a corporate job and would like a business pastor / chaplain for your company or department? I can do that for you. Let's talk. |
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