Integrity in Business Dealings

"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his [upper] chambers by injustice, who uses his neighbor’s service without wages and does not give him his pay [for his work]"   Jeremiah 22:13, NLT

God's people must be honest in our business dealings.  We should never be those who cheat or swindle others out of what is due to them.  As believers, we shouldn't always be the ones looking for a "hook up", because we understand that a workman is worthy of his wages.  We should be those who tip generously, even when service isn't necessarily flawless, because we understand grace and mercy.  We are those who offer the "best deals" to others, whenever possible, because we value service above self gain and esteem others greater than ourselves.  The measure of a man's heart can often be determined through his business practices.

When we truly have the heart of God, it extends beyond ministry.  Selah. 

Prophetic Foolery

I am extremely concerned with the present trend among believers, where regardless of what the Word of God says and despite godly counsel, "but God told me" or "I have to do what God said" has become an acceptable excuse for everything. We simply cannot dismiss God's written word and claim to have "heard" Him as a defense.

In a world of 7.2 billion people, none of us are so anointed that we should trust our own discernment even when we can't find just two or three to agree. Is there now no accountability, no correction, no filter, no standard, no measuring rod, no plumbline?

Yes, every believer should be able to hear from God.  Let's not forget though, that we can all hear from our own flesh as well.  We can all hear the voice of Satan too.  How do you know the difference?  RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.  That comes through His word (John 10:5).  He will never contradict Himself and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2)!  He is not schizophrenic and He doesn't make special exceptions or pull favors (Romans 2:11).  We must also look to one another.  After all, God uses us to perfect one another (Proverbs 27:17; Ephesians 4:11-12). Godly counsel cannot be dismissed!  We, as saints, need one another.  We must be accountable.

NEWS FLASH: If Scriptures don't agree, and none of God's people agree, you may just be hearing the voice of the WRONG god. If you have a "word", but no power and no fruit, there's your sign! God doesn't punk His people. It could actually be YOU who is in error.

------------------------------

1 Peter 1:20

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."

Romans 12:3

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

1 Corinthians 13:9

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part."

1 Corinthians 14:29

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge."

2 Corinthians 13:1

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

2 Timothy 4:3-4

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

Proverbs 11:14

"Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety."

Loose Them, and Let Them Go!!!

For many of us, loosing is something we command demons to do.  "Loose her, and let her go!" is an action we'd expect to hear in a deliverance session.  I contend we need to hear this more in respect to leaders in the Lord's Church.  Loose them and let them go!!!

The purpose of the church is to edify, instruct and nurture believers to maturity.  But, then what?  Why develop mature leaders just to deny them the opportunity to walk in their purpose?  We've mastered, in many cases, training people to follow our own visions and support our own efforts.  However, we tend to miss the winning and gathering of souls, which is directly linked to our hesitation when it comes to sending God's people into purpose.

We live in a nation where young men and women, between the ages of 18 and 21, are invited to endure just eight to twelve weeks of "basic" training before being issued a job and a gun.  Despite their ages or apparent immaturity, our government trusts the process.  A sense of pride, responsibility and purpose is instilled in these young people, and for the most part, they are successful.

So, what is our excuse as the church?  Certainly, I believe in and support training.  I value education.  Even more, I encourage and practice discipleship.  I also understand, however, that discipleship doesn't require stagnation.  Even in our armed forces, the training doesn't stop simply because basic training is complete.  Yet, the work happens alongside the specialized training.  As such, our biblical model is one of "on the job" training.

What if we, as leaders, learned to trust God's process?

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul.  One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”  So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.  Acts 13:1-3

According to the process, men are born again.  They are baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost.  They fellowship and edify one another.  They are discipled and spend time in worship.  Then, when God speaks, they are sent away to do a work.  That's it!  There is no need to dress up, develop a program and invite a speaker.  No one cares if the appropriate bishop or apostle is in the room.  It's out of an atmosphere of unified prayer and worship that miracles and ministry calls come forth.

Notice that even Paul and Barnabus were not required to complete a course or serve any particular length of time "in training" or "in service" before they were sent.  With all our biblical examples, we see many instances of those who are sent and appointed.  The key is not what they've accomplished in the natural, but the call God has placed upon them.  Notice that in the word of God there are no ministry interviews, qualification exams or annual convocations for which people were required to "wait" before obeying God.

I'm convinced that the church is losing out on the ability to reach more souls, at least partially due to our tendency to feel that those called must be justified by us, as if God's call is not sufficient.  Let's be honest... how many of us were "ready" (in the eyes of our peers) when God called us?  While we must live lives of holiness, sanctification and obedience to God, we all make mistakes, and it's okay.  By the grace of God, we learn from them.  Look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Timothy and others.  They all made mistakes, and they LEARNED WHILE WORKING.  They remained accountable and received both rebuke and encouragement from one another WHILE WORKING.  The greatest teacher is not one's pastor or apostle, but the Holy Ghost.  So, why should we rob others of the best lessons they could possibly learn.  When God instructs us to send, it out NOT our job nor responsibility to qualify that call.  It's our responsibility to obey, pray for and support them in the work.

Yes, discipleship should continue.  Training should continue.  Maturity should continue.  Yet the work must go forth.  We've got to trust the process.  Trust God and simply obey Him when He speaks.  Loose them, and let them go!  After all, God's people are just that... GOD'S people, not ours.  Selah.