Measurable Difference

As I was talking with some marketplace individuals recently one of them said that it’s hard to see where his spirituality impacts his business.  I can see profits and loss, but it’s really hard to hear and see God’s activity.  I said as marketplace ministers part of what God is trying to do in us is to break the separation mentality between what we call spiritual and non-spiritual, and understand that everything is spiritual.( see Col. 1:16-19) 

So he said, 'how do you do that?  Of course, I'm thinking... I had a feeling you were going to ask that.  So the Lord graciously gave me three keys that revolve around hearing God for ourselves and seeing more of His measurable presence in our lives and in the marketplace.

• Invocation
• Proclamation
• Application

Invocation - At its simplest form - God wants us to invite Him into every area of our lives. 

Most of us keep Him at arms length in areas where: we don't want to lose control, or we have shame, regret, or rejection associated with a certain aspect of our lives; or especially when there is a fear of failure - especially in regard to what we do / our profession.  The enemy loves to grab hold of this one and intimidate us with and begin to tell us who were not.

If we’ve left God on the fringes or outside the affairs of the daily / practical / real stuff of our lives, then invoking Him or inviting Him into our affairs isn’t a natural or easy act.  It’s a lot like exercise.  If I’ve been sitting around all winter and someone says let’s go run 10 miles, chances are I’m going to say, “I’m not a runner.”  It’s not that you can’t run, it’s that you think you can’t run 10 miles.  So don’t be intimidated by the distance, strap on some shoes and go run 1 mile.  It’s the act of running that makes you a runner not the time or distance.  It’s no different than placing a call to a client and inviting him to lunch.  It’s time to place a call upon the Lord and invite Him into your day.

'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'  Jer. 33:3

Now, if we stop here we take the risk of only partially engaging with God.  We must also begin to proclaim Him and the truths of His word into our day.  Here's the best example I can think of - the fear of failure equation above.  This scenario strikes at the core of our identity and calling.  Granted, you may not have failed completely - you may have only had thoughts of failure - or you may have experienced a set back.  However, the enemy of our souls takes hold of this crack in our armor and begins to intimidate us and tell who we're not.  God never tells us who were not He always tells us who we are in Him.  This is where - Proclamation becomes so powerful.   

In this case Eph. 2:10 is a powerful truth to proclaim - 

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Here are the power points - 1) You are God's workmanship, 2) You were created in Christ Jesus, and 3) You were created for works prepared beforehand.

Because of this truth we can love and obey God with confidence and joy.  There’s one more link in this God loop – Application.

Application - You have a destiny to walk out in partnership with God. 

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.”   John 15:12-17

When you are in partnership with God you are His friend.  It’s a family business.  You know His voice.  You have powerful, purposeful insights that the Father has made known to you and you are not looking for His approval; you are not trying to perform, build or make something so that man can applaud you.  You are a partner – friend with the King of Kings and He is giving you blue prints that will expand His Kingdom, not yours.  This is love, not labor.  This is worship, not work.  You have caught a glimpse of the original heavenly purpose that the Father intended all along.  What’s so amazing about this is the fact that you didn’t chose God, God chose you.  And as one of His chosen kingdom partners you are in a position to join Him in what He is already doing and wants to do.  You are in a position to bear fruit, which for those who have labored to no end, realize the joy and fulfillment in that fruit bearing.  You are now in a position to ask of God.  Not for your pride or possessive pursuits, but for His.  Father, where do you want to grow Your love and kingdom next?  How can I join You in fulfilling Your divine purposes on earth today?  Father, I want to bear fruit today – show me where to cultivate and harvest.

So be encouraged friend of God, He is at work and He wants you to take Him to work with you.  This is a family business and you are His child.  Discard the deception that you don’t belong and that you can’t play a significant role in glorifying His name in all the earth.  Invite Him in, proclaim His truth, and watch how God demonstrates His faithfulness to you.

Patrick McBane is the Executive Director of Marketplace Solutions

You can find more marketplace insights on the web at -  www.4marketplacesolutions.org