I have one more insight regarding Warsaw. Our business conferences “accidentally” resulted in 30-40 salvations. The Lord spoke something into my heart regarding why it happened. This newsletter is an introduction to Kings and the Gospel of the Kingdom. It’s worth printing and reading when you have time (2010-12-10a Kings and the Gospel of the Kingdom).
He (Jesus) appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
…he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God. Acts 8:12-13
The Gospel of Salvation – We normally think of the Gospel of salvation as inviting Jesus into our heart and receiving forgiveness for sins. We usually follow up with baptisms and involvement in church. It’s wonderful in the beginning. But after the years turn into decades of sitting in the pew, we’re faced with the shallow realization that it’s not too exciting. Most of us can’t compete for the pulpit or the worship leader’s slot, so we end up serving in some capacity that isn’t really fulfilling… rather than exciting us until we move on to heaven. Fifty years of janitorial work or teaching Sunday school? No thanks! The gospel of salvation produces church members that eventually die on the vine. Some continue to trudge through their church life. Others give up and quit. Others search in vain for the answer in the church down the street.
We were all told, “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” We just weren’t shown where to look for it or how to find it. The first clue is that it’s not inside the church for most of us. I’m not implying that you have to leave church attendance behind. I’m simply making a connection between our ministry calling and our vocation in the marketplace.
The Gospel of the Kingdom – Without subtracting anything from our salvation experience, I want to suggest that the “full” gospel includes something more. Our hearts are designed by God to share His heart and His passion for life. He intended that we each dream, and take the initiative to pursue those dreams to effect change in our lives, obtain some degree of wealth, and generosity or ministry that operates out of our own vocation in the marketplace. Suddenly our personal life purpose has a bridge into the will of God and His plan to build the Kingdom. Now our dreams take on new meaning and we can understand why God might want to give us the power to create wealth. It’s all pretty exciting.
Back to Warsaw – Why did those 30 entrepreneurs get saved in the conference? These folks were already successful in business. Can you see why offering them a version of salvation that amounts to a life sentence of sitting in a pew would not be a big drawing card? However, the concept of a relationship with Jesus that includes a role in building the Kingdom… well, that sounds a little more like what their hearts were searching for – “purpose.” Why does the message resonate? We were created in Christ to do good works from the womb. We are all designed with hearts that long to do exploits and change the world!
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 NIV
But I’m still sitting??? – “What if I’m saved and involved in church but not involved in my mountain. What if I can’t make a connection between my current job and my dreams and my role in the Kingdom?”
Watching your friends get free to dream, express their entrepreneurial side, make money and minister to people will leave you with a sense of envy. Don’t feel guilty. It’s just the Holy Spirit showing you something about your own life that you should long for. Heart’s always long for freedom… and there is a Kingly jailbreak occurring as we speak… and you really are invited.
Start Now! – It’s time to give your heart permission to dream and ask for those desires. Take stock of your talents, abilities and prayer requests and imagine what you would really like to do with your life. Put the entrepreneurial plan together to make it happen, and get started. It will take time and the plan will get modified a few times. But, spending your life on “your” dream is an easier way to find the will of God and purpose than mindlessly serving someone else’s dream in exchange for a paycheck.
You know you’re ready to be a King when you don’t need anyone’s permission to be who you are. If personal initiative is so low that you need a push from a pastor, then you’re probably not quite ready for the marketplace. Now read Kings and the Gospel of the Kingdom.
more here – 2010-12-10a Kings and the Gospel of the Kingdom
