The self-improvement industry offers the premise that you’re sufficient. Believe in yourself, work hard, and your dreams will come true. The sales copy is always, “If I can do this, so can you.” The spiritual reality is that, outside of Christ-in-you, you can get your butt kicked with bluster. Everything you need is not inside yourself!

Rev 3:17-19 – You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. NIV

Compared to what? – I occasionally catch myself comparing and copying those who seem to have a better business, make more money, and have more influence, platform, or anointing, etc. The reality is that Jesus is the only one that has all those things in sufficient measure. The rest of us are always smaller than the giants we face. When we become self-aware that our egocentric horsepower isn’t enough to get the job done, we are open to real riches (Christ in you).

Rich in faith – What we can do is focus on reaching the wealth of being rich in faith (James 2:5). Sons inherit more than they earn. The power to get wealth (Deut 8:18) is the Dunamis to be valiant, mighty in faith and deeds. Our testimony is always the same as Jesus’ it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work (Jn. 14:10). God chooses weakness and humility rather than prowess, and wisdom, and wealth, and self-esteem.

1 Cor. 1:26-31 – For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things… God has chosen the weak…  the base… the things that are not… so that no man may boast before God

The one great skill – is knowing El Shaddai. This name of God is usually translated God Almighty. It simply means that He is sufficient. He is our sufficiency. The Hebrew word Shaddai (H7706) has roots in Shadad (H7703), which means to be burly. El Shaddai also implies God of the mountain, or the Council. Sons get their mighty man status in the Council. We’re bringing heaven to earth from our time in the Council to understand God’s purpose and see prophetically what He is doing (Jn 5:19). When sons have their Father’s direction and anointing, they can slay giants. There are no limits. We just have to remember the giants are always bigger, and our sufficiency is always His power working in us.

Eph 3:20-21 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us  NIV

Letting go of strength – I was complaining to God about some of my financial tragedies and disappointments in the context of comparing myself to the “successful.” I defined success as a public recognition, a thriving business, or great investments. The Lord simply told me; I have kept you reliant on me for a reason. That reason is so that you can have real wealth and store treasures in heaven, not just on earth.

Here’s why. I got saved as a senior in high school. I was big into basketball, and from that context, I told the Lord I just wanted to be a starter; I wanted to be in the game, whatever the price. So, I told Father, here am I send me. From the beginning, I gave Father the right to shape me, discipline me, do whatever it takes to be in the game and in the fray. Well, God kept that covenant and corrected me once again, and spoke these two things. He wants to be my sufficiency! My El Shaddai!

• Don’t apologize for needing my provisions, direction, wisdom, and decrees.
  • It’s not poverty, its riches.
  • Heaven rejoices when you release faith for what you do not have (rich in faith).
• Faith honors the Father. He longs for sons to use the resources of heaven and to prophecy His decrees in the earth. To speak to those things that are not and bring them to birth.

2 Cor 12:9-10 – But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am -weak, then I am strong.  NIV

Phil 4:19 – And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. NASU

Being aggressive and taking the initiative – Some hear God’s sufficiency as being passive and letting Him win all the battles and do all the work. Sons are not a bit more passive than David separating Goliath from his head! We are persistent about being in the Council, and we take great initiative with the prophetic direction we receive. Sons are courageous warriors who are not afraid of a fight. It’s just that their armor is not their own. We don’t just accept our inheritance, we take our land with decrees, intercession, and whatever activity on earth is necessary to carry out what we’ve seen in heaven.

We are so aggressive that personal limitations and lack of resources don’t stop us! Whatever is needed, we speak to in the name of Jesus. He’s the one who redeemed us into the arms of the burly one (El Shaddai). Our Father rejoices to send angels and the host of heaven to the aid of such faith from His sons. The trademark of sons is that they are fruitful, they multiply, their cup overflows to bless people, and they are part of their Father’s Reformation of Nations.

Gen 35:11-12 – Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—’God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! 12 And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.” NLT

About John – Yes, I have asked Father to forgive my complaining. He has done such a great thing in my life, that I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m thankful He kept His end of the covenant while I was complaining about mine. I wouldn’t want to be anyone else, and there is nothing I would rather have than my relationship with Father, His invitation to the Council, and the Book He wrote in my heart. We’re co-laboring to do something great – per our original agreement. Jesus is not the King of servants; He is the King of kings. I’m seeing and decreeing what Father is doing as a priest, and I’m doing it with Him on earth as a king. The something great is my purpose Intentional Reformation. You see, everything He wrote in my heart is already in His heart. I’m a starter and it’s not a game! It sounds like this, High and Lifted Up.

What About you? – The purpose of heaven for each of us is already written in your heart and can be heard in the Council. Your business can shift from a Christian business full of servants to a Kingdom business full of sons who make a difference. We help people and businesses navigate get their prophetic purpose in writing and then make it happen on earth. Taste and see! Tools to get started are here:

• Nail your Purpose Field Guide (A place to start clarifying your heart’s desires)
• Intentional Reformation Intro (A diagnostic you will enjoy along with our purpose & Values)
• OnlineHeartPlan.com (Our web site, Courses on Zoom)
• The USA Book (proof we can get our arms around the books of people, businesses, and nations

Cutting room floor

Question – How do I know if I can expect to know the future vs letting it by a surprise, or spoken to me “just in time.”?

first try…

• The Spirit of Wisdom in a mind map is the “strategy” Father wrote on our hearts. It’s was written in His heart first. It’s our “book” Ps 139. It’s where our hearts intersect.
• The Spirit of Understanding is the tactics (How to daily apply that strategy). It comes up conversationally in the Council in Heaven, and out of my heart and initiative on earth. Jn 5:19-26. Those Council conversations always have some tie back to my book, my strategy, or calling.

There is prophetic juice on the general nature of my mind map purpose and goals, but also on the specifics of my daily wins. When any of those boxes, goals, or wins get too intellectual, then I’m not in Christ. We live and have life by every word that “proceeds.”

Surprises – do happen, but they are usually right in line with my book and often in line with my expectations based on the council, my decrees, seeing what Father is doing. There is also room for me to surprise heaven with my own initiative… it’s not just obedience to a command; it’s implementation of a purpose. I can put some frosting on the offering!

Father loves creativity and initiative – sons have plenty of room for both.

I have kept you reliant on me. (David was not bigger than Goliath)

Prov 10:22 – The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.

Matt 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  NIV

Matt 5:5 – Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  NIV

2 Cor 8:9 – I became poor that you might become rich

James 2:5 – Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? NIV

John 14:10 – Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. NIV

1 Cor. 1:26-31 – For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things… God has chosen the weak…  the base… the things that are not… so that no man may boast before God

Ps. 144:1-2 – Blessed be the Lord, my rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle; 2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My stronghold and my deliverer, My shield and He in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. NASU