It’s time for a reality check!

The prospect of nations going bankrupt is unimaginable. Greece is in default on its national debt; if it were a company, it would be declared bankrupt and its directors charged.

Many countries are in the same boat, including the USA, only days from defaulting – the Obama Administration has reached its debt ceiling of $14 trillion (14, then 12 zeros). If this ceiling is not increased by August 3, “all hell breaks loose” in the US and world financial markets. Then what?

Well, the $492 billion owed by Aussie banks to foreign banks would in all likelihood be called in… causing the system to shut down; superannuation funds would freeze and probably never recover (sending the retirement plans of millions of members up in smoke). Only a fool (Psalm 53:1) would believe this could never happen; it can; and one day it will…because it (riches) is an illusion!

No doubt, the US President will reach an 11^th hour deal to extend the debt limit (i.e. fixing a debt problem with more debt); everyone will breathe a sigh of relief…then go back to sleep.

This is probably a good time to consider the implications of a devastating financial meltdown on our position in the Kingdom. Actually there should be none, no matter what happens to intangible riches; and amongst the unfolding calamity, real wealth remains intact because it’s tangible.

We know “the earth is the LORD’S and the fulness thereof…” (Psalm 24:1). Thus we own none of what we hold in our possession; we are merely His caretakers. Consider two further issues -

…If the rightful owner chose to take back His possessions from me, what would my response be?

 …If we are such poor stewards as to be deceived (Matthew 13:22) into “investing” (actually, speculating) in this world’s paper schemes we must expect the ‘sowing and reaping’ principle to apply (Hosea 8:7; Galatians 6:7). So when the loss eventuates what would my response be?

Surely…to give thanks (Ephesians 5:20) for His love, goodness, mercy and provision; to rejoice in whatever happens! He knows our eternal destiny and promises to meet our worldly needs (Matthew 6:33). He is ready to forgive poor stewardship (Luke 15:11-24) emanating from the accumulation of, and trust in, pieces of paper being the plans of man, not of God (Psalm 118:8).

Many are running to and fro with “solutions” to the coming financial collapse! Buy bullion or switch into ‘safe’ currencies the experts say, many of whom claim to follow Jesus. But we need to understand the futility of such plans – i.e. we cannot “win” in a rigged game…or worse, in a game we should not even be playing! And we cannot justify our actions by mis-quoting God’s Word, convincing ourselves it’s the right thing to do…as often happens with Proverbs 13:22; Luke 6:38.

Our purpose is far greater than this nonsense. Being “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6) why would we want to get involved with such trivial matters as speculating or accumulating abominable fiat money (Proverbs 20:10; 11:1)? In the end, accumulating anything this world has on offer is NOT about serving the Master…it’s about serving self. We must be alert to the Master’s warnings in verses such as – Matthew 6:21; 7:23-24; Luke 12:15.

One can only wonder why the world is in such a mess. That’s easy…people continue to reject God’s moral law and Biblical values, as they did in ancient Israel such that “…every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). That’s fine but understand…there is a price to pay.

It’s time for us, as believers, to get our hearts out of this “mad” world; to “look up” and “rejoice.”

Peter, for the Kingdom Builders team

The Model of Acts, for business and community growth….

As I walk and share with many differing business’s and
business leaders I am often asked, “John, HOW do we follow and implement these Kingdom Business principles that you talk about?”

The answer in part comes from the model we find in the book
of Acts. We will examine this over the next few weeks.

In the early days of the growth of what we now know as the Church,
there were some common elements that led to their multiplication:

• The People met daily in the marketplace to hear/learn and become educated in
  God’s word.
• The adjourned to houses where they shared food in small groups and discussed what they had learnt.
• They went out to share with other houses/ villages (multiplication of knowledge)
• Everyone was involved in giving. It wasn’t just a
  few wealthy people. Everybody could help to some extent.
•  Everyone gave according to their
  ability. God doesn’t expect us all to give the
  same amount. We give according to our ability.
• Everyone was determined to give. I love this.
  They were serious about it. It was something they wanted to do.
•  Everyone followed through on their
  commitment and gave. Acts11vs. 30 – They weren’t all talk.

All except two people, Ananias and Sapphiras  (Acts 5:1-11).

Please read up on this for our discussion next week. Also refresh
yourself on the ‘Reward of Giving” if you have time.

John for the Kingdom Builders Team

God Speaks to us in Many Ways!

Have you gone through a time when you wonder where He is? A time of challenge, a time of hardship, a time when you believed that you were on the right path but then everything hit the wall?

Well, that’s me over the last few months….no need to go into the details ….. But I think many of us experience this at some time in our lives, if not many times.

So I know for me that it is time to go spend some time with HIM – to go to “my secret place” where I am alone and converse with Him ….I’ll give you a quick glimpse

This is at the bottom southern tip of Tasmania, no neighbours, pristine and quiet except for the visiting pelicans and Ibis.

And so for a day I sort Him for answers…and I sort Him… and I sort Him…. And nothing was coming to me. I became frustrated, downtrodden and focussed on problems and issues. And then I gave up and did nothing. I read a book, lit the fire and just rested.

I was about to leave and go back to Hobart at the end of the second day when an email turned up out of the blue. It was from someone that knew me and some of my circumstances and I will share some of it:

“This is not a time to quit, from discouragement or despair, or throwing in the towel. The Lord will help you with any self-pity, discouragement despair and hopelessness. In the supernatural things aren’t always what they seem. God is trying to see what you are made of so He can trust you with more. I see you like on a chessboard. If the devil can put you out – the main piece – Satan has won. Keep on keeping on”.

1 Corinthians 10:13 -¹³ No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, ^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

I was encouraged by the message but thought it may be just someone’s way of uplifting me. As I got in the car to start back, an sms appeared. It was from a Pastor in Qld that I had not seen or spoken to in 6 months and in fact barely new. She informed me that she had been praying for me over the last 10 days constantly as she knew I was in some stress and struggling (she had no idea of my circumstances). The words were I was to hold on and break through, as there was much that He had in store for me.

Hmm, I thought, could this be Him???

I had driven a kilometre up the road when the phone went and it was a lady from Adelaide, someone I knew, but again had not spoken to in months who had virtually the same message as the Pastor from Qld.!!!(plus a little more about how HE sees me)……WOW… I thought.

For two days I was earnestly seeking and then when I give up, He comes through……..in the least expected way through the message of three completely independent people with the same message!!!

Since then I have received many encouraging messages from many others, that encourage me to keep moving forward…… even if I do not know the exact pathway!!!

Deuteronomy 31:8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸ It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm].

He speaks with us in many ways and sometimes the least expected…..

He not always gives you the exact path but asks you toTRUST and walk by Faith

Blessings

John for the Kingdom Builders Team

You Have Authority over all things……………

The world embraces an authority grounded in the law and its enforcement. This is not the authority that we are talking about in a “spiritual” sense.

Jesus explicitly pointed out to His disciples that His authority different.  He said, “You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them but it shall not be so among you.  Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you, must be slave of all.  For the Son of Man also came not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.” Mk10:42-45

In the fourth century, the church began to trade the authority of Christ for the authority of the emperor of Rome, and they began to trade the power of Holy Spirit for the power of the army that kept the peace of Rome, and we began to become confused over the nature of authority.  We began to put people under people who were to have authority over them, and call it the authority of Jesus.  It is this confusion that we need to correct.  We are to take back the authority of Jesus, not to bind and coerce, but to set people free to obey His will and walk in the Kingdom of our God.

YOU, WHO ARE BORN AGAIN BUSIINESS PEOPLE, HAVE THAT AUTHORITY as disciples of the KING, to speak to the mountains of finance, sales, production jams and many other issues. Step into your authority

Come and learn HOW we are to use this Authority at CRE8

John for the Kingdom Builders Team

Enjoy Work?

What do you think of when you hear that word? It is usually associated with something that is hard. Perhaps your work life is boring, mundane, and mindless. For others it is stressful, challenging, and soul sapping. For most of us it is a way of earning a living, paying the bills, and providing for our families.

Work is often just endured or thought of as a necessary evil. Our culture says, “Let’s work so we can enjoy the weekend,” and “Thank God it is Friday.” But what about Monday? It is often greeted with a gritting of teeth and a dread of the never-ending cycle of getting up, going to work, and coming home. Surely there must be something more to life than this!

What about the Christian worldview? We are saved, and God has a plan and purpose for our lives. Most of us acknowledge that, even if it is only intellectually. Surely God is not only really interested in what we do spiritually. Perhaps for pastors, priests, or missionaries, God may be interested in what they do during the week, but they are, after all, set apart for God’s work—right?

This is a very prevalent perception in our Western Christian worldview, yet it is entirely and totally unscriptural. It is a delusion that has rendered most of the laity—the everyday, normal churchgoing person, the worker—impotent and unaware of God’s mandate and purpose for our lives.

There is another way, a way that is rewarding, purposeful, satisfying and ordained by God. My Bible tells me in Colossians 3:23‚ “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men” (AMP).

The key word in this Scripture is ‘whatever’. Does ‘whatever’ include what I do on a Sunday in church? Yes, it does. Does it also refer to whatever I do during my week at work? Definitely and absolutely, yes it does. If that is the case, then why don’t we talk more about how we can integrate our faith into our work? What does working for the Lord while we are at work look like?

Our walk with God should fully manifest every moment of every day as we serve Him in the workplace. I invite you to join me and other national and international speakers in contributing to the faith work discussion at the 2013 Cre8 Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9,10 May 2013.

See you there!

 

Mark Bilton

2013 Cre8 Conference

MD Gloria Jean’s Coffees

Tests and Trials

Are you tired of fighting for your business?

If you are facing challenges with your business, you may be relieved to know that most business owners are doing it tough at the moment. The situation around the world is pretty similar, with SMEs falling over left, right and centre and those remaining are struggling to gain traction for the most part.

According to Wayne Back, one of the speakers for Cre8 2013, it is these tests and trials which actually reveal our faith in God. They don’t create faith, but by removing everything we may be hanging onto, they expose what remains – faith that God has positioned us in our business for His specific plan and purpose.

“When our enterprises are going well, we can mistake faith for positive emotions we feel, but trials tend to take the positive emotions away. We can then see our faith for what it is.”

Do you want to know how to develop faith and clarity about God’s calling to business? How to confidently trust in Him regardless of circumstances? This is one of the key topics of Cre8 2013 in Melbourne – May 9-10^th, soRegister Now and bring your team along . We will be giving all delegates a copy of one of Wayne Back’s recent books “Building Spiritual Enterprises” along with life and business changing input, and connections with other business leaders just like yourself to help you on the journey to breakthrough.

One last reflection is this quote which Wayne references from Theodore Roosevelt, which may encourage you:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat”

Let this man (or woman) be you. It is your time to make an impact on this world and we look forward to seeing you at Cre8 2013 !

Blessings

 John

Do you know the Plan ahead? PART 3

Joshua 1: 9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

 From choosing the easier wrong decision to making the tougher right decision

Issue: How do you do the right thing when you are pressured to do otherwise?

Scenario Story: Shutting the office door behind him, the boss said, “I think Mark has a nose problem. I heard that he’s heavy into cocaine. I want you to find out and fire him.” My first thoughts were “NO WAY “

Mark had been an excellent employee and one of our best salespeople for years. My first reaction was to do the right thing: I wanted to talk honestly to Mike. If, in fact, he did have a problem, I wanted to help him get his personal and professional life in order. But when I mentioned this approach to my boss, he blew up, saying, “I don’t care how you do it, just get rid of him. I want him out of here now!”

I was caught between a rock and a hard place: I could do what was right and risk being fired myself, or I could choose not to make waves and be the team player as my boss would call it, and do the dirty work my boss had demanded I do. Well, I copped out and made the easier decision, the wrong one. I saved my job by unjustly taking the job of another. My boss’s ego and my fear of unemployment hurt the entire staff. Not only did we lose a good employee, we also lost the trust of our sales team. The decision may have saved my job, but I lost a little piece of my soul.

Solution: Walk with God in Courage:  A time will come when your faith will be tested beyond your perceived limit, a time when business pressure, intellectual logic, and fear gang up on you, to the point where an easier wrong decision takes precedence over a tougher right decision. Have you experienced that yet, I know I have.

Fear and discouragement keep us from doing the right thing. Conversely, courage enables us to rise above difficulty to reach new heights. This is the time in Gods long term planning when people need to be strong and courageous and do what’s right.

Conclusion: Courage is easily misunderstood. For many, courage is defined by doing bold or brave things. The underlying reason for the action may be ego gratification, power, or recognition. Demonstrating moral courage is very much a private matter between you and God.

Sometimes, we come to a point where we know God is calling us to change our life’s direction, and we must quiet our ego in order to hear God’s whisper. Sometimes, we are confronted with a painful blow that shakes the very foundations of our beliefs and we need the courage to renew and deepen our faith in God.

Whatever your situation, you will probably be brought to a special place of tested faith and courage, a place where you will be challenged to go against the grain of common sense to move. Most of our lives are shaped by the small decisions we make every day. It doesn’t matter whether the decision we’re faced with is big or small.

What’s important is to understand that every decision helps shape our character and destiny. We are either becoming who we want to be or who God wants us to be. Business demands, coupled with personal fears and ego, make choosing the wrong decision tempting.

For that reason alone, it is even more important to take time to make sure our decisions align with our faith, values, and principles. It is wise to prayerfully consider God’s counsel for all our decisions. Asking ourselves these two questions will help guide us when choices be made: What is the right thing to do?

Am I willing to trust God’s promise that God is with me in this decisions regardless of the consequences? Deciding what is right and acting on our convictions can be a daunting task. We are all different people with many different situations. We may never understand why God has placed a certain decision before us.

Nevertheless, the one thing we have in common is that God has promised that God is with us always.

Individuals facing a difficult decision

1. What is the most difficult decision you are facing?

2. What are your fears and concerns regarding this dilemma?

3. What do you believe God is saying to you about this decision?

4. In your opinion, what do you think is the easier wrong decision?

5. What are the consequences and implications of making the easier decision?

6. What do you think is the right thing to do?

7. What are the consequences and implications of making the right decision?

 

Individuals facing a difficult situation

1. How do you cope with your present situation?

2. What attitudes do you presently battle with?

3. How can you develop the patience to wait for God’s answers?

4. What gives you comfort during this difficult period?

5. What messages of hope can you see?

6. How can you move forward with courage to move above this difficulty?

 

More next week – stay tuned

Stephen for the Kingdom Builders Team

Witness Babylon in full flight

I thought it worthwhile coming out of retirement to share this information together with a warning from Scripture that you must not ignore.

This week we witnessed commercial Babylon (described in Revelation chapter 18) in full flight as its “merchants” (Rev 18:3) traded their merchandise – “gold and silver…slaves and the souls of men” (Rev 18:11-13).

When Revelation was written silver was money and gold a store of wealth. Today virtually all we accept as money is ‘fiat money’ (ie. ‘Let it be’ debt money) backed only a government decree. It is a Godless, unbiblical system guaranteed to strip nations and people of their freedom and wealth.

In Cyprus the merchants of Babylon did two things – (a) confiscated a portion of customer deposits to help bail out the bankrupt banks; (b) forced taxpayers to accept the rest of the bailout debt.

This whole fiasco was surely a ‘practice run’ to see how people would react to confiscation of their assets!

And there’s a twist – the merchants of Babylon (working behind the scenes) set the banks up to fail so they could impose their desired ‘solution’ on the Cypriot people.

So what’s in it for the merchants of Babylon?

Two things: the people’s real wealth is exchanged for merchant’s fiat money (ie. blips on a computer) and through financial and economic slavery, the souls of men.

Remember in the Old Testament Babylon means confusion but in the New Testament it means tyranny and slavery - and who is subject both: people!

Today, the whole world bows to the deceptions, dictates and demands of commercial and religious (Revelation chapter 17) Babylon. A leading international banker warned in 1874: “Let me issue and control a nation’s [fiat] money and I care not who makes its laws.” Today this is a reality in every nation.

The merchants use other tools, systems and philosophies such as socialism, pluralism, feminism, environmentalism, globalism, materialism, humanism, hedonism…and all the other ‘isms’ that aim to elevate man to be “…as gods…” (Genesis 3:5). Add “the love of money” (1 Timothy 6:10) to this mix and you see a devastating formula for deceiving and enslaving people.

Nations have no option but to play their game of globalism – International Treaties and Agreements ensure no one escapes. The one ultimately in control (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 5:19) and his minions are having a field day bankrupting nations, stealing people’s wealth…and souls.

Babylon has handsomely ‘paid off’ anyone who would stand against it (ie. key players in finance, banking, business, media, education and party politics). Sadly too many of the followers of Christ are happy to play Babylon’s wicked game so they too can become “…rich through the abundance of her delicacies” (Rev 18:3). Maybe only the trumpet call will wake people up (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)!

Cyprus is the latest instalment in Babylon’s game of tyranny. It follows Greece, Ireland, Iceland, etc, etc. More dominos will fall in the months ahead…and at some point, the Southland of the Holy Spirit. Labor debt now exceeds $270 billion and grows by $100+ million per day – it is virtually unrepayable. Aussie bank derivatives exposure has blown out to $19.8 trillion (103 times shareholder’s funds) – this gamble could implode at any time.

All of this is the reason our Saviour and Lord, through John the writer of Revelation, told us in no uncertain terms to “…come out of her [Babylon] my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues…” (Revelation 18:4).

This is not a suggestion, it’s a command.

Peter, for the Kingdom Builders team

Do you know the Plan ahead? PART 2

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares God, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”

Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”

 These are great scriptures to guide us along our business journey in today’s tumultuous economic environment. Over the years, I have worked with, as would have many of you; with what we would call successful business people, some Christians, some not, however I have seen a number of key things that would seem to “stand out” quite clearly and this distinctly differs them from many others even amongst the same business circles, today I would like to mention a few things that I have seen amongst those that are known by the term “Christian”

Three characteristics lead successful people on their path to significance.

A Sense of Urgency – They ALL have a sense of urgency, not that they are scared of dying because this life is short. They know where they are going anyhow. It is the preciousness of life that continually challenges them to prioritize what is most important. They live a life of daily significance, doing what they feel is most important every day. This sense of urgency translates into passion for the moment. You can sense their aliveness.

A Sense of the Whole of Life – They have a sense of the whole of life, rather than just the part of life we can see today. When we feel stuck or slowed down by pain, obstacles, or circumstances, we can remember that God has a bigger plan than what we are seeing in front of us. We can take a step back and sense the bigger picture and the whole of life. Then we can see our situation from a different perspective.

A Sense of Significance -They have a sense of significance. Rather than being driven by ego, they are driven by a calling. They believe they are here to make a difference in other people’s lives. Everything they do is for something that is beyond just a tangible result. They have a passion to unleash the potential energy lying dormant in churches today. Their passion is to help meet needs in all aspects of the community. They have passion to leave a legacy that affects thousands of others.

While we may not all be asked to change the world, we can each affect one person in a meaningful way. Others need us. We can make a big difference in their lives right now. And that alone makes our lives significant.

Here is some homework for the week, you can put some time aside for you, your family and your business. How about working ON your business, rather than IN IT or a few hours! You may be amazed at what you find out!

1. How do YOU define success?

2. How do YOU define significance?

3. If you had only one more year to live until the Lord returns, what would you do with your year?

4. What are the obstacles that keep you from doing what you are passionate about?

5. If you were to make a shift from success to significance, what would it look like?

6. What legacy do you want to leave others?

7. What small thing can you do today that would make a difference in another’s life?

 

Excited? I AM!

 

More next week – stay tuned

Stephen for the Kingdom Builders Team