Through Faith or By Faith

20162016 Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms boast, faith, Gift of God, grace, Salvation

^“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. Eph 2:8-9 ESV.

through-faith-2

Faith is given to us by God. We don’t generate Godly faith. God disperses faith (Rm. 12:3). It is His gift to us. We simply exercise it.

We exercise faith when we walk it out and through it. Faith is not the cause of our salvation. We are not saved by faith, but by grace. We are saved (justified) by the grace of Jesus Christ. However, by walking through the faith given to us, we are being saved (regenerated) into the image of Jesus Christ.

Poor theology places the cause of salvation with our faith. Our response is not the cause of salvation; our response is the effect of salvation. In the words of cause and effect, our salvation is caused by Jesus Christ and our response is the effect of salvation.

If our faith is the cause of salvation, then we wouldn’t need a savior. However, since Jesus Christ is the reality of salvation, we either accept that reality or not. When we accept that reality, we begin to experience the power of salvation.

A good example is gravity. We acknowledge its existence and respect its authority. Just like your belief doesn’t cause gravity to exist; you simply acknowledge the truth and live life accordingly.

So walk your life through the faith God has given you. Be grateful for the grace He has bestowed upon you. There is nothing to boast about except what God has done.

Therefore, learn to live out your life with the faith He has given you. You will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Business Is Ministry

20162023 Dr. Mike Business & Faith Business ministry

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 NIV.

business-ministry-2

Sometimes we cause problems for others without realizing the impact of our words or actions. Those who have a platform to impact others will give an account for their work. This includes Church pastors, Bible teachers, and ignorant believers.

I include ignorant believers with pastors and teachers under the assumption that they are believers but at times may be ignorant of the subject matter. This is so true when it comes to the Body of Christ outside of the four walls of an organized faith community.

Somewhere, someone once taught that Pastors and missionaries are the most important roles in the world today. That CEO’s, government leaders, and moms are secondary in God’s eyes. Yet when one truly understands the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit, one may want to step back and evaluate the importance of each.

Jesus himself stated that man shall not live by bread alone but with every word that comes from the mouth of God. He didn’t elevate one over the other but considered both important for the human experience.

The church mission is important. So is the mission of business, education, government, etc. If people didn’t focus on building houses, hospitals, schools, roads, clothes, and farms, would we even consider God’s word?

Business is a ministry because business serves the needs of people. The word ministry simply means service. God instructed us to serve one another. We serve one another by providing material and spiritual food for each other. We serve one another by sharing and adding value to God’s creation.

All the gifts of the Holy Spirit also operate outside of the four walls of a church community. The gift of leadership is exercised as a witness within the public forum. Like any gift, it may be used to glorify God or for selfish pursuit. Whether behind a pulpit or a corporate boardroom, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are shared for the means of serving others and glorifying God, or solely for personal gain.

Church is in session outside of the four walls of a faith community for more hours than one hour Sunday morning. The only difference may be sermons are being preached through the attitudes and actions of Christ-following CEO’s, CFO’s, COO’s, senior managers, supervisors, and technicians throughout the day. Instead of praising God through music, these people are praising God through their God-given gifts of service creating new start-ups, jobs, and products for the masses.

Contrary to many pastors who have gone through their denominational, institutional training, there are many different ways to conduct a church service. What they may be comfortable with is simply one way. Could it be possible that a business model led by Spirit-filled believers could also be a church service? A place to worship our great God? A place to learn how faith, love, and hope play out in the real world? A place where the offering is self-sacrificing service to others?

Sometimes we need to take a step back and look at how BIG our God is and realize that the world is our pastoral home. That business is only another way for believers to serve their King, His subjects, and His domain. God’s world, His church, and His people can change the culture around them; but only when the Body of Christ removes the self-imposed limits and allow God’s Kingdom to expand outside the four walls of a faith community.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Gratitude

20162023 Dr. Mike Shaped By The WORD Appreciative, blessings, Grateful, Thankfulness, Thanks

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:26 NIV.

gratitude-6

A thankful heart is a repentant heart. A heart that recognizes who “GOD IS” and what He has done, is doing, and will do, is typically a mature person who recognizes reality. Yet, don’t we sometimes take God’s character and divine nature which overflows with abundance of grace for granted? How often do we take that which naturally and routinely occurs in our life as a mundane expectation? Don’t we simply expect the sun to rise each day, the rain to fall during the year, and food to be on the supermarket shelves when shopping?

When we safely walk our pets through the park, drive our cars on freeways and take trips across the country to visit our children and grandchildren, don’t we casually liken it as normal life?

When we connect with others through our Smartphone, Skype, and Email, “doesn’t everyone?”

What we do every day as normal and routine, don’t we most often take for granted?

However when something unexpectedly happens like a bomb exploding in a crowded restaurant, a natural fire that destroys our personal belongings, or an accident that takes away a love one, doesn’t our world shake? Isn’t it then we quickly realize we are not in control of “our world” even if we act as if we are?

When trials test us. When events hurt us. When expectations fail. Isn’t it comforting to have someone stronger, surer, and more supportive around us to lean on?

When trust is rewarded, when promises are kept, and hope comes real, do we give recognition to the One whose ultimate hand secured the outcome?

When our prayers are being answered, circumstances workout better than we could ever expect, and life is full of happiness and good cheer, do we thank the One who makes everything possible? Or do we pat ourselves on the back for another job well done?

How about taking a minute today and simply thank the Author of Life, Giver of Gifts, and Perfecter of Perfection?

He is working out His purpose today and has included you in the mix. He loves you more than you will ever know. He has gifted you with unique talent and abilities. He has invited you to partner with Him in the greatest adventure and love story that you will ever experience. His world of abundance is at your reach. He has more to give and more to share than you can ever imagine.

Otherwise, who do you thank when your world is more blessed than what you deserve?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Radical In Christ

Overflowing Life Rooted in Jesus Christ

Through Faith or By Faith

^“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. Eph 2:8-9 ESV.

Dr. Mike

Business Is Ministry

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 NIV.

Dr. Mike

Gratitude

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:26 NIV.

Dr. Mike

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. Eph 2:8-9 ESV.

Dr. Mike

Share this:

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5 NIV.

Dr. Mike

Share this:

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:26 NIV.

Dr. Mike

Share this:

^“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast”. Eph 2:8-9 ESV.