God IS God

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
…one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:6 ESV

god is1

Tell me where you invest your time, talent, and treasure, and I will tell you about your God. Whomever or whatever you serve first in your life comes to question.

As a culture we laugh at gods of our forefathers. The majority, if not all of these gods are man-made. Built upon superstition, rituals, or ignorance, these false gods have proven to be untrue.

The challenge comes though when one is introduced to the God of Israel. The same God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac. The same God that Jesus prayed to, spoke about, and revealed through his incarnate life.

This God continually proves himself over and over again. First in scripture. Then through the lives of many of his followers. Throughout history, there are many testimonies of lives changed, miracles revealed, and prophecies fulfilled.

When one encounters this God, one is never the same again. This God reveals Reality because HE created everything we know and what we have yet to discover. When you come to know HIM, HIS thoughts, HIS purpose, and HIS character, you come to know the basis of creation.

You have the foundation of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. You have a worldview that is based on Reality. You know God is God. All other gods are simple allusions to make oneself feel good about self.

Seek HIM; love HIM; worship HIM. Let HIM be God. Like Albert Einstein once stated: “I only want to know HIS thoughts, everything else is details.”

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

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His Purpose

Dr. Mike Life in Christ
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV

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When I initially read this scripture, my emphasis was always placed on the first part. All things work for good. Now when I read this, I fully accept both sides. That all things work for good with those who are called to HIS purpose.

The emphasis is HIS purpose. Not your goals, dreams, or desires. Not my plans, projects, or preferences. But HIS.

How do you know something is HIS purpose and not just yours? A good question without a simple answer.

Most often before we even consider something new, don’t we seek confirmation from HIM? How HE and you communicate with each other though is a personal matter. But when you finally receive an answer, you can pursue confidently that HE has your back because you have aligned yourself with HIM.

If you are still unsure, than pray that HE either opens doors for you with favor or closes all the doors shut. Either way can be your confirmation. As you ask HIM and seek an answer, keep knocking on the doors that are presented to you. If they open with very little effort on your part, than you know something is happening outside your influence. Most the time it is HIM assuring you HE is with you.

When you know the dream you have is from HIM . When you know it is a part of HIS purpose. You will have the assurance and faith to pursue with HIM as your confident and mentor.

For most of us, HIS purpose is simply walking with HIM each day in humility and awesome respect, loving our mates, parenting our children, mutually submitting to each other, sharing our testimony, and living-out HIS word via HIS Spirit in exercising HIS gifts bestowed on us for the sake of others.

Over the years I have seen this mind-set and above scripture come alive in the lives of others and myself. The emphasis though is to know HIS purpose in your life. When you lose yourself in HIM, HE will lead you.

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

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!

What Makes Business a Ministry?

Dr. Mike Business & Faith , ,
” As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

business ministry 1

What makes business a ministry?

You do!

When you remove your limited view of God, you begin to understand ministry is more than a church thing. Ministry is serving others on God’s behalf. We are all ministers of God (Eph. 4:12). A ministry may either be started by your church, you, a neighbor, an entrepreneur, a social advocate, a government agency, and yes God Himself. It is not just something that takes place through the four walls of your church.

Question: How does God provide for others? Does he regularly create something from fiat or does he work through physical means? How does God feed mankind? How does God cloth humanity? How does God provide shelter?

When one realizes God works through whatever means are available, and that includes the institutions and industries of today, why does one separate the secular from the holy? The real answer is that this divide is a human paradigm and not God’s.

God is holy. Everything he makes is holy. What perverts holiness is man’s separation from God. When humanity walks in rebellion of God the fruit is sin. Secularism is man’s attempt of life apart from God.

Business is a means for God to provides products or services for the benefit of others. It is a ministry that most of us have been called to. Profit is simply a cost for doing business. With profit a business is able to grow better services for the customer. Without a profit, it cannot sustain itself. Without profits, the employees, vendors, lenders, and partners all lose out.

Business in many ways is a community of customers built around a financial model that is self sustaining. When one stakeholder allows greed or fear to enter the community, the outcome causes sin to have its way. This is what causes social conflict between labor and management, employees and vendors, senior leadership and ownership. Instead of mutually submitting one to another for the glory of God, we seek to build our personal empire. The result is competition that destroys rather than builds-up.

When the business purpose is built on a foundation that serves others and glorifies God, one has a healthy model to grow. However, when greed, self-interest, and ungodliness rules, than expect sin to have its way.

When you realize that business was created to serve humanity, and God is its author, one’s worldview opens the eyes for ministry. In my opinion, there is no greater ministry than preaching God’s kingdom and Word through one’s actions, speech, and services within the marketplace.

Whatever your role or service is in the marketplace, you have the opportunity to exhibit God’s Kingdom to your associates. As you excel in your work, you build a platform to speak. Over time, your small niche of people will recognize the Spirit in you is one they would like to attain. Meanwhile, you are ministering to others through the work you do. You may think it is small compared to the heroes mentioned in the Bible. Yet to God ever task you perform for the love of others in his name will be rewarded (Matt. 10:40-42).

Enjoy your business ministry. It is God’s gift to you.

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

Encourage your Friends…Share Today’s Message!