Spiritual Stupor

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,
“…as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” Romans 11:8 ESV

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Last week, an unwanted virus found itself into my body. I didn’t choose it. I had no desire to share in its response. It simply found its way into my metabolism and began to wreck havoc.

Fever, coughs, nose drippings, ear clogs, tight breathing, and a mental fog are a few of the symptoms that blinded me during the week. There were times I wondered if this is how it feels to be like the living dead.

Over the next 10 days, the fever disappeared and the other unwanted hosts slowly were replaced by their healthy opponents. For a person who rarely gets sick (me),good health is taken for granted. When one loses it, one is quickly challenged too restore functionality under normal conditions. Life during this period was like walking through a dense fog with dark eyeglasses and no sound.

Isn’t that the condition of some people we meet during the day? They look with their eyes but don’t see. They listen with their ears but don’t hear. They cough words without logical meaning. They have caught the virus of this world and have accepted their condition as normal.

They have not yet experience the with-God life. They have no knowledge-base to compare living in a spiritual stupor against the with-God life. If they did, they would move heaven and earth at whatever price to restore its functionality. Until one realizes they have a problem, they will never search for a solution.

Jesus came to save the sick(Mark 2:17). I for one am thankful, grateful, and worshipful. How about 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

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Redeem Business

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” Corinthians 5:12 ESV

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Why does business have such a negative connotation with many people?

If you asked the typical Bible believer which would she or he believe is the more important position in today’s world, to be a pastor of a church or a CEO of a business, which would you believe the majority would choose?

Actual surveys taken reveal the answer as pastor. Why are we not surprised?

Many Christ followers have a limited view of the God we serve. We place him in a box overshadowed with our personal values and prejudices. It takes time for the Holy Spirit to transform our minds and open our eyes to the Truth of any matter. This is no different with you and me.

I marvel throughout Scripture how the God we serve recruited non-priestly men and women for a specific work in a time and place of his choosing. Most we’re not of noble birth, privilege social standing, or even culturally attuned. They were in many cases the undesirables of the land.

Joseph was the least liked sibling of twelve yet events and circumstances prepared him to rule and save a nation from starvation.

Rahab was a prostitute who trusted in the God of Israel.

Paul worked as a tent-maker while preaching the Gospel to the Gentile nations.

When one reads the faith chapter (Hebrews 11) and the list of names of those considered who-is-who of the Bible, how many are pastors or priests?

We forget that God’s work is much larger than just the Church. The Holy Spirit started the Church because Christ’s Kingdom grows through the hearts of people. And you will find most people reside  outside the four walls of any church building. In fact, you will find most people who need a “heart transplant” in the marketplace. The same place where the majority of us spend most of our time away from home and family.

Jesus Christ came so God could begin restoring all creation to its original intent. He came to restore your relationship between Father God and you. He came so fathers and mothers could restore their relationship between each other and their children. He came to unite families, communities, and nations. He came to restore God’s order within government, education, and yes business.

To restore His order in business though takes people whose heart and allegiance is first to their King (Jesus), and than with others. They are a people who have learned to walk with their God through the challenges and failures of business. They have proven themselves faithful and trustful through the decisions and actions in the workplace. They live the Bible through their words and actions every day. They live-out the gospel message in their business negotiations. They practice love, faith, and truth with each employee, partner, and vendor. They treat others as they want to be treated. They are in business not solely for the money, but so the Gospel message may be shared with others through the processes, systems, and policies that are in place.

They see profit simply the cost of doing business. It allows the business to feed their employees, vendors, and partners. It is not however the first goal. It is the byproduct of creating an enterprise that glorifies God. It is a ministry for the common good. It is a means of how God provides for you and I.

Because man corrupts everything he touches without God’s influence in his life, the same is true in business. However, when we live out the Gospel in the workplace, we partner with the Holy Spirit in his work. The result is people coming to see the True God being revealed through people who practice the with-God life. That is how God is redeeming the marketplace today.

So why not ask God to lead you to be an ambassador for him in the marketplace where you work? It is the largest missionary field in America today. And you don’t even have to move to a foreign culture or leave your family behind to serve Him. You only have to say Yes, send me Lord.

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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Overcomer

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” 2 Peter 2:19 ESV

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Want to know how free you are as a person? Ask yourself, what enslaves you?

Are you a slave to your hunger? Do you have a constant appetite for sweets, salt, or chocolate? Are you enslaved by your thirst for beer, wine, or a strong alcoholic drink?

Are you a slave to your hobby? work? or family? Maybe you are enslaved by the culture around you? Or your government, employer, or client? Or are you simply a slave to either money, power, status, or fame?

The fact is before becoming a heir with Jesus Christ, we were all slaves to our emotional plugs. Sin reign in us without us even choosing to follow it. Yet, because Christ lived a free life for you and I, we now enjoy the same heavenly perks He manifested throughout His life. By submitting ourselves to the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are given the freedom from all the addictions thrown our way.

It is not easy, but it is simple. As we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit disarms the old man and allows the new man ample room to grow. By abiding in Christ our boundaries are eternally established and serve as a defensive shield. By obediently living in Christ, the Spirit breaks down the spiritual strongholds that unleashes the true you.As a branch feeds itself from the vine, so do we. As long as we continue to abide in Him, we begin to experience real freedom built on eternal values.

Unlike the world that teaches oneself to indulged yourself and pick-up yourself by the bootstraps, we deny ourselves. We overcome because He who lives in us has already overcome the world (Jn. 16:33) and His strength manifests itself in our lives. We overcome because we choose to follow Him. We overcome because our heart, mind, and soul is totally trustful in Him. We overcome because He does the work as we respond to His Will. We overcome not because of our character development, self-discipline, or sacrificial effort. Instead we acknowledge Jesus Christ lives in us, strengthens us, and creates within us His attributes. So that at the end of day, He receives the glory as we harvest the benefit. That is what makes a Christ-follower an Overcomer.

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!