HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD VIEW ENTREPRENEURSHIP!

An entrepreneur is someone who creates and runs a new business for profit by selling products or services. An entrepreneur is usually a self-motivated person who is willing to work hard and do whatever is necessary to get the business off the ground. Entrepreneurs must be willing to face some lean times in the beginning if it takes a while for the business to become profitable. Entrepreneurship requires initiative, motivation, sacrifice, and patience—all traits that the Bible encourages (Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:5–7).

However, entrepreneurship can become detrimental to one’s spiritual life if it becomes an idol or if the entrepreneur is serving Mammon rather than God (Luke 16:13). Some entrepreneurs become so immersed in work that they neglect family, friends, their health, and the Lord. When anything takes our total focus for an extended period of time, it can shift our lives out of balance. So Christian entrepreneurs must work to keep priorities straight and remember that a business with God’s blessing will fare better than one without it. The Lord will not tolerate our idols, so a new business owner must work to keep success from becoming more important than anything else.

Although Adam was not an entrepreneur, the first thing God did when He created Adam was to give him a job (Genesis 2:15). We are created to work, to use our minds and our hands to subdue this world and rule over it (Genesis 1:28). Scripture praises industriousness and hard work (Proverbs 14:23; 31:27; Ephesians 4:28). By contrast, those who are idle are harshly reprimanded (Proverbs 19:15; 2 Thessalonians 3:6). We are instructed to make it our “ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).

Many entrepreneurs desire to become financially independent in order to care for their families, give to the needy, and fund missionary ventures. They have an idea, locate the funds to begin, and take on the responsibility for managing their own companies. When the motivation is honorable, and the business is honorable, God delights to bless it (Psalm 37:23). When an entrepreneur’s motive is selfish or sin-based, the business will not enjoy God’s blessing and may become a hindrance to God’s best plan for the owner’s life. As with all decisions, Christian must seek wisdom from the Lord before taking that first step in establishing a business (James 1:5). Part of wisdom is planning ahead (see Luke 14:28–29). When wisdom says it is a good idea, when all costs have been counted and the priorities are straight, entrepreneurship can be a benefit to the entrepreneur and to the world...

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THRIVING IN THE WORLD OF SPIRITUAL DROUGHT!

"The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11, NKJV)

As we look at our world, we find ourselves in a spiritual desert. However, God has made provision for his people as they cultivate their relationship with him. This verse gives us hope as we make our way through the world.

First, we have God’s promise of guiding us continually. The Psalmist said, “My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.” (Psalm 25:15, NKJV) 

The Lord is TRUE NORTH on the compass of our life. If we fix our eyes on him, he will direct our steps and counsel us.

How does he satisfy our soul in drought? He does it through his Word. Scripture constantly reminds us of the necessity of our feeding our soul on the Word of God:

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3, NKJV)

There were periods in David’s life when he had to strengthen himself in the Lord. This can be done through reflecting on God’s Word and reminding ourselves of his promises and provisions in the past. We also know his presence nourishes us as we look to him.

If we practice strengthening ourselves in the Word, we will be like a watered garden, an oasis in the middle of the desert. His Spirit can flow through us, making us like a stream whose waters do not fail.

In being a Kingdom Envoy and developing into a yield active believer, the Word of God is absolutely the central ingredient for thriving.

Today, ask yourself:
Am I thirsty?
In what ways does God satisfy my thirsty soul?

THE SPIRIT OPERATES!!

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16, NIV)

There is a war inside of each of us. Though the old flesh always wants to reassert itself, the power of the Spirit can overcome it if we ask in faith for him to control how we think, feel, act, and talk. 

“The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
(Romans 8:6, NIV84) 

The mind is key. The battle first takes place in our head. Whoever controls our mind, controls us. It is crucial we set our minds on what the Spirit desires. 

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” (Romans 8:5, NIV) 

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV84) 

Paul further wrote, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) 

We can reject those thoughts that conflict with the will of God. By the power of the Spirit we can overcome the temptations of the flesh: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13, NIV)

Furthermore, we learn that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24–25, NIV) 

This is the power of the cross working in our lives. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
(Galatians 6:14, NIV) 

By an act of our will, we must choose to be controlled by the Spirit. We initiate that by asking the Spirit to control our mind. We choose to set our mind on the things above, the things the Spirit desires and not on the things of the flesh. By the power of the Spirit we can put to death the misdeeds of the flesh, and bring our thought life into captive obedience to Christ.

May God help us to understand and incorporate these truths in our prayer life, through SOAK, SOW, and FLOW, seeing the reality of these concepts in our daily lives.

A Prayer for Today:

I ask you, Lord, to take control of how I think, feel, act, and talk. Help me to set my mind on the things above, the things of the Spirit, not the flesh. Help me to bring every thought into captive obedience to Christ today. I ask you to control my mind. In Jesus’ name I pray.

GOD'S WORD- LIKE FIRE/HAMMER

If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I am weary of enduring and holding it in; I cannot [contain it any longer]. (Jeremiah 20:9, AMP) 

Jeremiah was the prophet who found the Word of God and ate it, and it became the delight of his heart. In this passage, Jeremiah is saying God’s Word is like a fire, a fire in both his heart and his bones that must be released or spoken in accordance with the mission God gave him.
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God’s Word is also like a hammer. “'Is not my word like fire,' declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29, NIV)

God’s Word breaks the rock of “SELF” into pieces, so God can work his purposes out in our life, making it possible for us to use our 3 Ts—time, talent, and treasure—for kingdom purposes.

Christians today have the same “fire” 🔥 and "hammer" 🔨 in that we are commanded to go into all the world to share the gospel that brings forth both life and immortality for our generation. The stakes are high, and the time is short.

Scripture notes how we are a very special people, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV)
Also, Colossians 1:12-14 KJV
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: [13] Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

It is a God-given privilege to be a member of this great family of the redeemed, members of the church of the firstborn. We must perform these special functions that God has given us to do.

Not only are we to proclaim the praises of him to the world, but we are also called to praise and confess his name: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” (Hebrews 13:15–16, NIV)

With our lips we express gratitude and praise to God in addition to openly confessing him before man.

Today, ask yourself: 

Have I found a way to become actively involved with the ARMY OF THE REDEEMED in bringing the gospel of life and immortality to light in my generation? Surely, I have something I can do to participate. I ask you, Lord, to direct my steps.

#KingdomPartakers
#KingdomEnvoys

WAKE UP!!!

“The captain went to him and said, ‘How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.’ ” (Jonah 1:6, NIV) 

How many Christians are living like this world is our final resting place, forgetting we are on mission with a spiritual battle raging all around us? The storms and turmoil we daily witness are the outward manifestations of what is going on behind the scenes in the spiritual world that we cannot see.

Jonah had fallen asleep in the bowels of the ship while those above were in fear of their lives in the midst of a great storm. Jonah was on a detour of his own by disobeying the instructions from God to go to Nineveh to preach repentance. Basically, he was following his own agenda and not God’s. He ultimately came to realize, “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” (Jonah 2:8, NIV84)

Jesus asked the same question of his disciples, “ ‘Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ ” (Luke 22:46, NIV)

We are on mission and must stay the course. For all of us, eternity is fast approaching. God’s Word counsels us, “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:11–12, NIV)

It also encourages us to “be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”

(James 5:8–9, NIV)

The Lord, himself, counsels us to watch as the return of Christ can come at any time: “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” (Mark 13:35–37, NIV)

“This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ ”

(Ephesians 5:14, NIV)

In the meantime, we have the privilege to be about the work of the Lord in our everyday life. If we daily present ourselves to him as a living sacrifice, he can continue living his life through us, and we have the prospect of his favor shining on our lives. What a blessing and privilege!

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3, NIV)

Today, ask yourself: 

Am I following God’s agenda for me, or am I like Jonah, following my own agenda?

#ThisBlogIsAwake!

#KingdomEnvoysAreAwake!

WHAT SORT OF NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MAKE???

WHAT SORT OF NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SHOULD A CHRISTIAN MAKE???

The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a new year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31 and January 1. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?

Common New Year’s resolutions are commitments to quit smoking, to stop drinking, to manage money more wisely, and to spend more time with family. By far, the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, in conjunction with exercising more and eating more healthily. These are all good goals to set. However, 1 Timothy 4:8 instructs us to keep exercise in perspective: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” The vast majority of New Year’s resolutions, even among Christians, are in relation to physical things. This should not be.

Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, to read the whole of the Bible (my 2016 resolution), to study certain part of the Bible and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?

Philippians 4:13 tells us, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” John 15:5 declares, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” If God is the center of your New Year’s resolution, it has chance for success, depending on your commitment to it. If it is God’s will for something to be fulfilled, He will enable you to fulfill it. If a resolution is not God honoring and/or is not in agreement in God’s Word, we will not receive God’s help in fulfilling the resolution.

So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead, allow them to motivate you further; (6) don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6 says, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

REVEALED BY: AN ENVOY HB
MY 2017 RESOLUTION: TO ENSURE I STUDY ALL THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE ACCORDINGLY
STRATEGY EMPLOYED: PRAYER, DISCIPLINE AND SELF CONTROL
CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED: WEAR OUT, FINISHED BEFORE YEAR ENDED
SOLUTIONS APPLIED: SELF DISCIPLINE, PLANNING, HOLY SPIRIT
STATUS: ACCOMPLISHED✔

HAVE A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR... GREAT GRACE IS UPON YOU..

WALKING WITH GOD-3

HINDRANCES TO WALKING WITH GOD – Gen.6: 1-22; 7: 1-24; Lk.17: 26-30

Enoch was the first man mentioned in the Bible to ever walk with God. Noah was another man who walked with God. We surely have some great lessons to learn from the life of Noah because the Lord Jesus Christ likened our time – the end-time to the time of Noah and Lot. The life of Noah (and also Lot) show us certain hindrances to walking with God but if Noah could walk with God in his generation despite these hindrances, we can walk with Him in our time too.

1. The Problem of Large Population and Widespread Sin: 
Generally, sin hinders our walk with God. At the time of Noah, the whole world was full of sin and corruption that only Noah was perfect and just before God. Sodom & Gomorrah also were so vile and corrupt that only Lot was fit for rescue with his family.
Large number can be deceptive! Men turned the blessing of God (in increasing and
multiplying them – Gen.1: 28) against Him. The world now like the time of Noah is facing the problem of overpopulation. It is not easy to manage growth or success e.g. the Rich Fool – Lk.12: 16-21 & Early Church – Acts 6: 1; Ps.62: 10. Let us multiply for God and be rich toward Him and not against Him – Prov.29: 16. That was the problem at Babel also. Any idea at all, like infectious diseases spread faster in densely populated cities. We must be careful! The fact that everybody does something or majority of believers accept certain behaviors or practices does not make them right (Exod.23: 2). We must not conform to the world in any way but be transformed by renewing our minds – Rom.12: 1-2. Like Noah, our life must testify for God against the world.

2. The Problem of Unequal Yoke, Sexual immorality & Perversion:
Here we see for the 1st time, a strange form of mixed marriage between fallen angels or demonic beings and daughters of men. This in itself broke the law of procreation as God’s command and blessing was that everything should bring forth fruits after its kind – Gen.1: 21-28. Then, it is an unequal yoke forbidden by God – Exod.34: 12-16; Deut.7: 3-4; 2Cor.6: 14-18. It was also a form of sexual perversion the products of which were depraved giants or supernatural beings that were half human and half demons. God forbids such cross-breeding and mixed-cropping – Lev.19:19. Angels don’t even procreate in the first place but these demons needed human bodies to express their depravity and lawlessness.
So, God decided to wipe out that entire generation except Noah and his family who were not involved in such perversion and pollution. The Bible already prophesied in 2Tim.3: 13 that in the end-times, men shall wax worse in seduction and evil, and that is already happening. All manner of sexual perversions unheard of in the past are now common place in the society – prostitution, rape, orgies, husband/wife swap, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, transgender, baby-sale, etc. As we near the end and begin to see a repeat of the events of the time of Noah and Lot, we must make every effort to keep ourselves pure as enjoined in scripture – 1Tim.5: 22. We must flee all forms of sexual immorality – 2Cor.6:18-20.

3. The Problem of Idolatry:
Idolatry is a sin that provokes God so, the Bible warns us to flee from it – Exod.20: 1-
5; 34: 14; 1Cor.10: 14. God commanded the Israelites not to marry the Canaanites in the first place to prevent idolatry – Exod.34: 17; 1Kg.11: 1-4. We must understand the fact that in every form of idolatry, beyond the material objects that men worship is
‘spiritism’. According to Paul (1Cor.8: 4), the material idol in itself is nothing, it is
these fallen angels or demons behind these material objects that seek for worship from men. And that is what God forbids. (Please, take note that true angels of God don’t accept worship from men).
Idolatry and sexual immorality are related and usually intertwined. That is why idolatry
is always referred to in scripture as spiritual adultery e.g. the classical parable of Aholah and Aholibah representing Samaria and Jerusalem in Ezekiel 23. An unfaithful Christian who dabbles into idolatry (directly or indirectly) is like a whore or an unfaithful wife!
There is doctrinal seduction also that lures people into what the Bible calls the doctrines of devils – 2Tim.3: 13; 1Tim.4: 1-2. We must shun every form of unfaithfulness and avoid every deception and anything that could remove us from the narrow way or make us stray away from God and His word. We must hold on firmly to the wholesome truth of the word of God to the end – Eph.4: 11-15; Gal.1: 8-9; 2Tim.2: 2. We must be committed, dedicated and faithful to God to the end of our lifetime. Psalm 48: 14
should always be our watchword and song!

4. The Problem of Unbelief or Lack of Faith in God:
Hebrews 11: 6 clearly declares that, “…without faith it is impossible to please Him”. And we know that throughout the Bible and in history, all those who walked closely with God have always been men and women of faith. It is therefore obvious that Noah was a man of faith. While the entire world around him sank in unbelief and ungodliness, he believed God. Noah believed God and His sure word of impending judgment by flood and warned the people around him but they would not heed his warning. In faith, he obeyed God and constructed the Ark from the scratch till he finished it against the odds of cruel mocking of ungodly men around him. In faith, Noah obeyed God and carefully selected every species of animals and birds – two by two; male and female, and eventually moved into the Ark after it was completed.
Meanwhile, the unbelievers around him did not believe God and His warning through Noah until the flood came and destroyed them all. Truly, it is not impossible to walk with God or please Him without faith. We therefore have no option in life than to always believe God and His word irrespective of our feelings and experience. It doesn’t matter really, the level of unbelief in the world now; we must hold tightly to God and His word and never allow our faith in God to waiver at anytime. And without any doubt, the fruit of faith is obedience to God. If we believe God like Noah; we would also obey God like Noah!
We would be patient like him also because Noah was patient in constructing the Ark; he patiently selected all the animals and birds – two by two, male and female. He patiently endured the rain that lasted 40 days and 40 nights, and waited patiently for another 3 months until the water subsided before coming out of the Ark. Surely, we cannot walk with God without faith and patience for, you show your faith by patience!

#WalkingWithGod1-3 #Revealed by An Envoy #Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you this week