23
Mar '18
FAITHPRENEUR D3W1: PRAYING FOR GROWTH
23
Mar '18
Some people will look at you sideways, odd or even strange if you talk about praying for your business growth. For a poverty mindset, it can sound vain. For those convinced that the bible did not say, “Beloved, I pray you to prosper concerning all things and to be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 1:2), this might be hard to accept.
Without question, God receives the glory for increase in our personal or business life as followers of Jesus Christ.
I think what causes a lot of confusion around this issue is humility or a lack there of. How many really successful people do you know personally who glorify God publicly through their testimony, spiritual fruit, service and sacrifice for the body of Christ. There are thousands that do but I’m not referring to them, I’m referring to the one’s you know personally. The sad fact is that most of us don’t know but a handful personally — if that many. And don’t misunderstand me, just because someone is not “Materially Wealthy,” that does not mean that they aren’t successful in faith.
What I am saying is, a FAITHPRENEUR is successful in Christ — first, before they are successful at anything else (Matthew 6:33). The key is glorifying God. Giving God the glory through our story.
Our lives, our businesses take us into the streets, the marketplace and into positions that enable us to influence the world by our faith. The most powerful ministry happens in the street, through our everyday interactions, expressions of faith and conversations — verbal and non-verbal. The lost and the majority of believers don’t go to church — the most impactful discipleship happens in the marketplace through lights of faith (Matthew 5:14).
Money is not our end-game. Money is the end result of our end-game — Glorifying God. A FAITHPRENEUR knows that effective people do not chase money, money chases effective people. The bible says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23). When we honor God through our work, whatever our work is, and our stewardship, we give God thanks: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Do you know many marketplace leaders who rep God in the streets, business and social circles — with tact and effectiveness? With a reported 6.9 Billion believers in the world, shouldn’t we be overwhelmed by spiritual fruit in the marketplace? But we’re not, and that’s the problem — that’s another way we rob God and hurt the body. Repping God is not just through shout outs and the occasional, “I’m a Christian,” but heart, intentional behavior, testimony and, giving back as a lifestyle and not just an event?
Our faithfulness builds each other up. In Hebrews 11:1-40, God gives us examples of faithful leaders to imitate, and you are called to do the same — be examples of great leaders of faith for everybody to see and to be inspired by. A FAITHPRENEUR, like all of God’s faithful, models the word by being a doer of the word, by living the word, by applying the word (James 1:22-25). Somebody is watching you, the God in you.
What does all of this have to do with praying for growth? A FAITHPRENEUR must align business growth with Kingdom growth, business prosperity with Kingdom prosperity. God is the end game. A growth prayer includes a God impact — “God bless the work of my hands to support 3 women’s shelters.” “God bless the fruit of my labor to have enough overflow to send 50, 100 youth to camp this summer.” “God increase my territory to show more people the love of Christ.” This is your end-game. Your end-game is not your church tithe or church service, your end-game is what keeps growth grounded.
Whatever compassion God has put on your heart, it is the reason why God wants to increase your territory. The bible says, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
Put This In Your Spirit: Favor is God’s ability to trust us to do His will with His increase, blessings and influence. (Hebrews 11:6)
This weeks FAITHPRENUER Challenge:
- Identify 1-3 marketplace leaders that role model faith
- Identify 1-3 areas that your faith can be better role modeled in the marketplace
- Identify 1 way that God does or can use your talent/wisdom/faithfulness to serve the body regularly
- Identify 3 God purposes for increasing your territory (Impact to others through your overflow)
- Identify time frames that you want to see a harvest in these areas (Continually increase these bars as you accomplish them)
(A prayer journal will come in handy for these critical seeds that should be watered daily)
When this backs up our prayers for growth, growth is not simply a matter of being rich, growth is a matter of being a powerful Kingdom influencer.
Share and be blessed.
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