For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Rom 8:6 NKJV
The principles we will discuss are just as true and relevant in ‘marketplace’ ministry as they are in the ‘pulpit’ or ‘platform’ ministry. By God’s grace, I have proven them in both arenas.
The body of Christ needs you to be successful, even to the point of doing the primary will of God, whether you are called to secular, ‘marketplace’ ministry, or to be what I call a ‘professional Christian,’ a full-time minister. Understand this…your success is our success. Rewards go to those who finish, and those who succeed. There are no ‘participation’ trophies. Learn to accomplish the will of God in your ministry!
The two most important gifts of the Spirit, as far as the power of God goes, are the gift of tongues and the gift of faith. One crucial aspect of the gift of tongues is that it builds up your spirit man, enabling you to receive the other gifts of the Spirit more freely. The gift of faith enables you to bring to pass the impossible at your command, according to what God has revealed to you by revelation.
In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, the Greek word translated ‘another,’ regarding tongues and faith, is the word HETEROS. HETEROS is used for ‘another’ (meaning – another benefit or profit) when only two are involved; in this case, meaning only you and God. Others may benefit from the fruit of the operation of these gifts, but only you and God benefit directly from their operation. This Greek usage sets these two apart as singularly important in your life.
So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17 NKJV
The gift of faith comes with the revelation of God’s wisdom, instruction, and knowledge, giving you the advantage of being able to accomplish the will of God. You walk up to the platform or into a sales meeting, knowing that you already have the victory. It is already an accomplished reality, a ‘done deal’, even before you start.
Now, how do you receive this kind of faith?
Preparation is one of the highest forms of practical faith. The greatest preparation – in fact, the only essential and legitimate preparation – is to sit in the presence of God as He equips you with the tools that you need to do the will of God. To trust in any other preparation (although other practical preparation may be needed, and may be ordered by the Lord), including your own practical experience and knowledge, is to trust in something other than Him. His specific guidance, wisdom and will are essential to pleasing Him and manifesting true success, the success that benefits you now and in eternity.
How do you enter the manifest presence of God?
There are two great realities regarding the presence of God: the promised presence and the manifest presence. The promised presence is that reality that He is always with you. The manifest presence is His presence in tangible effect with you sensing the moving of His Spirit. The Word gives us general principles of entering the presence of God; for instance, having clean hands and a pure heart.
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. Ps 24:3‑4 NKJV
How you will meet God will be in ways that you and He determine. Don’t brag about or share these intimate secrets with others. For me, generally speaking, when I get quiet in prayer and worship, the Spirit will come and lead me into a deeper place with the Father. There I sit, and wait on Him, listening to Him as He speaks. At other times, the Spirit of God can be very spontaneous. Avoid anything that desensitizes you to the moving of the Spirit. Remember, He is interested in everything in your life (not a hair of your head falls to the ground without His knowledge), so be conscious of the fact that He can speak at any time.
When you are in fellowship with Him, He will drop into your spirit the specific gifts that you need to succeed in the current situation, be it business, or ministry, or your family and personal life. So many times in business, I have received specific revelation as to how to find customers for my service, with dramatic results. I have received wisdom on how to ‘keep’ customers, that they are satisfied, blessed, and not stolen by the enemy. He showed me how to make my service the best it could be, to the end, we had as much work as we could handle.
By the gift of faith, you can command and demand the success that He has opened up to you by revelation. In Jesus Name, command the revelation to come to pass, and never waver.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:16‑18 NKJV
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. Ps 103:7 NKJV
What I have shown you are some of the ‘behind the scenes’ realities that make the public, visible realities possible. It is what happens in your heart, between you and Him, that makes the miracles and the public success possible. Guard that reality, for it is in this relationship with Him that you have the secrets of successful ministry, bless God forever!
Remember dear ones; we must be about our Father’s business…