By Dr. Terry L. Thompson
SEEC
Magazine
PO Box 2655 Spring,TX 77383-2655
God is sending out
a call to business and professional leaders in the marketplace whom He has
strategically trained, mentored, and placed in positions of influence in
society; not for their own purposes, but for His. This call could very well be a forerunner of
preparation to God’s next great move.
Recently I was
having lunch with a prophet from the
Texas
area. Our discussion was drawn to the
marketplace and what God was doing amongst these region and city dwellers. The prophet’s perspective about where the
apostles and prophets should be concentrating was confirming and directional. He went on to explain how the apostles and
prophets had been in the church realigning it to God’s government and
purposes. Now we are coming into a time
when these trans-local gifts will begin to concentrate in the marketplace. He believed that we are going to see apostles
and prophets in corporate boardrooms, union meetings, government venues, and
other labor intensive places.
This discussion
was of tremendous encouragement to me, as I have been sensing God’s direction
toward more of a regional concentration and not just the local church. In order to impact a region with Kingdom
dynamics we must change from, “getting people into the church” and focus on, “getting the church out to the people.” The early church made the marketplace the
target of their ministry because their work regularly took them there. In order to see a region transformed, change
has to come to the marketplace and Christians play a key role.
Ed Silvoso states in his
book, Anointed for Business, there are four levels of relationship the
Christian has toward the marketplace:
1. To just be a
Christian in the marketplace. This person views the marketplace as an evil place. Their objective is to just: SURVIVE.
2. To be a
Christian who applies biblical principles in the marketplace. This person applies Christian principles, but
does not believe it will affect their company or corporation. They overcome temptation and keep a good
testimony. They will not change the
marketplace and the marketplace will not change them.
3. To be a
Christian who does business in the fullness and in the power of the Holy Spirit. This person seeks God every day, hears from
Him, and implements what He instructs them.
4. To be a
Christian committed to the total transformation of the region. This person experiences God’s transforming
power personally, in business, and in the life of others. They then see themselves on a mission to
transform the region.
I remember several
years ago the late Brother John Garlock was teaching
at a retreat, on Acts 6. He pointed out how the spiritual leaders were getting
bogged down with the details of administration. (As if these spiritual leaders were too busy to wait
on tables.) He pointed out that
they selected seven men and appointed them to these “menial” tasks. Why? So they could get back to what is really important, “PRAYER and MINISTRY
OF THE WORD.” Funny thing, you do not
read anything else about 9 of the 12 Apostles again in the Book of Acts.
While the Apostles
were busy praying and studying, a move of God begins through these 7
marketplace people. The text lists the
five criterions used to select these men:
1. “Seek out from
among you…” They were obviously
church members. It was necessary to
appoint individuals that the Apostles gave spiritual covering and oversight.
2. “…of good
reputation…” Reputation is a
character issue. There are many
characters in the church world, but these had to have a ‘GOOD’ reputation or
character.
3. “…full of the
Holy Spirit…” The need for depth of
the Spirit was paramount in the work amongst the people. Carnality had no place in attending to the
matters of the Church.
4. “…full of
Wisdom…” They had to have the
common sense and practicality to implement a plan to meet the demanding and
immediate need.
5. “…full of
Faith…” These were not people of
fear, doubt, or unbelief about God or His ability to supply all that was
needed.
There is no
indication these men served tables, but they were able to solve the problem
with great efficiency. Thus, these seven
were selected to partner with the Apostles to birth another move of God’s
Spirit. In fact, through the managerial
expertise and the ministry of the Word presented by the Apostles, “the number
of the disciples continued to increase greatly in
Jerusalem.” (Acts 6: 7) That is followed by
the miraculous ministry of Stephen. (Acts 6:8) Signs and Wonders were
done ‘among the people’. Stephen was not
appointed to do Signs and Wonders, but to administer a food program. We are not certain what happens to the food
program; all we know is when marketplace ministry was released among the people
things began to happen.
I believe that
Apostles and Prophets are moving into the marketplace to help the people
discover, prepare, and be released into their anointing.
Pastor Warren Piersol always told us about a dream that he had many years
ago. In the dream he saw masses of
people moving toward the Lord. There
were no sawdust floors, (his era of revival) no big tents, no massive church
structures, but these people were in shopping malls, grocery stores, coffee shops,
classrooms, etc. Could this be the
beginning of that day?
(This article was taken from SEEC Magazine Vol.8 Issue 5. If
you would like to receive a free copy of SEEC Magazine contact us at
PO Box 2655 Spring,TX 77383-2655.)
