On a personal note, I invested the first 17 years in corporate America chasing the almighty dollar. And a little over Two years ago, I was faced with a decision where my wife and I spent time in prayer seeking His purpose for us. I was the president of a company that was all about the almighty dollar, with no Almighty in the equation.
I needed God in our finances, our business and my daily walk. So after much prayer and an indescribable peace, I resigned from that secular corporate position as president of an online dating business—of all things, to become a Christian entrepreneur and mentor. The Lord was directing me to be a difference maker and to lean on Him and the Word vs. the world. I have been able to put Christ first in my business and my life. I have been mentored by Christian millionaires and the example provided by these godly men and women has forever changed my walk.
The Lord has blessed me with gifts and talents in the marketplace, but He was waiting until I trusted Him and that He could trust me to pour out more blessings, not so I could hold tightly onto them, but so these finances could flow through me.
I firmly believe He will get it to us, when He can get it through us.
When we began to “live” His Word 2 years ago, the blessings have been amplified. That was a major shift for me. Taking the focus off me and onto others was the key.
Being a cheerful giver was truly an outward manifestation of getting my heart right. It started with our finances and it opened my heart to one of service. And as 2 Corinthians 8:7 states, “But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38.
Since we have been obedient with our finances and focused on serving Him first, He has opened up opportunities and supernatural favor in our finances entrusting us with so much more. I give God all the glory, honor and praise. We are also able to reach more people with the Good News as finances are simply a tool to equip ministries locally and globally.
When you seek Him first, your desires begin to change from worldly desires to desires that are aligned with the Word. We have been blessed and prosperous with our business over the past two years and one lesson that I have learned is just because you can buy something, does not mean you should. Having grown up around wealth, but never experiencing it in my family while growing up, I had some worldly desires that I pursued. If we are all honest, all of us have been there or are still there. The more time we spend in the Word of God, in prayer and in praise, those desires begin to change and get in alignment with God's purpose for our lives.
During the first two months of 2007, I took a long hard look at those things that we have prioritized in our lives. We are in the process of seeking the Lord on all areas that need to be transformed from world to Word. It comes down to a matter of good stewardship. In fact, it was during this time that we made the decision to move from our current home—this Tuesday in fact, to be better stewards. Don't get me wrong, things are not the issue, but it's when some of those things have us, that it is an issue. I realized that I am entrusted with the assets that the Lord has given us the keys for.
I turned 40 years old a few weeks ago and I am so thankful for the wisdom and discernment that the Lord has given me. For many years, He was my Savior, but now He is Lord of my life. It is never too late to repent and seek Him first, beginning today. Simply ask, “here I am Lord, use me.” And be ready to do what the world will tell you cannot be done. Remember, you have to attempt the impossible to do the impossible. When you are willing to get out of the boat and go where God wants you to go, get ready to do the impossible.
Give outrageously of your love, give outrageouslyof your finances, give outrageously time, gifts and talents. I believe it is the ultimate reflection of Christ in us.
Now, I want to shift gears with some keys to experiencing that favor in our lives.
Do you begin your day in prayer and in the Word? This is an area that is often a challenge for me. I want to get into the “to do” list for the day and for those wired the same way, simply add that at the top of your “to do” list.
Do you have a spirit of thankgiving every morning. It does not have to be a long song or a long prayer, just Thank you, Lord.
Are you praying and believing for the Lord to direct your steps, your family, your business? Are you praying about where you sit at a restaurant, Starbucks, who you connect with every day?
Are you believing and expecting Divine appointments in your life and business?
--Believe for divine appointments and favor
--Let His appointments and schedule become yours
--He can open doors you can’t open in the natural
--we need to stop focusing on the horizontal and go vertical—look up
--The Holy Spirit can lead you to someone to bless; connect you with the one person who can change the results.
Are you believing for Divine solutions?
--God has everything you need
--Be willing to trust what God can do more than what you can do! This is a tough one for me.
Are you believing for Divine favor?—Grace on steroids
--Divine favor will compel people to help you
--magnetic power, not through the Universe that the new agers are crediting these days, but through the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
Are you believing for Divine power?
--He will empower your words, actions, phone calls, meetings, presentations and anything else His breath touches for His Holy purposes.
Are you believing for Divine results?
--His results multiply. A lot of us say, Lord, you’re in control, but we are still in control. We have to surrender. We have to make Him Lord, not just savior.
When we look at prosperity in the Bible— we are not just talking money folks, it translates to:
--nothing lacking
--wholeness
--having everything you need, abundance
God created each of us for Greatness! Not so we can hold tightly to it and show people what we did, but so we can reflect Him and be a blessing to others. Please make sure when you have that favor, that you give Him the glory.
Ask the Lord, what is it that you have for my life? We each need to ask ourselves what we are trading the days of our lives for. That is exactly what we are all doing and we are not here to be space takers, but to be difference makers.
1) Seek that vision for your life and He will begin to open your eyes
2) Bigger than what we could ever think
He has plans to bless and prosper you.
Some folks in here this morning have a poverty mentality and some people hold onto that so they don’t have to perform. It is easier to stay in your comfort zone.
A couple other things I wanted to share with you this morning.
We all know that everything is fruit from our thought life—out thoughts lead to our actions, leading to our habits, leading to our character, then leading to our end results or success or lack there of;
But here is a great way to share that.
What you allow to come on your life, it will come in your life, and it will come out of your life. It is critical to get in God’s Word and keep your mind right. You have control over your mind and then you begin to speak out.
Be Doers of the Word! Don’t try, DO and DO seek the Lord’s divine direction and connections every day.
I want to encourage you this morning. I am going to ask the ushers to pass out something that I read most every morning. Make it your own. As we close this morning, I want to confess this together and Tricia and the praise team will bless us as we close.
OK, are you ready?
Be Encouraged TODAY:
I set the course of my life today with my words:
I declare today that I will not be defeated, discouraged, depressed or disappointed.
I am the head, I have insight, I have wisdom, I have ideas, I have authority.
I exercise my authority today with my words and I decree a thing and it is so.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)…the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me… (Romans 8:11)
As I speak words today, they come to pass (Job 22:28); they go before me, they bring the things to pass that I desire; and they stop all attacks, assaults, oppression, and fear from coming to my life.
God is on my side today and, therefore, I cannot be defeated.
His favor surrounds me today as a shield. (Psalm 5:12). I expect favor today from heaven and from the earth.
Jesus had favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), and as He is so am I on this earth. (1 John 4:17)
Therefore, I have favor today with God and man.
I expect and receive favor in my home, favor in my job, favor in my business, favor in my ministry, favor with my finances, favor in every deal I am involved in.
I have the wisdom of God today. I will think the right thoughts, say the right words and make the right decisions in every situation I face today.
My mouth speaks wisdom and my heart is filled with understanding. (Psalm 49:3)
I ask for, and receive, an abundant supply of wisdom and understanding today from God (James 1:5)…wisdom from above, wisdom that is pure, peaceable, gentle, unwavering, willing to yield, without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)
Wisdom and understanding are better than silver and gold and nothing I desire can compare with them; therefore, I make it my ambition and desire to have understanding and wisdom; therefore I know I will have all of the other desires of my heart. (Proverbs 8:10-11)
My words go before me in securing my divine health and healing…
I will not be sick today; I will not be sad today; I will not be broke today; I will not be confused today.
I have health today; I have joy today; I have all the money I need in the name of Jesus.
My steps are ordered by the Lord… (Psalm 37:23)
I have a covenant with God and by the blood of Jesus I release my divine protection and divine provision.
I expect to have divine appointments today, to run into the right people, and to be delivered from the wrong people.
Any adversity, attack, accidents and tragedies that were headed my way are diverted right now in Jesus’ name.
Now I speak to:
every mountain of fear
every mountain of discouragement
every mountain of stress
every mountain of depression
every mountain of lack and insufficiency
And I say, “Be removed and cast into the sea in Jesus’ name!” (Mark 11:23) I expect the best day of my life spiritually, emotionally, relationally and financially today in Jesus’ name.
Those are powerful confessions. Make them your own. Don’t just sit here this morning and then go on with life as usual. Make these confessions every morning and you and your results will be changed.
Today is the start of oceans of blessings and fruitfulness in your life. Thanks be to God in advance for what He is doing and will be doing throughout the next week and the rest of your life. It begins here. It begins today. It begins with your commitment to receiving and believing in His great abundance. Thank you, Lord Jesus. You are worthy and holy and we lift You up and praise Your Holy Name today. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
We cannot end this service without giving someone an opportunity to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior. With heads bowed and eyes closed, if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please raise your hand. If you are feeling a nudging, get a little uncomfortable as today is YOUR day.
Please pray this prayer with me. Dear Heavenly Father, I need you in my life, I know that you sent your son Jesus to die on the Cross for my sins and that He rose again, and that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved and have everlasting life. Thank you Lord for saving me, in Jesus name I pray, amen.
Have a blessed week and expect incredible things in your life this week.
Love outrageously, give outrageously and Live OUTRAGEOUSLY.
Let’s go out and change lives this week, amen?
Private Reply to Jack Weinzierl
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