| Robert Ricciardelli |
Nine Lies About The Marketplace
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The marketplace is the place the Lord has always desired to influence with His presence. It is not a surprise to see His people rise up in many jurisdictions in the marketplace. The gatekeepers of the community are those areas of service and productivity for the people of that community.
There are seven main gatekeeper areas which are:
1. Education
2. Business & Finance
3. Media & Entertainment
4. Government and Politics
5. Church Organizations
6. Healthcare
7. Law & Law Enforcement
The Lord desires to have His servants serve and lead the way in each of these jurisdictions. For much of our church history, His people have had a dualistic mindset that basically presented two choices, serve God in the church, and/or, be a Christian in these other area’s but falling short of looking at it as your calling or ministry the Lord had led you into. We are seeing many of these lies and deceptions becoming exposed as His children are hearing His voice.
Alistair Petrie who is a great friend of ours has witnessed God’s transformational presence transform not only communities but also nations. We do not describe transformation as perfection, but that transformation is a visible sign of people being changed at the heart level and making a measurable impact upon the lives of others multi-jurisdictionally. Alistair had written about nine of these lies that many of God’s people had at one time believed, and I will expound on them.
1. The Marketplace is material and not spiritual.
The market place is very spiritual and has been controlled by the wrong spiritual forces. Satan’s empire is entrenched there. We are commanded to set the captives free. Jesus’ ministry was primarily in the marketplace. He influenced men and women with backgrounds in every one of the gatekeeper jurisdictions listed above. He very much wants us to be in “the game” of life, but be advancing rather then hiding.
John 17:15 I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
2. The Marketplace is “Off Limits” to the fullness of the
The spirit of God is not geographic and can influence and pull down strongholds in every arena, context and dimension. There are kingdoms in every realm and God wants His kingdom to rule and to set captives free. The captives are in the world and so must we be, to bring them truth to set them free.
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
The world and all its people belong to him.
3. I am not qualified to minister unless I am ordained.
We are all called and we are all qualified by Him to do the work of the ministry. Ecclesiastical ministry is only one sphere of ministry.
Revelation 1:5-7 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.
To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen
4. Real ministry takes place in the Church.
We are called to be a counter culture and not a subculture. We are not called to do “church” in business, but to bring the
John 17:13-15 "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
5. Success in Business is not as important in advancing the
This is the dualistic mindset that we need to rid ourselves of. Whatever context God calls you to is important to Him. He desires that we be obedient to share the gospel by how we engage with others in the church and outside of it. Advancing the
Genesis 41:40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole
6. The Marketplace or business aspect of our calling is “part time” ministry.
We are all in full time ministry to the Lord first and then to the people he enjoins us with. The mistake many have made when they get fuller revelation of Christ is that they may need to quit their business and go into full time ministry. We must understand that our consecration as sons & daughters of the living God is eternal and crosses beyond any boundaries of what we do. It is who we are and we are ambassadors for Christ full time in every jurisdiction.
John 17:16-18 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.
7. The anointing as ministers for the marketplace is less than the anointing for ministry in the church.
All but one miracle in Acts was in the marketplace. The Lord has anointed His beloved to serve Him and others in a variety of ways and with a variety of gifts. A person can be a janitor who is serving God with his heart and soul and making a kingdom difference, while another man can be serving behind a pulpit preaching the good news. To the measure they are both obedient to what God has called them to do, God is well pleased with both.
Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.
8. Profit and Success motives are evil
It is the Lord that has given us gifts and abilities for success. He does not want us to seek after riches, but after Him. If owning things were a sin, that would make God the biggest sinner of all, because He owns everything. Obtaining material wealth has many conditions as ambassadors for Christ, and the power can cause a fall if we are not continually in Christ and being led by Him. With humility and fear may we steward the things that the Lord gives us.
Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
9. I am not like the Apostles
The Apostles were all businessmen. The kingdom advances primarily in the marketplace. We must seek first the
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
These are just a few of some of the deceptions many of us have lived with. Praise God that paradigms are changing to make a kingdom impact for our God. Alistair Petrie and his work can be found at www.partnershipministries.com We will be partnering with him to open up a
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