This morning, as I pondered what would add value to your life, my mind immediately went to the idea of knowing what is important. I continually observe well-meaning believers putting their efforts in the wrong places. We live in a time when everything we do should be to prepare us for this very moment!
I know I’ve shared along these lines so many times, but it is a topic we should always consider. The scripture that always comes to mind when thinking of where I put my efforts refers to the advisers who made David such a powerful king …men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do… (1 Chronicles 12:32, NIV)
It seems the Church has almost always failed to understand the times. Consequently, even when their actions and strategies would have been valuable at a different time, they were not valuable for the season wherein they found themselves. Sometimes inappropriate responses are not completely wrong; too often, they are simply wrong for the current situation.
When Trump ran for president, believers thought, “If he wins, it will solve the problems of persecution facing the Church.” I warned against this faulty logic. But those warnings fell on deaf ears. We had a few years that could have been used to prepare for what was coming next, but a failure to understand the times led to inaccurate strategies, and here we are!
Ten years ago, when I started writing books and preaching messages that would prepare us for the times we now face, the Church didn’t think it was important. Here we are, once again, unprepared for the times wherein we live. Now, when we need to develop ourselves to walk in a greater level of supernatural life and power, everyone wants to know more about the Tribulation.
The Church today is like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25! They found themselves left behind by the bridegroom, not because they were evil, but because they were foolish! This word, in the Greek, implies slothful. They weren’t diligent enough to search out what was important. God will always give us the wisdom to win if we desire the answer enough to search it out!
The first 3 ½ years after I surrendered my life to Jesus, I ministered “on the streets.” This was when hippies roamed the streets at night and hung out in unusual places. During this time, coffee houses became very popular places for hippies to gather!
A few years later, as the coffeehouse era was coming to an end, the Church realized this could have been a great way to reach the hippie community. A local group of businessmen approached me about starting a coffee house ministry. I was musically oriented; I understood the culture and still had a lot of personal influence in that community. However, the problem was that the coffee house era was ending, and it was no longer the “in thing.”
This group of men offered to finance the entire outreach. Their hearts were in the right place. The problem was their timing. Around this time, many churches across the country jumped into the coffee house outreach ministry. The only problem was that they were about five years too late.
They started their ministry and packed it with Christian kids, but it never fulfilled their goal of reaching the lost. They didn’t understand the times; therefore, their well-intentioned passion was ineffective. Good intentions are not an acceptable substitute for wise decision-making!
Throughout the years, I have been fortunate to create most of my personal finances outside of the ministry. As such, I could provide very well for my family without creating a financial strain on the ministry.
One of my “secrets” for making good money was where I placed my attention. I discovered that the most important thing I could do in a new business was to learn the compensation structure. I found that by properly structuring my organizations, I could make really good money with a minimal amount of time and effort!
While other people focused on building a large organization, I focused on building a well-structured organization. My personal income would often be twice as much as those who had organizations that were larger than mine. I was invited to teach other companies my strategies for financial success. I would freely share my “secret” to financial success. Sadly, few people applied what I taught them; it just didn’t fit their paradigm for financial success.
I have made it a personal practice to always put my efforts for life, ministry, relationships, and business into what I call the “critical factors.” Understand the times and respond accordingly! Put first things first!
I discovered this important principle in Proverbs 24:27, Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house. In other words, do that which keeps you alive before you do that which makes you comfortable. My generation worked, saved money, and only after reaching a place of financial stability would we spend money on “comfort items.” Today, young couples borrow money and create huge debt, seeking “comfort,” and then they will put their efforts into that which would make their life stable. This reverse wisdom is why so many young people are so deep in unsustainable debt.
As I look at Facebook and other social media sources, I see people asking all the wrong questions. They seek answers to questions that will make no difference in real life. Even if they get the right answers, it will not improve their quality of life.
As I have mentioned so many times, the key thing we need to ensure protection, provision, and good decision-making is to hear what the Spirit is saying and follow Him! Jesus warned against the deception of these days. The degree of deception in the world today is monumental. Few people have the knowledge and life experience to avoid the multiple pitfalls that await us. But God knows and can lead us into the best life possible.
I have never believed I was smart enough to make all the right decisions, so I did something better; I listened to and followed the One who always makes the right decisions: The Lord, my Shepherd! Learning to listen to the voice of the Lord is a journey into listening, sensitivity and obedience!
Listening with our hearts requires being able and willing to quiet the noise in our heads and focus on the voice of God in our hearts. If you are ready to become like the wise virgins who prepared for the moment and escaped impending doom, invest in yourself!
Every week Impact Ministries produces tools and resources to take you beyond simply hearing the Word of God. I want to help you become a hearer and a doer. I want you to experience the wisdom of God for yourself!
Right now, all of our materials are on sale at incredible savings. This is an excellent time to invest in Heart Physics®, the greatest tool you can get to develop your capacity to hear what the Spirit is saying to you about your life! Go here to shop. (Remember to log in to your World Changer account to receive your additional 10% discount.)
Please remember, a disciple always invests in their own life. Plus, the money you spend with Impact Ministries provides us with the resources to reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Thank you for all you do to help us reach the world and raise up disciples unto the Lord Jesus!
Together we are changing the way the world sees God!
If you are interested in becoming a Heart Physics® coach or developing your skills to utilize Heart Physics® skills in your teaching, preaching, or pastoral ministry, join me for a special meeting on Wednesday, December 14th at 1 pm CST. Watch your email for an invitation coming soon.