The call of the businessman

In the ancient middle-east, commerce took place at the city gates. If you had any business to conduct that is where you would go. Represented there at the gates, alongside of the leading merchants, were the spiritual voices of that town along with the judiciary. These three groups comprised the elders of the city. We see here a foundation of prophetic, wisdom, and finance. These three must come together once again in our culture.

There is a call going forth to the millennial generation. God is calling many of them to the realm of business. God wants to create a funding structure for the Church. There is a flexibility that is created when churches have businessmen (and women) that they can turn to for special projects. Many great movements (The Call comes to mind) and ministries have been birthed because God laid it on the heart of a few wealthy businesspeople to donate significant sums of money.

But these businesspeople will not just be conduits of wealth. They will impact society as they create it. They will correct much of the injustice that permeates much of large corporate America. They will ensure that proper labor practices are followed overseas. They will create businesses and run departments that glorify God. Whatever their heart finds to do will be done as an act of worship to God. This is where wisdom and justice has to meet business and economics.

In addition, these businesspeople will be a great asset to the Church. They will improve the stewardship of resources within the Church. But they won't do things as the world does. For the kingdom way often confounds the wise. This is where the prophetic comes in. At times they will give away entire fortunes. At times they will walk away from successful business ventures. But all of this will be under the leading of the Holy Spirit. The same God that gave Abraham, Jacob, and Job enormous wealth building abilities will release it over this generation.

God gave Solomon great wisdom. Solomon used this wisdom to create wealth. Kings and queens came from throughout the earth to view the wealth of Solomon. May this happen once again. May the wealth of the world come into the Kingdom. And may the world come to the Church and see the glory of God. There are those businesspeople being raised up right now who will shine that light of God's glory as beacons in this world.

The New Nazarites

A number of years ago there was a movement of the Spirit in which many young people took the vow of a nazarite. A nazarite is one who has decided to set himself (or herself) apart for God. You can read the details of an Old Testament nazarite in Numbers chapter six. I was one of those young men. For 18 months I didn't cut my hair, drink alcohol, or consume anything from the grape. During this period of time I devoted myself to the call of revival at Cal State Fullerton. It was an amazing time of zeal, passion, and fire for the Kingdom of Heaven. Through various circumstances I felt led to end that vow and to take a step back from that particular assignment.

Recently I have been feeling the stirrings of the nazarite once again. This time it is going to look different but the idea of consecration is the same. I have decided to go to Sacramento on Labor Day weekend to renew my vows of consecration. Thousands of others will be doing the same in the place of the sacrament that weekend. But this time it will be different. It will not be accompanied (for myself that is) with an outer sign as before. It will merely be a lifestyle of consecration.

The nazarites of old were voices crying out in the wilderness. They exemplified the spirits of Samson and Elijah- they called a generation back to God. They lived their lives in radical obedience. There is a new company of nazarites arising in this hour. They will live their lives with the same kind of radical obedience as the long-haired ones. They will have the same passion and zeal for purity as those who paved the way. But they will be voices within the culture. They will live in the world but not of it. They will be as Daniel of old. Daniel adopted the language, dress, and culture of the Chaldeans. But he was still that voice of consecration.

These are the new Nazarites! They will take their stand for purity wherever they are. They will arise from the ranks of business, entertainment, fashion, politics, government, and education. They will devote their lives to seeing the Kingdom of Heaven be made manifest. They will take their stand against injustice and give their lives in intercession. I have chosen to respond to this call. I have decided to place my life on the altar of surrender. It was a choice I made some time ago but it is a vow that I am renewing at this time. What is the Lord calling you to do?

The Spirit of Samson

God is raising up the Samsons in this day. These are those who will take the fight to the enemy. Samson wasn't content with waiting for the Philistines to attack. Rather he went to their strongholds and defeated them. In the same way we are called to go into the places of the enemy. To tear down the gates of their strongholds and expose their nakedness.

Will you allow yourself to be used in a style of warfare that most Christians will be uncomfortable with? Your methods will not be conventional. The religious ones will condemn you. Even you will not understand much of it. God will have you do things that are impossible to understand. He will have you do things that may even appear wrong. This is the spirit of Samson.

But in all of this do not forget your weaknesses. Do not allow yourself to compromise. Be ruled completely by the Spirit of God. Do not allow your destiny to be sidetracked. But do not be discouraged- for you will live out that destiny. It belongs to you and no one will even take that from you.

Don't focus on what the enemy is doing. Don't be distracted by the schemes of the devil. But be focused on what God is doing. Keep your gaze upon Him. Move when His Spirit falls upon you in power. When He stirs within you go and grab ahold of the gates. Expose the enemy for who he is. Bring confusion into the camps of the enemy. Destroy the structures of darkness.