Christ’s Sustaining Love

September 6, 2018 By lmworldwide

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, or hardship, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 37-38)

When you are facing an overwhelming problem or devastating crisis in your personal life or business, you might be tempted to think God does not love you. You might feel He has turned His back on your or has forsaken you. But during such times, you need to remember this wonderful truth: there is nothing – no circumstances, no crisis, no crushing situation – that can cause Christ to turn away from you. No matter how terrible or severe the situation, it cannot separate you from the love of Christ. Even if you were to go bankrupt and lose everything, or be terminated from your job, or suffer a great personal loss, the unfailing love of the Lord will carry you through. Christ’s love will sustain you through it all.

Always remember this critically important fact: difficult circumstances are not evidence that God does not love you. God did not put you in those circumstances. But God loves you no matter what circumstances you are in or how you arrived there. In fact, you are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you.

One crisis after another can strike you in rapid succession (remember Job), but the Lord will never forsake you. He will strengthen and encourage you all along the way. No matter the severity of the situation, Christ loves you and is going to take care of you; therefore, you cannot lose. Christ will deliver you from the most extreme problems and the fiercest trials. Nothing in the universe can separate you from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. You can be fully persuaded of this encouraging fact.

If or when severe trouble strikes your business or employment, you need to trust the love of Christ. Just draw close to Him, seeking His presence, strength, and guidance. His love will assure and empower you to rise above whatever trial you are facing.

Excerpt from “What the Bible Says to the Business Leader.” To purchase What the Bible Says to the Business Leader, please visit lmw.org or call 800-987-8790. The book can also be found at amazon.com

Walk Humbly With Christ

August 16, 2018 By lmworldwide

Walking Humbly with God in Business

Have you ever referred to someone as “having a ‘Big Head’”? A country fellow might say, “he’s just too big for his britches.” Those are literal examples of how pride “puffs up”. The prideful person brags about his wealth, his position, his family – in everything he says, he makes himself sound bigger – as though those are the things that make a man great.

But what does the Lord require? “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:5 ESV)

You are called to walk humbly with the Lord. What does this mean? How can you walk humbly with God? The Hebrew word for humbly suggests modesty. As one of God’s followers, you are to walk modestly or meekly with Him, not proudly or arrogantly; you are not to exalt yourself over others, treating them as though they are of less worth than you. Instead, you are. . . .

To have a humble estimate of your own abilities and importance
To be free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, and pretension
To trust the Lord and acknowledge him as the source of your life as you walk through each day
To constantly seek His mercy and forgiveness

If you are walking humbly with God, you will not be proud or self-reliant, depending only on your own strength. Rather, you will continually seek strength from God, calling on Him to help you, guide you, and deliver you from temptation. Walking humbly with God means you will not seek honor for your own name but for God’s Name. All of this is because you know that it is God who has gifted and enabled you to achieve and succeed. Therefore, you want the honor and glory to be His. This is what it means to walk humbly with God.

Excerpt from “What the Bible Says to the Business Leader.” To purchase What the Bible Says to the Business Leader, please visit lmw.org or call 800-987-8790. The book can also be found at amazon.com

The Golden Rule in Business

August 2, 2018 By lmworldwide

THE GOLDEN RULE IN BUSINESS

“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Mt. 22:37 NKJV).

Imagine what a different world this would be if all the businesses of the world would embrace and practice this commandment: love your neighbor—employees, associates, customers, suppliers, vendors, competitors, every human being—as yourself. Idealistic? Yes! But just because it is idealistic behavior does not mean we should not try. On the contrary, we should. As seen recently from the release of the incredibly popular Mr. Rogers Documentary, Fred Rogers was a wonderful example of loving your neighbor and the power in doing so. Indeed, Christ’s point is clear: we demonstrate our love for God by loving our neighbor as ourselves just as Mr. Rogers did. This commandment, commonly called the Great Commandment, should be the foundation on which you build and operate your business. Paul referred to it as the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2), and James called it the royal law (Jas. 2:8).

How do we obey this commandment? How do we love our neighbors as we love ourselves? Jesus answered this question with what we refer to as the Golden Rule:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets” (Mt. 7:12, NLT).

Obeying Christ’s commandment should be the underlying principle upon which you operate or manage your business. It should permeate all your policies, practices, and interactions, and it should extend to everyone with whom you are involved.

When you build your business on Christ’s Great Commandment, He will bless you. He has said that the greatest among us are those who serve others, and that those who humble themselves and serve will be exalted (Mt. 23:11-12). When you serve others sincerely, Christ will exalt you, just as the Heavenly Father has exalted Him (Ph. 2:5-11).

When you conduct business according to God’s principles, you and your business will be a strong testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. You will be demonstrating how we ought to live with one another in this life and how we can build far stronger communities and societies throughout the world.

Planning With Purpose

July 11, 2018 By lmworldwide

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV)

A frustrating reality in business – as well as life in general – is the fact that things do not always work out as planned. Looking back at unmet goals, unfulfilled objectives, and disappointing results can be overwhelming and discouraging. And, in many cases, the disappointing outcomes are due to human failure.

The truth of the proverb is commonly summarized as, “Man proposes, but God disposes.” In other words, you can make excellent plans and set reachable goals for your life or business and move forward to fulfill those plans or attain those goals, but God may have different plans entirely. God reveals His will to you through His Holy Word, and He will reveal His specific will for each day, each step of your life and work, if you will study His Word and seek Him through prayer. God will then direct your steps, one at a time.

Wise leadership is seeking God’s will and plan in every decision and then stepping forward in faith and obedience to God’s direction. God is perfectly good, and you can have confidence that He has a good plan for your life, both personally and professionally.

Note these Scriptures that speak further to God’s plan and direction for you:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Excerpt from “What the Bible Says to the Business Leader.” To purchase What the Bible Says to the Business Leader, please visit lmw.org or call 800-987-8790. The book can also be found at amazon.com

Pray for the spread of the gospel in Pakistan

April 18, 2017 By lmworldwide

We invite you to pray for Rev. Patras Nazir and his Christian ministry partners in Pakistan. God has given Rev. Nazir a mission to take the gospel across the country, raising up and training pastors and planting churches.

Rev. Nazir dedicates much of his time translating biblical resources from English into his native Urdu language. He has recently printed 1,500 sermon booklets derived from the Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® in the Urdu language. He will share these books with pastors across Pakistan. But he needs transportation to deliver them. He rented a van to get the books to his home. He and his wife usually travel across the country on a motorcycle with books in backpacks and in bags. Pray that God will provide the needed transportation.

Changed Lives

April 18, 2017 By lmworldwide

“One of my greatest joys in ministry is seeing the response to the Gospel in the face of hardship, persecution and terrorism, especially in Jos, Nigeria.”
-Pastor David Adegboye, Nigeria

David Adegboye’s life changed when he accepted Christ as a young engineering student in 1974. As he grew in faith, he received a call into ministry, serving as a bi-vocational pastor for nine years before he became a full time pastor. Over his years in ministry he rejoiced to see the power of the gospel to change lives, especially among people who are persecuted for their faith. However, he has also seen the proliferation of the prosperity gospel throughout Africa, which has strengthened his resolve to empower pastors to preach the sincere Word of God.

Today he serves as a mentor and teacher, establishing others in the faith, just as he was discipled through the years, working in Nigeria and throughout Africa with Timothy Olonade, Vice President of International Training for LMW. He is an avid fan of LMW’s free online library and training platform, Lystra Global.

“Lystra Global came to us at the right time, and such a joy for us that we can have access to an all-in-one material that integrates Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and the Bible itself as a ready to use material. The materials are faithful to the scripture. . . I often wonder how I managed before Lystra Global emerged. Access to Bible tools has been a scarce commodity for us especially in a developing world. The cost and availability of The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible® for us have been bridged in Lystra Global.”

Pastor Adegboye uses Lystra Global as he trains pastors for preaching and teaching God’s Word. The pastors he trains are able to grow in their knowledge and confidence as they study and learn more about God’s Word. The free seminary curriculum available from Third Millennium through Lystra Global also contributes to their understanding and fulfillment of the call to serve God in ministry.

God is at work in Africa as dedicated pastors like David Adegboye preach, teach, and disciple young believers and pastors in their walk of faith. With a strong foundation in God’s Word, these pastors are able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ confidently, faithfully, and accurately.