Don’t Buy into the Lie!

1. Introduction

1 Peter 5:8 – “Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil is as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he may devour, whom resist steadfast in the faith”.

· You have a personal adversary – totally committed to rendering you ineffective as a Christian and stripping all God’s provision from you.

· There is no peace in this battle – 24/7 – stakes are eternal.

· Be sober; vigilant; resist!

· Greatest weapon used against people is Deception – Lie!

2. Three lies Believers buy into:

Lie No. 1 – There are two worlds – spiritual life and secular life (dualism)

· ·Dualism separates natural and spiritual areas of your life.

· ·Work life during the week and then God on Sunday.

· ·Work life is viewed as “not spiritual”.

· ·Spiritual life is viewed as “not related to work/business”.

Lie No. 2 – Only a few Christians are ‘chosen’ for Full Time Service

· You have a secular job or a religious job (full time ministry).

· Rest of us are free to work in secular world – money.

· No real responsibility for ministry – that is for “spiritual people”.

Lie No. 3 – Secular life is a public matter but spiritual life is ‘private’

· Don’t talk about ‘religion or politics’.

· Don’t intrude into people’s ‘private’ life – focus on secular.

· Keep quiet about ‘spiritual matters’  Might Offend!

· Spiritual life neglected

· Devil has own agenda: e.g.
(i) Reaction to ‘enough is enough’  call, dangerous, Tui Advertisement.

(ii) Legislation against ‘Hate Speech’ silence and control ability to speak.

3.  Embracing the Truth

Truth No. 1 - Your spiritual life impacts all that you do!

· Prov. 4:28 keep heart with all diligence for out of it is the issues of life.

· All that you do flows out of what you believe.

E.g. Muslims – pouring $50 million a month to finance mosques worldwide.  Goal is to penetrate and take over the world.

E.g. Humanist – agenda to totally alter family as we know it.  Civil Law’s bill – gays – then polygamy.

E.g. Hollywood – media impacting the world.

· Dualism strips you of ability to bring life and power of God into business.

· Mt. 6:24 – cannot serve 2 masters – God/money

· Serve God and make money your servant!

· Money speaks! How can you make it your servant?

· Money has a voice – do you listen to $$ or to God?

· Master tells servant what to do – Do you master money or does money master you?

· If money speaks and you obey then money masters you!

e.g. Oprah Show – ‘Credit Card’. A woman had amassed $120,000 debt on 12 cards – advice – give 10%.
Advisor =Poor are poor because money controls them.
When money has power over you – repelled from you.

· Looked for keys to power over money – 1 key – give it.

· When you give it away – you master it.

· Oprah began to give over 10% away –earnings rose from 3 mill to 100 mill.  When God tells you to give it seems like he doesn’t know the state of your account.

 Truth No.2 – All Christians are called to be full time ministers of God!

· 1 Pet. 2:9 – You are a royal priesthood you have access to God at any time for wisdom, empowering.

· Rev. 6:10 – Kingdom of priests and we shall reign on earth.

o We are called to extend the kingdom of God everywhere – Advance!

o Kingdom of the world media/finance/government/health/education.

· At no time in the day do you stop being a minister of God.

· Holy Spirit anointing given to enable you to extend influence – impact lives.

· He has made us ministers – servants of God full time (Is. 61:1-6)

 Truth No. 3 – All Christians are called to reach people for Christ!

- ·When you make God senior partner, God can get his business done through yours.

- Lk. 19:10 God’s business is people.

- Jn 3:16 God is fully committed to people to serve and build them.

- Called to do more than make money called to penetrate and impact people.

- Jesus was constantly criticised because he was involved with people.  (Lk 15:1-2).

- People hide pain, fear, and disappointment behind prosperity.

- You are called to pastor them (Mt 4:19 – Fisher of men)

- Who? Employees, associates, business connections, competitors.

- ·How?

1) Lifestyle – attitude, speak, present self, care, consistency

2) Business practice – honesty, integrity, service, presentation.