Successful Business

Over the years I have engaged in different businesses. When the rage of the age was waterbeds, I put in a waterbed store. It lasted about a year and a half. I had a vision and desire, but I did not have sufficient capitalization and a solid business plan along with some of the other proper preparations for a successful business. How does the saying go? “If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.” That’s basically what happened. Through a financial settlement, I later in life put in a combination art gallery, book store, gourmet coffee shop and worship center. I had the money, but I did not have the research and plan. I took some ideas from another part of the country and tried to apply those ideas to the local area. People in this area hardly new about latte, cappuccino and coffees such as that, at that time. People were accustomed to craft items, but were strangers to bronze art. The type books I carried were not the books that fit into the mainstream demand of the general public at that time. Now these items are well known and widely distributed.  Timing was a factor. Successful business needs proper provisions in operation, proper planning and operating by that plan and doing things in proper timing. These are just a few of the factors involved for a successful business. The same things can apply to the operation of the kingdom of God. Along with vision and desire, we need to have the proper spiritual equipment and provisions in operation. Being born again and baptized in the Spirit of God are the basic provisions of spiritual life and power. Our “business plan” for the kingdom of God is given to us in the Book, the Bible. In God’s business though, even understanding and “going by the Book,” needs to be done through the revelation of Jesus Christ given by the Spirit of God. It takes living in and by the Spirit of God to properly discern God’s business plan. It does not operate by a carnal understanding. This only brings division. Also by the Spirit, we are able to discern and operate in God’s timing of things. Just because something is revealed to us does not mean it is time to implement that action or activity. Just because something might be good does not mean it is God, and in God’s timing. Just as successful business is dependent on careful adherence to the factors involved, so does operating successfully in the kingdom of God depend on our careful adherence to the guidance and leadership of the Lord. When we are operating out of God’s daily Word (Gk. “rhema”) given to us by the Spirit, and not just head knowledge of the Word (Gk. “logos”), then we can operate in God’s purpose with God’s power. “Lord, help us all to wait upon you and shut up long enough to hear you, and do what you want us to do.”

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