TEACHING

Don Atkin

MARKETPLACE MINISTERS

Our Father is answering Jesus’ prayer, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)." This happens as we take responsibility within our God-assigned sphere. We are to discover our calling, work and boundaries, in the church and in the marketplace.

We are to "be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth (Read Genesis 1 and 2)," to "dress" and "keep" our "garden," and "subdue" every enemy of our territorial responsibility. We are to tread down, conquer, subjugate, all things. "You have put all things in subjection under his feet (Hebrews 2:8)."

As a son of God, I must give priority to my personal relationship with Father. If I cannot govern myself under the direction of the Holy Spirit, I certainly cannot expand kingdom influence beyond myself. Secondly, I am to see that my wife is released into all of her potential. Thirdly, my children must become fruitful and multiply as I guide them toward their destiny. Then the Holy Spirit gives me the grace and wisdom to be fruitful and multiply within my God-assigned boundaries, in the church and in the world of enterprise.

Wives are to establish and maintain the atmosphere of the home. Many women are also impacting the marketplace through commerce, education, politics, etc. "She considers a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard (Proverbs 31:16)." Dominion responsibility for children usually begins with picking up their toys. Each child has a measure of rule. "This is your room . . . keep it clean!"

"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened (Matthew 13:33)." We are "hid" within our spheres so that the life of King Jesus within us will change the shape of our culture in an ever-expanding way.

PRIESTS AND KINGS IN THE MARKETPLACE!

Jesus "has made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10)." We are all both kings and priests. We all have realms in which we rule; and we all also have the priestly responsibilities of prayer and ministry within our spheres. Every believer is a full-time minister! Some have been called to the pulpit,

others have been called to the marketplace. The gospel of the kingdom has been contained within the walls of the church for too long! Author Jim Buchan writes,

"Well-meaning pastors have for years implied to people that the only

valuable ministries are the ones that take place in a church building. We

give people spiritual gifts tests that inevitably point them to some kind of

service in the church. Meanwhile, those in the business world feel like

spiritual orphans, second-class citizens in the kingdom. They are generally

on their own, given no training, support or encouragement about the

valuable ministry God has called them to.

Among the problems resulting from this false, gnostic mindset are these:

(1) the marketplace becomes spiritually impoverished, because we don't

see it as a valid mission field; (2) the church becomes financially

impoverished, because we are subtly hostile to those who are successful

in the marketplace."

Church leadership is to equip the saints to reign in life. "Those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17)." Believers are to permeate every culture, and reign in every aspect of life!

The priestly ministry of the church is to provide vision, while the kingly ministry is to provide provision. Most priests find the funding for their vision in partnership with kings who are in the marketplace producing the provision. The vision will never be fulfilled without the provision!

Sometimes, God also gives vision and strategies for city-wide and world-wide conquest to kings. At other times, priests will get the vision and kings will provide the strategies. How can we honestly say that one is more important than the other? How can we elevate one man or woman above another? How can we determine that one role is greater than another? Kings and priests are called into partnership in the kingdom.

False religious concepts have caused successful business people to determine that they must leave their careers behind in order to "enter the ministry." Few are called to make such a change. This is the day for the marketplace ministers to stand up and be counted! These are days of kingdom expansion as believers pick up their mantles of authority and march into every arena of life.

Marketplace ministers should regularly assemble with believers so that they may be built up in their faith, have their vision refreshed, wash one another’s feet. They should serve the local church in any way that they can. They should be channels of provision for the fulfilling of the vision. "You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:18)."

Marketplace ministers must see, understand, and place a high value upon their ministry in the marketplace. As they demonstrate faith, love, godly character and integrity, they are bringing the gospel of the kingdom to bear within their sphere, "always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks (you) to give an account for the hope that is in (you), yet with gentleness and reverence (I Peter 3:15)."

Marketplace ministers should gather together with believing peers for prayer, encouragement and insights. There are others who share the calling who are laboring in the same arena of life. We need the practical impartation which we can give and receive through regular fellowship with like-minded people.

Cross-pollinate. See the beauty of God’s garden! Come together . . . entrepreneurs, politicians, educators, business professionals, pastors, laborers. This is the church gathered. The church is also the church scattered, going into all the world and preaching (by precept and example) the gospel of the kingdom.

Be strategic! Know your calling. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)." Prioritize: (1) Take care of your own spiritual life. (2) Give attention to your spouse. (3) Be responsible for your household. (4) Impact your world. (5) Don’t forsake the assembly.

May you pray with Jesus, "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17:4)."

Don Atkin