Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Word is the Ultimate Pearl, Part 2

One of the most common questions I field during business or ministry meetings is what I consider to be the most significant key for success. Without a question, my answer is: the Word of God. Nothing great or long-lasting can be built on any other foundation than the Word of God. As kings and priests we must continually keep in mind that our top priority is the Word. Studying it, meditating upon it, and speaking it over our lives.

If we ever allow ourselves to become too busy to engage with the Word, then we have lost sight of Who our strength is and from where our success comes. We become wise in our own eyes, thinking we ‘got this thing,’ when in actuality we are heading down a road that will eventually lead to self-destruction.

Let me challenge you today: For the next 30 days, carve several minutes out of each day to confess the Word of God over your life, your family, your business, and your ministry. Not simply as a discipline to check off your list and get on with your day, but to speak these words slowly and purposefully, mixing each scripture with your faith. I am confident that you will begin to experience an inner strength and peace that you’ve never had before. Your vision will grow, your confidence in God will deepen, and most importantly, your relationship with Jesus will become more intimate.

In the last blog, I included part of the confession I have used for years, and I’m giving you the next section of it below:

“The love of God has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit and His love abides in me richly. I keep myself in the Kingdom of light, in love, in the Word, and the wicked one touches me not. I fear not for God has given me a spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. Every tongue that rises against me in judgment shall be shown to be in the wrong. God is on my side, I tread upon the serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. I take my shield of faith and quench every fiery dart. Greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world.”
(Ps 91:13; Is 54:17; Rom 5:5, 8:31; Eph 6:16; 2 Tim 1:7; John 4:4,16, 5:18)

“The Lord is my shepherd. I do not want. My God supplies all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. I do not fret or have anxiety about anything. I do not have a care. I dwell in the House of Prayer. I am the body of Christ. I am redeemed from the curse, because Jesus bore my sickness and carried my diseases in His own body. By His stripes I am healed. I forbid any sickness or disease to operate in my body. Every organ and every tissue of my body function in the perfection in which God created it to function. I honor God and bring glory to Him in by body.”
(Ps. 23; Is 55:7; 1 Cor 6:20; Gal 3:13; Phil 4:6; 1 Peter 2:24; 5:6-7)

“Through skillful and godly wisdom is my house built, and by understanding it is established on a solid foundation. My house is securely built. Jesus is our cornerstone. As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”
(Prov 24:3-4; Josh 24:15; Luke 6:48; Acts 4:11)

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Word is the Ultimate Pearl, Part 1

Every king or priest is on a journey toward fulfilling the vision God placed in his or her heart. Some are just getting started, and some have been forging forward for decades. No matter where you find yourself today, there is one absolute in your life that is vital in the lives of all kings and priests. It’s THE weapon that can be wielded to defeat any obstacle or enemy, no matter how big or small, and it must be in your hand at all times. It’s the Word of God.

I know many of you would say, “Lee, I’ve got that covered, so what’s the next pearl?” But let me ask you this: Are you sure you’ve got that covered? Because if you’re not speaking the Word over your life each and every day, your sword is hanging useless at your side. You’ve got to take that thing out of its sheath and unleash its mighty power by opening your mouth, and with faith, confessing God’s Word!

In the next few King’s Pearls, I’m going to share with you a powerful daily confession that I have prayed out loud for many years. Every king or priest must use his confession as a creative force to frame his world, to call those things that are not as though they were, and to wage war against the enemy. There is no substitute for a daily faith confession! Whether you need motivation to get out of a valley, or wisdom to know how to take your vision to the next level, or internal fortitude to withstand an attack from the enemy, these confessions will help move you forward into victory.

The King’s Strategy:

Commit to a time in the day that will be your confession time. Set an alarm, save it in your PDA, tattoo it to your wrist, do whatever it takes for you remember it and stick to it. Stay consistent, and watch the Word begin to work things out in your life that you could never do on your own!

The King’s Meditation:

“I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and I remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty whose power no foe can withstand. The Lord is my refuge and fortress. No evil shall befall me—no accident shall overtake me—nor any plagues or calamity come near my home. The Lord gives His angels charge over me, to accompany and defend and preserve me in all my ways of obedience and service. They are encamped around about me.”
(Psalm 91:1,2,10,11; Psalm 34:7)

“I have the mind of Christ and hold the thoughts, feelings and purposes of His heart. I am a believer and not a doubter. I hold fast to the confession of faith. I decide to walk by faith and practice faith. My faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Jesus is the Author and Developer of my faith.”
(Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 2:16; Heb 4:14, 11:6, 12:2)

“I let the Word dwell in me richly. He who began a good work in me will continue until the day of Christ. I am delivered from this present evil world. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places. I reside in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
(Rom 8:2; Gal 1:4; Eph 2:6; Phil 1:6; Col 1:13, 3:16)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Day I Picked Up My Crown


In my early years of being an entrepreneur, I was living fast and free...or so I thought. My gift for business brought me to a place of financial prosperity that my character simply could not sustain. It wasn’t long before I fell hard and fast, right into the gutter of failure and shame. I have to say, I don’t fully regret that low point because it was in that place where I finally looked up to seek the only person who could rescue me from myself: Jesus Christ.

During the next few years, He helped me piece my life back together, and it wasn’t long before the gift He’d given me for business once again brought me to a place of great prosperity. However, this time I was different. I wasn’t going to allow the success to become a catalyst for just another plummet into personal failure.

It was around this time when I began to notice that even though I was starting to taste success again, my heart didn’t feel satisfied. The money, the flourishing business, and the influence couldn’t fulfill my deep desire to be connected to a vision that went way beyond my own life. I wanted more. I wanted to affect change in my world...change that represented Jesus Christ and His Church.

This is when God began to teach me about the dynamic partnership between the King (or businessperson) and the Priest (or Pastor). It’s a partnership He ordained, and only when His Kings and Priests are flowing synergistically can His Church be the powerful force she has been designed to be on this earth. This is also when I started to understand my unique place as a King in my local church, and when I first decided to pick up the crown God had for me.

Now, my life’s mission is to help marketplace leaders and pastors to understand their significance within their local churches and to fulfill their destinies of impacting the world. You see, both the King and Priest's destinies are intertwined.  It’s only when this generation of Kings and Priests will unite by embracing their roles in this God-ordained covenant relationship that the Church will become the undeniable voice she’s destined to be in this earth.

God has a crown waiting just for you too. It’s time for you to pursue your kingship and to pick up your crown! This weekly blog will help you think like a King, operate as a King, and fight like a King. As we journey together, I’m looking forward to sharing my heart with you and offering you the Pearls of Wisdom God has shown me. These Pearls have encouraged me to grow, motivated me to change, and helped me learn how to fulfill the purpose God has for my life.

Let’s Change Our World,