2.5. HE GENERATES IN YOUR BUSINESS KINGDOM PRIORITY

Only those born again of the Spirit are able to see, perceive, understand, and experience the kingdom of God:-

John 3:3 "... unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"

Those who can spiritually discern are able to participate in the kingdom (1 Corinthians 2:10,14 ). By the Holy Spirit the spiritual are quickened to pursue the rule, will, and character of God. The indwelling spirit generates the desire to prioritise the kingdom in obedience to the instructions of Jesus.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Kingdom living is submitting yourself to the rule of God and doing His will. Pursuing His righteousness is determination to bear His likeness. It is only by the Holy Spirit helping you that you can serve the will of God and act in harmony with His ways in all the challenging circumstances and difficult situations. It is the Lord the Spirit who transforms you into the likeness of the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ). By changing you the Lord the Spirit generates the desire to put the kingdom first in your business. The Spirit, by getting you to put the kingdom first prevents you from making temporal things your primary goal (Matthew 6:31-32 ). He helps us to make the adjustments that will distinguish you from the pagan, worldly way of majoring on material things.

With the help of the Holy Spirit your business goals are made of greater significance because they are made differently.

	Goals are made under the government of God.
	Goals are made to express the reign of God.
	Goals are made, understanding that pursuing His righteousness can mean persecution (Matthew 5:10 ).
	Goals are made in faith that He will give all things necessary.
	Goals are made having received grace for today, and whatever tomorrow's problems may be, His grace will be sufficient (Matthew 6:34 ).
	Goals are made keeping in view the certainty of the kingdom's final consummation (Matthew 6:9- 10 ).
	Goals are made with the intent of participating in making the saving news of God's reign known.

By earnestly serving the interests of the kingdom, you put yourself and your business at the disposal of the Holy Spirit as instruments of His demonstrations of kingdom power.

2.6. HE GALVANISES YOU IN BUSINESS TO MEET CITY NEEDS

When we live controlled by the Spirit of God we see our cities in the way Jesus saw cities, and are moved to serve them in the way He would. It follows that whatever business we are occupied with in the city, will have as its main purpose the Lord's interests.

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BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT IN THE CITY, AS HIS PEOPLE, IS CHRISTLIKE

Without the miracle work of the Holy Spirit, this would not be a possibility. Jesus was born in a city because of a miraculous conception through the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35; 2:11 ). His people are born again of the Spirit, and, under the control of the Spirit can represent Jesus in the city, impacting the community for God. "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, He does not belong to Christ." (Romans 8:9 NIV ). Living in the Spirit believers are able to express the Spirit of Christ in city business.

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BUSINESS SHOULD BE REGARDED BY HIS PEOPLE AS A MISSION TO THE CITY

Jesus declared that His mission was to cities (Luke 4:43 ). Believers have a special opportunity to demonstrate the good news of God's reign in their lives through business in the cities; in so doing they emulate Christ. One of the most efficient ways of reaching a community with the good news is to be among its business people, missioning for Christ in the power of the Spirit. Business proclaimers of the good news should be able to say like Paul, to those they had won to Christ:

1 Thessalonians 1:5 "For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake."

As the Spirit works on the world through believers, let Him work unobstructed in you (Acts 5:32 ).

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BUSINESS PEOPLE CAN ORGANISE PRAYER FOR A MOVE OF GOD IN THEIR CITY

When Paul and his fellow workers were, by a miracle vision brought to Philippi, the prominent city of that part of Macedonia, they heard of a prayer meeting outside the city by the riverside. There they found a group of women praying (Acts 16:11-15 ). This group included Lydia, a woman not only a worshipper of God, but a business woman in the purple, dyed cloth trade. She may have been one of the organisers of the women's prayer meeting seeking God for the city. By the prominence given to the telling of her acceptance of Christ, and her generous hospitality. It is possible that the portrayal by the Holy Spirit of a man of Macedonia pleading for Paul and company to come and help, was representative of Lydia and her prayer group. It is sure that there was a move of God in the city because of Holy Spirit action in response to earnest, believing prayer. What is the Lord the Spirit telling you to do through your business, to prepare your city for a wonderful move of God?

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BUSINESS PEOPLE MEET CITY NEEDS IN LIVING BY CHRIST'S STANDARDS

Living in the Spirit, the Lord's people do not follow the behaviour, customs, standards of this world that lets evil flourish. Rather they present the good standards of Christ that conquers evil.

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The Spirit Of Truth Helps In The Practice Of Christ's Standard Of Truth (John 14:17)

They do the truth and speak the truth (John 3:21 ). Business people who do the truth find it natural to speak the truth. The liar's life is one of uncertainty and fear, but those who tell the truth have no fear, having nothing to hide. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44 ).

The spirit of truth in you is the source of truth. In business it is important to remind yourself that Jesus did not make your truthfulness dependent on your profit or loss.

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The Holy Spirit Helps In The Practice Of Christ's Standard Of Purity

The loose, permissive acceptance of the spirit of the age, that pervades cities, is not acceptable to the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:15-20 ). The work of the Spirit within is shown in the good fruit of your conduct (Matthew 7:17 ). Anything that would be a hindrance to Christlike living is to be drastically dealt with (Matthew 5:29-30; Colossians 3:1-4 ). Life in the Spirit is the way to stay pure (Romans 8:9,13 ).

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The Divine Helper Magnifies Jesus As The Standard By Which To Test All Standards

By Jesus Christ the unchangeable standard (Hebrews 13:8 ). Right standards are right, and wrong standards are wrong. That is what they are, right or wrong. What you think about it cannot change it. Neither should you accept the worldly view.

The test of all standards is to examine them, with the help of the Holy Spirit, in the presence of Jesus. How does Jesus look at it? How does it look before Him? Can you find any word of Christ that supports it? Did He ever act that way? The Spirit will give the answers - and you can confidently live by His right standard.

There is much wavering, quibbling, evasions of moral standards in the business world today, which needs to be challenged and changed by the presentation of the Christ.

2.7. HE GRACES YOU IN BUSINESS TO GO BEYOND YOUR ABILITY

Without the enduement of the power of the Holy Spirit, you can only operate in the limitation of your human ability (Acts 5:39; Hebrews 3:19 ). The Lord is unlimited and is able to make every grace to abound to you (Ephesians 3:20; 2 Corinthians 9:8 ). Grace giving of the power of the Spirit to believers, including the Lord's business people, to go beyond natural ability. Consider these examples:-

	Beyond natural ability to speak (Acts 2:4 ).
	Beyond natural ability to speak fearlessly (Acts 4:13 ).
	Beyond natural ability to discern the true from the false (Acts 5:3 ).
	Beyond natural ability to help the needy (Acts 5:16 ).
	Beyond natural ability to be obedient to God regardless of consequences (Acts 5:20-21,29 ).
	Beyond natural ability to do the first things ( Acts 6:4 ).
	Beyond natural ability by involvement in the miraculous (Acts 6:8 ).
	Beyond natural ability to conduct spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:12 ).
	Beyond natural ability in glorifying God when reproached for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14 ).
	Beyond natural ability is giving ability (2 Corinthians 8:1-3 ). This grace bestowed by the Spirit can go beyond your personal giving, to infect the giving of your business.

This list is not exhaustive - the Holy Spirit is unlimited in His taking you beyond your human ability and resources. Further examples of His enablement will be considered as we progress.