Driving into Little Rock one evening, I was thinking about the marketplace strategy meetings I had the next day. A large development firm had retained my services to expand business strategy and to grow their market share. I was reminded about how the marketplace puts a demand on the anointing of God, and many of those who exercise dominion in the marketplace know very little about the anointing’s origin, or proper use of it, but see and value its results.

The Church, on the other hand, knows about the anointing… but very seldom puts a demand on it; as it's often afraid of the cost. The Apostle Paul declared in Romans that no one will be without the knowledge of how God operates in the earth because of the things that are clearly seen. (Romans 1:20). We’ve all seen the results of revenue: its primarily used to expand our families’ position in the earth; be it new clothes, vacations or country club memberships… a new car, or a new house, for example. Many people don’t understand this concept because they haven’t been taught how to operate in God’s Kingdom. Or, they avoid this subject entirely because they know God has asked them to change some things in their life, shift priorities, but they failed to start... and this can sometimes cause a sense of guilt, shame or condemnation. We can’t let those three “ugly triplets” govern our lives, so we just have to begin again. Jesus said seek and you will find. So we have to study the Word, follow and apply the leading of the Holy Spirit in the right direction.

In Luke chapter 19, starting at verse 12, let’s look at the Amplified Bible: 12 So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to obtain for himself a kingdom, and [then] to return. 13 So he called ten of his servants, and gave them ten minas [one apiece, each equal to about a hundred days’ wages] and said to them, ‘Do business [with this] until I return.’ 14 But his citizens [the residents of his new kingdom] hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to be a king over us.’ 15 When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these servants, to whom he had given the money, be called to him, that he might find out what business they had done. 16 The first one came before him and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten more minas.’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you proved yourself faithful and trustworthy in a very little thing, you shall [now] have authority over ten cities [in my kingdom].’ 18 The second one came and said, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ 19 And he said to him also, ‘And you shall take charge over five cities.’ 20 Then another came and said, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I have kept laid up in a handkerchief [for safekeeping]. 21 I was [always] afraid of you, because you are a stern man; you pick up what you did not lay down and you reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to the servant, ‘I will judge and condemn you by your own words, you worthless servant! Did you [really] know that I was a stern man, picking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Then why did you not [at the very least] put my money in a bank? Then on my return, I would have collected it with interest.’ 24 Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ 25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas already!’ 26 [Jesus explained,] ‘I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.’ 27 [The king ended by saying,] ‘But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them, bring them here and kill them in my presence.’”

Did you notice in this story that Jesus was interested in those who understood how to provide revenue and a profit, and who valued their gifts? He actually said at the very minimum, we should allow what’s given to us to at least bear interest by placing the gift in the right setting, or situation. The Amplified version of the Bible in this passage clearly illustrates the reason there was increase: because the gift from God was valued; highly esteemed. The anointing is a gift. You don’t own it, and you didn’t create it. The Holy Spirit was sent because Jesus went on in His journey, and His Body is to finish His work (John 14:12). Paul clearly describes how this is possible in Colossians 1:25-27: It is with Christ in you, the hope of glory. So that you can increase, and provide your supply to the kingdom. Many separate their marketplace gifts and anointing from the church. However, Jesus never taught along those lines. This “separation” comes from false teaching and traditions of men. Many pastors have separated themselves from the marketplace entirely, and teach those under them to do the same. Remember: Jesus specifically selected twelve disciples who were notable businessmen in their cities. Simon Peter, James and John had one of the largest fishing businesses in Capernaum. The New Testament teaches that we are to go into all the world, but not be like the world. We are to use the anointing to grow and multiply for the building of the kingdom.

Jesus sent specific five-fold ministry gifts for the edifying of the body of Christ, so that we all would come into the knowledge of His purpose. These five-fold ministry gifts are separate and unique from one another, and should be used in the church to grow and edify the body of believers… for the work of the ministry; to prepare for the kingdom. My pastor, Happy Caldwell in Little Rock, Arkansas, provided an excellent example of this. He taught us how to use the five-fold ministry for the development of the church. Similar to the way that a CEO brings in different leadership gifts to make sure the corporation is healthy and prosperous. Pastor Caldwell maintained that he, as a pastor, could only provide a portion of what the believers in the Church needed. He consistently scheduled ministers of these different gifts to teach and preach in his church. He understood the other ministry gifts were vital to complete the work of edifying of the body of Christ.

I know of many pastors and business leaders that consistently ask themselves why their organization is not growing. Jesus explained why: “I tell you that to everyone who has [because he valued his gifts from God and has used them wisely], more will be given; but from the one who does not have [because he disregarded his gifts from God], even what he has will be taken away.” (Matthew 13:12 AMPC). So if the Lord is speaking to you about beginning to connect with the anointed five-fold ministry He has set in place, don’t let the devil steal what God has planned for you and your organization. Act in faith, believing God at His Word that increase will come when His gifts are valued. If you are interested in the teaching of this message in greater detail, to your organization, contact us here at the FFI Family. We will partner with you, connect you with ministers of these five-fold ministry gifts, and together we can recognize and fulfill our destiny in Christ Jesus.

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reigning as kings