The Marketplace Christian

Date: 10 June 2007
Speaker: Pastor Kong Hee
Venue: City Harvest Church

Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The "cultural mandate" is about creatively releasing what God has gifted you, and using it for His glory in the "marketplace". The marketplace is made up of businesses, education, governmental, arts and media.

Luke 18:35-43
Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 19:1-10
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Only specific prayers are answered. Ask and you shall receive.

Relationship precedes ministry. Before you earn the right to speak into a person's life, you need to earn that person's trust and friendship.

From Luke 10:5-9, the order for effective evangelism is blessing, fellowshipping, meeting their needs and then preaching.

By impacting Zacchaeus (who was of a higher significance in the marketplace, as compared to the blind man), Jesus impacted the entire economy of the city.

What was lost in the Garden of Eden?
1) Man's relationship with God.
2) Our relationship with each other.
3)The marketplace.

However when Zacchaeus was saved, his industry got converted for God's glory.

Luke 19:12-13
Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

The Parable of the Talents

Luke 19:15
“And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

From Luke 19:15, we can see that Jesus is big on "return on investments".

From this parable, Jesus teaches us 5 valuable lessons:

1) God expects us to excel in our careers and prosper in our businesses, even in a world that has rebelled against the Lordship of Christ.

2) Jesus is looking for measurable progress in reasonable time.

3) The degree you excel and prosper in the marketplace, is the degree you have influence and authority over cities.

4) The authority over cities is not mandated, it is earned.

5) Influence and respect comes through servanthood.

As you work, you are serving God. Every church member is a minister. You are in ministry because as you do them, you are serving people.

Ephesians 4:11-12
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

A job is just a means to earn money. A job becomes a ministry when God leads you into the area and you take the voice of God, the anointing of God, and the biblical principles into the workplace with you.