The Bible Speaks on Business - "Building a Kingdom Business: Walking by Faith and Not by Sight."

[00:00:37] [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible Speaks on Business

[00:00:38] [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to The Bible Speaks with your host, Elgin Carelock.

[00:00:42] [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible Speaks is a daily podcast dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ,

[00:00:49] [SPEAKER_00]: rightly dividing the word of truth and learning how to apply it to our daily lives.

[00:00:55] [SPEAKER_00]: You may contact Elgin at the address given at the end of the broadcast,

[00:01:00] [SPEAKER_00]: and now here's Elgin.

[00:01:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Residents, sisters, I welcome you, whoever you are, wherever you are,

[00:01:08] [SPEAKER_01]: and whenever you're listening to The Bible Speaks on Business,

[00:01:13] [SPEAKER_01]: where we explore how biblical principles can guide and inspire our professional lives.

[00:01:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Today, Bishop Jackson and I are speaking on a topic that we hope will resonate deeply with entrepreneurs and business leaders alike.

[00:01:29] [SPEAKER_01]: Building a Kingdom Business, Walking by Faith and Not by Sight.

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_01]: Our inspiration comes from 2 Corinthians 5 verse 7, which reminds us that in the journey of faith, we're called to walk by faith, not by sight.

[00:01:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Let's start by unpacking what it means to walk by faith, especially in the context of business.

[00:01:56] [SPEAKER_01]: 2 Corinthians 5 and 7, reading from the NIV states,

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_01]: For we live by faith, not by sight.

[00:02:05] [SPEAKER_01]: This verse challenged us to trust in God's plan, even when we can't see the full picture.

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_01]: In business, walking by faith means making decisions that are rooted in your trust in God's guidance,

[00:02:18] [SPEAKER_01]: rather than solely relying on what seems logical or visible.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_01]: As business leaders, we often face situations where the path forward isn't clear.

[00:02:29] [SPEAKER_01]: The numbers might not add up, the market may look uncertain, or the resources might seem insufficient.

[00:02:36] [SPEAKER_01]: Yet, walking by faith requires us to step out, trust that God is leading us,

[00:02:43] [SPEAKER_01]: and even when we can't see how everything will work out, it's about believing in God's promises and His ability to provide,

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_01]: rather than being paralyzed by doubt or fear.

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_01]: Walking by faith in business also means having a vision that goes beyond the present circumstances.

[00:03:03] [SPEAKER_01]: Hebrews 11 and 1 defines faith as,

[00:03:06] [SPEAKER_01]: The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

[00:03:11] [SPEAKER_01]: As kingdom-minded business owners, we're called to see possibilities and opportunities through the eyes of faith.

[00:03:18] [SPEAKER_01]: This means that when you're building a business, you're not just looking at the immediate challenges or the current state of your industry.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Instead, you're seeing the potential that God has placed within you and your business.

[00:03:32] [SPEAKER_01]: You're envisioning how your business can impact the world for His kingdom, bringing value, transformation, and positive change.

[00:03:42] [SPEAKER_01]: A faith-fueled vision isn't limited by what is visible right now.

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_01]: It's driven by the belief that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, as Ephesians 3 and 20 tells us.

[00:03:57] [SPEAKER_01]: So even when the present looks challenging, your vision remains fixed on what God has called you to build,

[00:04:04] [SPEAKER_01]: a business that reflects His values and His purpose.

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_01]: Bishop Jackson?

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_02]: It's amazing. Thank you once again, Dr. Karolak, for having us.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_02]: It's always a pleasure.

[00:04:21] [SPEAKER_02]: But when you think about business, generally we think about making a profit.

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_02]: This whole ideology behind it with folks is only maximizing profits.

[00:04:35] [SPEAKER_02]: But the nagging question continuously lingers is that success is just about the bottom line.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_02]: Is it? There's a question you ask yourself. Is success about the bottom line or is there something more?

[00:04:49] [SPEAKER_02]: We're taught in business school and different places of training about KPIs, key performance indicators, and so on.

[00:04:58] [SPEAKER_02]: How to structure your business on that. So if you hit this metric, then you get to that area.

[00:05:04] [SPEAKER_02]: But as Kingdom people, we are challenged with how to look at that differently.

[00:05:15] [SPEAKER_02]: Walking by faith and not by sight speaks volumes to the Kingdom person.

[00:05:23] [SPEAKER_02]: A one that has partnered with the Spirit of God in their business, understanding that there's more to their business than the way the production happens,

[00:05:38] [SPEAKER_02]: or their product, or the content, which God is a God of excellence and there's no question about that.

[00:05:43] [SPEAKER_02]: We need structure. We need all kinds of things.

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_02]: But when we look at it from a scriptural perspective, we also understand that again, faith from the Hebrew is trust.

[00:05:56] [SPEAKER_02]: The highest level of faith is trust, not by sight, is based on what we see.

[00:06:04] [SPEAKER_02]: But your sight is also established on thought processes because you will have a tendency to look for things and see only things that derive from your knowledge,

[00:06:19] [SPEAKER_02]: your education, your experiences, and so on.

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So in essence, that could put you out of the faith game and put you into the fear game, the unbelief game, the doubt game.

[00:06:30] [SPEAKER_02]: And whereas you limit God's ability to take you places because you're going to rely more on what you see.

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER_02]: So there is a challenge that comes into that and that's that intersection that we know in as Christian business people on a daily basis, weekly basis,

[00:06:53] [SPEAKER_02]: maybe the spirit of the Lord just speaks to us to do something different, diametrically different than what we've known to do in business.

[00:07:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Or we were mentored into going into a particular business.

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm in an industry where they talk about you got to pound the phones, a hundred calls a day, you got to make X amount of contacts in order to get a certain amount of appointments and get to clients and so on and so on.

[00:07:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Now you do that, but then that's still small boys says take today and come away with me.

[00:07:32] [SPEAKER_02]: I have something that you don't know about.

[00:07:38] [SPEAKER_02]: So now we're saying, okay, well, I need to do this.

[00:07:44] [SPEAKER_02]: But I'm feeling in my inner man the pull to do that.

[00:07:50] [SPEAKER_02]: What if I steal away to do that which I feel inside to go and do and miss out on that?

[00:07:58] [SPEAKER_02]: That's where faith comes in and the ability to trust in the one that you don't see.

[00:08:06] [SPEAKER_02]: But the one who you said that you've given your heart and your life to.

[00:08:11] [SPEAKER_02]: There's that challenge.

[00:08:13] [SPEAKER_01]: So, you know, that is so poignant because the especially when you think about it from the school part right we go to class and we learn about business management.

[00:08:26] [SPEAKER_01]: We learn about marketing and timing is everything in the world of business.

[00:08:31] [SPEAKER_01]: But if you're just taking it from the natural, the problem is we don't know the outcome.

[00:08:40] [SPEAKER_01]: You see, you know, if you ascribe to the belief that you were called to earth not just born right he told Jeremiah that before you were in your mother's womb I knew you.

[00:08:53] [SPEAKER_01]: Right so he was calling him to earth and just as we are called.

[00:08:58] [SPEAKER_01]: So we can be fortunate enough to understand the gifts that he's given us to accomplish our purpose and as many times he will show us what our purpose is.

[00:09:12] [SPEAKER_01]: But to how it's being used only he knows that.

[00:09:18] [SPEAKER_01]: And so we have to have trust in him to lead it where it goes.

[00:09:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[00:09:25] [SPEAKER_01]: So how many people do you know that do not work in the area that they have a degree in.

[00:09:33] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, because God had a plan for where they were going to go.

[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, okay, yes, you have an English degree but I need you to be a copywriter.

[00:09:42] [SPEAKER_01]: I need you to be a barista.

[00:09:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[00:09:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And so you came to earth with a specific purpose and he is the one who knows where that is.

[00:09:53] [SPEAKER_01]: So even though you may have this sight line of your diploma hanging on the wall.

[00:09:58] [SPEAKER_01]: He was saying that was for you because we are called at the point when we're ready when we're ready then the scenario unveils itself but then we have to be open to it.

[00:10:10] [SPEAKER_01]: We can't really resist it.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, think about this.

[00:10:13] [SPEAKER_01]: David was told his destiny at 16.

[00:10:17] [SPEAKER_01]: Abram wasn't called until 75.

[00:10:20] [SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[00:10:21] [SPEAKER_01]: So there was something that God needed Abram to be prepared for before he introduced it.

[00:10:27] [SPEAKER_01]: But in both cases, they trusted God enough to just go with it.

[00:10:31] [SPEAKER_01]: And so for us, one of the most important aspects of walking by faith and business is maintaining a strong connection with God through prayer and spiritual discernment.

[00:10:45] [SPEAKER_01]: Proverbs three verses five through six again reading from the NIV.

[00:10:49] [SPEAKER_01]: It says trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding in all your ways submit to him and he will make your past straight.

[00:11:02] [SPEAKER_01]: In the day to day operations of business is easy to rely solely on our own understanding making decisions based on what we see what we hear what we've experienced in the past or even things that we've analyzed.

[00:11:16] [SPEAKER_01]: But walking by faith means prioritizing God's wisdom above all else.

[00:11:23] [SPEAKER_01]: And this involves seeking his guidance in every decision, big or small through prayer.

[00:11:30] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, it's awesome that people say sometimes, you know, the old days when they talk about God is the co pilot.

[00:11:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're played or driving what have you Jesus take the wheel kind of a thing and we said wonderful terminology over the years for different things.

[00:11:50] [SPEAKER_02]: But if he is indeed our partner, then that means he had we have surrendered everything about our business, even the successes of our business that when he changes our business plan,

[00:12:07] [SPEAKER_02]: or the focus of our business, even the failures of our business where we think that we have failed.

[00:12:14] [SPEAKER_02]: And there are times that he's we're just where he wants us to be because he has another part that we have not seen.

[00:12:22] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, the secret things belong to God.

[00:12:25] [SPEAKER_02]: And it says the ones that search it out, you know, in our paraphrasing that particular passage of Scripture, that's the one who finds it.

[00:12:31] [SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, as Dr. Carol, I was just alluding to in reference to that kind of time with him, the intimacy, the development of the intimacy and just sitting there.

[00:12:42] [SPEAKER_02]: You know, and I've heard stories of business people in the Christian community that someone passed by and look at them, they may be leaning back on their chair.

[00:12:51] [SPEAKER_02]: And it's just as long as they're doing a whole lot.

[00:12:55] [SPEAKER_02]: But they are doing something.

[00:12:58] [SPEAKER_02]: They're getting the downloads.

[00:12:59] [SPEAKER_02]: They're getting, you know, the information and strategies that is needed because who knows market shares better than our Lord, our Creator.

[00:13:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Who knows the best place for us to invest or when it's time.

[00:13:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Because we're in the natural, we have that tendency to get caught by times and by seasons.

[00:13:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Again, I'll use my industry that certain times of the year, certain things are moved more than other times and so on.

[00:13:31] [SPEAKER_02]: And you can get caught up in that and you can do your target marketing towards that particular thing.

[00:13:39] [SPEAKER_02]: But there could be a little known something that's moving that you're not aware of that if you put the time in with him, he will enable you to find it out.

[00:13:48] [SPEAKER_02]: So you have to have that, that confidence.

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_02]: That's where that trust comes in.

[00:13:54] [SPEAKER_02]: You build our trust in him.

[00:13:57] [SPEAKER_02]: Our confidence increases when our confidence increases.

[00:14:00] [SPEAKER_02]: He can increase our capacity to handle more and he will allow us to be diversified in what we do and to be able to trust others to come in to operate in areas where we need the strength at.

[00:14:18] [SPEAKER_02]: And to take us to places that we had not seen before.

[00:14:22] [SPEAKER_02]: So it's an interesting thing to be able to do that because sometimes I've heard people say and I've said this before that.

[00:14:30] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm so busy doing business, I didn't have time to build a business.

[00:14:33] [SPEAKER_01]: That's right.

[00:14:34] [SPEAKER_02]: And that's the case, the market trends can have changed.

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_02]: You're not sure about where you actually are.

[00:14:44] [SPEAKER_02]: You need to revisit the business plan or revisit certain things to grow the business.

[00:14:50] [SPEAKER_02]: But walking by faith and not by sight, you're waiting and you're listening and he will give you the right moment in the right time.

[00:15:01] [SPEAKER_02]: And this is an increasing thing.

[00:15:03] [SPEAKER_02]: I'm really excited about this time that we're alive because your work is your ministry and ministry is your work.

[00:15:11] [SPEAKER_02]: They were business all that is together in that he knows what we have need of even before we ask him.

[00:15:18] [SPEAKER_02]: And because of that, that means he has a plan for you.

[00:15:23] [SPEAKER_02]: He says, I know the plans I have for you and they are for your good not to harm you.

[00:15:29] [SPEAKER_02]: So, you know, we come in as any man who's in Christ is a new creation.

[00:15:36] [SPEAKER_02]: So if we're in him where that new creation, everything about us is a new creation.

[00:15:43] [SPEAKER_02]: The way that we do things from start to finish from morning to noon to afternoon.

[00:15:49] [SPEAKER_02]: If he says shut down the office on a Monday morning with most business people would shake him their boots to not open on a Monday

[00:15:58] [SPEAKER_02]: because they're trying to get caught up from the weekend, particularly my industry.

[00:16:02] [SPEAKER_02]: What's worked or didn't work what's ready for the week.

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER_02]: You're planning loads.

[00:16:07] [SPEAKER_02]: You're doing different things of that nature if you have them hopefully to be able to do that.

[00:16:12] [SPEAKER_02]: But he's not taken by surprise by anything that we're in.

[00:16:19] [SPEAKER_02]: So we're in him.

[00:16:21] [SPEAKER_02]: We trust him.

[00:16:22] [SPEAKER_02]: We walk by that faith and not by sight.

[00:16:25] [SPEAKER_02]: It is my belief that we will be successful.

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER_01]: And you know, the thing that would cause any natural person to have apprehension to what we're discussing is fear.

[00:16:43] [SPEAKER_01]: And I'm going to tell you, fear and doubt are natural emotions, especially when the future is uncertain or when the stakes are really high.

[00:16:54] [SPEAKER_01]: But as Christian business leaders, we're called to overcome these feelings by anchoring our trust in God.

[00:17:02] [SPEAKER_01]: Isaiah 41 verse 10 encourages us with these words.

[00:17:09] [SPEAKER_01]: So do not fear for I am with you.

[00:17:12] [SPEAKER_01]: Do not be dismayed for I am your God.

[00:17:16] [SPEAKER_01]: I will strengthen you and help you.

[00:17:18] [SPEAKER_01]: I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

[00:17:22] [SPEAKER_01]: Walking by faith means choosing to trust God's promise over our fears.

[00:17:27] [SPEAKER_01]: It's about remembering that God is in control and that he is faithful to complete the work he has begun in you and your business.

[00:17:37] [SPEAKER_01]: When challenges arise, it's important to confront them with the knowledge that God's presence is with you.

[00:17:44] [SPEAKER_01]: Empowering you to overcome obstacles.

[00:17:46] [SPEAKER_01]: And the one thing that I've noticed most is that when your will is aligned with God's will and your business is aligned with God's business.

[00:17:57] [SPEAKER_01]: Things happen, things that you could not have put into motion.

[00:18:02] [SPEAKER_01]: You get audience with people who normally you would not have had access to.

[00:18:06] [SPEAKER_01]: He brings resources to you in the form of anything ranging from monetary benefit to a connection that will allow you to move to the very next level.

[00:18:18] [SPEAKER_01]: And so for me, when the Lord says that he will order your steps, it works in two ways.

[00:18:25] [SPEAKER_01]: Order as in first, second, third and order as in a request made and it comes.

[00:18:32] [SPEAKER_01]: Right. So so as we move closer to him and understand what he has purpose for our lives, those things that we need are added.

[00:18:42] [SPEAKER_01]: We don't go get them.

[00:18:44] [SPEAKER_01]: We don't make it happen.

[00:18:46] [SPEAKER_01]: They're added.

[00:18:48] [SPEAKER_01]: And so a practical way to overcome fear and doubt is to continually remind yourself of God's past faithfulness.

[00:18:55] [SPEAKER_01]: The only reason that you are here in my voice right now is because he brought you through whatever it was.

[00:19:03] [SPEAKER_01]: You're here.

[00:19:04] [SPEAKER_01]: And so reflect on the time when God has come through for you, both in business and in life.

[00:19:10] [SPEAKER_01]: Let these reminders fuel your faith as you navigate the uncertainties of your business journey.

[00:19:16] [SPEAKER_01]: And believe me, there are going to be uncertainties.

[00:19:20] [SPEAKER_02]: And that's indeed the truth because whatever we're facing, we have to learn how to see the bigness of our God versus the bigness of our problem.

[00:19:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Someone said it best when they were talking about if you can see your problems, your focus is on the wrong things.

[00:19:46] [SPEAKER_02]: You have to see the one who is able.

[00:19:50] [SPEAKER_02]: And they said the Bible goes on to say that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord provides a way out of them all.

[00:19:57] [SPEAKER_02]: So whatever any of us are facing and if you're in business, you're facing something.

[00:20:05] [SPEAKER_02]: Economic downturns, all kinds of market conditions that are changing and altering, staffing, all kinds of different things.

[00:20:15] [SPEAKER_02]: But I'm convinced that if you walk by faith and not by sight, he will see you through it.

[00:20:22] [SPEAKER_02]: You may not know what it's going to look like yet, but he does and he will.

[00:20:27] [SPEAKER_01]: Building a kingdom business means more than just achieving financial success.

[00:20:32] [SPEAKER_01]: It's about integrating kingdom values into every aspect of your business.

[00:20:38] [SPEAKER_01]: Matthew 6, verse 33 says, but seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.

[00:20:52] [SPEAKER_01]: As you walk by faith, you're called to prioritize God's kingdom values in your business decisions.

[00:20:59] [SPEAKER_01]: This includes integrity, honesty, fairness and a commitment to serving others.

[00:21:06] [SPEAKER_01]: It means treating your employees, customers and partners with the love and respect that Christ modeled for us.

[00:21:15] [SPEAKER_01]: When kingdom values are at the core of your business, you build a company that not only succeeds because it is a fruitful product that people value,

[00:21:25] [SPEAKER_01]: but it also honors God's in the process.

[00:21:29] [SPEAKER_01]: Your business becomes a testimony of God's grace and provision, and it serves as a light in the marketplace drawing others to the kingdom.

[00:21:39] [SPEAKER_01]: Brothers and sisters, building a kingdom business walking by faith and not by sight is about encouraging you to take heart to the journey ahead.

[00:21:52] [SPEAKER_01]: Building a business is not an easy task and it comes with the shares of challenges and uncertainties.

[00:21:59] [SPEAKER_01]: But when you choose to walk by faith, you're not walking alone.

[00:22:04] [SPEAKER_01]: God is with you every step of the way, guiding, providing and empowering you to fulfill the vision he has placed in your heart.

[00:22:13] [SPEAKER_01]: Remember, the key to building a kingdom business is not just what you see, but in what you believe.

[00:22:21] [SPEAKER_01]: Trust in God's promises, seek his guidance and remain committed to integrating his values into your business.

[00:22:29] [SPEAKER_01]: By doing so, you'll build a business that not only thrives, but also brings glory to God and advances his kingdom here on earth.

[00:22:39] [SPEAKER_01]: I thank you for joining us on today and I look forward to our conversation on next Monday.

[00:22:47] [SPEAKER_01]: Until then, God bless.

[00:23:14] [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible Speaks on Spotify, Amazon Music, Deezer and many more.

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[00:23:26] [SPEAKER_00]: You may contact Elgin at PO Box 5582, Ocala, Florida 34478

[00:23:36] [SPEAKER_00]: or by email at thebiblespeaksonline at gmail.com