“You have planted much, but have harvested little….” – Haggai 1:6 Have you ever worked and worked only to yield very little from your efforts? Such was the case for the workplace believers during the time of the prophet Haggai. Finally, God spoke through the prophet Haggai to inform the people why their efforts were

“On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall.” – Esther 5:1a Esther was a woman who lived for a cause greater than herself. God used this woman to save the entire Jewish people from extermination. However, before God

“One day the evil spirit answered them, ‘Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’” – Acts 19:15 Are you a threat to the kingdom of darkness? If satan and his demons had a board meeting and your name came before the board, what would they say? Would they say that

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21 Words have the power to motivate or destroy, energize or deflate, inspire or create despair. Many successful executives can remember the time their father failed to give affirmation to them as a child. The

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 The apostle Peter was one of three disciples who walked with Jesus closer than the other nine. He was the most enthusiastic and the one man who was willing

“I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.” – John 3:11 Over the last several years I have seen two distinct types of Christian workplace believers. One type enthusiastically teaches their Bible knowledge to others.

“Then Moses said to them, ‘No one is to keep any of it until morning.’” – Exodus 16:19 Have you ever seen God do something really good in your life only to find that you have abused the blessing He gave you? Such was the case of the Israelites as they were traveling through the

“And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in Him and in Moses His servant.” – Exodus 14:31 What makes an effective Christian leader today? Is it charisma? Is it ability? Is it communication and oratory skills? God’s view of

“Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.” – Isaiah 61:5 God is calling forth a remnant of workplace believers whom He will use mightily to bring good news to those who have never heard the gospel. The “10/40 Window” is commonly referred to as those areas of the world where

“But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it.” – Exodus 4:17 What is the staff God has put into your hand? Is it being a builder? Is it being an office worker? Is it being a doctor? Moses’ staff represented his vocation as a shepherd. God had something

“His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor His delight in the legs of a man; the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” – Psalm 147:10 Mammon and power are the ruling strongholds of the workplace. If you possess either of these, then

“He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” – 2 Samuel 22:35 David was a mighty warrior, and God described him as a man after His own heart. God took David through a training ground that could be looked on as cruel and unusual punishment by many a person.

“During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord.” – 2 Samuel 21:1a There was a famine in the land, and David equated that famine to the blessing or lack of blessing from God. He sought God to know why there was a

“He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.” – 2 Samuel 22:20 Questioning someone’s motives for their activities can become an overriding response to those to whom we relate. Wrong motives can result in broken relationships, poor business decisions, and falling out of God’s will. Sometimes we

“And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” – 2 Corinthians 5:15 It is believed that there were about 5,000 believers during the time of Christ. Among those believers, it was thought there were three types. The

“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’” – Genesis 50:24 I was boarding the airplane in Frankfurt, Germany, when a mentor of mine

“I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” – 1 Chronicles 29:17a God tests His children to know what is in their hearts. God’s desire for each of His children is to walk in relationship with Him, to uphold His righteousness and integrity. It is a high calling that

“My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.” – John 10:27 An Englishman tells a true story of his encounter with a Muslim man while walking in the country. The Englishman wanted to share the gospel with this man but knew little of Muslim beliefs. The two men talked as

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” – John 12:24 The goal of the Christian life is death, not success. A popular teaching says that if we follow God, we will prosper

“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.”‘” – Zechariah 4:6 Your greatest obstacle in fulfilling God’s purposes in your life is the skills you have acquired to perform well in your work life. One

“So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.” – Genesis 32:24 All that Jacob had lived for was coming down to one event – his reunion with Esau. More than 20 years had passed since Jacob had manipulated his father’s blessing away from his brother Esau. During these years God

“In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys.” – Genesis 30:43 Jacob left his homeland after suffering a broken relationship with Esau for stealing the family blessing. He went to work for his uncle Laban where he stayed for 20 years.

…”Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” – Genesis 28:16 Jacob was forced to flee his family after receiving the blessing of God from his father, Isaac. He ran as a result of his broken relationship with his brother, Esau, who threatened to kill him. He was alone

“All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.” – 1 Samuel 22:2 Have you ever felt that you could accomplish a whole lot more if you had more talented people around you? Perhaps you are in an

“Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.” Genesis 25:34 Esau was brother to Jacob. One day he came back from hunting in the fields. He was hungry and tired. His brother Jacob was preparing some stew and

“But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.” – Matthew 7:26 There were two kinds of people in the days of Jesus. Some heard the words that Jesus spoke and were awed by His wisdom and understanding,

…”I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” – Matthew 8:10 The centurion came to Jesus and told Him of his servant who was paralyzed and in terrible suffering. He came to Jesus because he believed He could heal him. He told Jesus of the matter, and

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.” – Psalm 126:5 The most difficult place to keep moving in faith is the place of extreme pain. Extreme pain, especially emotional pain, can become immobilizing to the human spirit if it is allowed to overcome us. The psalmist tells us there is only

“Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah.” – Judges 11:29a We’ve all heard stories of individuals who have overcome extreme hardship during their childhood years. Children of alcoholics, orphans who never have parents, loss of parents to a fatal crash, childhood disease – these are all difficult circumstances to overcome. Jephthah was a

“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” – Isaiah 50:4b The prophet Isaiah describes his relationship to God as a relationship that has two-way communication. Have you ever felt that your communication with God was only one way – you to Him only? Isaiah tells us, “The

“You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – James 4:14b A group of workplace believers meet at my office every week for fellowship, study, and prayer. One man attended our group for several years. Jim was well liked and in good health. One Thursday he showed up as usual.