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We are journeying into a new paradigm where God is re-establishing his
world-view in the marketplace. This truth is succinctly expressed in
Colossians 1:16-18:
"For by him all things were created, in heaven
and on earth1, visible and invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or rulers or authorities2 - all things were created
through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things
hold together... that in everything he might be preeminent"
(English Standard Version).
Please note: all things created on earth1
includes companies, boards, departments, authorities and governments2.
Question: Are we praying for our company
boards, managers and governments that they may recognise Jesus as preeminent?
Are we serving as good emissaries of this message ie: are we paying our
bills on time and taking prayer and the fruit of the Spirit to work?
To hard to believe? To counter cultural? Well
how about the following stories from the Australian Labor Party... and the
current government of Ukraine? Here are three arresting stories of God moving
powerfully on both sides of politics and government:
Kevin Rudd and the God Factor
Since Labor’s defeat in the last Federal Election
they’ve been doing a fair bit of soul searching. Kevin Rudd, the Shadow
Minister for Foreign Affairs thinks a lot of it has to do with the God
Factor. He’s leading the charge for his Party to re-claim God for their
constituency, but he risks his own career and losing the secular vote for his
party.
Read on from ABC Compass...
Family First Impacts the Nation
In the lead up to the 2004 Federal election
there was a substantial shift in the Australian political landscape.
Conservative Christianity went on a crusade into the mostly secular world of
Australian politics. Front and centre in the march of the Christian soldiers
was the Family First Party which was born out of the Pentecostal Assemblies
of God church. From a standing start only twelve weeks out from the poll, the
Family First strategists put a carefully orchestrated plan into action to try
and win enough seats in the federal senate to give them the balance of power.
Read on from ABC Compass...
Radical Political Transformation in the
Ukraine
On February 3, 2005 President Yushenko
listed his agenda for Ukraine, in which he took a clear and unprecedented
stand against corruption. Sunday Adelaga, pastor of
Europe's largest church in Kyiv,
wrote an encouraging report about recent developments in Ukraine.
For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the President invited the
entire country to join him for a second public Inauguration and Oath of
Office on Independence Square. Following the Inauguration on Sunday,
January 23, he started his first working day with public prayer and
blessing. He invited the heads of all Ukrainian Christian denominations
to join him. "This is a totally new thing for our nation," says Adelaja.
"Remember, Ukraine is a former communist society."
Yushenko then chose Yulia Timoshenko, a woman, as Prime Minister. "She
is not simply the most popular politician in Parliament," says Adelaja, "she
is a born-again, Spirit-filled believer." The most interesting event took
place when President Yushenko listed his agenda for the country. What shocked
the whole country was the fact that he took a clear and unprecedented stand
against corruption.
He said:
a) My government will NOT STEAL! I know it is a fantasy in Ukraine to
hear this, but I assure you that this government will not steal anything from
the public. I take full responsibility for my government's actions.
b) My government will never give or receive bribes! I demand this
standard from every member of this government and I say right now, that if
anyone is caught giving or taking a bribe, he will suffer the full penalty of
the law. I also would like to say that if you catch any member of this
government in bribery or theft, it is your responsibility, as citizens, to
please report the situation to me, that I might take immediate action.
c) To the Parliament, I want you to know that we will never use money to
shift lobby votes! That practice has ended, as of today! I demand that
the principle of openness, transparency and uprightness filter throughout
every department and cabinet. No decision should be taken in secret.
Everything must be done openly and in public view.
Then the Prime Minister came to the stand, and made one simple point: "Our
government has come to the conclusion that Ukraine can never rise on her feet
until she bows down her knees before the Almighty God."
Adelaja said "This takes us back to the Monday morning when the President
started his work. After the prayer and blessing, he took his wife and
children a few steps closer to the altar, and they bowed down on their knees,
bringing the nation before the Lord. This is an unprecedented act in this
part of the world and all the media and priests could do was stand in awe,
and shock at what was happening."
The biggest surprise to the Parliament was when the Prime Minister
presented her 6-point program to the people. Everyone expected figures
and calculations, but instead received a biblical concept of national
transformation:
a) Faith (in God, nation and individual citizens)
b) Justice (to build an upright society)
c) Harmony (between citizens and leaders)
d) Security (of individual people, national interests and properties)
e) Life (abundant life in every sphere through social programs)
f) World Relations (that Ukraine would integrate itself as a European nation
cultivating good relations with other countries including Russia and the
European Union)
After Yulia Timoshenko's program was announced, the Ministers were named. "We
as believers couldn't help but laugh at this point," says Adelaja,"because of
who was placed at the head of the SBU (Ukrainian KGB): Alexander Turshinov.
This man, a believer, grew up in a Baptist family during the communist
regime. The top assignment of the KGB at that time was to destroy
religion and faith, Baptists and Evangelicals in particular. Now, the head
of this dreaded organization is a man who believes in the very thing they
tried to destroy. Yes, God has a sense of humor! The Bible says in
Psalm2:4, "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them
in derision."
Other new ministerial appointments of interest to Christians are the
positions held by the Minister of Culture: a born-again Catholic lady; and
the Personal Advisor to the President: Leonid Chernovetskiy (a member of
Adelaja's church). "Everyone can testify that the new governmental
appointments are people of high integrity," says Adelajah.
Some of the very first bills passed by the Cabinet were designed to return
stolen properties back to the citizens and the country. "We know that the
changes taking place here in Ukraine are born from above," says Adelajah,"and
they are proving to be both encouraging and highly delightful!
May you rejoice with us as we keep believing God for total transformation.
Nothing is impossible for the Lord!"
Source:
Sunday Adelaga Pastor in Kyiv Ukraine.
You are invited
to
check out the latest listing of Christian
groups in the ten main spheres of society... this is ground braking
innovation. We would appreciate your advice of any other groups that should be included.
Click here for the latest list of marketplace events... see how
much the Lord is doing in the marketplace!
You
are also invited to
click here
if you would like to partner with AMC in building the Kingdom of God in the
marketplace. |
