The Marketplace Movement

God is sending out a call to business and professional leaders in the marketplace whom He has strategically trained, mentored, and placed in positions of influence in society; not for their own purposes, but for His. This call could very well be a forerunner of preparation to God’s next great move.

Recently I was having lunch with a prophet from the Texas area. Our discussion was drawn to the marketplace and what God was doing amongst these region and city dwellers. The prophet’s perspective about where the apostles and prophets should be concentrating was confirming and directional. He went on to explain how the apostles and prophets had been in the church realigning it to God’s government and purposes. Now we are coming into a time when these trans-local gifts will begin to concentrate in the marketplace. He believed that we are going to see apostles and prophets in corporate boardrooms, union meetings, government venues, and other labor intensive places.

This discussion was of tremendous encouragement to me, as I have been sensing God’s direction toward more of a regional concentration and not just the local church. In order to impact a region with Kingdom dynamics we must change from, “getting people into the church” and focus on, “getting the church out to the people.” The early church made the marketplace the target of their ministry because their work regularly took them there. In order to see a region transformed, change has to come to the marketplace and Christians play a key role.

Ed Silvoso states in his book, Anointed for Business, there are four levels of relationship the Christian has toward the marketplace:

1. To just be a Christian in the marketplace. This person views the marketplace as an evil place. Their objective is to just: SURVIVE.

2. To be a Christian who applies biblical principles in the marketplace. This person applies Christian principles, but does not believe it will affect their company or corporation. They overcome temptation and keep a good testimony. They will not change the marketplace and the marketplace will not change them.

3. To be a Christian who does business in the fullness and in the power of the Holy Spirit. This person seeks God every day, hears from Him, and implements what He instructs them.

4. To be a Christian committed to the total transformation of the region. This person experiences God’s transforming power personally, in business, and in the life of others. They then see themselves on a mission to transform the region.

I remember several years ago the late Brother John Garlock was teaching at a retreat, on Acts 6. He pointed out how the spiritual leaders were getting bogged down with the details of administration. (As if these spiritual leaders were too busy to wait on tables.) He pointed out that they selected seven men and appointed them to these “menial” tasks. Why? So they could get back to what is really important, “PRAYER and MINISTRY OF THE WORD.” Funny thing, you do not read anything else about 9 of the 12 Apostles again in the Book of Acts.

While the Apostles were busy praying and studying, a move of God begins through these 7 marketplace people. The text lists the five criterions used to select these men:

1. “Seek out from among you…” They were obviously church members. It was necessary to appoint individuals that the Apostles gave spiritual covering and oversight.

2. “…of good reputation…” Reputation is a character issue. There are many characters in the church world, but these had to have a ‘GOOD’ reputation or character.

3. “…full of the Holy Spirit…” The need for depth of the Spirit was paramount in the work amongst the people. Carnality had no place in attending to the matters of the Church.

4. “…full of Wisdom…” They had to have the common sense and practicality to implement a plan to meet the demanding and immediate need.

5. “…full of Faith…” These were not people of fear, doubt, or unbelief about God or His ability to supply all that was needed.

There is no indication these men served tables, but they were able to solve the problem with great efficiency. Thus, these seven

were selected to partner with the Apostles to birth another move of God’s Spirit. In fact, through the managerial expertise and the ministry of the Word presented by the Apostles, “the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem.” (Acts 6: 7) That is followed by the miraculous ministry of Stephen. (Acts 6:8) Signs and Wonders were done ‘among the people’. Stephen was not appointed to do Signs and Wonders, but to administer a food program. We are not certain what happens to the food program; all we know is when marketplace ministry was released among the people things began to happen.

I believe that Apostles and Prophets are moving into the marketplace to help the people discover, prepare, and be released into their anointing.

The late Pastor Warren Piersol always told us about a dream that he had many years ago. In the dream he saw masses of people moving toward the Lord. There were no sawdust floors, (his era of revival) no big tents, no massive church structures, but these people were in shopping malls, grocery stores, coffee shops, classrooms, etc. Could this be the beginning of that day?