ISAIAH 58 AND THE WEALTH TRANSFER

© Morris Ruddick

The nature and order of life as we have known it, is on the edge. We have entered a time of unusual change - a time of intense shaking.

We've already been feeling the tremors. Nations indeed will undergo major upsets. Regions will experience discontinuities - economically and socially. Major power shifts have been taking place for some time now. Third world powers will challenge the status quo in global politics and economics. New alliances are being formed--for good and for evil. Terrorism will continue to increase. Muslim and communistic, atheistic hierarchies will find common bonds. There will be an increase in the tempo of the persecution already underway against believers and against the Jewish people. Israel's role as a prophetic pivot point in the nature and order of world events will mount even higher. And with all the discontinuities, will come widespread disillusionment and social unrest, as well as new meaning given to what may be referred to as ethnic strife. Lawlessness will run rampant. People's hearts will fail for fear. People across the globe will be looking for answers and for help. Answers that are real. Answers and help that deal with the basic and practical issues of life. Answers that break the bonds of tradition and offer genuine hope.

It needs to be understood during these times of shaking, that the Lord is in control. It is during these times that the Lord is raising up a generation of His people who will serve as lighthouses to a world caught in the throes of darkness. The ministries that will experience the greatest effectiveness will be those operating in the midst of the world - rather than as isolated microcosms attempting to attract non-believers into their playing field. Revival will manifest most strongly in areas where believers move in to the arenas where people are hurting and can be found - to touch lives in practical ways in the Name of the Lord.

New patterns, new models, new paradigms from which the world's systems, as well as the Church will be operating in the days ahead - are being set in motion by the Lord. Like the sons of Issachar, we need to "understand the times and know what to do." Mark 4:11 in the New Living Translation says: "You are permitted to understand the secrets about the Kingdom of God.

To understand the mysteries, the strategies and the initiatives the Lord is unfolding in this era, we need to understand the changes. There are indeed major changes impacting the way the Body will be approaching the work of the ministry - changes that will be tied to the wealth transfer that is going to be released. It is during these times that God's heart and His agendas will begin manifesting in ways never before seen. As this takes place, one of the very central agendas for this era is going to be the Isaiah 58 ministry paradigm.

While the five-fold ministry of apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist will always be with us - the needs for the coming harvest are such that the ministries that will come to forefront in these days are going to be those that touch not just lives, but entire communities. The ministries emerging for this age are also going to recognize the very significant role of the Josephs and Daniels of our era - and that of Kingdom enterprises.

Revelations speaks of "kings and priests." This model of kings and priests alludes to alliances that can be expected between Kingdom businesses - and churches and ministries. Over the centuries, the Church has allowed a ministry-laity paradigm to emerge that was never intended by the Lord. The term laity is one that is not found in scripture. The Old Testament model reflects a much more central role in the accomplishment of God's purposes for those - like the Josephs and Daniels of old - representing a chosen, anointed group of God's elect who served to change the course of nations and redeem God's people.

The Old Testament concept of kings applies very aptly to Christian business leaders. Kingly, servant leaders like Joseph, who spend time in the presence of the Lord. Who understand the times and know what to do. Who are the warriors and administrators. Kings who go out and take dominion. Who pave the way, provide protection, and who facilitate and undergird the strategic purposes of God - with a focus on the redemption of His people. The Joseph, kingly model is something a great deal more than the mind-set reflecting "give me your shekels, and go about your way."

Similarly, the Joseph-Pharaoh alliance took the kingly paradigm a step further. It reflects an apt parallel to the unique opportunities associated with God's initiatives that will be brought forth for the times we are entering. The fact is that the Joseph-Pharaoh model was one that was completely unorthodox in terms of the expectations of God's people in that era. It didn't fit with their religious mind-set. It was indeed an unusual, unconventional alliance. And the alliances the Lord will be initiating in our era are going to require "new wineskin thinking" because in many, many cases, these alliances are going to be unlike any that we have had in recent days. They definitely will not fit with the religious mind-sets of what is considered sacred and what is secular; and the constraints of the concept of the laity.

The Josephs of today are going to be involved in opening doors not accessible to traditional ministries. There will be a variety of levels and functions of today's Josephs. Among them will be the Josephs who will be spearheading the wealth transfer. And together with those at the forefront of the wealth transfer will be key groups within the Body fulfilling the command in Isaiah 58:10 of reaching out to help the oppressed: the poor, hungry, and afflicted.

Isaiah 58 (verses 10 and 11) tells us that "If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."

As this wealth transfer and the focus of genuinely touching the oppressed: the hungry and afflicted - of reaching and rescuing those who are lost and without hope takes place, there will be a shift from the ministry model of recent decades. The high profile, personality-based, fund-raising-focused model - a paradigm necessary for its time in building and connecting the Body - will shift to a model reflecting key roles by the Josephs and Daniels, who pave the way for groups implementing strategies fulfilling the charge in Isaiah 58.

The wealth transfer is not to stock the coffers of a new elite. It is not designed to create a nouveau riche. The wealth transfer is going to flow toward and through a group of servants of the Lord, who, much like the Josephs of old - are going to be centrally influential in directing it into the initiatives and agendas that have been ordained from on high.

It is going to be a time in which amazing strategic alliances are made. Alliances serving God's agendas between groups that heretofore would have never considered partnering together. Strategic alliances between ministries and Kingdom businesses - ministries still serving a variety of five-fold ministry focus functions, but each reflecting some dimension of the Isaiah 58 orientation.

There will alliances between key individuals of secular influence and power - the gatekeepers, and the Josephs and Daniels of our day - as the Lord opens the gateways into the resources and systems of this world. There also will alliances between the Josephs and Daniels of this era - and uniquely positioned Kingdom businesses -- and governments and governmental agencies. Alliances between businesses that open gateways; businesses with overriding ministry objectives -- and this new, emerging breed of church and ministry organization - groups that will be a conduit to give hope - both practical and spiritual - to the lost, displaced and perishing.

The move away from the keen focus heretofore given to fund-raising models will result in new means to create revenues for Kingdom purposes. Investment funds are going to be established. Investment funds that will involve alliances between the Josephs and Daniels; the Josephinas and Daniéls of our day, and the modern day Pharaohs and King Cyrus types - individuals functioning as gatekeepers into the financial coffers of the world.

There are going to new business startup programs - business incubator programs put together by the today's Josephs - which will impact entire communities and nations. Micro-enterprise programs will become increasingly more important. Micro-enterprise programs, that are administered in the Name of the Lord, that reflect creative micro-entrepreneurial business ventures designed to produce employment with the right impact on local communities.

There will be programs that harness the talents of business leaders and professionals into mobile response teams - that will move into hopeless situations with solutions, help and hope that will impact cities and nations - in the Name of the Lord.

In short, as key men and women of God begin penetrating the systems of this world for Kingdom purposes, new mind-sets will be imparted to the Body. New mind-sets in-sync with God's heart and strategies.

There will be a broadening of the centrally important scope associated with changing individual lives - to a mind-set which will change and touch entire communities, cities and nations. Those operating from this new paradigm will see Kingdom opportunity in the midst of the increases in discontinuities throughout this world. Opportunities that embrace the Isaiah 58 ministry paradigm. Models will be set in motion that flow in the wisdom associated with the inter-linking of secular business enterprises with overriding ministry objectives. A new mind-set related to the purposes of abundance will emerge. A mind-set prepared for God's agendas when the transfer of wealth begins flowing.

With that as background, let's pray.

Father God, we come to You in the mighty Name of Jesus. Lord, we thank You for increasing the scope of our vision. Lord, we are certainly moving toward that time of great harvest - and indeed the fields are already white for harvest. Lord, God give us the grace to lift up our eyes to see. Awaken us O God, awaken your Body - that we might recognize the initiatives and strategies that are coming from Your throne room. Give us Your heart on these matters, Lord. Give us a heart for the oppressed. Father, prepare us to rescue to perishing. Lord, expand the scope of our vision. Give us Your heart for the poor, the afflicted and the hungry.

Father God, awaken us to the new paradigms that we are to be operating in. Forgive us precious Lord, where we have been short-sighted, where we have gotten stuck with old "wineskins" and have believed the lies of that which has worked in the past will work in the future. Lord, show us the way - and show us where we falter due to our old models and old "mind-sets." Set us free and grant us the grace and courage to change.

Unfold your strategies for the Isaiah 58 ministry paradigm. Unfold your strategies for the alliances - between the Josephs and the Pharaohs - between business and ministry groups - alliances and cooperative ventures that will prepare us for the days ahead - alliances and networks which will position us to reach the oppressed, the afflicted, the hungry and those without hope.

Grant unusual discernment and wisdom enabling keen spiritual vision into relationships, circumstances, opportunities, pitfalls to avoid and matters of timing.

Lord, set in motion the plans, the agendas and the strategies for these new business start-ups. Lord, create unusual alliances that will release the micro-enterprise strategies that will touch communities and give hope to people across this globe. Lord, raise up the mobile response teams - professionals who can move into situations of tragedy and disaster - and minister hope and life in the Name of the Lord. Lord, open the doors and set in motion the establishment of investment funds that will undergird many of these unique initiatives.

Lord, give the Josephs and Daniels favor with the gatekeepers. Lord, in the same way that the children of Israel at the time of the Exodus were given favor in the sight of the Egyptians so that they were granted whatever they requested, Lord give supernatural favor to those chosen to penetrate the world's systems. Open doors to penetrate the systems of this world, and the means to redeem what the scriptures speak of as the hidden riches and treasures of darkness. Lord, bring forth the avenues of safety - the opportunities of refuge - the alternatives by which Your people can facilitate and operate in the days ahead.

Grant the wisdom and discernment needed on timing issues, Lord - when to move in and when to move out. When to buy, when to sell. When to close on deals and when not. Let there be incredible precision on issues of timing between groups and events across the globe, coordinated from Your throne room, Lord. Let Your servants be at the right place at the right time for the right purpose. Dovetail and coordinate events and transactions, O Lord.

Lord, may we see the fulfillment of the scripture in Isaiah 60 - that we will see and be radiant, our hearts shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to us and the wealth of the nations shall come to us. Lord, may we be found faithful and worthy in discerning and implementing your initiatives and strategies, so we may eat the wealth of nations and in their riches allow You to establish us. Instead of shame, give us a double portion of blessing, instead of dishonor, may we rejoice in Your abundant supply O Lord.

Lord, we call unto You and You answer us and reveal to us great and hidden things which we have not before known. Lord, enable and anoint us to embrace what you will be imparting to us. Give us unity and a servant's heart in working together in these pivotal times.

Lord Jesus, we thank You - that in righteousness - Your righteousness - we are established. As we move in obedience and accordance with your agendas, we thank You that we will remain far from oppression, for we will not fear and terror will not come near us. If anyone stirs up strife, it will not be from You O Lord. Whoever stirs up strife with us shall fall because of us. Lord, we thank You for giving us an understanding of the times - and a knowing of what to do. Lord, raise up and release faithful Josephs and Daniels to facilitate Your purposes in these unusual times. Lord, we thank You for the anointing, the mantle and the release to reap that which we have not worked for - to be the strategic instruments of Your redemptive purpose for the times we are entering.

Lord, impart, raise up and release your Isaiah 58 strategies and initiatives. We thank You Lord, that as we extend our soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted and oppressed, then our light shall dawn in the darkness, and our darkness shall be as the noonday. Thank You LORD, that You will guide us continually, and satisfy our soul in drought, and strengthen our bones - and we shall be like a watered garden, a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.