It’s rare that I get asked to actually write something I teach about, but this is one of those cases.
First, I believe it is because there are few who have traveled through the financial hardships of those leaving the religious system with any amount joy and faith for the future.
Second, I truly believe that God has chosen me as a pioneer to walk in faith for many others who will follow down this road in the years to come.
Finally, the pain, the suffering, and our messy responses to it all have left few willing to go back to document and relive this painful journey.
2 Cor 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. NKJV
The above verse is not just one of those cute verses that we give mental assent to, but for those revolutionaries who will pioneer the mutiny from the religious system it is a lifestyle.
I wish I could tell you in the 21st century that you simply awaken to the truth and everyone follows like you’re the Pied Piper. No, you begin to awaken to the truth, and as soon as it leaves your mouth, your friends’ list takes an exodus in the wrong direction. You are immediately labeled a trouble-maker and subsequently banished from religious *LA LA Land.
The Price of your Financial Exodus
Since the religious system is fueled and sustained by money, your pocketbook will be the first to feel the price of your new convictions. The second problem follows the first like a domino effect as things continue to get worse with time.
God created wives with an inherent need to feel stable. Because of your sudden loss of income, your marriage will take the next hit unless you are married to Mother Teresa the second.
As for your relatives, if you were ever serving God, you never had a REAL job anyways, and this new move will set them off and verify to them that you have finally gone off the deep end. I am warning you, things do not get any better before peace finally arrives at God’s appointed time.
When it comes to cooking, I can usually turn to Google Search and get a cooking temperature and time for almost anything, but when Papa is fine tuning His people, each one of us gets his own special cooking time.
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ NKJV
I tell you this because I have watched many step out of the boat, and as soon as it gets too hot in the kitchen, they go back and try negotiate or compromise with the system. In their retreat these brethren may appear to be free on the surface, but they have really sold themselves back into some type of slavery to ease the pain of the journey. There are also some today that are speaking kingdom, cutting edge, out of the box messages, but they are still tied to religious system support. The two cannot co-exist, so failure is only a matter of time.
FOR THE RECORD: There can be no partial withdrawal from the religious system. There can be no negotiations. There can be no agreements. You may try to leave it in peace, but the system will call for war. Your exit will send doubts into the ranks of the sleeping, so you must be labeled and attacked at any price. You are warring against the principalities and powers that have kept the church ineffective for 2000 years.
The devil wants you to feel all alone like Elijah, but believe me you are not! In His time human systems will continue to fail and fall away only to reveal God’s glorious government and Kingdom.
Let me begin to share with you some basic principles that I believe will be found in every pioneer’s journey to one extent or another.
The Journey of trusting in Christ as our only Source:
1. Removal of the scaffolding.
Everything that has held us up until now that is not based solely on faith will be removed. Salaries, Savings, Visa cards, Supporters, all of our income sources will be tested at this time as we learn to rely on Christ as our only source. During this time we may also be led by God back to some other means of income such as what we wrongly learned to call “secular” employment.
2. Break us from receiving from where we labored.
For years we have been accustomed by the system to work for our pay. In God’s Kingdom we work and the pay comes at different times and in different ways. Rarely does our income come directly after the exercise of our gifts. This change alone can drive a pioneer crazy. The Lord must break us from any appearance of merchandising the Gospel to His people. We will learn to fully trust in Him.
3. Learn to appreciate the little things. Don’t call what comes from God “Common.”
To remove the religious system from our hearts, God must also remove all human measurements of success. The idea of small and large offerings will take on a new meaning as we learn that if it came from the Lord, it will always be large. We will learn that in God’s economy $50 dollars can go as far as $5000 simply because we have thanked Him for it. We will learn to celebrate His daily care for our lives and even learn to smile as we go though the difficulties. We will be trained to be thankful for all things and at all times.
4. Teach us to give at all times. God blesses the giver!
Many of us were taught in the system how to teach these principles to others so they would give, but few have actually walked in them ourselves. We have loved being the recipient of gifts, but we ourselves have never been tested to bless others sacrificially. During this transition time we will learn to give all over again not from our excess but from our shortage. God is shaping a new model of Christian leader and giving (as Christ gave) will be a requirement.
2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. NKJV
5. God has never blessed Doubt.
There is not one example in my 25 years of ministry where I have seen God blessing a doubting complainer. An attitude of faith positions us for a miracle from God. Deal with your doubt, read Hebrews 11 a hundred times if you have to until it becomes more than words and begins to raise faith up in your spirit. What part of “things NOT seen” do you not understand? We are joint heirs with the One that created the universe from the unseen. To cross over we must exercise our faith. No more titles, degrees, resumes, ordinations, awards, or positions to depend on.
6. A new definition of Brotherhood.
This is a journey that we cannot survive alone. We must intentionally engage true kingdom relationships if we are going to make it. The Church is His body, and we will again begin to function as one. If the religious system is known for its competition, division, arrogance, and pride, what do you think God’s Kingdom looks like? The lone wolf wonder syndrome is over because from now on God will only support team leadership. I believe that God’s pioneers will express the love of God to each other in such ways as will make the world stop and take notice. Find your family and together we can build the city of Zion, the New Jerusalem, The bride of Christ, the true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. From total obscurity to leading God’s people.
Gods is cooking His generals, and at the appointed time, they will arise as one to promote the purposes of His kingdom on planet earth. How long will the obscurity continue? Only God can answer that for each one of us.
Do you not think it strange that at this time there is only one living respectable leader in the American Church? When Billy Graham leaves us on whom will the mantle fall? Could it be that we are in a period of transition where the Lord will never again allow any one man to be pointed out. Could it be that the men He uses will be “Nameless and Faceless” who choose to remain obscure?
It will not be the first time or the last. It is well known that Evan Roberts of the Welsh Revival refused interviews because he felt they took the glory and attention from the One who was the source of the Revival.
John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. NKJV
8. The return to God getting ALL the Glory!
For many years charismatic professional clergymen have been robbing God of the Glory that He alone deserves. It is part of the religious system to parade its stars on television, radio and magazines covers. The system has always applauded and held up as examples those who achieve worldly success. Many of us were part of that rat race at one time and competed for its trophies to sustain our own desire for significance. God says no more! He alone will be exalted because He will only promote dead men from now on. These will be anointed men who have died to all worldly passions and ambitions.
Why have I called this a Survival Guide? This article is mostly written to those brothers and sisters who begin the journey towards total trust in God as your only financial source. The pull of gravity as you escape the earthly pull from the religious system can be quite overbearing at first. There is good news for the weary pioneer. There is purpose and fruit from all the difficulties we endure! God will use your life as a model and you will begin to understand the privilege of shining the Light in every dark situation. Paul puts it best when he says:
Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV
I write this not as a teacher, but as a fellow son and servant on the journey with you. Should you ever have a desire for fellowship and/or have a question, feel free to contact me at the email below.
May your dying be sweet, and may the fruit of it change this world!
John 12:24 I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.NKJV
For the love of His Name,
Jose L Bosque
Jose Bosque is Editor in Chief and founder of Viral Cast Media which oversees GodsLeader, JaxChristian now ViralChrist and 15 other websites. He has ministered in Jacksonville since 1987 and served the city since 1992 as a citywide servant leader. Jose is considered a resource and a spiritual father to many leaders in the city and in the 59 nations where the Lord has sent him to serve. Originally born in Cuba, Jose has resided in Jacksonville since 1966.
Contact Him at: www.RevivalPartners.net or ForRevival@aol.com
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Copyright 2012 Jose L. Bosque www.JaxChristian.com. Permission is granted to copy, forward, or distribute this article for non-commercial use only, as long as this copyright byline, in totality, is maintained in all duplications, copies, and link references. For reprint permission for any commercial use, in any form of media, please contact JaxChristian1@aol.com
In 1966 I was asked to serve a small congregation as an elder. Realizing my lack of experience and understanding, I accepted the challenge with a deep sense of humility. I began at that time to search out God’s highest and best for His bride, and also for a deeper understanding of His purpose.
On June 9, 1968, I was sent to the nations. From that time to today, I have not had a salary but for a few months. Barbara and I raised our four daughters by faith. Now, with twelve grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren, we still live by faith.
I concur with so much of what Jose has written for us. We have found that we sow where we do not reap, and we reap where we do not sow.
“Cutting edge” pioneering in reality requires a great humility. I have found many times the need to retrace my steps to a fork in the road where I made a wrong and impetuous decision. Pride is always looking for a way to bring us down.
I am now realizing that multitudes of my brothers and sisters are still in what Jose calls “the religious system,” and that God loves them and remains a committed Father to them. He is teaching me how to include them in my vision for His body. After forty-eight years as a pioneer, I continue to learn by leaning on Him daily.
Thanks Don I am honored to follow your example in this much needed area of the next Church Revolution
Much love
Jose