502 F The one thing

Marketplace facts: The ‘one” thingMarketplace facts: The ‘one” thing

MARKETPLACE FACTS

THE “ONE THING” Module 502 F

Mario Denton

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Overall purpose of this series on Marketplace

To understand and learn from various marketplace facts so that you can: • Be more effective and anointed wherever you are in the marketplace.

• Adapt and benchmark your marketplace practices and principles discussed in this series.

• Use these material to facilitate the work of evangelism.



What is the “One Thing,” that we need to pursue living in this intensely

secularised and pressurised society?



THE “ONE THING”

Today we define ourselves and our sense of worth by our

busyness. In fact we are enslaved by it.



THE “ONE THING”

• We are so preoccupied with the future that we cannot trust or enjoy the moment.

• The media and other powerful forces in society create an atmosphere of chronic emergency, false expectations and continual needs.



The current situation

• Thus the Spirit of God is stifled from freely flowing through us in order to renew and empower us.

• As a result we feel manipulated, exploited and pushed around by people who don’t take us seriously and by forces outside our control.



Our feelings

• Increasingly, we experience a sense of resentment, a paralyzing feeling of disconnectedness, isolation, fragmentation, loneliness and anger.

• Ultimately we become depressed, lose heart and grow cynical.



What is the answer?

• Well, Jesus intends that we move from bowing to the many voices and demands of our age to focusing on the “One Thing”: Knowing him. (Phil. 3:7; Matt. 6:33; Luke 10:41)



What is the answer?

• In a world intent on seducing you and me into conformity, we will not do and experience the “One Thing” without a sense of desperation and the cultivation of discipline.



What is the answer? • Discipline is the flip side of

discipleship. It is only through the spiritual disciplines that we become sensitive to the gentle, small voice of God and experience true spiritual life with God. (I Kings 19:9-13)



What is the answer? • The very essence of real prayer is

listening to the voice of God in an atmosphere of solitude, only made possible by creating space in our lives from the noise and pressure of the world.



What is the answer? • We have to exercise patience because

developing attentiveness to the voice of God is an art form, if you please, that is learned over time.

• The reality of it is that we are not inclined toward solitude because being alone with ourselves and God can prove to be frightening.

• But cultivate it we must.



Meditated over John 6:35-40.

• Three wonderful truths emerged that may help you in your effort to pursue the “One Thing,” living as we do in this intensely secularized and pressurized society:




• “Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

• But as I told you before, you have seen me and still don't believe. The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them.




• I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do. Here is what the One who sent me wants me to do: I must not lose even one whom God gave me, but I must raise them all on the last day. Those who see the Son and believe in him have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. This is what my Father wants’." (CEV)



I am fulfilled

• Because Jesus quenches my deepest thirst and hunger…now and forever: “I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry.

• No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty.” (John 6:35 CEV)



I am fulfilled

Therefore I do not need to chase after the gods of this world to experience inner

satisfaction.



I am accepted

• Because Jesus allows me to come to him without fear of rejection: “Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.” (John 6:37 CEV)



I am accepted

Therefore I don’t need to expend my life trying to prove

anything to him or anyone.



I am secure

• Because Jesus protects me from being lost: “[The Father] wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost.

• Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day.” (John 6:39 CEV)



I am secure

Therefore I can rest in the fact that he will see me through until

that Day. (Philip. 1:6)



Question: Are you desperate and disciplined enough to seek the “One Thing.” If not, what will it

take?



Prayer Focus• Father, In the name of Jesus, I

surrender myself to walk in the Word in the marketplace. Your word living in me produces the Life in this world.

• The word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. It makes my way plain before me.

• I boldly and confidently say that my heart is fixed and established on the solid foundation – the Living Word of God! Amen



Learning, application and commitment: James 1: 22-25

• “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

• Do what it says. • Anyone who listens to the word but does not do

what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

• But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it - he will be blessed in what he does.” (NIV)



Learning, application and commitment

• One of the principles that I have learned from this lesson was …

• I intend to apply this principle in my marketplace by: …..

• With the help of the Holy Spirit, I will begin applying this truth immediately.



Jesus said: Take what I have given you and change the world!



Sources and acknowledgementCHRIST@ WORK NEWSLETTER

• Copyright Notice• FCCI- Limited permission to copy without altering text or

profiteering is granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Copy is limited to member and/or FCCI small group use.

Unauthorized use of FCCI, Christ@Work, Crown Companies, their trademarks or logos is strictly prohibited.

• The “Facts of the Matter” is also available through the Internet: www.factsofthematter.org. R. Dwight Hill.

• Slides compiled by Dr Mario Denton. • Please commit yourself to inform us of the results regarding the

effectiveness thereof should you wish to use this material.

http://www.factsofthematter.org/



Let's keep the good marketplace vibes alive. Let's network.

Become a member of the Crown Companies Marketplace Coaching Forum.

Tel (w) + 27(0) 82 88 29903. e-mail address:[email protected]

Website: www.crown.org.za

Blessings from Mario Denton


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502 F The one thing