October 2005

Welcome!

Is God stirring your heart for more of Him in the marketplace? Many of the marketplace saints I meet are expressing a new hunger for God, a desire for more of Him, a desire for a greater encounter with God, a greater release of his power, and a greater understanding of his purposes. I believe that God is awakening the marketplace to a fresh abandonment to Him. Bob Jones and others have prophesied a return of the "Jesus movement", but this time outside the walls of the church and in every arena of life - business, medicine, government, education and the arts.

Our October Prophetic summit is an opportunity to hear more about this from marketplace leaders and prophetic voices and to come together to pray, as Bob Hartley is exhorting us in this month's prophetic word, for God's purposes in the marketplace and the earth. I hope to see you there.

Every Blessing,

Bob Fraser, Director of the Joseph Company

In This Issue

Teaching

We Three Kings Revisited (Not Your Favorite Christmas Carol) / Randall Sprague

Prophecy

Calling the Marketplace to a Solemn Assembly / Bob Hartley

Kingdom Profile

Communion in my Cubicle / Rebecca Couchman

News & Testimonials

Marketplace Intercession at IHOP!

Write to the Editor/Share your thoughts

September Leadership Retreat Testimonials

Upcoming Events

Prophetic Summit, Fall 2005 - Still Time to Register

Joseph Company Leadership Intensive, November 10-12, 2005

Teaching

We Three Kings Revisited (Not Your Favorite Christmas Carol) / Randall Sprague

Captivity! Enslavement! The division of families! Separation from homeland with the loss of national identity! Fragmented leadership and a seemingly faithless prophetic voice that promised no liberation for 70 years! Such was the stunned plight of Judah in 605 B.C. when they awoke to the reality of their subjection under Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar. Believing that they were God's chosen people was salt in the wound of Jewish humiliation.

The Land of Promise seemed a mirage. Babylon had become Egypt without the whips. But to have tasted the milk and honey of Canaan for 800 years and then to have lost its sweetness was more painful than Egyptian leather. Now what was God's plan? Was there another Moses on the Hebraic horizon? Or was this the time for Messiah to arise with healing in his wings? How would Yahweh deliver a nation this time? The prophetic answer was not what the Jews expected or remembered. It had been given almost 100 years earlier through the prophetic voice of Isaiah.

Cyrus

Cyrus was a Medo-Persian king whose life was defined by the anointed conquest of the entire Middle East. Much has been written in the secular literature regarding Cyrus and he is noted numerous times in scripture. (See Isaiah 44:24-28, 45:1-13, and the many references throughout the book of Daniel.)

But Cyrus's most profound effect upon Biblical dynamics is recorded in II Chronicles 36:22-23: "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying

Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord
God of heaven has given me. And He has
Commanded me to build Him a house at
Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is among
you of all His people? May the Lord his
God be with him, and let him go up!"

This proclamation and its reiteration in Ezra 1 were the words releasing Judah from Babylonian captivity with the royal authority to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem.

Just as Cyrus befriended and endowed the restoration of the Judaic temple, there are upon the earth today men and women who control vast amounts of wealth and are using their money for the same types of Godly purpose in the 21st century. More encouraging is that the number of these individuals is growing as God's purposes advance through the nations.

Welcome to the new world of Christian "kings" . people anointed to dominate their area of the market place and bring covenant treasure into the temple. Bob Fraser identifies these persons as "treasure bringers" and I believe the title is appropriate. They live to fill the house of God with provision. But they don't do it primarily as followers of the clergy but as covenant partners with full time ministry and with God.

King Cyrus is a role model for current kings. But the book of Ezra introduces two more kings who greatly influence biblical history, Darius and Artaxerxes. These two complete the triumvirate of our "Three Kings" title. Now on with the story!

Cyrus not only released the Jews, but according to Ezra 1:7-11 he gave back to Judah much of the wealth stolen from the temple by Babylon. Cyrus literally took from the wealth of the national treasury to supply the needs of the temple.

I believe that this will happen again within our lifetime. There will be righteous men and women whose wealth is equivalent to that of nations who will give this generously from their storehouses. Are you stirred by the thought of total worship to God by the act of great giving? Then this story is for you.

The impact of the Cyrus gift is even greater when viewed from Ezra 1:4 where he encourages all of Israel to contribute to the rebuilding of the temple. Later in chapter 2:68 we see the "heads of the father's houses" of Israel doing exactly that. Cyrus used both his wealth and his influence to restore Jerusalem. This influence went far beyond just his subjects. It affected his successors.

King Darius - following in Cyrus's footsteps

Even with the Cyrus edict, the rebuilding of the temple soon met with resistance from neighboring nations. The Jewish enemies would stop at nothing to keep the ex-captives from completing their royal assignment to restore Jerusalem. Rehum and Shimshai are the two adversaries of the Hebrews who sent a letter to king Artaxerxes informing him of the temple rebuilding and of the past history of the incorrigible Jewish race.

Artaxerxes orders the Israelites to stop, and the work ceases for 14 years until the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encourage the people to return to work and to also write an explanatory letter of their mission to Darius, the new king of Persia. The inhabitants of Jerusalem accomplish both. (Ezra 5) Most importantly, Judah's letter for help invokes the original decree of Cyrus regarding his command to rebuild the city and temple.

King Darius does find the original Cyrus proclamation and confirms it. But he goes even further in his benevolence as he models the example established by his righteous royal predecessor. He adds the following benefits for the temple:

He commands the Jewish adversaries to stop their harassment of the temple builders
He also commands the adversaries to pay for building the Temple from the king's taxation treasury, and all provision for sacrifice (bulls, rams, lambs, wheat, salt, wine, and oil) were to be given to the priests daily from the kings storehouse
The priests are to be given this supply so that they can "offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the lives of the king and his sons." (Ezra 6:10). This last command establishes a major covenant agreement between kings and priests. There is an exchange of kingly finance for priestly blessing and prayer. The same righteous accord is in force today and defines the king-priest relationship.

From this kingly decree the temple was finished and dedicated. (Ezra 6:14-18). Such is the power of kings in their area of dominion. But it should be noted that nothing good happened for the Jews in this situation until the authority of Cyrus was invoked. Even with this great provision one more Persian king reigning in Babylon had to provide for Jerusalem to restore her great glory.

Successive Generations marked by benevolence - King Artaxerxes and the priest Ezra

Sixty to seventy years pass between Ezra chapter 6 and 7. A new king, Artaxerxes, rules in Babylon. (Not the same king as seen in Ezra 4.) Most interestingly, some historians identify him as the son of Ahasureus the husband of Esther. This new king could be her son. Suddenly Esther's calling of "coming to the kingdom for such a time as this" (Esther 4:13-14) takes on epic proportions. It is possible that she raised the king that showed such incredible favor to Ezra the priest, "a scribe of the Law of the God of heaven" in chapter 7:12-27.

In this passage Artaxerxes provides to Jerusalem through Ezra the following:

Release for any remaining Jews in Babylon to go back to their homeland. This includes not only Judah and Benjamin but all of Israel is given permission to return.
Silver and gold from the hand of the king and his counselors, in fact all the silver and gold Ezra can find in Babylon, including whatever he can collect from the Jews in Babylon and those returning to Jerusalem.
Use the money that is collected as means to supply provision for sacrifice at the temple, with any remaining money to be used at Ezra's discretion, and any extra needs to be met from the king's treasury. More articles of worship from the original temple were also possibly sent back
As with Darius, the reason for the kingly blessing is identified. "Why should there wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?" (Ezra 7:23). Again spiritual priestly blessing is exchanged for kingly provision.
Artaxerxes initiated the tradition of no taxes on the house of God or his priests. (Ezra 7:24)
Ezra was given authority to establish a legal system based upon the law of Jahweh. This legal system had authority to punish all who did not abide God's law.

Not bad for one single decree. Again we glimpse the power of kings.

Cyrus set the example and two other rulers of Babylon followed. How powerful that the Jewish state was financed so greatly by non-Jews just as Isaiah prophesied.

The 21st century Cyrus's will perform like their 6th century B.C. Persian father. They are arising to do the will of God and some are functioning in their gifts even now. These are people who wield wealth as a righteous weapon - treasure bringers who will covenant with priests and prophets to fulfill God's purpose on the earth.

About the Author: Dr. Randall Sprague is the author of three books concerning the ministry of kings and can be reached at rinsprague@excite.com.

Prophecy

Calling the Marketplace to a Solemn Assembly / Bob Hartley

Floods Coming

Since 2002 I've had dreams of floods coming to America, people drowning and in dire need of "advanced spiritual tools" to get to the shore where the promises lay. The primary advanced spiritual tool was prayer according to his heart - to "shush," stopping everything, stopping our narcissistic prayers, and start caring about what he cares about in prayer. During the storms, we were to "look up" (Luke 24:49), remembering and reclaiming his promises, and we would have the strength to swim to shore.

Rage or Repent

In early September I had a dream where thousands of people were standing on the edge of a cliff, only to be blown off to fall thousands of feet. On the way down they were losing all the earthly things that were of value to them (houses, material possessions, pet sins, etc.). As they hit the ground, to my surprise they survived! They landed, with great loss, but also freed of things had become a prison to them. They stood up, and divested of every distraction, they faced God.

At this point they either raged against God in offense at what he had taken, or tenderly, joyfully repented and turned back towards him, saying he was enough. Some were loosed of life-long sins and bondages, getting wonderfully set free into the liberty of Christ. Some became radically abandoned to God.

Cities Having New Starts

Where people and cities chose repentance and turning back to God, Christianity that looked like the book of Acts broke out. It was like the "Jesus Movement" in terms of radical abandonment, love, and the manifest presence of God. It had the added ingredient of wisdom - it was mature, focused, and strategic.

This led to cities having fresh starts in God and his ways - it looked phenomenal. There would be immediate results and we would be amazed at the righteousness that would be birthed, even in unlikely places like the political arena. In fact, it started in the political arena, moving into the marketplace, and then to the church.

People would have businesses that became "houses of light" where miracles of compassion and benevolence would happen. Flowing from God's love, salvations, deliverance and healings would occur there in the midst of day-to-day business. Lawyers were adjudicating justice with a righteous spirit like Phineas, doing what was right for the people, not acting out of greed or rage at the system. Doctors received a completely different vision for their practices - not just healing centers, but centers of the "habitation of God." Sales people became "sent agents of God" with his heart; they were being led by the spirit, going into buildings, delivering people and leading them to salvation.

So touching to God's heart, the weak and vulnerable were being cared for (see September's word) and God was loved in the cities.

Storms Ahead

I have had several dreams this year of tsunamis - that rains are coming to several different cities, that natural cataclysmic events are coming that will in effect push many off the cliff as I saw in the dream, into rage or repentance.

I believe New Orleans was one such city, and God is inviting the city to a new start. So many in this city were held captive in the inner city in poverty and a systemic soul corruption. The young were being schooled in sin and led into a lifestyle of corruption before their consciences could develop. God showed me that he was going to lift the skirt on evil (we have definitely seen evil exposed here). The storm has flushed people out of these situations, many being re-housed in righteous homes, I believe to give them a new start.

Many see what has happened as an obstacle rather than an opportunity, but could this be the redemptive goodness and grace of God? In the dream the different idolatries that kept people bound and devoid of true life - be it money, music, whiskey, sports teams, pornography, etc., were being freed from them by the force of the floods and the storm, and they were beginning to feel their heart come alive in God again - it was an amazing transformation.

I saw around 12,000 people come out of this with a new view of God, empowered to change New Orleans. I believe it is possible that in the future other whole cities could turn to the Lord in a single day.

Solemn Call to the Marketplace

I had a powerful encounter where I was instructed in a dream that we were to get a thousand marketplace people together to cry out for the people falling from the cliff - whether in New Orleans or elsewhere. We're to cry for angelic escorts to escort them into grace to make the right decision. It is now the time to co-labor with God's heart and be his instruments to release grace upon the planet, according to Ps 115:16: "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth he has given to the children of men."

Prayer, I believe is what will make the difference between whether people will rage or repent. We are in a serious hour, and we have a privileged invitation to pray, to get on the wall again like the watchmen and pray people through to repentance, and to a new view of God.

Many we would pray for would not know how to repent - our spiritual dullness can be so deep. The Lord has such compassion not to leave us there. If we would pray on their behalf, God would release grace for people to choose him and repent.

Where to Start

This October Joseph Company summit will be an opportunity for marketplace saints to cry out together, and I unashamedly issue a strong invitation to all to come join us as we cry out together for God's heart for the cities and the marketplace.

The Commissioning

Some marketplace people will be commissioned and released at this time to become "tinkers of God" to these devastated areas. Tinkers were craftsmen and merchants who traveled into remote areas bringing needed goods. The "tinkers of God" were in some cases businesspeople would bring their business crafts and services into these areas, but also taking their spiritual wares like divine perspective, wisdom, faith and divine strategies to rebuild. They would take it to those that don't have it and share it door to door.

I just ask you to ask the Lord if that's you, and if you are to come to the summit in October.

Kingdom Profile

Communion in my Cubicle / Rebecca Couchman

One's work life and prayer life can often seem like oil and water - rather than flowing together in the beautiful symbiosis we'd like, they too often they end up separating out like the aforementioned oil and water! So this month we're taking an inside look at one reader's experience of prayer in the workplace. Rebecca Couchman, a Senior Mortgage Underwriter with Wells Fargo in Des Moines has, by her own admission, just scratched the surface on prayer and communion with God in the workplace, but she is starting to see him move. Here's some of her story.

"Why Not Take Me into Your Workplace?"

"That was a question the Lord asked me as I went back into what was a very competitive new department in July 2004. I had spent two years out of the workplace, in a spiritual wilderness, losing pretty much everything but relationship with Jesus (home, job, friends, my father to homicide). But as a result, I had learnt a deep dependence on the Lord rather than myself. I had to stay in that place of peace, of his rest - but I didn't know how to do that back in corporate life. I was desperate to stay dependent on the Lord and this drove me to my knees, asking the Lord to teach me how to walk his way everyday. And that's when he asked me 'why don't you pray for this place, these people and take me with you into every moment of your day?'"

What Does that Look Like?

What does taking the Lord into every moment of her day actually look like for Rebecca?

Constant conversation: "From the moment I wake up I start talking to the Lord, but it's in the car on they way to work that I start praying for work. Starting with thankfulness - thanking the Lord is very powerful in getting my heart right before him and he is so worthy of worship. I thank him for always being there, for his provision in the basics of my life, for abundant life in him, for my team, co-workers, managers, clients and the files I work on."
Practical prayer: "I ask the Lord to work with us in everything - I pray over every file and for all parties associated with it. I pray to keep our minds clear, accurate and productive as a unit. I ask him to replace competitiveness with cooperation, his compassion, faithfulness and goodness."
Praying for coworkers: "I pray for co-workers when they're at my desk, or if the Lord highlights them."
Listening: "I listen to the Lord to prioritize my workload and the prayer requests that often come from co-workers via email."
Focusing on worship: "I'm able to have worship music playing, but even if not, an attitude of constant worship is key to keeping my heart and spirit focused."
God lunches: "I try to get out to the park at lunchtime to connect with the creative goodness of God."
Sharing Jesus: "In praying for so many of them, whether they know it or not there's often an openness to share more of Jesus with them."
Email prayer: "Many co-workers now send prayer requests by email, and I'll ask the Lord which ones to focus on."

Good Fruit

This "constant prayer experiment" has certainly seen results - indeed the managers at Wells Fargo keep asking what the secret is in Rebecca's department.

Within three months of starting praying in and for her department, the atmosphere of anxiety and competition significantly changed to one of cooperation and satisfaction. Co-workers were asking for prayer and encountering the peace and presence of God.
Within just four months of opening, this new department rose to first place amongst 5 Wells Fargo sites across the US in every area - production figures, accuracy etc. - way above expectations.
Healings have taken place - three women have been completely healed from breast cancer, miracle conceptions and adoptions from abroad.
Several broken marriages have been turned around.
Several co-workers have come to Christ and returned to the church and relationship with the Lord.

Continuing Challenges

There's still the temptation to fall into just praying for herself. In a recent move to a new department with a huge backlog and stress all around, Rebecca found herself praying "help me Lord" most of the time. A good prayer, but the Lord reminded her: "Wasn't it better in your previous department when you prayed 'help us Lord'?" After a week into really praying for the department, the backlog has miraculously disappeared!

Well, that's just a flavor of what a lifestyle of prayer can look like in the workplace. I'm off to my cubicle to pray over that mound of paperwork!

News & Testimonials

Marketplace Intercession at IHOP!

If you live in Kansas City, come and join us at IHOP on Wednesday mornings from 6-8 A.M. for marketplace-focused intercession and personal ministry.

Write to the Editor/Share your thoughts

If you have perspectives on marketplace Christianity, subjects you'd like to see covered or questions you'd like to raise with other readers write to the Editor, Pippa Kendall at jocojournal@ihop.org.

We'd love to hear from you and start a regular reader's column.

September Leadership Retreat Testimonials

Many got "their dreams in God" back and a fresh revelation of intimacy with Jesus at this latest Joseph Company leadership retreat. 35 leaders from around the world gathered for 6 days of paradigm changing teaching on the heart of God for them and the marketplace, personal ministry, prophecy and times of refreshing at the International House of Prayer.

"I came to learn what to do in my business life and ended up learning that my closeness to Jesus will allow me to walk in my calling. I just never knew that intimacy is the key. I have been given tools to speak with him who loves to speak with me. I really have been changed but it is a change that can be built on." John Roche, New Zealand

"I came to this retreat looking for shape and form to build upon what I thought I knew already about the Joseph calling. If I had not come I would have missed the "heart of the matter", Him." Wayne Douglas, New Zealand

"You showed me the "simplicity of devotion" to Christ, how to simply "ADORE" the Lord and at the same time how to weave the complexity of life in the marketplace through this adoration by keep a responsive heart to Jesus at all times. The Kingdom perspective is so very clear in your teaching Bob Fraser, this it is not possible for someone to walk out from this teaching and say - "I don't know how to live a kingdom lifestyle." Mena Vergis, New Zealand.

Upcoming Events

Prophetic Summit, Fall 2005 - Still Time to Register*

October 21-23, 2005. Our annual fall summit, featuring Dennis Peacocke, Mike Bickle, Bob Fraser, Bob Hartley and others.

The summit focuses on calling forth the Josephs, releasing the prophetic, and networking together. Visit. The theme is Abandonment to Jesus in the Marketplace. Bob Jones and others have prophesied of a spiritual awakening like the "Jesus Movement" of the late 60's and early 70's returning once again, but this time "outside the walls" of church buildings, and in every arena of life - in business, medicine, government, education, the arts, etc. You will also have the opportunity to hear from several special guests, amazing "marketplace forerunners," people who are truly "pushing the envelope" in abandonment in the marketplace. Click for details.

Joseph Company Leadership Intensive, November 10-12, 2005

An intensive retreat for marketplace leaders wanting a prophetic paradigm-changing encounter with God.

The Joseph Company Leadership Intensive is a unique experience designed to take marketplace leaders deeper into intimacy with God and deeper into a personal understanding of their unique prophetic purpose in life. It is similar to our acclaimed 6-day retreat, but compressed into an intensive 3-day format. Click for details.