ABIDING

A KINGDOM MINDSET FOR BUSINESS
Keys to Fruitfullness, Spiritually and Professionally

I would serve Him - I would abide with Him

In this chapter Abiding of the course Kingdom Mindsets for Business we’ll explore why Bill changed his mission statement ‘I would serve Him’ into ‘I would abide with Him’.

The insights to the power of Kingdom Mindsets evolved during Bill Job’s experiences as a Business as Mission entrepreneur in China. The Lord taught him over the years that some of his assumptions weren’t helping him to become fruitful, neither spiritually nor professionally. Through embracing the mindset of abiding, the Lord became very close in all Bill did.

Explore the theme with us, as we activate your mind, senses, and imagination. Experience firsthand real-life stories from the workspace presented through audio, video, and text. Our content is enriched with scripture, historical and present-day examples, and music. Meanwhile, we invite you to engage in activation through reflection exercises and tools.

Audio

In this recording Gea is asking: “Bill, what is the difference? Can you explain how it felt going to work when you were ‘serving’ and later, when you had grown into ‘abiding’? >>

Abiding

Bill shares: “Abiding has become my daily experience, as I believe I am in his love and do not fear punishment. I walk down the factory – both aware that he loves me and aware of the workers surrounding me – meanwhile I have a kind of radar listening for clues of what he is doing or wants me (us) to do. It is a constant flow of awareness that he is present and interested in everything that we are doing. I can still fall back into my ‘natural state’, which is to live as though I am alone in the world, but I must remember that I am not alone and that a simple request for his help invites his presence. Then abiding is looking to see what happens.”

Serving Him

I, as an independent person, am going to do something for Him. I’m submitting to Him and give Him access to my hands and feet, but that doesn’t necessarily give Him access to meet me at a deeper level. I tend to work hard and alone and expect difficulty and suffering, which tends to make me feel spiritual.

Abiding in Him

He is my resource and I lean into Him while on the job. I’m intimate with Him and discuss everything with Him, since He is my Master, my CEO and became my trusted friend. He invites me to come near and let Him carry the load. I’m aware of His presence all day long.

To know God as the Master and Bestower of all good things, who invites us to request them of Him, and still not go to Him and ask of Him – this would be of as little profit as for a man to neglect a treasure, buried and hidden in the earth, after it had been pointed out to him.

(John Calvin – Institutes, p. 850)

Abiding

Scripture

John 15:3-11 abiding

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 John 4:9-18

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Story

“Laying on my sofa at noon one day I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do that day. He answered, ‘I will take you to dark places, and I want you to bless them.’ Then I suddenly remembered I had to drive to the office to replace the sim card on my phone…” >>

Abiding

A Source from History

The Practise of the Presence or God

(Brother Lawrence 1614-1691)

Brother Lawrence was known for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God. He was a monk at a Carmelite monastery in Paris, where he worked chiefly in the kitchen, cooking and cleaning. He practiced a simple and natural method. He merely turned his attention to the Divine Presence available at all times during any activity. He reports that he was as fully present with God while washing dishes in the kitchen as he was when partaking of the sacrament in worship. The profound peace and joy evident in Lawrence’s life attracted many visitors, who sought to learn the secret of his unique spiritual practice.

A modern translation of the timeless spiritual classic >>

“You need not cry very loud: He is nearer to us than we think.”

(Brother Lawrence)