Darkness is what manifests the light. It was out of the darkness that the magi saw and followed a star that led them to the light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. Consider the stars… they are always in the sky but only visible when it’s dark. We need the darkness to see the promise, to see the stars, to see what’s possible. When the light returns we know the stars are still there.

We need the darkness to reveal our weakness to ourselves that we may look up to the stars, the promise, the hope that is Jesus Christ. When we have wrestled with God in the night season like Jacob of old, we may well spend the rest of our life walking with a limp, but we never again will doubt God for we have seen him. It is in that wrestling and struggling with God that He redefines for us our very nature and purpose. (See Genesis 32 for details) Jacob which means “supplanter” was named Israel which means “a prince, one who rules as God”.

I am well acquainted with the night season and have learned to gaze at the stars and see the promise of God. It seems to make the night season shorter. If you are in a night season, take advantage of this opportunity to see wonders you may never have seen before. Press into God and gaze into His wonder. Wrestle with Him, even if it breaks your leg. You will emerge in the new day with a new sense of identity and more directed purpose. That in itself is a treasure worth finding!

I feel impressed to share an excerpt with you from the one-year devotional my wife Brenda and I wrote some years ago, called Grace for Grief. There are some of you right now that know folks who are walking through the grief process who this might help. Each day we quote a Scripture passage and then a prayer to God from one who has buried two children. This is not head knowledge. It is from the heart. Here is the excerpt from Wednesday of Week 12…

Scripture Passage…

“So place yourself under God’s authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. If you faint in a crisis, you are weak.” (James 4:7, Romans 12:21, 1 Peter 5:9, Proverbs 24:10)

Prayer Response…
Today I feel outgunned, outnumbered and all alone. The darkness within eclipses the sunlight without. Then it comes… I remember Your word and submit my thoughts and feelings to You. I resist the tormentor of my soul by drawing close to you and take heart that this path I walk, all people must walk. I am strengthened by the knowledge that you are with me always.

Grace For Grief (Hardcover)

“Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have held, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the armor of kings, to open before him the two-leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze, and cut asunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” (Isa 45:1-3)

To the sons (mature ones) I write. The Lord has great treasures of darkness waiting for you to have eyes that you may see them. What are these treasures buried in the dark places? While it is true that Cyrus found literal treasure hidden in dark places, there surely is a spiritual application. In fact, there are many… The first one that comes to mind is the great treasure that I have gained in my darkest hours. My first born child was born with Down syndrome when I was such a young man. Those first few days were dark for me, but then the light exploded upon the scene and I saw such treasure. I realized that I was more fortunate than my friends. I grew much in wisdom and the ways of God.

Eighteen months later she died, less than a week before Christmas. Darkness came calling again. It envelops you, wants to rob you of any hope for ever seeing the light again. But in that darkness I once again found great treasure — not the tangible kind that decays, but incorruptible treasure that gives life to this day. And those are just the dark places I am willing to write about. There have been others where the darkness is not only void of light, but somehow thick with oppression. But even in that, I learned to see and God brought me out of that place into the glorious light of His dear Son.

Are you in a dark place right now? Ask God to show you the treasure. Ask Him to bring you into the light. Let His word be a candle to your feet and a light to your path. I can say with absolute certainty there is no darkness His light cannot penetrate. There is no heaviness a spirit of praise cannot break. There is no desperation that unbridled worship cannot deliver you from. This is beyond contestation despite the wishes of others who would rather you stay in darkness. I invite you my dear brothers and sisters to the light today. Come.

Hello Friend,

I’m sure you saw my recent messages about the Christian Wealth Building seminar. As of today at Noon, there are only 265 units left of the package that contains the FREE Bonus Gift — the hardcover edition of Rich Church, Poor Church. So if you’re considering ordering, I recommend that you do so right away.

Here’s why: tomorrow, approximately 135,000 will receive the same offer you recently received. In addition, the special introductory price expires soon, so I wanted to send you a reminder today.

By the way, this is a great gift for the people in your life — salespeople, business owners, Pastors, Bible study leaders, accountability group members… even valued customers!

Blessings,

Michael

P.S. Click here to see the full details.

Some of you will have noticed the lively discussion on this topic of Christian Wealth Building with Rich Church Poor Church author, John Muratori. Whenever we speak to this important topic, there are always folks concerned about bringing balance. While I agree that balance is important, does anyone know what balance is? An extremist I was told, is someone more zealous than you. It seems if someone is further than you down the continuum of any line of thought, they are considered out of balance. We don’t balance the wealth message with a poverty message. You balance it with responsibility and generosity.

Romans 11:35 asks, “…who has given to the Lord that He should repay them?” In other words we can not obligate God to give us anything. He owes us nothing. Having said that, He promises us much. Some folks dwell on the truth that Jesus promised, “In this world, you will have tribulation…” and Paul adds in a letter to Timothy that if you, “…live Godly in Christ Jesus, you will suffer persecution.” And frankly there is plenty of tribulation and persecution to go round just for teaching a balanced word on this subject.

Wealth, if it is only about heaping treasures upon yourself, is misspent and empty. I am not espousing that. I am encouraging you all to get beyond the “self focus” being warned about, and get Christ-focused and carry his concern for the culture and then make as much money as you can and use it for the extension of His kingdom. That may include building a church in Haiti or it may include buying the local radio station and controlling the airwaves in your town.

On Friday, we are sending out our offer again for the Christian Wealth Building series with Rich Church Poor Church author, John Muratori to 135,000 folks. In it, we’re reminding them that the first 500 folks to order the audio seminar will also receive copy of his 300-plus page book absolutely FREE. By the way, we are already down to fewer than 300 so I suggest you act now if you want something to energize the upcoming year and revolutionize your thinking about wealth creation.

Hello friend,

I hope you saw my e-mail from last Thursday. Just in case you didn’t, I’ve forwarded a copy of it to you below. We’ve offered a copy of the hardcover book Rich Church — Poor Church as a FREE Bonus Gift to a limited number of purchasers of the “Christian Wealth Building” seminar. As of today, there are 314 left… so I urge you to get your copy today!

Also, don’t forget about the introductory price expiring this Friday!  You save $70!!

Blessings,

Michael

Unlock the Secrets of Creating Wealth
And Harness the Power of Money to Influence Everything

RICH CHURCH - POOR CHURCH

A Candid Look at Christian Wealth Building
(AN URGENT MUST-READ FOR EVERY BELIEVER – PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS)

Why do the Heathen Prosper?

Because they want to and are not conflicted about it! While the Church debates the entire subject of whether Christians can or should prosper, and if so, then how much is appropriate and what is too much, the rest of the world is not so conflicted and thus control most of the planet’s resources. We think it’s about the car we drive, the home we live in, the clothes we wear, etc. How small minded we have been to have focused on some of the trappings of wealth, while ignoring the larger purpose of wealth which is to establish His covenant. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Keep reading to learn about the covenant purpose of wealth and how you can get a complimentary copy*of the groundbreaking new book, Rich Church - Poor Church.

The Power to Create Wealth is to Establish the Covenant

If we are Christ’s, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. God still wants to see His covenant established in our lives, but that won’t happen if we neglect it, are ignorant of it or simply don’t believe or understand it. So here’s a quick overview of the sevenfold promise to us through Abraham. Think of them as opportunities waiting for us to act upon. Allow me to give a 21st-century application to the promises so we can begin to enter into them…

The 7-Fold Promise in the Abrahamic Covenant

1. “You shall be the father of many nations”: This speaks of creative ability. The ability to create multiple lasting enterprises. This is applied creative ability and those with that gift can change the world. It takes money to turn creativity into a lasting enterprise.
2. “Your name shall be Abraham”: This speaks of greatly enlarged vision. By changing Abram’s name which meant “high, exalted father” to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude”, God greatly enlarged his vision. Visionaries will lead the future. It takes money to fund your vision.
3. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful”: This speaks of abundance. Fruitfulness is self-replicating abundance produced without undue strain but rather by the blessing of God. It takes money to plant that first crop, to open that first office, to publish that first book, etc.
4. “I will make nations of you”: This speaks of strength. God will equip us with strength that comes from that which every joint supplies in the community of believers we call the Body of Christ. It takes money to form the infrastructure that ties a community together. It takes money to build a community.
5. “Kings will come from you”: This speaks of leadership and authority. Kings go to war to capture territory or defend what they already have. It takes money to wage war and capture market share.
6. “I will give to you and to your posterity after you, the land”: This speaks of ownership, wealth. He who controls the land, controls what’s on it. It takes money to acquire land and determine what is allowed to flourish there, whether good or evil.
7. “I will be their God”: This speaks of lordship. God is our protector, our Lord and our Father. As our Lord, he requires us to be generous, to give to others, to help widows and orphans, support ministries, etc. That also requires money.

Do You Get it Yet?

The purpose of wealth is so we can be like the tree planted by the river, giving fruit in due season and where the fowls of the air find shelter. God wants us to be the head and not the tail, providing shelter to those in need and leadership in everything pertaining to life and godliness. It’s the enemy of our soul that wants us broke and without influence. He would prefer us to bow the knee to him and find shelter under his shade, remain under his sway and not challenge him for control of the planet’s resources. Who are you going to bow to? Make no mistake. This is not about personal possessions as he would have you believe. It’s about influence and who controls the gates or mind molders of the nation. He who controls the gates, controls the city!

Click here for details on how you can get your complimentary copy* of Rich Church - Poor Church

No One Understands This Better Than the Jewish People…

Of all the people groups in the world, perhaps none is less conflicted about wealth and influence than the Jewish people. In October 2007, the Jerusalem Post published details of a study done by Vanity Fair which lists “the world’s most powerful people.” According to the publication, “…the top 100 consisted of the bankers and media moguls, publishers and image makers who shape the lives of billions. It’s an exclusive, insular club, one whose influence stretches around the globe but is concentrated strategically in the highest corridors of power.”; 51 of Vanity Fair’s top 100 list are Jewish.

We live in a world where Christians outnumber Jews 400 to 1, yet they occupy 51% of the top 100 most powerful positions on the planet. I believe it is safe to say that we have plenty to learn from the olive tree into which we were grafted and we could start by knowing the covenant and walking it out here and now.

A Seed Change is Coming

It’s time for Christians to regain some of the ground we have vacated and start building schools and colleges that teach economics and finance from a Biblical worldview. It’s time for Christians to stop complaining about the bias in media and starting owning the media! What if we flooded the world with excellent movies like The Passion of the Christ or Facing the Giants instead of complaining about the flood of filth now engulfing society? What if we owned the land? We would have say over what gets built there. But for the most part, we are the tenants, the tail, the beggars in the land. And it’s time for that to change! Poverty is a curse, not a blessing. It’s not so much an outer condition but rather an inner condition fortified by fear resulting in outward lack. If you want to shake poverty off of you, you must first get it out of you. Would you like to know how?

Introducing Rich Church – Poor Church

John Muratori, a recognized authority in organizational management and strategic planning, the founder of multiple companies and non-profit corporations as well as being the Senior Pastor of a thriving worship center in Connecticut has written a groundbreaking book called Rich Church - Poor Church. The content is so rich, I asked John if we could do a teleseminar together to “unpack” more of the great wealth of information and make it available to you. The seminar, done in interview format, explores not only the causes of poverty, but also unveils twelve laws of wealth creation every believer needs to know! We call it Christian Wealth Building – A Candid Look at Rich Church – Poor Church.

The ideas discussed in this seminar are powerful and life transforming and will help you capture the seven gates of influence in your city or nation! No longer will you need to be the supplicant serving at the pleasure of the wicked, but you can be the head and not the tail, transforming the culture and shaping the future. With John Muratori’s permission, I have secured 500 copies of this 300 + page book to give away FREE to the first 500 people to purchase the Christian Wealth Building Teleseminar. Click here for details and to order your download or CD’s NOW. They won’t last long!

Blessings,

Michael Q. Pink, Founder

Selling Among Wolves, LLC

P.S. The FREE copies* of Rich Church — Poor Church won’t last long.
Click here to find out how to get your FREE copy* right now.

*P.P.S. The book is my FREE gift to you when you purchase the seminar (either the download or the audio CDs) in time.

Contentment is good. In fact, very good. However there is also a problem with the concept people attach to contentment. It seems to me that too many people are content leading lives of little accomplishment, small thinking and mediocrity. They say they are content with their meager lives, preferring instead a life of spiritual pursuit or at least the form thereof.

I think spiritual pursuit is good, but without a material, physical, tangible impact, the benefit is often quite limited. In other words, unless the spiritual pursuit results in meaningful, observable change, has it really been a worthwhile pursuit? James said that our faith, if it has no works, is dead. Works can be seen. God is Spirit, but he loved us so much that the Spirit became flesh and dwelt among us and did stuff. Lots of stuff.

While spiritual pursuit can result in tangible benefits like a solid marriage, strong character, good work ethic, etc., all of which are good, where are the warriors among us who want more than basic godly living which is our reasonable service? I for one am weary of low living, small thinking, and average accomplishment. I think we can do better. And I am not speaking of how much “stuff” we can accumulate. That is small thinking! I want us to impact nations, direct policy, own the media, build and staff the universities, control vast financial reserves and use them for good. How about you?

On a related note, I know most of you received the information we sent out last week with a special offer for the first 500 people to order the Christian Wealth Building seminar we did with Rich Church — Poor Church author, John Muratori. Click here for details. We are already getting back raving reviews of the life-changing content so I urge you to take advantage of the offer before we run through those first 500. Look at the blog comments from Kara Harris if you need a little fire starter!

Unlock the Secrets of Creating Wealth
And Harness the Power of Money to Influence Everything

RICH CHURCH - POOR CHURCH

A Candid Look at Christian Wealth Building
(AN URGENT MUST-READ FOR EVERY BELIEVER – PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR FRIENDS)

Why do the Heathen Prosper?

Because they want to and are not conflicted about it! While the Church debates the entire subject of whether Christians can or should prosper, and if so, then how much is appropriate and what is too much, the rest of the world is not so conflicted and thus control most of the planet’s resources. We think it’s about the car we drive, the home we live in, the clothes we wear, etc. How small minded we have been to have focused on some of the trappings of wealth, while ignoring the larger purpose of wealth which is to establish His covenant. (Deuteronomy 8:18)

Keep reading to learn about the covenant purpose of wealth and how you can get a complimentary copy of the groundbreaking new book, Rich Church - Poor Church.

The Power to Create Wealth is to Establish the Covenant

If we are Christ’s, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. God still wants to see His covenant established in our lives, but that won’t happen if we neglect it, are ignorant of it or simply don’t believe or understand it. So here’s a quick overview of the sevenfold promise to us through Abraham. Think of them as opportunities waiting for us to act upon. Allow me to give a 21st-century application to the promises so we can begin to enter into them…

The 7-Fold Promise in the Abrahamic Covenant

1. “You shall be the father of many nations”: This speaks of creative ability. The ability to create multiple lasting enterprises. This is applied creative ability and those with that gift can change the world. It takes money to turn creativity into a lasting enterprise.
2. “Your name shall be Abraham”: This speaks of greatly enlarged vision. By changing Abram’s name which meant “high, exalted father” to Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude”, God greatly enlarged his vision. Visionaries will lead the future. It takes money to fund your vision.
3. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful”: This speaks of abundance. Fruitfulness is self-replicating abundance produced without undue strain but rather by the blessing of God. It takes money to plant that first crop, to open that first office, to publish that first book, etc.
4. “I will make nations of you”: This speaks of strength. God will equip us with strength that comes from that which every joint supplies in the community of believers we call the Body of Christ. It takes money to form the infrastructure that ties a community together. It takes money to build a community.
5. “Kings will come from you”: This speaks of leadership and authority. Kings go to war to capture territory or defend what they already have. It takes money to wage war and capture market share.
6. “I will give to you and to your posterity after you, the land”: This speaks of ownership, wealth. He who controls the land, controls what’s on it. It takes money to acquire land and determine what is allowed to flourish there, whether good or evil.
7. “I will be their God”: This speaks of lordship. God is our protector, our Lord and our Father. As our Lord, he requires us to be generous, to give to others, to help widows and orphans, support ministries, etc. That also requires money.

Do You Get it Yet?

The purpose of wealth is so we can be like the tree planted by the river, giving fruit in due season and where the fowls of the air find shelter. God wants us to be the head and not the tail, providing shelter to those in need and leadership in everything pertaining to life and godliness. It’s the enemy of our soul that wants us broke and without influence. He would prefer us to bow the knee to him and find shelter under his shade, remain under his sway and not challenge him for control of the planet’s resources. Who are you going to bow to? Make no mistake. This is not about personal possessions as he would have you believe. It’s about influence and who controls the gates or mind molders of the nation. He who controls the gates, controls the city!

Click here for details on how you can get your complimentary copy of Rich Church - Poor Church

No One Understands This Better Than the Jewish People…

Of all the people groups in the world, perhaps none is less conflicted about wealth and influence than the Jewish people. In October 2007, the Jerusalem Post published details of a study done by Vanity Fair which lists “the world’s most powerful people.” According to the publication, “…the top 100 consisted of the bankers and media moguls, publishers and image makers who shape the lives of billions. It’s an exclusive, insular club, one whose influence stretches around the globe but is concentrated strategically in the highest corridors of power.”; 51 of Vanity Fair’s top 100 list are Jewish.

We live in a world where Christians outnumber Jews 400 to 1, yet they occupy 51% of the top 100 most powerful positions on the planet. I believe it is safe to say that we have plenty to learn from the olive tree into which we were grafted and we could start by knowing the covenant and walking it out here and now.

A Seed Change is Coming

It’s time for Christians to regain some of the ground we have vacated and start building schools and colleges that teach economics and finance from a Biblical worldview. It’s time for Christians to stop complaining about the bias in media and starting owning the media! What if we flooded the world with excellent movies like The Passion of the Christ or Facing the Giants instead of complaining about the flood of filth now engulfing society? What if we owned the land? We would have say over what gets built there. But for the most part, we are the tenants, the tail, the beggars in the land. And it’s time for that to change! Poverty is a curse, not a blessing. It’s not so much an outer condition but rather an inner condition fortified by fear resulting in outward lack. If you want to shake poverty off of you, you must first get it out of you. Would you like to know how?

Introducing Rich Church – Poor Church

John Muratori, a recognized authority in organizational management and strategic planning, the founder of multiple companies and non-profit corporations as well as being the Senior Pastor of a thriving worship center in Connecticut has written a groundbreaking book called Rich Church - Poor Church. The content is so rich, I asked John if we could do a teleseminar together to “unpack” more of the great wealth of information and make it available to you. The seminar, done in interview format, explores not only the causes of poverty, but also unveils twelve laws of wealth creation every believer needs to know! We call it Christian Wealth Building – A Candid Look at Rich Church – Poor Church.

The ideas discussed in this seminar are powerful and life transforming and will help you capture the seven gates of influence in your city or nation! No longer will you need to be the supplicant serving at the pleasure of the wicked, but you can be the head and not the tail, transforming the culture and shaping the future. With John Muratori’s permission, I have secured 500 copies of this 300 + page book to give away FREE to the first 500 people to purchase the Christian Wealth Building Teleseminar. Click here for details and to order your download or CD’s NOW. They won’t last long!

Blessings,

Michael Q. Pink, Founder

Selling Among Wolves, LLC

P.S. The FREE copies of Rich Church — Poor Church won’t last long.
Click here to find out how to get your FREE copy right now.

Today is the last in our series of entries from our special guest, John Muratori. Read through to the end to find out how you can hear more from John…

12 Biblical Laws of Wealth Creation

Like the law of gravity, The Twelve Biblical Laws of Wealth Creation just exist. They are the most universal set of directives on prosperity — trans-cultural, trans-generational, not bound by economics. Regardless of your age, environment, or financial situation, these 12 laws will stop the lack and shape your financial destiny. While I did not make up these 12 laws, I did spend a lifetime discovering them. It has been a journey of difficulty, trial, success and failure.

In “Rich Church Poor Church,” I devote a full one-third of my book to the study of these 12 laws. There isn’t space here for even an executive summary so I will share with you just one law — the most critical to your future wealth and well-being. It is the Law of the Brand. It is the foundation on which the other eleven laws are firmly established. It’s also the linchpin that holds them all together.

Businesspeople will recognize the brand as a company name or product name. Corporations spend millions of dollars defining themselves through their names, symbols and identities, then even more keeping that brand name in front of the public.

Your name is your brand and you should give priority to establishing a good name for yourself. Most people will never get to know you intimately, so your character is only known by the name and reputation that precedes you.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1 KJV)

A good name carries with it a high perceived value. If you have a reputation of honesty and integrity, you’ll find more doors opened to you, more acceptance into circles of influence and more resources given to you. If you have a reputation of getting the job done, of cutting costs or producing wealth, you are worth more in compensation to an employer or client. But it’s not just about business.

Your family relations weigh heavily on your good name. Do you keep the promises you make with your spouse and children? Or do you repeatedly miss that little league game, the piano recital or the chance to just hang out together? When our names no longer symbolize integrity and justice, businesspeople will no longer trust us with their resources and family members will no longer trust us with the secrets in their hearts.

“…[Jesus] increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Even in his youth, Jesus had a good name before many. Ultimately, the religious and political establishments would come to despise that name as many do to this day. But to the hurting, sick, and needy, His name is matchless in its ability to bring comfort and hope. What does your name say about you?

Coming This Thursday: Details on How You Can Receive Your FREE Copy of John Muratori’s Best Selling Book, Rich Church, Poor Church
This 300 + page hardback book is crammed with insight and revelation that can revolutionize your world. John Muratori demystifies spirituality and prosperity so you can be wealthy - God’s Way. John blends decades of business experience, intensive research and proven leadership to present you with the specific laws that govern the entire spectrum of wealth generation. As a subscriber here at Selling Among Wolves, you’ll have an advance opportunity to take advantage of this special opportunity. Check your inbox tomorrow for a limited offer you won’t want to miss.

Not yet a subscriber?

You’ll recall from last week’s messages that I have invited John Muratori, who has recently released an important book, Rich Church — Poor Church, as our guest host. Here’s more of John’s unique perspective…

God and His Poor Church

My dad, an Italian immigrant, worked two, and sometimes three jobs to support the family. His work ethic, which he inherited from his father, was simple: Get a good job, like in a factory. Stay at that job so you never have to start at the bottom again. Strive to buy a house, then, strive to pay it off. Keep most of your money in a safe place, like under the mattress or in a shoebox hidden in your closet. Never risk a penny. A poverty mentality for sure.

My dad died at a young age, never taking much time to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Even if he had reached retirement, there still wouldn’t have been enough of a nest egg to provide even a moderately comfortable lifestyle. Hard work over long hours just wasn’t enough.

(more…)