When I was born again just under 2 years ago my life changed.  I felt the Holy Spirit move within me. I found a peace I hadn’t had before and I couldn’t believe how quickly it was changing my relationships and outlook on life.

 

For example, I started to worry less.  Why? Because Jesus told me to stop worrying!  See Matthew 6: 25-27:

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

 

I also started to argue less.  Why? Because the Bible tells us in Proverbs 15:18 that “a hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”

 

Also, Jesus told me to forgive instead.  Jesus forgave us our sins and taught us to forgive and have compassion and understanding.  After all, He died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven.  What bigger compassion and understanding could anyone ever give than dying for us.  No one can ever argue Jesus doesn’t understand us or the human condition – that’s understanding at a supernatural level!  So I started arguing less and forgiving more quickly and more often.

 

Therefore the first big changes I saw in my life were in my relationships with my wife and kids and my home became more harmonious.  It’s still a work in progress and we have our challenges but overall it’s a big improvement on where we were.  Praise God.

 

Once I became a Christian I started to see the impact at home but what about the impact at work?

 

Running a busy law firm based in Sydney and Perth with staff that were agnostic or quiet about God, I didn’t know how I’d ever see Christ move in our firm.

 

Early on in my Christian walk, I was taught that to be effective in anything in life including our business, we needed to hear from God. That the Spirit of truth will guide us.  See John 16:13:

 

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

 

If we are surrendered to Him and recognise His want to be involved in everything we do then we can expect he will guide us.

 

So as I surrendered to Him and God started a journey for our law firm that I will share with you.

 

But first, let’s pray…

 

 

 

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B) God Speaks to Us Through Others

 

Soon after I was baptised, in Dec 2021, God gave me one of the first lessons for surrendering all I have at work to Him.  

 

[Testimony 1 – Juan to share the prophesy of Ps Gemima]

 

At that time, as a leader in my business I felt I needed to have all the answers. 

 

But the Bible says that, despite our blind confidence, we don’t have all the answers. We need others’ perspectives and insights:

 

Proverbs 15:22-23 - “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. A person finds joy in giving an apt reply - and how good is a timely word!” 

 

Proverbs 19:20 - “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”

 

Psalms 32:8 – ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

 

As you all know God can and does speak through prophecy, dreams, visions, and even angels. I now know not to underestimate Godly people who can bring a word of wisdom inspired and guided by God.

 

 

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C) God Will Arrange Circumstances

 

So that was the first big test we had in our business since becoming a Christian.  The team was devastated by the news.  Here was one of our key team members who was soon to become a partner, suddenly gone.  And the risk of others leaving with him was very high.  Our Sydney office would be decimated!

 

My wife and my response was to lean in and pray and pray and pray.  It was during this time that my wife and I decided to start year 1 of the Greenhouse course in our church.  Again leaning in and seeking God’s direction was the key.  

 

During prayer I was given insights on how to restructure the team.  We acted quickly and made the adjustments.

 

The changes worked and 2 years later I can say that our firm is stronger than ever having grown from 6 staff to 10 staff and without losing any more team members.

 

Praise God.

 

Now that doesn’t mean that we become complacent.  In fact I have learnt that it’s during such times that the enemy can step in and try to disrupt.

 

So it’s no surprise we’ve had many challenges since.

 

[Testimony 2 – Juan to share legal practice query – again prayer leads to reconnecting with the right person]

 

I also asked God to do as He wishes with our firm and to introduce me to more Christian businesses and leaders.  The revelations have been amazing.

 

[Testimony 3 – Juan to share experiences with Christian business groups in Melb, Sydney and now Perth – how one led to a song being played on commercial radio for one of our connect members]

 

From this and other experiences, I saw first hand that if you surrender or commit your business to God, He will arrange circumstances. 

 

 

 

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D) There Are No Coincidences

 

As a firm and as a business leader, we are still a long way away from how I see some of you running your careers and practices in a God led manner.

 

Only yesterday we heard from Dr Basil.  Firstly I’d like to share that I was so pleasantly surprised that he spoke about ministry at work.  I was surprised as I didn’t know that was his choice when I decided on what to talk about today.  I can now see that it wasn’t me choosing - the Holy Spirit truly sets our agenda!

 

But more importantly Dr Basil’s testimony inspired me to lean in further with our firm.  While I feel the work we do helps small to medium businesses and the families that depend on them grow and succeed, I feel this pales in comparison to saving lives like the doctors, vets and health professionals on this forum.  God bless all of you on this platform.

 

I feel we are at the start of the journey but already I am so encouraged and blown away by how God is moving in our firm.  

 

I now look for coincidences in my day, like unexpected answers or contacts as I now know it’s the hand of God.

 

For example, on the way back from our conference in Margaret River …

 

[Testimony 4 – Juan to share about MAGH 5am session and Luke and prayer; also Anna joining us when we most needed her]

 

Brothers, these are no coincidence.  God has our back and our business.  We just need to listen to the quiet sense of inner peace, the still, small voice in our spirit which tells us what to do next.

 

 

Prayer Point 1 – Lord I surrender to you all that I have at home and at work.  I want to hear from you and be guided by you in my workplace. I listen quietly and patiently in the secret place.

Prayer Point 3 – My God, please let me surrender my business to you.  I pray that you will move situations and circumstances at my workplace so that your will may be done, your kingdom extended and your name glorified.

Prayer Point 4 - Jesus, help me to listen to your will for my work and business. Please help and guide me to see the small and larger ways you direct me every day.