The Pareto Principle specifies that 80% of consequences come from 20% of the causes, asserting an unequal relationship between inputs and outputs. If you agree that at least 80-90% of your time is spent within these 7 mountains, then the Pareto principle becomes handy for you to engage the remaining 10-20% of your time with God in order to exert the right influence on these 7 spheres of your life.

 

We are a special mountain called by God to be a spiritual government over all the other mountains. We are the 8th mountain to extend this concept. We must assume our role as priests, and take our place on the throne as kings to rule. 

 

Our focus today in this series of 7 mountains is on religion. The question to be answered here is - how much are you influencing and utilising religion to advance the kingdom of God? While religion has been weaponised for wars, politics, making money, etc, religion has been effectively used to propagate the gospel of Christ, establish the laws that govern nations and for many other human development - in education, medicine, technology, etc. 

 

Judaism is the predominant religion of the Jews, where the Jews believed that God was only in Zion, a physical location. But the coming of Jesus saw a radical change not only in the religiosity of the Jews but also in the religious inclinations of other nations.

 

At this point, it is important to state that religiosity is not the same as spirituality. While we physically engage with religion (a human construct for seeking God) through going to church, attending conferences, charitable works and currently in a MAGH session, spirituality is a relationship with God that enables us to impact and change these 7 mountains, including the mountain of religion for the kingdom advancement.

 

Jesus Christ, in John 4:23 explained how we can effectively influence the mountain of religion for His kingdom growth. 

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth - John 4:23-24

 

But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” – (Micah 4:1-2).

 

The word “Christian” has never been the original intent of the name given by God to the early disciples and the apostles of Jesus Christ to define who they were in their relationship with Him. The name “Christian” was first given to them by the Gentiles and religious sets who were in Antioch, an ancient Greek city.

 

We (the Church) are the dwelling place of God. We are His tabernacle. We are Zion. We are a special kind of mountain! We should spend 20% of our time in this mounting of the Lord going by the Pareto principle to impact positively on the 80% of the time we spend in the marketplace. We are a corporate people in Christ that is the Body of Christ. It has been prophetically spoken that we will be the mountain on top of all mountains.

 

This is not something that can be done by one person or one local fellowship in a twinkling of an eye. It will take a process of time, but it requires revelation and understanding for the involvement of a corporate people with a kingdom mindset to engage these Seven (7) spheres.

 

1. The extent to which we can use religion for God's kingdom advancement is the extent of revelation of the Truth we get from God. John 4:23 says the true worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. Let's acknowlegde and appreciate God for the revelation we receive from Him.

 

2. It is one thing to receive the truth from God but it is another thing to put these truths into practice. For us to effectively use religion for the kingdom advancement, we need to practice the truth we receive from God. James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. Let's pray for the grace to practice the revelation we receive from God.

 

3. One of the strongest strategies of Jesus Christ for changing the dynamics of religion is the demonstration of God's power through the miraculous. Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Let's pray for the demonstration of God's power through us in the marketplace.