Hey entrepreneurs, what drives you? Faith, Purpose, Kingdom, or FEAR?

If you are building a purpose-driven business, you were designed by God to be driven by:

• Faith: Faith in God and the Bible.
• Purpose: Dedicated to fulfilling God's plan and purpose for your life. 
• Kingdom: Aligned with The Great Commission, transforming everyone and everything around you.

Think of this, you were created to be all three. Faith-Driven. Purpose-Driven. Kingdom-Driven.

You also designed to be driven by faith, NEVER fear. Fear is simply faith in satan's lies, reinforced by what you see and how you feel.

Faith is our fuel. Fear is our poison. 

Faith is based on what we believe to be true. Period. Faith and feelings aren't the same. 

On your entrepreneurial mountain-climb, you'll experience (see and feel) troubling circumstances. If you are not totally driven by faith, purpose, and Kingdom, you will likely fail. 

In my last article, Time to get off your knees (or bottom) and fight, I laid out four Biblical battle tactics from the book of Ephesians. 

In this article, I'm going to give you a way to stay in faith while you are waiting and battling for your breakthrough, AKA The Victory. Consider this article part 2 of the battle plan. 

The Plot of Doubt vs. The Plan of Faith

Satan has a PLOT to steal your faith. God has a PLAN for you to take new territory by faith.

• Your faith leads to your success.
• Your fear leads to your failure.

God commands us 365 times in the Bible to fear not. It's not a suggestion, it's a command.  And God never commands us to do something that is not possible through Him.

So let's begin with satan's plot of doubt.

This battle is for control of your thinking. Winner takes all.

• Doubt leads to fear.
• Fear leads to worry.
• Worry leads to discouragement.
• Discouragement leads to depression.
• Depression leads to failure. 

The Pattern: Doubt > Fear > Worry > Discourgaement > Depression > Failure

Usually, a doubt thought rises up from a problem or challenging obstacle. The question becomes, where is the thought coming from, God or satan? If you entertain a thought from satan, he begins to take control of your mind. Remember, the scriptures say we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16 (NIV) - For, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

As an entrepreneur, stuff-happens all the time, right?

Let's say you experience a horrible month in sales. No big deal, that's to be expected we tell ourselves. We'll pick it up next month. You reassure yourself and your team of this hope. But then the next several months are even worse. 

Uh, Houston, we've got a problem. Perfect timing for satan to initiate his plot.

Doubt: "Um, it looks like you have a problem. Your plans are failing. WHAT IF, this is the beginning of the end?" Doubt usually asks an innocent-sounding question as it masquerades as a practical concern.

If you take the bait, congratulations, you instantly advance to fear. 

Fear: Some say fear is an acronym for False. Evidence. Appearing. Real. If I entertain a doubt thought it will advance into full-blown fear, where I'll begin to imagine my demise. It's like I create the imagery or vision of my total and complete failure. I am the producer, director, and star actor in my newest conjured up movie "the downfall of Gerald Duran". That's what fear does. This is the power of fear. Fear tolerated, is faith contaminated.

Once I allow fear, I advance to worry.

Worry: Do you know what worry is? It's replaying your conjured up failure images over and over in your head. You've taken your fear imagery, made it into a movie, and now you are binge-watching it over and over. Now you become what you consume. Goodbye sleep. Farewell peace. Your focus on failure becomes your future.

Worry races into discouragement. 

Discouragement: When you become discouraged, you lose your courage to press on. You grow sick and tired, of being sick and tired. You lose hope. The light at end of the proverbial tunnel seems like a freight train headed towards you, racing to mow you down. This is the tunnel of discouragement.

Discouragement develops into full-blown depression.

Depression: When you become depressed, you give up the fight of faith. You surrender all to this massive lie satan has perpetuated over you and your future. The feeling is so painful, you actually stop feeling anything. You become numb. Your hope is lethargic. You are now trapped in satan's web of doubt, fear, worry, discouragement, and depression — massive deceit!

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 10:10 (NIV) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

Depression leads to failure. Game over.

BUT ...

While satan has a plot, God has a plan for us to stay in faith. But first, we have to understand what faith is.

Think about this, everything God is ever going to do for you has already been accomplished by Jesus at the cross, burial, and resurrection, and through the Word of God which contains over 6000 plus Biblical promises for us. 

God's answer to every promise is YES, but God's Biblical promises are received by faith and obedience. (not by perfect living) 

2 Corinthians 1:20 (AMP) -  For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.

Then what is faith?

Hebrews 11:1-2 (AMP) - Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.

This scripture defines faith as the title deed (ownership) of what you hope for. Faith takes ownership of what (the request) you are praying for.

When I receive (take) take something by faith, it's mine, I have God's guarantee. But I have to trust God for the how and when of its manifestation (delivery).  

Now let's continue in God's plan of faith.

• Faith leads to expectation.
• Expectation leads to peace.
• Peace leads to desire.
• Desire leads to perseverance.
• Perseverance leads to success.

 The Pattern: Faith > Expectation > Peace > Desire > Perseverance > Success

Faith: We all start with the same amount of faith. Then it is up to us to do our part to allow God to develop our faith. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. I see faith like a muscle I have to develop. As I spend time studying the Word of God, studying the 6000 plus promises in the Word, receiving each one by faith, the Holy Spirit develops my faith.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

Any thought that is contrary to the Word of God, I reject. I am not moved by what I see or how I feel, I am moved ONLY by the Word of God. The word of God is my truth. It's what I believe. 

Faith leads to expectation.

Expectation: I expect God to make good on His promises. So no matter what circumstances I experience, when I use faith to receive a Biblical promise, I have full expectation in God to deliver on His promises. After all, at that point I already have ownership (title deed).

1 John 5:14-15 (AMP) - This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.

Expectation leads to peace.

Peace: Total peace is amazing! It's ZERO stress. While your circumstances may not have changed for the better, nevertheless, your mind and heart are in complete peace. Peace is a promise from God, and it's available to every believer. It's part of your family benefits package.

Psalm 23 (NLV) - The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me. You are making a table of food ready for me in front of those who hate me. You have poured oil on my head. I have everything I need. For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.

Philippians 4:7 (AMP) - And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].

Peace leads to desire.

Desire: Desire is a necessary ingredient in going after God-planted dreams. When you have desire, you'll keep moving towards your destiny. 

Psalm 37:4 (AMP) - Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.

Perseverance: When you have perseverance, you'll never quit. There is no towel to through in. There is no Plan B. There is only God's plan. So even when you get to the end of your rope, perseverance gives you the strength to tie a knot and to hold on. Then God does the rest.

2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (NIV) - We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (AMP) - Do you not know that in a race all the runners run [their very best to win], but only one receives the prize? Run [your race] in such a way that you may seize the prize and make it yours!

Perseverance leads to success.

Never forget, the battle takes place in your mind, for control of your mind. Winner takes all.

God is in it to win it! And He created us to do the same, we must be in to win it, powered by faith in God and His Word.

-Gerald