It is a great pleasure to provoke comment on a subject I am truly passionate about. Ethical conduct is central to the well being of anything we are building….and we have to embrace the fundamental demand of any reformation… which is to build.
WE HAVE TO BUILD. WE HAVE TO PLANT. WE CANNOT SPEND OUR WHOLE LIFE DESTROYING AND TEARING DOWN.
AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE HAVE TO START THE WORK.
One of the easiest ways to speed up your process is to submit to the wisdom and counsel of those who have spent most of their lives building. People who firstly have bought the whole field at great personal cost, then they worked the field and proceeded to plant a vineyard.
The first truth is that if you have purchased the whole field, then you are entitled to the title deed.
Recently we spoke about health issues; I was encouraged that we did not spiritualise this matter. That we engaged our common sense and submitted to knowledge and information that is being made available to us .
In the same way I want to approach the subject of ethics. This is a vast subject, but I believe that the area that is frustrating many builders in the Kingdom is a total disregard for set man principles by those who want to shorten the process.
Prov 1:20-22
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?
For those of us that have experience in the field of commerce will understand how a distribution/marketing agreement is constructed. You will know that the “field” of operation is clearly identified. The rights to trade are purchased at a price. So if you have paid the price for the field your rights to trade in that designated field are protected and are enforceable in a court of law. This gives the trader every opportunity to work his field unhindered.
If another trader has an enquiry from your field, that enquiry must be directed to you. If this does not happen the profitability and the autonomy of your field is at risk. Your very credibility is brought into disrepute.
When these problems arise, the offender has all sorts of excuses. He says you did not have stock; he says your trucks are unreliable; your phone was out of order;
At the end of the day, that trader has to respect your field. He may threaten to refer you to the Competitions Board, like many of us may say “Jesus owns the earth”; we can do anything.
We are all under authority. Remember the centurion’s comments to Jesus:
Matt 8:9-10
9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Jesus was impressed with the command structures of the Gentile system. You need protocols to order chaos.
There has to be order and structure if we are to experience dominion.
Remember the conversation between Abraham and Lot when their herdsmen were quarrelling?
Gen 13:8-9
8 So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you?
This had nothing to do with the financial viability of the land; it had everything to do with the protection of the integrity of both men as brothers.
There is a large part of the earth that is still
unrepresented. Who will go for us?
Is not the whole land before you?
We need pioneers to arise from amongst us. Those who would venture into unchartered territory. Those who can build from ground zero. Those who can work the land.
I have a simple rule when I visit another man’s vineyard. I go with one singular purpose….to add value to what he is building. Even in correcting, encouraging, adjusting I add value. I do not go to solicit sons for myself. Let me share a secret with you. It was not always like this. I have learned some harsh lessons on this matter.
Remember that God has set a man over every field. Respect that. Even if that man is Saul, he is the anointed of God.
It was David who declared “Touch not the anointed”.
Livestock represent wealth to many people even in this present day.
Ex 23:4
4 “If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him.
God is talking about integrity regarding our enemy’s property.
Who knows if that bull was destined for the evening sacrifice?
Destined for the altar?
That it was escaping the demand of dying?
Who would know if it was meant to be a sin offering.
ONLY THE OWNER OF THE FIELD.
CCF International Church 
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