ABSTRACT
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE IN MAX INTERNATIONAL
Readers: J. Lanier Burns, Charles M. Gibbs
The volume and speed of worldwide
information and technology exponentially escalates creating a tsunami effect
upon the church, society and business. This phenomenon provides greater
opportunity for success, as well as severity of failure. The faster one drives
a vehicle on a curvy, obstacle-filled road, the more one relies on quick
guidance. The only source of true guidance originates from the triune God.
The
Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, resides in every believer. An error free guidance system’s benefit exists only to
the extent of the believers’ ability to listen, discern and respond to His
guidance or promptings. Thus, the purpose of this research project.
This project will examine the
impact of obedience and disobedience to the Holy Spirit on Max International
associates as well as other business leaders. To what extent, if any, do the
consequences of disobedience vary dependent upon whether unintentional or
intentional? We will also investigate their methods of verifying the non-audible
guidance or promptings of the
Holy Spirit as opposed to selfish and deceitful non-audible inner voices or promptings.
Introduction
In May 1935,
my grandfather Kenneth stopped his farm equipment on his land along the
Republican River one mile south of Bloomington, Nebraska. His head swiveled
west in response to the thundering roar. An unforgiving, unstoppable eight-foot
wall of water carrying trees, soil, homes, barns and possibly bodies of
livestock and people loomed in the distant. He quickly directed his equipment
to the high, safe ground. He then rescued another farmer and his horses along
the river bottom, assuring their safety and continuation of life. Emily
anxiously watched her husband of less than a year, from the house on higher
ground.
Reports on the
radio warned of these impending flood waters in the Republican River valley in
southern Nebraska resulting from heavy rains in eastern Colorado and western
Nebraska. Consequently, my grandpa and others prayed and positioned themselves
and their families in or near safety with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Some
ignored the warnings, they perished.
Grandpa and Grandma Kahrs continued
seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance until their physical deaths in 1996 and
2005. The remainder of his life, Grandpa disallowed leaving tractors on the
river bottom overnight due to the potential flooding. Kenneth and Emily Kahrs
survived grasshopper plagues, dust bowls and the depression as newlyweds in the
1930s, followed by the rationing of farm supplies and groceries during World
War Two.
They lived with my great-grand parents who also vigorously prayed for
God’s provision and guidance. God provided for them and their six children. My
great-grandmother regularly listened to and watched Billy Graham’s crusades
from the beginning, praying that one her descendants would enter the ministry. As
one of her descendants, I am now completing my studies at Dallas Theological
Seminary with a paper ministering to the significance of recognizing and
responding to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in business. A long-time personal
friend of the Graham’s serves as the first reader and grader of this paper. God’s
guidance certainly radiates in this circumstantial thread.
The
exponentially increasing volume and speed of worldwide information and
technology resembles an eight-foot wall of water impending upon the church,
society and business. This phenomenon provides greater opportunity for success,
as well as severity of failure.
Will we heed warnings and guidance necessary
for survival? Or will we ignore the warnings and perish? The faster one drives
a vehicle on a curvy, obstacle-filled road, the more one relies on quick
guidance.
The only source of guidance originates from the triune God, who the
Holy Spirit as the third person of the trinity, resides in every believer (John
14:26; Acts 1:38; 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 3:3, 6:2; 2 Tim 1:14). A guidance system’s
benefit exists only to the extent of the believers’ ability to listen, discern
and respond to His non-audible voice
or promptings. Thus, the purpose of this research project.
Steven K.
Scott co-founded Max International (Max), The American Telecast Corp., Total
Gym Fitness, and numerous other companies. Max International produces and
distributes various health products including Cellgevity, which causes an
increase of intracellular production of glutathione. Two of the world’s top
physicians engineered the glutathione enhancement product that benefits the
consumer through reducing inflammation and serving as a powerful antioxidant.
New York Times
best-selling author Steven K. Scott authored seven books including, Mentored
by a Millionaire; The Richest Man Who Ever Lived; The Greatest
Words Ever Spoken; The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived; and The Jesus
Mission.
My mentor
Charles Gibbs, and his mentor Jerry Boggus, are Max businessmen. Both have
built numerous successful businesses in relationship marketing and other
sectors. These businesses have and do serve as catalysts for leading many to
believe in Christ as their Savior. Additionally, current believers deepen their
relationships with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Mr. Scott includes a Bible study open to all attendees following
meetings and conferences with business leaders. His topics include mapping the
Holy Spirit’s calling. During a dinner conversation with Mr. Scott in February
2012, he shared that he frequently falls asleep listening to the New Testament
on his smart phone.
In the 1990s, speaker
and author Dennis Peacock spoke of the significance of marketplace ministry,
taking the church to businessmen and women instead of hoping for them to enter
a church’s door. Jesus and the disciples, representing the early church,
actively engaged in Marketplace ministry.
YES! Invite Rick to Speak
YES! Invite Rick to Speak
