My background is a business background. Even though I was licensed and ordained as a Southern Baptist minister as a young man, in the decades since I have been involved in many business ventures.
Everything from retail stores, marinas, manufacturing, banking, and even oil wells have played a part in my business life. Currently everything is going very well.
Even though my life is consumed completely with ministry, I still have my thumb on the pulse of the business world.
Isaiah 48:17 says that God teaches His people to profit and He leads them in the proper direction. I have always believed this verse, but during my days in the business world many times I would pray the procedure instead of the promise. Here’s what I mean.
Many years ago I found myself in a devastating business situation. My back was against the wall and it looked like there was no way out. In fact, things looked so bad that I couldn’t even see how God could deliver me.
I felt like I was locked in a room that didn’t even have a door. When it looked like all was lost, seemingly out of nowhere a Christian businessman came along and offered a business deal that would completely bring me out of the financial pit I was in.
The deal sounded good, it looked good, it felt good and I needed it. It was my only hope!
As a Christian I knew I needed to pray and I prayed daily that this business deal would go through because I saw it as my only way out. So I prayed day and night.
Then, all of a sudden the entire business deal collapsed. I cried out to God, “Why did you let this happen to me? I needed this business transaction.” In the silence, I finally listened to God. He spoke to my heart and said, “I didn’t block your deliverance. I saved you from destruction.”
Later the right deal came along and I was not only delivered from destruction, but also put into a better position financially than ever before.
A few years later, I learned that the Christian businessman, who I thought was my salvation, was actually a crook who preyed on innocent Christians in their time of peril. God had blocked the destruction and made a way of deliverance.
We must pray God’s promises without telling Him how to fulfill them. He makes the promises and provides the process. Our responsibility is to believe in Him. Our trust must be in His promise without yielding to the fear and temptation to tell Him how to do His work.
For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.