BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON FINANCESPART II: A SPIRIT OR ATTITUDE OF POVERTY

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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Focus of Study

Is there such a thing as a “spirit of poverty?”

Are there conditions for financial prosperity

Biblical Principles of Managing Finances

Stewardship of Finances

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Review3

3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be

in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Realize that God is your Source

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply all your needs according to His

riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2nd Cor 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that

ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good

work.“

Psalms 23:1 - THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me],

I shall not lack.

The G.O.S.P.E.L. According to Finances

G- Goals & Giving: Ensure you set financial goals and give to the Lord

O - Obligations – Always consider and reduce debts and financial obligations

S – Savings – Have a plan to save and work hard to achieve it

P – Priorities – Ensure your priorities align with your Purpose and Plans

E – Educate, Edify, and Exhort each other regarding finances, and planning

L – Live peaceably, wisely and live within your means

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Part II: Dealing With Attitudes and a

Spirit of Poverty5

Proverbs 6:6: Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

Haggai 1:5,6: Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways!

6 "You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who

earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes."

First Things First

The people of God were neglecting God’s temple because

they sought to secure their comfort first and became

complacent

Haggai 1:4: "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your

paneled houses while this house lies desolate?“

You have sown much, and bring in little: The cause of their

financial difficulties was their wrong priorities.

They suffered setback after setback because the blessing of God

wasn’t their priority

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First Things First

Haggai describes a double curse.

Instead of much, little was reaped

What little they earned was wasted without doing any

good (earning wages to put into a bag with holes).

You drink, but you are not filled with drink: If our priorities

are wrong, nothing will satisfy us.

Consider your ways! This means as we must consider God first

in all we do – including our finances

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A Spirit of Lack or Poverty

The Spirit of Poverty is Actually a Spirit of Fear

Job 3:25 - "For what I fear comes upon me, And what I dread befalls

me.

In Hebrew: “I feared a fear, and it came upon me.”

Some interpret Job as saying, “While I was in prosperity I thought

adversity might come, and I had a dread of it.”

It is said by reason of his fear and anxiety of mind, never had any

pleasure in his greatest prosperity, fearing destruction from the Almighty

became a terror to him in his thought life

So as Job began to lose one thing, he feared the succession of the more

losses following

And that which I was afraid of is come unto me: Job was also beginning

to experience other aspects of fear of poverty, i.e. what would his

friends think of him

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Over 56% Americans are stressful (or fearful) of retirement (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-pew-americans-stressed-over-finances-

20150226-story.html)

We must be careful not to confuse concern and care for your

finances as being fearful. Fear is incapacitating bringing a

stronghold to one’s life where they make bad decisions or do

nothing to plan

Fear will also say: “It’s no use…”

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A Spiritual Stronghold

A spirit of poverty is a stronghold attached to other areas of

your life to keep you in an impoverished state or mindset

Spirits associated with poverty: drunkards, sluggishness, and

gluttony (to be loose morally, worthless or prodigal)

Proverbs 6:9,10: Sluggard behavior (habitually physically,

mentally, and spiritually inactive), sleeps a lot,

This spirit can keep a person from getting a job, reading the Word to

build faith, and

Proverbs 23:21 - For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to

poverty, and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Shall come means it will bring cause you to possess or inherit

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Does Lack or Poverty Come From a

“Spirit” or Mental Mindset?

Reasons for Poverty or Lack

Sin, Disobedience, & Carnality (Deut

28:15, 38, Prov 13:18)

Lack of Constraint, Sluggishness, & Unity in

the Home

Demonic Oppression and Emotional Ills:

Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Fear, Worry

Lack of Wisdom, Patience, and other

godly virtues (2nd Peter 1:5-9)

Laziness and Slothfulness (Proverbs 6:11)

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Reasons for Lack or Poverty

Doublemindedness (James 1:8)

Following and Associating with worthless people & pursuits

(Proverbs 28:19)

Generational (Curse or Mindset) producing an impoverished

lifestyle, a mindset and/or poverty complacency (Cycle of

Poverty)

Stubbornness and Pride – Resistance to counseling and

counseling

Covetousness – Leads to greed, lying, jealousy, envy, poor

financial decisions, poverty, remorse, regret, bitterness,&

deceit

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Prosperity Is Progressive

Isaac sowed in a time of famine faithfully and in

obedience and it yielded positive results for him

(Genesis 26:1,2)

Genesis 26:12,13: Then Isaac sowed seed in that land

and received in the same year a hundred times as much

as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with

blessings. 13 And the man became great and gained

more and more until he became very wealthy and

distinguished;

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Rebuke the Devourer

Malachi 3:11,12:

"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy

the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its

grapes," says the Lord of hosts.

12 "All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a

delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.

Devourer – Something to diminish or take away from

To rebuke here in Hebrew means to “cripple or paralyze”

Proves that the blessings of God are conditional

Israel was agricultural and the devourer was the locusts

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Rebuke the Devourer

We know that the enemy comes to steal, kill, & destroy (John 10:10)

When we set ourselves in obedience with God concerning our

giving and trusting in His word, we have the right to resist the devil

concerning our finances

Many people with financial problems fail to do the most important

thing first: obey and honor God with their resources. When we put

God and His kingdom first, He promises to meet our other needs

(Matthew 6:33).

How can you truly rebuke the devourer or a “spirit of lack” if a

person fails to apply godly principles, act in faith, and exercise

wisdom?

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Associated Scriptures

Proverbs 6:11 - Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need

like an armed man.

Genesis 45:11"...I will sustain and provide for you, so that you and your

household and all that are yours may not come to poverty and want...“

Proverbs 13:18 "POVERTY and shame come to him who refuses instruction

and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.“

Proverbs 28:19 - He who cultivates his land will have plenty of bread, but

he who follows worthless people and pursuits will have poverty enough.

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Associated Scriptures

Isaiah 1:19 - If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the

good of the land;

Job 36:11 - If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their

days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.

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Prayer to Break the Curse

Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess and repent of the sins and

iniquities on my behalf and on the behalf of my ancestors of

being a sluggard, lazy, not receiving instruction, drunkenness,

gluttony, of following the wrong people and pursuits, and of

covetousness.

Father, I repent in Jesus’ name of engaging & participating in

carnal, spiritual and rebellious activities that has allowed the

enemy to rob me not only of my finances, but also my peace

regarding the blessings of God in my life.

I go back on both sides of my bloodline and I break the curse of

POVERTY off of me and my family, in Jesus' name. I am free from

the Strongman of Lack and Poverty in my life.

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Biblical Principles Regarding Finance

Giving is Essential

Luke 6:38: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed

down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your

bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be

measured to you again."

According to Deuteronomy 14:23, one purpose of tithing was to teach

the people of Israel to put God first in their lives.

We honor God with our giving and in return, He provides for

us

"Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine

increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall

burst with new wine."

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Giving Is an Act of Faith

2 Corinthians 9:7 - Each one must do just as he has purposed in

his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a

cheerful giver.

You can’t afford not to tithe! It’s sad that less than 4% of

Christians nationally even tithe.

God is Your Source – Realize in Faith that God is the

source of everything.

Philippians 4:19 says, "My God shall supply all your need according to

his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.“

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Biblical Principles Regarding Finance

Manage and Keep Out of Debt

Proverbs 22:7 - The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the

lender.

Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone

who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Debt is considered slavery (It is not a sin) because we can get to a point where

we don’t have the freedom to decide on how to spend our income because it is

already assigned to someone else.

The Bible neither expressly forbids nor condones the borrowing of money.

As long as money is being handled wisely and the debt payments are

manageable, a Christian can take on the burden of financial debt if it is

absolutely necessary.

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Principles Regarding Finances

Keep Good Records:

By keeping good records, having a plan and being honest with oneself

and with your spouse, a person won't get into financial trouble.

Budget

“Proverbs 21:5 - The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But

everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

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Scriptures

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a

home, a family) built, and by understanding it is

established [on a sound and good foundation], 4 And

by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be

filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs

24:3,4).

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Learn to Be Content

Hebrews 13:5: Let your character or moral disposition be free from

love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly

possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with

what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way

fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I

will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor

let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!] :

(Amplified Version)

Live within your margin.

Your spiritual character will impact your fiscal character

God is saying that He will not fail you – Can you trust in that?

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Contentment Not Complacency

Contentment is having an inner peace that accepts what God has

provided for you in your present vocation and financial situation

Not a complacent attitude that you accept your financial

condition

Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have

learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

1 Timothy 6:8 - And having food and raiment let us be therewith

content.

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Seek Godly Counsel When Needed

Psalm 1:1 declares, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel

of the ungodly." A person needing financial advice should not go to

someone who makes his living selling the very thing he's contemplating

buying.

Proverbs 15:22: "Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in

the multitude of counsellors they are established“

There may be people able to handle finances better than you

and from a biblical perspective

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Final Things to Avoid

Living beyond your Means – leveraging credit in a

presumptuous fashion

Falling prey to Get Rich Quick schemes

Not giving God the opportunity to provide in His timing and

in His way

Importance of prayer to God as your provider

Importance of patience on waiting on Him to provide

Neglecting the counsel of your spouse

It is important is it to function as a team in this important area of

finances

How Should We Ensure the Financial

Security of Our Future?

World’s view: Save for all possible future contingencies; We

need to buy every type of insurance imaginable;

We need to plan for retirement and make sure that we will be

comfortable and able to provide for all of our wants and

pleasures. However, We have to be careful of becoming

fearful or anxious

God’s View: We need to act and plan responsibly; but we

need ultimately to have our confidence in the providential

provision of El Shaddai – Our provider. We must use wisdom,

but still have faith.

Stewardship

Luke 16:11 - "Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use

of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?

Jesus equates how we handle money with the quality of our spiritual life

(3 John 1:2). Just as the faithful steward with the talents (Matthew

25:21). In other words, less stress over money can lead to greater

intimacy with the Lord

This is also a leadership issue: If a person can’t be faithful before God

with the money He gives, how can they be faithful with the care of

people?

Our Possessions and Money can compete with the Lord for first place in

our lives.

Matthew 6:24 - "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one

and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot

serve God and wealth.

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Stewardship

The key to growing and prospering financially rests in

stewardship – faithfully using what God has provided to you

The first and foundational principle of Christian stewardship is

the understanding that God is the owner of all we possess.

Do you feel that your income and household finances has a

purpose?

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Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and

organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life

changing principles for spiritual growth and development.

If this message touched you, please let me hear from you.

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at www.practicallivingministry.org

If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your

church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian

culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at

kenjones@practicallivingministry.org

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