Fearless Finances week 3

“Spirit of Poverty”

Welcome . . . it’s so good to be with you today!

We are a Spirit empowered church, with an outward focus, so that we can live life on the mission of Jesus.

In order to live on the mission of Jesus, we must be aware of and eliminate as many distractions as possible.

One of the biggest distractions we face today is in the area of our finances.

Why would I say this?

2 statements . . . the first of which:

Statement 1: Everyone has money problems!

For those who have little, they are worried about how to get more.

For those who have much, they worry about what to do and how to keep their money safe.

Whether you have much or little, the key to our money problems is understanding.

Gaining proper understanding concerning our money is itself a challenge.

Who do we listen to?

Scripture has much to say about our finances and provides the understanding we need in order to live fearless with our finances.

Today, I want to present a biblical teaching on the spirituality of our finances.

Statement 2: Every aspect of our life is spiritual in nature.

Although we deal with practical realities in a physical world, each area that affects our life is founded upon spiritual principles.

For example:

I go to the doctor when I am sick; God provides healing through His knowledge given to the doctor. A physical reality met with a spiritual solution.

I make daily decisions; God provides the needed wisdom. A physical reality met with a spiritual solution.

I exercise and take care of my body; God provides strength. A very physical reality met with a spiritual solution.

I manage my finances; God provides for every need. Once again, a present reality met with a spiritual solution.

Remember with me . . .

King Solomon, who was the wisest and wealthiest man in the Old Testament has this to say:

Text: [Proverbs 6:10-11] 10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

Our text is found within the teaching Solomon is presenting as he describes the need for us to work and not “slumber.”

It is a simple “sowing and reaping” principle.

Simply said: “We will reap what we sow.”

To sow slumber will reap poverty and scarcity.

It makes sense.

It is a very physical and practical reality, but with spiritual implications.

Consider with me what Solomon says prior to our text . . .

English Standard Version Chapter 6

6  Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

7  Without having any chief,

officer, or ruler,

8  she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

9  How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

Solomon uses an analogy to represent our need to work.

He states that we must work “like the ant who gathers her food.”

Following the analogy comes difficult questions for the listener: “how long will you lie there O sluggard, when will you arise from your sleep?”

I would suggest that . . .

The teaching of Solomon presents both a practical reality for the need of work as well as a spiritual understanding of one who comes with “poverty as a thief, and scarcity like an armed man.”

In other words, our choices in the physical world, open us up to spiritual responses.

In order to gain victory in our finances and experience the life God desires for us, we must “arise from our sleep.”

With this in mind, let’s take a look at verse 11 once again . . .

“Poverty comes like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”

This echos the teaching of Jesus . . .

[John 10:10 NIV] 10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

We understand this statement of Christ’s to refer to the enemy of our soul.

The devil is the one who comes “to steal, kill, and destroy.”

I believe there is a “spirit of poverty” which has seized control of many people in the area of their finances.

What is a spirit of poverty?

A spirit of poverty creates mental torment over finances.

A spirit of poverty encourages the refusal of taking responsibility for our finances.

A spirit of poverty generates an inability to maintain self-control in spending.

A spirit of poverty creates a sense of hopelessness and persistent failure in a person’s finances.

I believe a spirit of poverty is in fact a demonic spirit:

In the words of King Solomon, this spirit persists in establishing:

Poverty like a thief

Scarcity like an armed man

Outcomes of loss, death, and destruction

If and when this spirit is given access to our finances, he will persist in causing ongoing hopelessness, discouragement, and an inability to get ahead.

People who find themselves ensnared by this spirit continue to experience “poverty like a thief, and scarcity like an armed man.”

How does this spirit gain entrance?

Flesh. (Galatians 5:19-21)

[Gal 5:19-21] 19-21 NIV] 19 “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Each time we give in to the pull of our flesh, it become stronger.

Our flesh provides opportunity for the devil to gain access in our life.

Once he has been granted access, he will fight to maintain his position.

The apostle Paul lists a variety of areas in our flesh where we can grant the devil access.

Idolatry:

whatever take God’s place in my life.

“God doesn’t care what I have as long as what I have doesn’t have me.”

Discord:

arguments over money is one of the most common reasons for divorce.

Jealousy:

based on the comparison game. “I want what they have, and I will do whatever it takes to get it.”

Fits of rage:

How many arguments take place over money?

Selfish ambition:

Ambition is not wrong.

Selfish ambition however focuses on my advancing to the detriment of others.

Envy:

similar to jealousy, but with a focus on the individual more than their possessions.

Instead of wanting what they have, it is focused on them as a person.

“Who do they think they are?” “All rich people are crooks.”

Paul states that the end result of living according to the flesh is; “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

We forfeit our inheritance when we choose the way of the flesh.

Jesus said it this way: “what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?”

The first way we grant the enemy access to our finances is through giving into our flesh.

The second way is . . . through agreement.

2. Agreement. (Ephesians 4:27-32)

“Do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Foothold:

“opportunity/license/power”

Granting the enemy a foothold provides him with a “license” to steal from you.

Legal “contract”

Unwholesome talk:

this is anything I say which is contrary to God’s promises for my life

Unwholesome is: “corrupt/unfit for use/worthless.”

We can engage unwholesome talk both externally and internally.

“Forgive”

Unforgiveness grants the enemy legal access.

Unforgiveness chooses to hold bitterness against someone.

Bitterness is direct access to our soul.

So, we afford the enemy entrance to our finances through our flesh, and through our agreement.

Thirdly . . . we grant the enemy entrance through our disobedience.

3. Disobedience.

Many struggle with the teaching of Scripture in regard to tithes and offerings.

“This isn’t for us today.”

The New Testament establishes tithing as a “minimum” with “generosity” being the goal of the believer.

[Mal 3:8-12 NIV] 8 "Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' "In tithes and offerings.

9 You are under a curse--your whole nation--because you are robbing me.

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe," says the LORD Almighty.

12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.”

“Robbing God”

Withholding our tithes= robbing God

“Under a curse”- an entrance for the devil to “steal, kill, and destroy”

“Storehouse”

The place of “food and drink”

It is the place where you receive spiritual nourishment

“Test Me”

The only place in Scripture where God says this

In the test, God will prove faithful to:

“throw open the floodgates of heaven”

“pour out so much blessing there is not room enough to store”

Once again, we grant the enemy entrance to our finances through our flesh, our agreement, and our disobedience.

Now . . .

How can we receive freedom? . . .

Song: “Shut the door, keep out the devil”

Shut the door of the flesh . . . Repentance

English Standard Version (Galatians 2:20)

King James Version (Chapter 2)

20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Repentance is bringing our flesh to the cross

Repentance is turning from what my flesh wants and turning back to Jesus

Repentance is receiving “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

To truly repent is to “go and sin no more.”

Shut the door of agreement . . . Renouncing

[1 John 1:9 NIV] 9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Renouncing involves confession (agreement)

Confession is agreement . . . we choose to no longer agree with the enemy but with the Father.

It is to break the “legal” contract that has been given to the enemy

Removes agreement with the enemy and restores agreement with God

Eliminates the legal entrance

Renouncing realigns our hearts and minds to the Father’s

So, we shut the door through our repentance. We shut the door through renouncing our agreement.

Thirdly . . .

Shut the door of disobedience . . . Returning

We return by accepting and growing in God’s grace.

English Standard Version (2 Peter 3:17-18)

17 “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

“Grow in grace and knowledge”

Shutting the door of disobedience requires growth in grace and knowledge

A suggested approach to growing in grace with our tithes and offerings:

Become a first-time giver

Become a regular giver

Become a tither

1%

3%

5%

10%

Become a generous giver

Once again, we shut the door to our finances through repentance, through renouncing, and through returning.

Prayer . . . stand with me

Father, I ask for your forgiveness in my finances. I confess that I have given the enemy access to my heart through my thoughts, words, and choices.

I renounce every agreement that I have given to the enemy. By the authority of Christ, I remove every legal entrance the enemy has been given to my finances.

And Father, I choose to grow in Your grace. I return to what You say and promise in Your Word. Help me to consistently take the needed steps in obedience which will help me grow in grace and knowledge.

In Jesus name, amen!

Reminder . . .

Be sure to get your copy of today’s sermon reflection guide to help you.

Next week . . . our final sermon in our financial series.

Pastor Alex: “Generosity”

Greet one another . . . we’ll see you next week!