Tests Faced In Poverty
The Tests Of Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
This evening we are continuing our study through our Sunday evening series on “The Tests Of Life.”
I hope that these lesson have either prepared you for the tests that will come your way or have equipped you for the tests you have already and will again face in the future.
Today, we are going to be looking at “Tests Faced In Poverty.”
Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentleman, I am convinced that if God were in the flesh right now and any of us were to ask him, “what should our attitude be when we are faced with the test of poverty it would be that which is found in James 1:2-3.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
The reality is God created us (Psalm 139:13-16), loves us (John 3:16), and knows what is best for us, not allowing us to bear more than we can realistically handle.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
When it come to poverty this is no different.
So, with this in mind let’s begin by discussing…
The Reality Of Poverty
The Reality Of Poverty
There Will Always Be The Rich & Poor
There Will Always Be The Rich & Poor
Simply put there will always be a financial distinction in this world between those that have an abundance and those that do not.
Many bleeding hearts strive in futility today to try and stop that which will always be.
11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’
11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Summary
Summary
Now I’m not trying to minimize the struggles with poverty, and in this lesson I certainly will not be doing so.
However, there must be a reality check that we cannot end poverty simply because we “want to” and as such we must make sure that “if we are faced with poverty” we must know how to biblically handle such.
Now one of the most important things we must remember if or when we are faced with poverty is that…
Attitude Determines Altitude
Attitude Determines Altitude
Not Knowing You’re Poor
Not Knowing You’re Poor
Several years ago, when me and Riley were out visiting some of our members, he took me by his old home and showed me where he grew up.
I remember one of the things he told me, and that which I had heard from my Papa many years ago who grew up during the depression, “We didn’t know we were poor.”
They didn’t know because their parents didn’t make it a point of contention in raising them.
Unfortunately, not everyone either thinks this way or understand the principle of living with contentment not bitterness.
However, for Christians there should never be a time wherein we don’t understand the value of our attitude in every situation, including our financial situations.
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
To many people today blame others for what they “perceived to be lacking” in their lives.
Instead of being thankful for what they “do have” they focus on all the things they don’t have, coveting after others “things.”
This is an attitude problem not a financial problem and is why one-third of those that win the lottery eventually become bankrupt within three to five years.
Christians should never have this attitude because everything they have, has been given them by God who knows them best and has their best spiritual interest in mind.
That is why there is, spiritually speaking, no such thing as a poor Christian.
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Summary
Summary
Our attitude determines our altitude and if we wait on God and rely on God we will never be poor.
Rather we will soar like an eagle and never grow weary.
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
This attitude that leads to an upward altitude is vital because it keeps us focused on the…
Prize Of The Upward Call
Prize Of The Upward Call
Humility Begets Exaltation
Humility Begets Exaltation
When we begin to grasp that God is in control and that we just need to humble ourselves before him by trusting God completely, we can then begin our journey out of spiritual poverty and into spiritual riches.
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
How can we know if we are being humble and trusting in God wholeheartedly?
We will know when we no longer worry whether or not we will receive our daily physical needs.
25 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
We will know when we no longer worry whether or not we will receive our daily spiritual needs.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Summary
Summary
Humility begets exaltation because it forces us to rely on our Creator to take care of us and keep his promises.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Financial poverty certainly brings with it a great deal of tests that we must face.
But, if we keep our focus on the spiritual rather than the physical we will be able to “rejoice always again I say rejoice” even though we do not have an abundance of money.
Why, because…
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
