Breaking Babylon

Intercession - sometimes we need help to get our breakthrough, if our faith is lacking, we can call on our friends to take up the burden with us and intercede for our break through.

We saw a mother that pleaded for the leftovers of the Jewish blessing, and he request was granted

Stones & Temples

Peter brought to our attention that our bodies are more than just instagram models. We are royalty, a holy nation, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Spirit was something that used to be accessed by one person one day a year, and if there was any misstep, that person was dead

Are we keeping our temples clean? Can God’s Spirit dwell inside of us?

How many people liked winning the challenges earlier and getting money?

If you were told you would be stuck on an island, what are three things you would take with you?

WEEK THREE // Breaking Babylon

Babylon: was a city in ancient times, but more than that, Babylon represents the riches of the world

BABYL • ON — Babyl = from Babel (the tower of Babel); on = to be planted

The Tower of Babel () - the whole goal was...

Gen 11:

Genesis 11:4 ESV

Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

…the people wanted to create a place for themselves in Heaven with God.

The city of Babylon was a product of this thinking, and was “planted” in order to achieve “god-like” status.

While the city of Babylon may be long gone today, the spirit of Babylon still exists in the world that we live in.

Social Media and the #selfie, Keeping up with the Jones’

Key Verse:

1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Pray

Money Matters

Jesus is teaching a series of parables about the worth of things on Earth and in Heaven. Right before this is where we find the trio of “lost” items: coin, sheep, son. This teaching comes right in the middle of this discourse...

Luke 16:9–13 AMP

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings). 10 He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the [case of] unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not proved faithful in that which belongs to another [whether God or man], who will give you that which is your own [that is, the true riches]? 13 No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely).

Establish Money:

DEFINE:

Mammon — a Chaldee (Babylonian) word meaning “wealth” or “riches”; also represents the god of riches

Wealth — the abundant possession of various form of property

Money — something accepted as a medium of exchange

Money is neutral; meaning, it can be used for good and bad, therefore, money is not a bad thing. Notice Paul says to Timothy that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”

1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Money is neutral; meaning, it can be used for good and bad, therefore, money is not a bad thing. Notice Paul says to Timothy that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”

Money (Possessions) is a Motivator

Money is neutral; meaning, it can be used for good and bad, therefore, money is not a bad thing. Notice Paul says to Timothy that “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”

There is no sin that cannot be committed for the sake of money

— Guzik, D. (2013). 1 Timothy. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.

Dressing up for a prize, Entering a contest to win a car, Assassins will kill for money

c. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: The love of money can motivate any evil on this earth. There is no sin that cannot be committed for the sake of money.

My bike was stolen a month ago right off my front porch!

Negative Motives:

Abraham and Lot parted ways because their possessions were overlapping

Jacob deceived his father to steal his brother, Esau’s, birthright

Jealousy cause Joseph’s brothers to beat him and sell him into slavery

Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver

Postitive Motives:

Joseph’s contentment with his life allowed him to plan accordingly and was able to navigate an entire nation through a 7-year drought

A sinful woman brought her possessions and poured a years-worth of perfume over Jesus’ feet ()

We see the early church taking care of one another ()

World Money or God Money

Luke 16:13 ESV

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Luke 6:13 ESV

13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

The World’s Money

Promises you false joy, blessing, relationships

God’s Money

Your money will become God’s money when you decide to give it back to Him

God’s Money is Borrowed Money

Many would say that they earned their money — “I went out and worked several hours and earned that money” — this is simply not the case.

In fact, the longer that you believe it’s YOUR MONEY, the harder this process is going to be for you.

Illustration: Lending a Bike Out

I bought a new bike recently, after my other one was stolen. Imagine I go on vacation and while I’m gone, I let __________ borrow my bicycle. When I get back from vacation, _________ meets up with me and tells me, they’ve been thinking hard and they want to give me this bike.

What’s wrong with this picture?

It’s my bike to begin with, they were simply borrowing it. There’s no question as to who’s bike it is.

In this example, I am requiring 100% of my property back. In God’s world, He only asks that we give 10% back!

Two Masters // God or Money

Many people would say they love God, but their service of money shows that in fact they do not. How can we tell Who or what we serve? One way is by this principle: You will sacrifice for your God. If you will sacrifice for the sake of money, but will not sacrifice for the sake of Jesus, don’t deceive yourself: money is your God.

— Guzik, D. (2013). Luke. Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik.

Practical Examples

A young professional named Mary explained: “Shopping is my recreation. It’s my way of pampering myself. When you walk into [a mall] and you see all the stores, it’s like something takes over and you get caught up in it.”

—

A school teacher explained: “Men just don’t understand that shopping is our drug of choice,” she joked, even while admitting that some months her salary goes exclusively to paying the minimum balance on her credit cards. “Walking through the door of [the mall] is like walking though the gates of heaven. God made car trunks for women to hide shopping bags in.”

Credit Cards & Debt

Proverbs 22:7 ESV

7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The verse right before this is - train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Money is the #2 reason for divorce in America right now

— https://www.marriage.com/advice/divorce/10-most-common-reasons-for-divorce/

Minimum Balance & Interest

A school teacher explained more: “Men just don’t understand that shopping is our drug of choice,” she joked, even while admitting that some months her salary goes exclusively to paying the minimum balance on her credit cards. “Walking through the door of South Coast Plaza is like walking though the gates of heaven. God made car trunks for women to hide shopping bags in.”

The more money you pay toward your credit cards each month, the less interest you’ll pay to the credit card company.

Let’s say you have a card balance of $5,000, the minimum payment due is 2 % of the balance owed and the interest rate is 12 percent. By always paying just the minimum of 2 percent, you’ll have paid over $4,500 in interest by the time the card is paid in full, which would take 21.5 years! That’s certainly a compelling reason for paying more than the minimum.

— https://www.transunion.com/blog/debt-management/credit-card-101-paying-the-balance-vs-paying-the-minimum

Thoughts about interest: it's funny that it is called "interest" because it is making money off your INTERESTS!

** Remember Money Definition: anything accepted as a medium of exchange

American Culture would tell you it is okay to have debt, but really what they are saying is, “it’s okay to be a slave”

How many want to be slaves?

The spirit of mammon/Babylon/things is looking for slaves!

1 Peter 4:8 ESV

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Avoid being devoured and give!

Illustration: a person trying to run away from a lion with all their belongings. They aren’t going to get very far are they?! If they begin to let go of their possessions, all of the sudden they are freed to fight.

Key vs. 11 - rebuke the devourer

Malachi 3:10–11 ESV

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.

Money in the End

The spirit of Mammon is the same spirit of the anti-Christ

When the anti-christ rises in the last days of Earth, he doesn’t rule by forceful power (wars), he will rule the population by managing who can buy & sell

Can you imagine what that is going to be like, when one day you can go to the store and buy milk, but the next day you’re not allowed? OR, you can only buy eggs on Thursday between 8a-9a.

Disguised Mammon in the Bible

— Robert Morris, Teaching on Spirit of Mammon

Prosperity Gospel

this will tell you that God wants to give, give, give - and the moment that something is taken away, your faith is shattered.

Poverty Gospel

this will tell you that God doesn’t want you to have anything — you give all your things away, and you never enjoy a blessed life because you don’t believe God wants you to enjoy things in life.

Reality of Money in the Bible

— Robert Morris, Teaching on Spirit of Mammon

Provision Gospel

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

your needs are provided for ACCORDING TO GOD’S RICHES, which by now we’ve established are not always going to look like the World’s riches.

Closing Thoughts

Do you want the gift more than the giver?

Is Jesus really enough for you?

Do you trust that He will provide for you? Are you okay if His provision isn’t what you want it to look like?

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