SPIRIT OF POVERTY 8/11/2024
SPIRIT OF POVERTY
August 11, 2024, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
My New Year’s message this year was a warning to the church to finish the race and not be overcome by any upcoming financial chaos. It is time to refresh our faith.
My thought today was to preach on Luke 21:20: When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that the desolation thereof is near.
Zech 14:1-8: Behold, the day of the LORD comes… I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. His feet shall stand int hat day upon the mount of Olives…
Yes, unless the Lord God extends us more time, we appear to be very close to the time of His second coming. Certainly, we must preach the gospel of the Kingdom to bring forth the Great Harvest.
But, for the present, there is another more imminent threat to our security and well-being. It is a threat of lack due to the inflation, unstable banking industry, and the instability of the dollar.
There is a spirit of poverty and fear of lack attacking God’s people as well as the populace. This is a higher concern among people than illegal immigration and fear of war.
As I was reading my notes on Prosperity. I ran across an email I wrote to a young lady in Mississippi who asked me to define the spirit of poverty.
“Name removed, --- to answer your question on a spirit of poverty,
A spirit of poverty is a demonic spirit which takes over the soul (mind, will and emotions). It manifests in attitudes of being needy, greedy, hoarding, stinginess, pour mouthing, mooching, stealing, selfishness, covetousness, beggarly, worry over money; and will always be talking about money. This spirit will also be “nosy” about other people’s money (smile).
The spirit of poverty is fueled by fear and tries to destroy faith in the LORD’s abundant blessings through the spirit of giving.
The abundant life of the Kingdom of God is not based on the balance of our bank account, assets, investments, retirement, etc. I often say, “I am rich and someday I will have money.” I am rich because my heart is always filled with the blessings of God and my heart is free to give, bless, and be a blessing. A person who is free-hearted is a person in whom “the love of money,” has no power over them.
The LORD set into place tithing for many purposes, yet one purpose is it delivers us from poverty. When we learn to give out of our need; we become rich in our spirits. The fastest way to get rid of the spirit of poverty is to throw money at it with abandonment. Of course, I don’t mean to “throw money away” or spend unwisely.
If one feels under attack with a poverty spirit, go buy yourself something lavish and expensive. (Of course, one cannot do that every day). That way you knocked out the victim spirit and the poverty spirit at the same time. A spirit of poverty will always try to make you a victim.
I grew up in a family where the spirit of poverty ruled. Not that we were ever “needy.” Fear over lack of money ruled in one of my parents. So, this was learned by me as I was growing up. Even though I never did without, I felt needy because this was learned fear and generational. My husband didn’t have this spirit and had more faith than me when it came to money.
Through faith in Christ, I overcame a spirit of poverty by learning to give out of my need. I soon learned that I could never out give Jesus Christ. My giving then became delight and joy in giving. When the LORD called me into ministry, I found I had to have faith for finances for the ministry, visiting ministries, the people in the church, and missionaries.
I learned as I gave with a free and willing heart, my hands were never empty to be a blessing to others.
From my meeting with you, I found you to be a woman with a generous spirit without fear of lack or need. This is the spirit the LORD delights to bless! He loves us all the time; but delights in us when our soul is filled with glorious, gracious giving.
Will people take advantage of us? Yes! But the LORD will give us the wisdom to know when to give and when to refrain from giving.
“I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or their children beg for bread.”
Carolyn Sissom
The first mention of an offering in the Holy Bible is the offerings of Cain and Able.
Both brothers made it into the New Testament. One received righteousness because of his excellent sacrifice. The other Cain was cursed and went out from the presence of the Lord, just as his mother and father, Adam and Eve were banished from the presence of the Lord.
It is my belief that righteousness was not restored until Abel gave His offering which pleased God. Adam and Eve did not give birth in the presence of the Lord, so both boys were born outside the glory of the LORD, although Adam gave God the glory that a son was born. (Gen. 4;1).
You have heard me say the Lord spoke to me many years ago, that “children born to Christian parents, the veil has been removed and they are born with the glory of Christ on their face.”
Heb. 11:4: By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
Heb. 12;24: And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Abel presented an offering “unto God”. The offering was an excellent one God had respect to Abel’s offering and accepted it. Abel obtained witness that he was righteous. God publicly testified His acceptance of it. Abel’s offering still speaks to God.
When we take what belongs to God, it becomes a curse to us.
The way of Cain includes offering God that which was cursed. He did not offer with a joyful heart. He gave sparingly and grudgingly.
Jude 1:11: Woe unto them for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward…
The consequences of Cain’s sins were grave. He came under the curse with the earth and the serpent (Gen. 4:11). He was sentenced to moving and wandering by being banished and homeless, driven by the torture of conscience and retribution (4:12). He was banished from the abiding Presence and favor of God. (4:14) His life was to be lived, not in the serenity and confidence of an unbroken fellowship with God, but in fearful apprehension and haunting insecurity (4:14-15). Alienation from the Presence of God is the ultimate consequence of unexpiated sin. (4:16)
There is a connection between the offering and the offerer. There is a divine order to be followed in approaching God. It is the way of sacrifice, exampled by faith and worship. The way of Able is by Faith. The way of Cain is man’s way, which results in life without the Presence of God.
That is why we give our offerings in this church as part of our worship.
The Scripture has much to say about giving. It is the way of blessing and it is the way the Lord has chosen to bless us and provide for us in times of financial tribulation. It is the way of love and faith in our Savior for our prosperity in the midst of national chaos.
In this covenant walk God has access to all that we have in the natural and we have access to all that God has in the supernatural. All belong to Him, and He can touch and use all as He desires.
Scriptural Characteristics of Giving:
1. Into the place of feeding (Mal. 3: 8-12).
2. Willingly (Ex. 35:22.
3. Regularly (“upon the first day of the week”1 Co. 16:2).
4. Personally (“Let everyone of you” – 1 Co. 16:2).
5. Proportionally (“as God has prospering him” – 1 Co. 16:2).
6. According to income, livelihood, or ability (Deut. 16:17).
7. Freely (Mt. 10:8).
8. Cheerfully (2 Co. 9:7).
9. With simplicity – sincerity and generosity (Ro. 12:8).
10. With proper motives (1 Chron. 29:3).
11. Sacrificially (Lk. 21:1-4).
12. Principle of the open hand – always ready to bless and minister (Dt. 15: 7-11).
Jesus the King through the prophetic voice of King Artaxerxes decreed and “loosed” the finances on this side of the river (earth) for that which the priesthood does require! This is unto the (unlimited realm) of:
1. 100 talents of silver ---unlimited redemption.
2. 100 measures of wheat – unlimited Word of God.
3. 100 baths of wine – unlimited Joy of the Lord. (New wine – fresh outpouring of the Spirit; intoxicates, no inhibitions, easy communications; joy; boldness.
4. 100 baths of oil and salt – unlimited Spirit of God (oil=anointing; salt=preserves, purifies; gives taste; irritates (convicts); creates a thirst.
This is the 100-fold principle of Matt. 13:23. The total = 400 made up of 4 x 100 reveals the principles for God’s whole creation.
Ezra 7:21-22: “I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasures which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, be it done speedily:
7:18-20: “Whatsoever shall seem good to you, and to your brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. The vessels also that are given you for the service of the house of your God, those deliver you before the God of Jerusalem. Whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
Christians, do not faint or go the way of Cain during the days of chaos and confusion which is before us. The Lord our God has made provision for us that we should prosper and be in good health even as our soul prospers. Faint not. Finish the course.
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.
Scripture from K.J.V. and N.K.J.V.