Poverty is a spiritual problem: By James Lantz
Every good thing is a gift from God. There is not one good thing that you and I enjoy that has not been given us from above. God created the earth and everything in it to bless us. Our next breath is a gift from God. Col. 1:16 – 18 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. The him referred to in the above scripture is Jesus Christ, the head of the church. The children of God, those who have made Jesus the Lord of their lives, are referred to as Christ body. We are joined to the Lord just like members of the physical body are joined together as one body. Eph. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church. The Lord is providing for his body (his people). The Lord knows how many hairs each of us has on our head. He brought quails for the children of Israel in the wilderness. He fed thousands with one boy’s lunch. He is our source, our provider!
Why are so many of God’s people suffering lack? Is it possible that there is a shortage in heaven? No, there is no shortage in heaven, but even if God was running short, he would just speak and more would appear. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. The curse is threefold, spiritual death, sickness, and poverty. Christ came and took the curse (that was on fallen man) upon himself that we might experience the blessing of Abraham. Gal. 3:13 &14 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 1 Pet. 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. Jesus took stripes laid on his own body, and suffered on the cross, paid for our sins and purchased our healing. We know from other scriptures that Jesus took our poverty upon himself at the same time he bore our sins and sicknesses. Rom. 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 2 Cor.8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. Jesus was not poor during his earthly ministry. Remember that the wise men brought Jesus gold. Who ever heard of having a staff member take care of the ministry finances if there was no finances to disperse. Jesus provided for his staff members and their families during those three and a half years of his earthly ministry. Jesus responded to the scribe who wanted to follow him, saying, foxes have holes and birds of the air have nest, but the Son of man has no where to lay his head. Jesus was letting him know that they didn’t always get to stay in a Holiday Inn when they traveled to the cities and towns. In the very next verse one of his disciples asked if he could go home to bury his father. Jesus responded to him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. ( Mt.8 ) Jesus made it clear that his work came before burying the spiritually dead. Jesus did have a house in Capernaum where he had his headquarters. Jesus became poor at the same time he became sin, and sick, for us, during his sacrificial suffering and death on the cross. Rom. 5:21 For he (God) hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. This same grace that caused us to be made righteous, caused us to be healed, also caused us to be made rich. I know this goes against the grain of those who are religiously brainwashed, but, its so anyhow. Many will say, that means we will be rich when we get to heaven. Yes, but God has given us the earnest (down payment) of our inheritance now. The wise will accept the truth and receive this grace. 2 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. Poverty is a spiritual problem. The ones who suffer in poverty, either don’t know that Jesus has redeemed us from poverty, or just have not received of this grace. One major reason that some don’t receive is because they don’t believe this is really what the Bible says. Others are ignorant of the law of faith. Bro. Hagin said when christians fail to receive healing they have a relationship problem. He said that basically it was because of a lack of faith or a lack of yieldedness. I believe this would apply to us getting our prayers answered in the area of finances as well. Interesting that both lack of faith and lack of willingness can be corrected on our part. Traditions of men say that sometimes God wants to bless and sometimes he doesn’t. Not so! Some think the Bible says, my God shall supply all your need according to how strong the economy is. Phil. 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Three areas that will stop us from receiving from God.
1. Not putting the kingdom of God first (see Mt.6:33 & Haggai)
Wrong priorities are easily spotted by checking your joy, checkbook, and schedule.
2. Withholding your seed means no harvest. (2 Cor. 9: 6 & Eph. 6: 8 & Ecclesiastes 11: 4 – 6)
3. Not recognizing your harvest. Endeavoring to reap the immature blade or not putting in the sickle.
Our blessings sometimes come in seed form and require work to develop. Peter would not have seen the miracle harvest of fish for the use of his boat if he had not thrown the net. (Lk. 5 & Mk. 4:29)
