Section 02 - Origins of Poverty and Lack Part 1

This seems to be the experience of so many people, and especially the children of God. And because we have this experience, we come to the conclusion and think,

"Perhaps God doesn't want me to be blessed. Perhaps there is something wrong with me."

People are confused as to why God is not taking them out of their financial problems.

Wealth just never seems to come naturally does it? It's like you have to fight to get it. To some people it kind of looks like it comes naturally to them doesn't it?

It is always the other guy, or the wealthy people out there who seem to get it naturally. But you and I have to fight tooth and nail for every cent that we get in. And sad to say, most of us lose the fight don't we?

Answering Questions

I would like to show you what causes poverty and lack. Where does this originate from?

We need to find out the main cause for poverty and lack, and find out how to deal with that cause and to overcome it.

If we can do that, could it be that perhaps as believers we could break free, and begin to walk in financial provision and blessing and live lives of prosperity?

Let me ask you some questions now.

1. Can we do this?

2. Should we do this?

3. Is it possible?

4. Is it Scriptural?

These are some of the things I would like to answer for you now in this study of this very important subject.

And so the first statement that I want to make quite clear, without any apology is this.

Lack and poverty do not come from God.

When God created this earth in its original form there was no lack. The original creation lacked absolutely nothing.

Abundance without Restriction

When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all of their needs were. All of their basic needs and even their desires were provided. And they didn't just have enough, but they had an abundance and more than enough.

There was natural wealth everywhere. It was as though jewels were just lying on the ground. Everything was there; all the natural resources. And all the things that today we would consider valuable were right for mankind to reach out and take.

There were no limitations and restrictions. God didn't say,

"You are only allowed a certain portion and that is enough, as long as you just eat enough food to satisfy you. Don't be a glutton; you are only allowed this many fruits a day. I want to keep you on a diet so that you can keep slim."

No, God gave no restrictions. There was only one restriction He ever gave and that was one tree - the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

He said, "You can have as much as you like freely. Just don't touch that tree because that one will kill you."

That was the only restriction God ever gave. So when Adam stepped into this world he had everything that he needed.

Adam Gave the Provision Up

But you know Adam did a stupid thing. He took all of this wealth and God's provision and he handed it over to Satan. And when he did that he lost everything.

You say, "How could Adam be so stupid?"

Well that is a study all on its own about the fall of man in the Garden of Eden and the temptation. We are going to look at it a little more as we continue and see some of the effects and what it did.

But the fact is that Adam gave it up. Let me remind you that God didn't take it away from him and say,

"Adam, enough now! You have had enough and I'm going to restrict you."

No, God did not do that. By submitting to Satan and through sin, man chose to give up all the blessings that God had given to him.

God's Blessing on Israel

As we go back into the Old Testament we see that God began to raise up for Himself a chosen people. And those chosen people God always gave the best to.

As we go back and read the story of the nation of Israel, we see that they spent a time in Egypt, in slavery and bondage. You may be tempted to think,

"Well you see God didn't always give them the best. They were in trouble there and they lacked."

No, how do you suppose they went to Egypt in the first place? Have you never read the story of Joseph? He got in with Pharaoh and became the wealthiest man, and he made Egypt the wealthiest land.

He invited his family to come in, and he asked Pharaoh to give them the wealthiest portion of Egypt just for them. Do you think that Israel came into Egypt poor?

No they didn't. They came and walked into prosperity because that is what God does. He blesses - and He blesses in abundance.

They came into Egypt with much wealth. But then a new Pharaoh came into power and he changed it. And Pharaoh in the Scriptures is often a picture of Satan.

Abundance in Spite of Slavery

That is exactly what happens with us as believers. God put us in this world - our Egypt. He put us in the best, but Satan comes and tries to put us under bondage and slavery, so that we can't enjoy the blessings that the Lord has for us.

But I want to tell you something. When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt they were not poor.

They ate pretty well, because later on when they were sitting in the desert, living off the cereal that came down for breakfast every morning they moaned and groaned and said,

"I wish we were back in Egypt again. Do you remember the barbecues and the steaks that we used to have there? Also the garlic, the leeks and the onions and the awesome veggies we used to eat there."

They were thinking back on the wonderful meals they used to have in Egypt. Well they were slaves. But even as slaves they ate good food. They weren't starving.

You see they were in bondage and they were forced to work hard for Pharaoh. But even there, their needs were still provided.

When they left Egypt, what did they leave with? The Scripture says they plundered the Egyptians.

They borrowed money from them and carried so much wealth with them. Then later on when Moses wanted a collection to build the tabernacle, people started to bring him gold, silver, clothing and jewels - everything you could think of. They didn't leave Egypt poor.

Allowing Satan to Steal

God has never intended His people to be poor. And when God's blessing comes to somebody it always results in abundance.

You say, "Well why is it then that ever since I became a Christian everything has gone wrong? I was doing okay before I became a Christian."

Well you see you didn't have an enemy then that you have now. You had a different Pharaoh then to the one that you have right now.

You have an enemy that is set to steal from you. Even as Adam in the Garden of Eden was walking in abundance, until Satan stepped in and took it out of his hands.

It is not God's fault. It is your fault for allowing Satan to steal it from you.

I know that doesn't sit well with a lot of people because they got bitter and twisted against the Lord and said,

"God doesn't want to bless me. You know I serve the Lord hard. I work hard for the Lord and I'm trying to live a righteous and good life.

And you know God can't even provide my need. But there are unbelievers out there that live like the devil. They are living in wealth and luxury. What kind of God do we serve?"

Then they get bitter and twisted against the Lord.

Why aren't you prospering? It is your fault because you let the enemy steal from you.

The Best in Abundance

God's realm knows no lack. When the Scripture speaks about Heaven or the future place we will live in (the New Jerusalem), it talks about streets that are paved with gold. The walls are made out of jewels and any wealthy thing that you can think of.

Everything in this world that we consider wealthy is what the city is made up of. God wants us to have everything that we need.

God wants us to live in abundance. He doesn't want us just to have enough. He doesn't want us to just have the cheap junk. He wants us to have the best.

God doesn't want you living off the cheapest food that you can find. He wants you living off the healthiest food and the best tasting food. God always wants the best.

He doesn't want you wearing cheap, ratty clothes that you bought second hand at a sale. God wants you to have abundance, and He wants you to have the best.

You need to believe that until it sinks into you; until you finally get it and stop blaming the Lord for your poverty. Until you do that you will stay the way you are and continue to believe the lies of the enemy.

Stupid Ideas About Poverty

We have this insane idea that religious people have come up with. It is the fact that it is very spiritual to remain poor.

You have religious leaders who take a vow of poverty for the sake of the Kingdom of God. It is so spiritual isn't it, because you say,

"I am giving up all sense of any kind of comfort in life. I am going to live a life of poverty to glorify the Lord."

How can you glorify God with poverty? Poverty is a curse.

Jesus Died for Your Prosperity

Do you know what you are doing when you say that? You are saying,

"God, I don't want the good things that you made? I don't want them. You can keep them; I reject them."

That is what you are saying to God when you decide to take a vow of poverty. You are saying,

"Jesus, what you bought on the cross of Calvary is of no value to me. You died to buy back what Adam gave away, but I don't want it. Give it to the devil and his crowd."

The Scripture says that Jesus became poor so that we could become rich. If you want to walk a life of poverty, then you have rejected the work of Calvary.

You may have accepted Jesus as your Savior, but you have only accepted half of what He did for you.

God is the author of blessing and prosperity. God is not the author of poverty and lack. So who is? I have been telling you that all along. Lack and poverty came from Satan, not from God.

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