Overcoming the spirit of Poverty

I am greatly humbled being given this special opportunity to speak to this audience in Uganda. I am aware that true riches is the riches one finds within. Confidence, faith, hard work, passion, and determination cannot be acquired outwardly. A speaker can only point the way, give instructions, and spark enthusiasm but the work is done by the hearer and Ultimately it is God who enables us. (Phil 2:13)
Since our first visit, we have found Ugandans eager to learn, and very responsive to implement what was learned. Mar 4:20 May every listener be like those from Thessalonica who received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11)
The best speakers to address these topics are the Ugandans who understood, and applied the truth in their own given capacity having broken through to achieve financial, emotional and spiritual success. But in time I believe that this will become the legacy of this conference and its future occurrences.

I have seen abject poverty in every African nation I have ever been to. The main reason is because they are mainly a consumer society. They are not industrious nor productive. They can buy and sell. They use what the land has to offer without replenish it. It is a Nomad mentality: let the animals eat the grass, let us cut down the trees and burn the wood, until there is nothing left and then we move on to the next place, for Africa has much space, there is plenty elsewhere. The rich mineral deposits in the continent are controlled by foreign powers who keep a few of their connections in power politically in each region assuring the foreign power’s wealth. If a leader crosses them (Gaddafi) they create a war against them to ‘protect the foreign power from dictators and invasions’. This is course is all a cover for procuring wealth from the impoverished nations. Their cohorts, presidents and prime ministers of African countries, are duly enriched and the wealth of the nation never gets to the poor people. So the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Until the people cannot take it anymore and then someone leads a revolution to overthrow the government. Then the revolutionary hero takes control and repeats the same pattern of dictatorship in his life time. Thus the agony of Africa continues, ad infinitum.

The only hope is this: reform the church to reform the land. Apostle Andre Pelser

Being poor is not altogether bad or wrong.

Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in the spirit – they that know how much they depend on Him For theirs is the Kingdom. It is difficult for the rich to receive the Kingdom because of they are self-efficient

Jam 2:5 Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom

Breaking the Poverty Mindset:

“Looking without” – Parable of the Talents. Mat 25:14-30

Do not chase after profit, profit follows you.

Everything belongs to God first we are merely Stewards of what He entrust to us. (Deut 10:14; Ps 24:1; Ps 95:5)

Will give account (Mat 25:31-46; Rom 14:10-12; 2Cor 5:10)

Someone with a deep intimate prayer life cannot remain poor. (Daniel 6:4, 5, 10)

“The way we acquired wealth is as important as the outcome”

“What do you have in your house” The story of the prophet and the widow

“Blame shifting, resentment, entitlement, justifying self, destroys faith and hope.

“Change your self-image” Your life is hidden in Christ Col 3:3

Giving to & serving humanity – Apostolic mind set 2Cor 6:10 “as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things”

Change your confession

Pray for Wisdom | Character | Faith

Obedience | Truth | Humility

YOU WILL BECOME POOR IF:

Neglect discipline and correction – Poverty and shame come to him who neglects discipline (Prov. 13:18; 21:5)

Not living a life of purpose – he who follows worthless pursuits will have poverty in plenty (Prov. 28:19);

Talking and not doing – mere talk tends only to poverty (Prov. 14:23);

Wickedness – their abundance, wealth and pre-eminence will not remain (Ezek. 7:11);

Pride – the Lord will cast Tyre’s wealth into the sea (Zech. 9:4);

Spending unwisely – she had spent all that she had and was no better but rather worse (Mark 5:26); when he had spent everything (Luke 15:14)

Laziness – do not love sleep lest you come to poverty (Prov. 20:13; 10:4)

Letting things go – a negligent hand causes poverty (Prov. 10:4)

Wrong priorities – he who loves pleasure will become poor (Prov. 21:17)

Addiction – the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty (Prov. 23:21)

Procrastination (Prov 6:10-11)

Wanting quick wealth (Prov 21:5)

Dreams & fantasies (Prov 28:19)

Pleasure Pr 21:17

Rash promises bring poverty Pr 22:26-27

Rich without being spiritually poor.
The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. (Pr 10:22; 3 John 2

Eph 4:28 puts work in the right perspective. We work not to eat but to be able to give, and being able to give is a blessing in itself. Eccl 5:19

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:8)

He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. (Ps 1:3)

“Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.” (Ps 35:27)
God told Abraham: “I will surely make you prosper” Genesis 32:12

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered Genesis 39:2

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper. Deut. 5:33

The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground Deut. 28:11

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8

Well, you get the idea. I could go on listing verses. But the message is clear. Faith and diligence bring prosperity. Period.