Increase Starts in Your Mind: Breaking the Spirit of Poverty
Dr RJ Sing, 21 min
Originally preached as “How to Overcome the Spirit of Poverty”
Sermon outline
Poverty is not God's will for His children; the spirit of poverty works through fear of giving, and it is broken by obedience to the Word and by putting increase on your mind.
Main text
- 3 John 2
- Mark 10:17-23
- Psalm 115:9-14
Opening
He welcomes viewers to Life in the Spirit and says he will speak about overcoming the spirit of poverty, because he believes Satan has deluded many believers into accepting poverty as a lifestyle. He opens with 3 John 2 to show that God wishes above all things that His children prosper.
The god of this world has blinded believers to God's prosperity
Just as Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers to the gospel, he has blinded large parts of the church into believing that prosperity is not for now. Many saints are waiting for heaven to be blessed, but money and resources are needed here on earth, where God has told us to take dominion. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give abundant life.
“We need money, we need finances, and we need resources here upon the earth.”
- 3 John 2
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Genesis 1:28
- John 10:10
The spirit of poverty builds a stronghold of fear around giving
The spirit of poverty convinces believers that if they give, they will suffer lack, so they hold back out of fear. That fear is not from God. God is a God of abundance, fruitfulness and overflow, and His children must live like their Father lives.
“Giving should not be a grievous thing in the life of a believer.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Genesis 1:3
Jesus was trying to take the rich young ruler to another level
When Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything and give to the poor, He was trying to lift him to another level of prosperity, but the man could only see loss and went away grieved. God is trying to bring you to another level too, and He requires obedience. Obedience to the Word always leads to abundance, like a land of milk and honey.
Illustration: The rich young ruler had kept the commandments since boyhood, yet his face fell and he walked away sorrowing because he held great possessions.
“Obedience to the word of God will never lead to lack.”
- Mark 10:17-23
- Exodus 20:12-16
- Deuteronomy 5:16
- Hebrews 4:12
- Isaiah 55:11
God is a God of increase: have increase on your mind
Some say tithing is only Old Testament, but Malachi 3 is clear, so bring tithes, offerings and first fruits to your local storehouse and do not hold back what God tells you to release. Psalm 115 says God is our help and shield and will increase you more and more, you and your children. Read the Bible for yourself instead of believing those who say God keeps you poor to teach humility; as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.
“In order for you to have increase in your life, you must have increase in your mind.”
- Malachi 3:8-10
- Philippians 4:19
- Psalm 115:9-14
- Jeremiah 17:5-7
- Proverbs 23:7
You don't have to live in Lo-debar
He says he will give seven ways to tell whether you have a spirit of poverty, whether it is you, someone at church or someone at work, and challenges viewers that they can rise up out of want and lack. Jesus was anointed to preach good news to the poor and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. The spirit of poverty needs to be broken in the church and in your life.
“All it takes is a decision.”
- 2 Samuel 9:4
- Luke 4:18-19
Putting it into practice
- Reject the idea that poverty is God's will for you.
- When God asks you to give or release something, obey instead of holding back in fear.
- Bring your tithes, offerings and first fruits to your local storehouse.
- Put increase on your mind: think abundance and expand your borders.
- Read the Bible for yourself rather than letting others interpret it for you.
Closing
Reaching his hands towards the camera as a point of contact, he invites viewers to place their hands on the screen and agree with him. He prays to break the spirit of poverty, for the unemployed to find work, for abundance on those in lack, and for those struggling to tithe to be faithful from this month, then declares them free, because whom the Son sets free is free indeed.
In his words
- “Obedience to the word of God will never lead to lack.”
- “Giving should not be a grievous thing in the life of a believer.”
- “In order for you to have increase in your life, you must have increase in your mind.”
- “If a man thinks poverty, he will live in poverty.”
- “You don't have to live in Lo-debar.”
Every scripture in this message
- 3 John 2
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Genesis 1:28
- John 10:10
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Genesis 1:3
- Mark 10:17-23
- Exodus 20:12-16
- Deuteronomy 5:16
- Hebrews 4:12
- Isaiah 55:11
- Malachi 3:8-10
- Philippians 4:19
- Psalm 115:9-14
- Jeremiah 17:5-7
- Proverbs 23:7
- 2 Samuel 9:4
- Luke 4:18-19
- Isaiah 10:27
- John 8:36