Break the Cycle – Part 1
(2 Samuel 23:11-12 NKJV) And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. (12) But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.
The people of this area were all farmers and had put in the labor and the cost to generate a harvest and the Philistines came every year at the time in the harvest to raid the harvest of these people. The Philistines were predominately sea-faring people and did not do much with agriculture but rather stole from others to gain their food.
Shammah stood in the midst of the bean patch and said, “I’m Not Putting Up With This Any More”, and stood in his bean patch and defended it and the Lord brought great victory.
You and I are going to have to be willing to defend our bean patch until we defeat our enemies.
Your enemy is always trying to steal your harvest from you in your bean patch and will until we are will to stand in our bean patch and defend it and then the Lord will help you and bring you a great victory!
Whatever you tolerate, God cannot set you free from it!
- Why are we doing a series on prosperity, money and debt?
(Philippians 4:15-17 NKJV) (15) Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. (16) For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. (17) Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.
- Prosperity – is to look a person in the eye in their moment of impossibility and take their needs on as your own.
(Psalms 25:12-13 NKJV) Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. (13) He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
(Psalms 35:27 NKJV) Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Prosperity – (Hebrew) “Shalom” – peace, health, favor, wholeness, prosperity
(3 John 1:2 NKJV) Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
(2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Rich – (Greek) to be (or become) wealthy (literally or figuratively): – be increased with goods, (be made, wax) rich.
- Poverty – the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount. (something missing or lack)
(Proverbs 6:10-11 NKJV) A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep– (11) So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.
(Proverbs 21:5 NLT) Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.
- Materialism – Trying to solve spiritual needs or problems with material things.
God has no problem with us having things. He just doesn’t want things having us!
(Mark 10:17-22 NKJV) Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (18) So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (19) You know the commandments: ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY,’ ‘DO NOT MURDER,’ ‘DO NOT STEAL,’ ‘DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.'” (20) And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (21) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (22) But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
(Proverbs 19:17 NKJV) He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
(Mark 10:23-25 NKJV) Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (24) And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! (25) It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Commentary – “Eye of a Needle” was a reference to a small opening at the major gates of Jerusalem where people could enter and leave the city at night when the main gates were closed. However, a fully loaded camel could not fit through unless it was completely stripped of its load and might be able to kneel to go through.
This is what we I believe God will do through this series:
- Teach us from the Bible His plan is for our finances and prosperity His way.
- Break the cycles of lack and insufficiency
- Teach us about sowing and reaping.
- Start us all on the path of debt freedom.
- Set us free to accomplish God’s plan for our lives
- Cause us as individuals and as a church to be more generous than ever before.