Judges 6:15 NIV
“Pardon me, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”
INSIGHT
-Poverty in Hebrew is written as resh which means to be deprived off something or someone, or a state of insufficiency or inferiority. Poverty start from the mind. Poverty is a mindset. It is important to note that poverty is not only associated with lack of money but also lack of ideas, wisdom, good health, spiritual enlightenment etc. People who have a poverty mindset exhibit a negative attitude. When Gideon was instructed by the angel of the Lord to go and save the Israelites from the hand of the Midianites, he did not see himself as anything before the Lord and his people. Gideon looked at this clan as the weakest and he was the least in his family, and exposed his inferiority complex. He did consider himself as any important even to make significant change in the society. People with a poverty mindset look at their limitations, past, upbringing, generational problems, and cannot associate themselves with wellness, prosperity and wealth, and do not think they are deserving. They have low self esteem. Those who have a poverty mindset are not faithful enough with little and therefore cannot be trusted with much. Those who have a poverty mindset have the ambition of becoming rich one day but most of them hate those who are rich already. It is completely ironical facet. God saw Gideon with the eyes of a great and powerful warrior able to do exploits but Gideon diminished his abilities. God is calling us to be renewed in the mind for we are more than victorious in Christ Jesus.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. We thank You for enabling us to to see this new week in good health and peace. We thank You for the far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. We thank You for Your merciful love that You died on the cross for our sins. Thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for giving us all the spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. You chose us in Yourself before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless. May You deliver us from every evil and wash us with Your precious blood. You predestined us for adoption to sonship through Christ Jesus accordance to You good pleasure and will. We are more than conquerors in You Christ Jesus. May You renew our minds that we may Your good, pleasing and perfect will. We need Your mercy and grace each day to strengthen us when we are weak, anxious and disillusioned. We are victorious in all things for You triumphed over us dear Jesus, may You help us to be strong in Your mighty power Jesus Christ. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forever more. Amen
Further reading: Romans 12:2
Proverbs 24:33-34 NIV
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.”
INSIGHT
-To gain both material and spiritual wealth and prosperity, we are called to wake up early to toil and most importantly to pray. It is possible that the sight of the field and vineyard of the slothful put king Solomon in mind of an observation he had made before, which fitly describes the disposition and gesture of the sluggard, by which means his field and vineyard became unproductive. Instead of planting and ploughing his section of the allocated vineyard, a sluggard remains in his bed and lazily relaxes while others wake up early to till the land and tend to their crop. A sluggard is called to be as wise as an ant which has no commander yet it stores up food during summer and gathers at harvest. The virtuous woman is also considered to be wise, as she wakes up early and gives food to her household, and portions to her maidens (Proverbs 31:15). Jesus arose very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed (Mark 1:35). Some among us extend their sleep during working and prayer hours, at school and at the work place. As we have reviewed, that excessive sleep leads to poverty and deprivation of both material and spiritual wealth and prosperity.
PRAYER
We enthrone You Lord above all other kings and gods. There is none other god but You. All the other gods are made by human hands, they cannot see, speak or hear our prayers. All other gods of productivity and prosperity are idols and cannot hear us. Only You Jehovah are God and You are exulted high above all the nations. You are Yahweh and You are King above all others. You are Alpha and Omega, and none can be compared to You. We thank You Jehovah for the gift of life and for Your everlasting grace upon our lives, families and nation. It is possible to wake up early and toil in vain but Lord Jesus Your grace is sufficient for us. You are our God and there is none like You. You are our Provider, our Sustainer, our Protector, our Helper, our Father and our Friend, we exult Your name above all the nations. We repent for the many times we have not taken our work, and school seriously and we have been available to pray. May You teach us to be diligent in our work. May You help us to be faithful in little and in much dear Jesus. May You help us to work as if we are working for You Abba Father. We humbly call on You to bless all those who are unemployed and give them meaningful opportunities to work. We pray for those who are addicted to drugs and alcohol that cause them to be careless in their work, and school that You may deliver them merciful Father. May You bless the work of our hands and make us succeed in all that we do. May You open up the flood gates of heaven and make it rain upon us. May You give us the ability to make wealth and open new opportunities for us to prosper. May You teach us how to pray and guide us on when and how to pray Holy Spirit. We thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Thank You for Your divine power upon us and for giving us everything that we need for life and for godliness. All glory, honor, power, praise and blessings belongs to You Lord, now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Proverbs 6:9, 2 Peter 1:3
Luke 16:19-31 NIV
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”
INSIGHT
-The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man also called “Dives” which means wealthy man in Latin lived a lavish life and Lazarus only desired to eat from the left overs of his household. He did not care about the affairs of Lazarus, and when he died he went to hades a place of eternal punishment. On the other hand Lazarus ended up in heaven by Abraham’s bosom. The parable reveals a common phenomenon that is prevalent today. The leafy suburbs are surrounded by slums. Normally there are territorial spirits that dwell in these slums to oppress the inhabitants. Ephesians 6:12 tells us that, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” We are called to be alert and sober minded, seeking God’s grace through prayer and faith. We should note that wealth does not automatically condemn one to hell, nor does poverty in this life guarantee eternal joy. Our destiny is in the hands of the Lord. It is also vital to note our place in the kingdom of God, and a call to be kingdom financiers. It is also proper to take care of the needs of those who are suffering among us. Generosity to the poor unlocks God’s blessings and those who sow will lack nothing. On the other hand those who close their eyes to the poor receive many curses (Proverbs 28:27). Also, those who give to the poor are blessed and in the day of trouble the Lord will deliver them (Psalm 41:1). Lastly, those who give freely to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; and their horn will be lifted high in honor (Psalm 112:9).
PRAYER
Lord You are good and Your mercies endures forever. We give thanks to You Lord for You are able and worthy to be praised. We proclaim Your acts and declare Your praise in all the earth. Your word says blessed are those who act justly and always do what is right. May You teach us to always do what is right and just. May You touch our hearts so that we may generously scatter our substance to the poor. May You enable us to give our resources, advise, counsel, time and preach Your gospel freely. May You help us to activate our gifts and talents and to be faithful in what You have called us to do; precious Holy Spirit. Your kingdom Lord is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. May You bless us dear Jesus and expand our territories. May You remember us for good and increase us in every area of our lives. May You bless all the street children and their families, that You may open many doors of prosperity for them. May You forgive us all our sins and heal our land and economy dear Jesus. May You grant all Your people the gift of salvation dear Jesus. May You open many doors of prosperity for all Your people dear Jesus. Our Father who art in heaven; hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil; for thine is the Kingdom the power and the glory; forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Proverbs 19:17, Luke 6:20
Malachi 3:10-12 NIV
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.”
INSIGHT
-This chapter begins with a prophecy of the forerunner; John the Baptist called to prepare the way for Jesus Christ as fulfilled in Matthew 11:10 and Mark 1:2. The people of Malachi’s day had let down; their attitude was ho-hum, and possibly they did not realize it. Tithe in Israel was also to be used to help the poor, and once every three years some of it was put aside for that purpose (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). It was also used to support the tribe of Levi and the priests (Deuteronomy 14:27). The same principle carries over in the New Testament. Some people claim that a paid ministry is an abomination before God, but Paul made it clear that not only do ministers deserve to be supported by those they minister to (1 Timothy 5:18, 1 Corinthians 9:4-14), but also that their support is even more worthy than the poor (1 Timothy 5:17). Nevertheless, Paul voluntarily yielded his right to be supported when he thought it was in the best interests of the gospel to do so (1 Corinthians 9:12, 9:15). In Luke 11:42, we find Jesus addressing the Pharisees, who gave God a tenth of their mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. Tithe should be voluntarily given, in a positive light and the heart of love. God calls us to be faithful with our tithe and offerings, and He releases His promises of blessings of prosperity and protection from the devourer who comes to kill, steal and destroy, and cause poverty. God causes His everlasting light to shine upon us and this is evidenced by many for the glory of His name.
PRAYER
This is the day the Lord has made; we rejoice and are glad in it. Save us; O Lord and grant us success. Lord You are good for You have made Your marvelous light to shine upon us. You are our God, and there is none like You. We praise You for You are our God. We exalt You our God and King. We praise Your name for ever and ever. Every day we praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever. Great are You Lord and most worthy of praise; Your greatness no one can fathom.There is none like You Jesus Christ. You are Ebenezer the Most High God. Thank You for enabling us to come this far as a people and as a nation. Thank You for giving us independence as a nation. May You complete the good work which You began in us for the glory and honor of Your name. May You teach us and enable us to give our tithes and offerings faithfully. May You open the flood gates of heaven and rain upon us. May You poor Your blessings upon us that there will no room enough to store it. May You prevent pests from devouring our crops, and our vines will not drop their fruit before it is ripe. May You water our nation and prosper us. May You prosper our crop and our water. Prosper our children and bless the work of our hands. We shall lend to many nations and borrow from none. We shall be the first and not the last. Oh God of all creation, bless this our land and nation. May justice be our shield and defender. May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty. May plenty be found within our boarders. Thank You Lord Jesus for loving us and for choosing us. We belong to You dear Jesus. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we dwell in Your house Lord forever, and ever. Amen
Further reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
INSIGHT
-Jesus emptied Himself through the mystery of incarnation and took the form of man. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; when He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, but yet still He did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). He who knew no sin became Sin so that we may become the righteousness of God. By the shedding of His blood, Jesus has forgiven us our sins and has given us hope of life after death. By His stripes we have received healing, redemption, restoration and the power of the resurrected Christ lives in us. We are now more that conquerors in Christ Jesus and we are sitted with Christ in the heavenly places. What better wealth is there that this, that we have the most precious gift of salvation which assures us of eternal life.
SUMMARY
Resh is the Hebrew word for poverty which means to be deprived off something, or a state of insufficiency or inferiority. We realize that poverty begins in the mind. It is an attitude where one views life with the eyes of failure. Some people among us do not look at the postive aspects of life which engage our faith, but they are exposed and predisposed to loose every battle before it begins. In Judges 6:15, we find Gideon who was called to lead the Israelites in battle considered himself as the least in his family and the weakest in his clan. Sometimes those who are poor look at their lineages and find no good. It is proper to trust in the Lord and His word, for He is the one who sends poverty and wealth, He humbles and exults. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor (1 Samuel 2:7-8). Poverty is a mystery, as the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy. It is common to see various regious groups appeasing their gods for riches and wealth. The devil devours wealth, and the Lord instructs us to give our tithes and offerings, and He will bless us and protect our resources (Malachi 3:10-12). The Lord also instructs that we give to the poor unlike the rich man who neglected the needs of Lazarus and ended being eternally punished (Luke 16:19-31). Finally, we are called to work hard and the Lord will bless the work of our hands. Proverbs 20:13 says that, “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” The Lord loves us and whatever He instructs us to do it is for our good and may His name be praised forever and ever.
PRAYER
Dear Precious Almighty Father we come before Your throne of mercy. We praise You and exalt You for all You have done unto us and for who You are. We praise You and worship You for You are greatly to be praised and highly exalted. Lord we thank You for You have been our faithful God. We thank You for You died on the cross for our redemption. We thank You for You have good plans for us and You have endowed us with so much more wealth and riches from Your bounty from everlasting to everlasting. Poverty is not our portion but all that we need and even more You have provided Ancient of Days. Lord You are able to do much more than we can ask or imagine for You have chosen us as Your children and predestined us for Your great calling even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. We therefore take confidence in You knowing that You hear us and answer us. Dear Lord most High. May You teach us how to make wealth and bless the works of our hands in Jesus Name. May You take away every sluggishness and laziness from us. May You make us as swift as a deer and prompt in all ways redeeming the time for the days are evil. We claim our wealth even from the hidden places as You have promised us in Your word. May You input Your divine ideas in us to make us as wise as serpents and and as innocent as doves. Lord we trust in You and we know You have called us for greatness in You. Thank You Lord for Your mercies and everlasting love upon our lives. May Your divine grace be sufficient for us for when we are weak then we are strong in You. We come against all devouring agents of the enemy that may want to consume our wealth. We pray that You will restore unto us all that the locust has eaten and destroyed. We pray that You will teach us Your principles and guide and direct our steps for You watch over the steps and way of the righteous. May You provide all that we need according to Your riches in glory. May You bless us Lord and keep us. May You make Your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance upon us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: Isaiah 61:1-2