Supernatural Abundance: A Journey To The Father's House (10 page)

Whether it's trying to hit the lottery or some other new scheme that comes along, it will never replace sound Biblical principles!

“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
 
Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
 
He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.
 
He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
 
You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
 
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”
(Deuteronomy 8:11-18)

God makes it very clear in this passage that His desire is to establish His covenant. He wants His people to be able to use every financial resource to spread the Gospel. When God’s desires become man’s desires, He has already broken a strong link in the chain of poverty.

5.
 
Neglecting the Material Needs of the Work of God

This is what the Lord Almighty says:
 

“These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’

Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your panelled houses, while this house remains a ruin?’

Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways.
 
You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’

This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the Lord.
 
‘You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.’”
(Haggai 1:2-9)

During the time of the Old Testament the temple or the tabernacle was referred to as the house of God. Today, it’s not the buildings that are the house of God, but the people. The buildings are the “home” of the Church, not the Church itself.

Verse 8 tells them to go to the mountaintop to get the necessary materials, come down, and build. Today, we have received an abundance of revelation on the mountaintop and we have a responsibility to take it to others.
 
How?
 
We give our time, talent and treasure to make sure that what we have been blessed with is shared around the world.
 
Each time we plant the seed of the Gospel; we are sowing seeds that build up the “house” of God, i.e. the people of God.

It is very possible for a Church to be equipped with all of the nice things of the modern world, and still have the spirit of poverty ruling it. Some spend more time and money on buying the biggest and best, and neglecting the very mandate of Jesus who told us to “Go into all the world and spread the Good News!”

6.
 
Disunity

“There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother.

There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. ‘For whom am I toiling,’ he asked, ‘and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?’ his too is meaningless—a miserable business!

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
(Ecclesiastes 4:8-12)

Being a loner leads to poverty. Men have not learned the potential power that could be released from unity and corporate anointing. We can do greater things through uniting our time and resources than doing it alone.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”
(Psalm 133)

Unity is not simply an intellectual exercise. We can believe the same things, recite the same creeds, belong to the same denomination, but that does not mean we have unity.

 
I came across this article by a well-known author. His name is Larry Crabb.
 
Let me share it with you:
 

“Which is worse? A Church program to build community that doesn’t get off the ground or one person sitting every Sunday in the back of the Church who remains unknown? A Sunday School class that once drew hundreds but has now dwindled to thirty or a Sunday School teacher whose sense of failure is never explored by a caring friend? A family torn apart by the Father’s drinking, his wife’s frustration, and their third grader’s learning disabilities or a self-hating dad, a terrified mom, and a lonely little boy, three human beings whose beauty and value no one ever discovers?

A national campaign that fails to gain steam for the pro-life movement or a single woman on her way home from an abortion clinic in the backseat of a taxi, a woman whose soul no one ever touches?

  
We may notice the unknown pew sitter, we wonder how the teacher of the now small class feels, we worry over each member of the torn-up family, and we feel for the guilt and pain of a woman who has ended her baby’s life. But we do what’s easier. We design programs, we brainstorm ways to build attendance, and in our outrage over divorce statistics and abortion numbers we fight for family values.

  
These are all good things, but we don’t TALK to the pew sitter; we don’t ASK the teacher how he’s feeling; we don’t INVITE the dad to play golf, the woman to lunch, or the little boy to play with our children; we don’t let the aborting woman know we CARE about her soul.

  
That response to hurting people, I would label disunity. Disunity is not just fighting over personal preferences. It’s not just leaving the Church because someone hurt your feelings. It’s not just gossip that tears down other members of the body. It’s leaving needs unmet. It’s failing to love people the way God would have us love. Unity is lived out in caring concern for others.”
 
(from “Soul Talk” by Larry Crabb)

7.
 
Sloth

Sloth is one of the most dangerous links in the chain of poverty. Sloth means “a dis-inclination to action or labor.”
 
You can be “busy,” and still have it!
 
This is a demonic spirit and must be dealt with.

“That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
(Hebrews 6:12)

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
 
Then I saw, and considered it well:
 
I looked upon it, and received instruction.
 
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
 
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
(Proverbs 24:30-34)

“Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.”
(Proverbs 19:15)

Sloth occurs when we do not remain in “motion” with our God-given vision. There are too many “Dead Sea Christians.” They are taking in and never giving out!
 
We mustn’t get hooked on yesterday’s glory and success, and let slothfulness rob us of tomorrow’s dreams.

Appendix IV

LIVING IN THE FLOW OF SUPERNATURAL ABUNDANCE

God is able

“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 Corinthians 8:9)

How is it possible to stay in the flow of perpetual blessing and abundance? One thing I know is we do not serve a stingy God who only gives just enough to sustain us. What does the Bible say about Him? He is the God of abundance.

The Fullness of God

Ephesians 3:19 declares, “That you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” The word “fullness” is taken from the root word “pleroma,” which means “a full measure, plenitude that which has been totally completed in every way.” This word is often used to describe a ship with a full cargo and crew. Fullness emphasizes completion. Our God wants nothing missing in our lives. His desire is that we are full in every way. When Jesus died on the cross, He said, “Finished!”
 

It doesn’t matter where you are in life. Where you are going does not depend on where you are right now. You are on a journey, and all that is important is to know God's will for your life is fullness and completion in every aspect.

Jesus said in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” It is the will of God that His joy should remain in us and He wants our joy to be full. He is a giver of good gifts and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father of light.

In the Old Testament, God told Abraham, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” It would be easy to think that Abraham was such a great man of faith, and I am not, so therefore I do not qualify. No, you are a child of God, and the seed of Abraham. God is as committed to you as he was to Abraham.

Who is Abraham's Seed?

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
 
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise."
 
(Galatians 3:26-29)

The apostle Paul makes it very clear if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are an inheritor of this awesome promise made to Abraham.

God actually swears this oath by Himself, the highest form of oath possible in heaven or earth. The writer of the book of Hebrews explains how this oath was given:

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

“People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
 
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged."
 
(Hebrews 6:13-18)

Another aspect of this marvelous promise is that no discrimination is allowed. Galatians 3:28 says,
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Being the seed of Abraham transcends the issue of race and class, and precludes gender discrimination (neither male nor female). It does not matter your race, economic or social background, or gender. This promise to Abraham belongs to all believing Christians! The promise will bring about unparalleled fruitfulness and blessings in the lives of all believers. It guarantees triumph over all enemies, and opens up the potential for blessing all nations (literally people groups) around the world. Those are not my promises; it is backed by the highest oath in the universe.

Staying in the flow of perpetual abundance is not a theory to be discussed, but a reality to be believed and lived. David, the man after God's own heart, said in Psalm 23:5,
“My cup runs over.”
David was talking about the overflow. If you keep filling a full vessel it will overflow. Are you willing to be a vessel of overflow? Just containing what God wants you to have is not abundance. When abundance comes, it is without measure. When we get in line with the word of God, we will see the overflow.