The Wealth War
Battlefronts of Spiritual Warfare • Sermon • Submitted
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“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?
“And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Key Questions
Why are some Christians continue to struggle financially despite God’s promise to provide for their needs?
Why did God promise to materially bless His people?
How the war is raging
Two Systems of Economy
How the saints can win the the war
Destined to Prosper
Pitfalls of Material Prosperity
Securing the Supply Line
Background from a previous sermon, “The Sin Of Partiality”
Partiality between the rich and the poor is a reality among Christian communities, then and now.
“respect of persons”
favoritism
The “rich” has become a symbol of sinful and worldly living apart from God. Wealth has become a power exploited in favor of the rich over the poor.
The gospel was sent, first and foremost, to the “poor”, indicating that God was rescuing them from the crutches of those who wield the power in this world.
The gospel exhorts the believers to not put their trust in wealth but in God, and condescend to the lowly.
Yes, the War is Raging!
Yes, the War is Raging!
Is there really a War over Wealth?
Telltale Signs
Telltale Signs
Needs are not met or provided for.
The believer’s failure to come out of his/her debts.
The believer’s
The believer’s failure to contribute to the work of God.
God’s promises remain unclaimed.
Supplies to ministry and ministers are not delivered.
The believer’s failure to extend help those in need.
The believer’s failure to support the work of God.
Debts are not settled.
Commitments and pledges are not delivered.
The believer’s failure to extend help those in need.
Money and provisions are not used properly.
Why this war is raging in our lives
Why this war is raging in our lives
God’s people are destined to prosper, and Satan wants to rob them of their success.
God’s people are destined to prosper, and Satan wants to rob them of their success.
God’s people are blessed and destined to rule and reign
God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
God gave them power to make wealth
“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God gave them the key to their success
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Satan wants to hinder the advance of the kingdom of God.
Satan wants to hinder the advance of the kingdom of God.
Satan is cutting off the supply line of the soldiers in the frontlines.
Satan wants to
Satan wants to discourage the sinners from coming to God by showing them how the believers fail in their finances.
Satan wants to discourage the sinners from coming to God by showing them how the believers fail in their finances.
Satanic Schemes
Satanic Schemes
Two Economic Systems
Two Economic Systems
There are 2 economic systems in the world today
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
God’s Economic system
God’s Economic system
teaches us that God is the owner of everything, and the giver of all good things
instructs us to faithful manage and dispense of God’s properties entrusted to us
Satan’s Economic system
Satan’s Economic system
ruled by a demonic spirit known as “Mammon”
Grk. mamonas - improper, dishonest and sinful aspect of wealth
Jesus personified “mammon” as an enslaving force, a master (grk. kyrios lord), to whom people can serve
Mammon is personified as an evil and superhuman power that stands in competition to →God and by possessing people can even keep them from being devoted to God and make them hate Him.
Mammon controls the administration, transfer and distribution of wealth in the world.
Mammon feeds man’s desire to have more, and to get more
Covetousness
Covetousness
Israel turned their wealth into an “idol”
Israel turned their wealth into an “idol”
“But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”
“I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.
“But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”
they went our of Egypt a rich people
Exodus
“Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.”
The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Furthermore, the man Moses himself was greatly esteemed in the land of Egypt, both in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;
and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Exodus 12.35-
they made a calf out of their gold earings
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”
Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.
He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
Exodus 32.1-4
God’s original intention in enriching His people was for the materials that will be used in the building of the tabernacle.
See - ; ;
Covetousness
Covetousness
People come to God only for the sake of material things
Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Luke 12.15
and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
To covet is to have a strong desire for something that does not belong to you, or is not allotted to you.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Exodus 20.17
To covet is to be not satisfied with your lot.
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!
“But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.
‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’
“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!
Helel (Lucifer) coveted God’s place
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3.6
The woman was not contented with what God gave them, and grabbed what the Serpent offered to her.
1 Timothy 6.5
The love of money brings many Christians under the power of Mammon
But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward
The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward
The Story
The Story
the steward (manager) was accused of squandering his master’s possessions
When we covet for things other than what God gave us, we move out of God’s economy and enter into Satan’s economy.
the steward secures his future by reducing the debtors’ debts, thus effectively using his master’s money to his advantage
We move out of God’s economy and enter into Satan’s economy.
We move out of God’s sphere of blessing for our life.
Wealth and Idolatry
Wealth and Idolatry
When Mammon has succeeded in drawing the people into covetousness, he then enslaves the people into idolatry.
Israel turned their wealth into an “idol”
Israel turned their wealth into an “idol”
the master praised the steward in this “shrewd” act.
they went our of Egypt a rich people
The Lessons
The Lessons
Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;
and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.
Jesus gave the following lessons to his disciples:
they made a calf out of their gold earings
Verse 9 - don’t hoard wealth, use them instead to help other people so that when you come to your own financial trouble, the people you helped will come to your aid.
Verse 10-12 - if you can be faithful in material wealth, which is not really yours, you will be faithful in spiritual wealth, which is your real treasure.
Verse 13 - material wealth can become master over your life, if you allow it to influence your character. Serving God with your wealth sets you free from the power of mammon.
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”
Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.
He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.”
How do these principles connect to the war over wealth?
When Mammon has succeeded in drawing the people into covetousness, he then enslaves the people into idolatry.
God’s original intention in enriching His people was for the materials that will be used in the building of the tabernacle.
See - ; ;
How to Win this War
How to Win this War
How can the believer win the war over wealth and prosper?
in what ways is the war over wealth happening in our life?
The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward
The Parable of the Unrighteous Steward
The Story
The Story
the steward (manager) was accused of squandering his master’s possessions
the steward secures his future by reducing the debtors’ debts, thus effectively using his master’s money to his advantage
the master praised the steward in this “shrewd” act.
The Lessons
The Lessons
Jesus gave the following lessons to his disciples:
Verse 9 - don’t hoard wealth, use them instead to help other people so that when you come to your own financial trouble, the people you helped will come to your aid.
Verse 10-12 - if you can be faithful in material wealth, which is not really yours, you will be faithful in spiritual wealth, which is your real treasure.
Verse 13 - material wealth can become master over your life, if you allow it to influence your character. Serving God with your wealth sets you free from the power of mammon.
The keys to Victory is found in the Proper Handling of Wealth - Stewardship
The keys to Victory is found in the Proper Handling of Wealth - Stewardship
Stewardship - the proper management of properties entrusted by a master.
Stewardship implies WE DO NOT OWN the property
Stewardship implies proper management
Proper acquisition of wealth
Proper acquisition of wealth
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;
otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,
and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies,
then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint.
“In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.
“Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
“But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Satan wants you to claim the power for yourself.
1.) Recognize God as the ultimate source of all things good. Love Him, obey His commands, Trust His plans.
for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,
and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you,
so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.
1 Thessalonians 4.10-11
God has given us the power to make wealth
2.) Work with your own hands. Refuse to be a burden to other people.
Deuteronomy 8.11-
Proper positioning of wealth
Proper positioning of wealth
Wealth is not the central objective of faith. Wealth is just “provision” for our life on earth.
3.) Be the master of Mammon. Take charge of your material possessions.
Wealth is not “master” of our life. We are the masters, wealth is the slave, and we will use them for our benefit.
3.) Save, but do not hoard wealth
Saving is preparing for future needs, future activities. etc.
Hoarding is accumulating wealth for the sake of having more today than yesterday.
Satan wants you to use all your wealth to yourself.
Examples
Joseph stored (saved) most of the harvest during the 7 years of plenty, in preparation for the 7 years of drought.
The ants store up food in summer
Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.
Proverbs 6.6-
Proper dispensation of wealth
Proper dispensation of wealth
Proverbs 3.9-10
Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce;
So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
4.) Honor the Lord from your wealth. Bring your tithes and offering to God’s storehouse.
Malachi 3.8-12
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
“You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you!
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.
“Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts.
“All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
2 THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS:
God’s people are destined to Prosper
God’s people are destined to Prosper
I believe that God’s people are destined to prosper in their God-ordained paths.
God’s People must Learn
Two Economic Systems
Two Economic Systems
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
GOD IS HONORED
THE MINISTRY IS FINANCED
Rich and Poor Attitudes
Rich and Poor Attitudes
He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
Destined to prosper
Destined to prosper
Pitfalls of Material Prosperity
Pitfalls of Material Prosperity
5.) Be ready to share
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Securing the Supply Line
Securing the Supply Line
1 Timothy 6.17-18
Proper positioning of wealth
Proper positioning of wealth
Wealth is not the central objective of faith. Wealth is just “provision” for our life on earth.
Luke 16.
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Wealth is not the central objective of faith. Wealth is just “provision” for our life on earth.
2 THINGS HAPPEN WHEN WE SUBMIT TO THE LORDSHIP OF GOD:
the power of Mammon over our life is broken
God empowers us to use or dispense of our wealth or properties in whatever ways that will glorify God
6.) Be the master of Mammon. Take charge of your material possessions.
Wealth is not “master” of our life. We are the masters, wealth is the slave, and we will use them for our benefit.
Wealth is not “master” of our life. We are the masters, wealth is the slave, and we will use them for our benefit.
Pay your tithes promptly - in doing this you, you let the devil know you are in control Mammon
the power of Mammon over our life is broken
God empowers us to use or dispense of our wealth or properties in whatever ways that will glorify God
Plan your giving based on how you feel about God and not on how much you have.
Prioritize your giving
those who work hard in preaching and teaching
those who serve in the body of Christ
people who are in need - orphans, widows, the sick, etc.
1 Timothy 5.17
The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
Conclusion
Conclusion
What can we do? How can we practice these principles?
1.) Begin with whatever you have today.
Honor the Lord today with your tithes and offerings
2.) Recognize yourself are stewards, not owners
Seek God’s wisdom in financial management
3.) Plan your giving, and