I. Out Of Her Poverty
II. Text:Luke 21:4 For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack {and} her want, putting in all that she had on which to live. Amplified Bible
Luke 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. from King James version Bible
III. Sermon Contents: Do you want GOD to take notice of you in an instant? Then you can pray a short and sincere prayer and gets answered in an instant? Easy. Put in everything you have right now out of your poverty. For the rich people, there's a more stricter, tougher and difficult thing to do. It is easier now to put in everything while you are poor, while you lack everything, and GOD will not allow you to be in lack everytime, it's a rare opportunity to give everything when you're in lack. If you are rich right now, then here's GOD's requirement if you really want GOD to take notice of your offerings and that you will have treasures in heaven. Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple [side with My party and follow Me]. Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad (grieved and in much distress), for he had great possessions. Even I can't do it, while I am rich that's why GOD said it's easier for a rich man to forget.
Deuteronomy 8:17 And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. The rich man got stressed by what GOD required of him, he already had stressed when he has all these money, now, it's a different kind and level of stress. Stress can kill you, the rich man has wealth that can kill him because of the stress connected to it. Majority of sicknesses said the doctors came from stress. GOD, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, wants to relieve him of his stress because the yoke of JESUS is much lighter and easier. I don't want stress in my life, I'm not design to carry stress but I'm designed to worship, praise and extol GOD while here on earth and not to carry lot of burdens that wealth can give like stress, worries and insecurities are some. Matthew 6:33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. Matthew 6:34 So do not worry {or} be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries {and} anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. Luke 12:30 For all the pagan world is [greedily] seeking these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Luke 12:31 Only aim at {and} strive for {and} seek His kingdom, and all these things shall be supplied to you also. Luke 12:32 Do not be seized with alarm {and} struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom! If money and wealth can kill you, then what is the purpose of money and becoming wealthy, why GOD allow and blesses the work of you hands to be wealthy and rich?
The purpose of money and wealth in this world is to (1) to minister to JESUS Matthew 27:55 There were also numerous women there, looking on from a distance, who were of those who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him. (2) to honor JESUS Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with your capital {and} sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income; (3) to do the work of the LORD here on earth that is the furtherance of the gospel 2 Kings 12:11 Then they gave the money, when it was weighed, into the hands of those who were doing the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the Lord. 2 Kings 22:9 And Shaphan the scribe came to the king and reported to him: Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house and have delivered it into the hands of the workmen who have oversight of the house of the Lord. Don't worry if you have GOD's back then GOD has your back. Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] Rom 8:32 He who did not withhold {or} spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely {and} graciously give us all [other] things? 2 Peter 1:3 For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by {and} to His own glory and excellence (virtue). Remember to renew our mind, start in the position that we're already rich because we are the King of kings and Lord of lord's kids. and (4) make friends for myself - Luke 16:9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive {and} welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings). You mean to tell me that friends can be bought with money? GOD said make friends not buy friends. There are friends who will stick closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. They can't be bought. There are friends who will stick with you for better or for worst. Those friends that are with you during the toughest part of your life are your real friends and those that go with you when you're rich are those friends that can be made with money. Ecclesiastes 5:11 When goods increase, they who eat them increase also. And what gain is there to their owner except to see them with his eyes?
Let's understand during those times, the so-called work of the LORD is to rebuild the temple of GOD, that's why all the money in the treasuried are brought in to rebuild the temple, now it's a different time, it's to spread the gospel because rapture is nearing. See the gospel is the top priority of JESUS while here on earth, at the beginning of his ministry He preached the gospel, and before the end the gospel is to be preached. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 24:14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. The LORD JESUS CHRIST truly knows what is to start and how to end it, for He's the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. He gave first what He does not have, a body, for GOD is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. The danger and risk starts when people began to love money. 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray {and} have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute [mental] pangs. As long as you treat money as a spiritual object to minister, to honor and to do the work of GOD while here on earth, you will be safe from the love of money, the problem starts or the problem comes along if men starts to love money more than GOD. Hate money and love GOD to the fullest. Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his [own] father and mother [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God] and [likewise] his wife and children and brothers and sisters--[yes] and even his own life also--he cannot be My disciple. Even yourself. Even me, myself and I are not exempted.
Let's put it this way, you don't love money but you love yourself too much that's why you want it to have all the latest gadgets, the expensive things money can buy here on earth, the luxuries in life, to have pride of life. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. GOD already warned us about these things that if we're going to live in this world, these 3 will always attack us and influence us: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Take notice what your money can give you here on earth, they are three of them, these are really what money buys for you: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life, all require money to begin with. You need to buy expensive perfume and lotion for your body, to get plastic surgery, operation upon operation to make your body perfect - lust of the flesh, all caters to flesh which is mortal, which is temporary; - lust of the eyes, gold that glitters, silver that can give pleasure and luxuries in life, all things that shine for your eyes to see, and - pride of life, you are proud because you own them. Jeremiah 9:24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord. We already have the LORD we don't need those 3: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life, we already have the LORD, we have everything.
It's a rare opportunity for you to be poor here on earth so take advantage of it by returning money to the LORD. James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith {and} in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him? When you are poor at times, that's the most powerful time to put in all what's left of you into the hands of GOD, then GOD blesses you in return and His blessings will make you rich. Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]. We are already rich in His Presence, don't desire the unrighteous money. The problem with us sometimes, is we like and adore the blessings but don't want the Blessor. JESUS is the Blessor of all things, the Source and Cause of everything here on earth and everywhere in the universe, like, adore, worship, praise, extol and be proud of JESUS CHRIST, the Blessor.
