WEBVTT 00:00:01.919 --> 00:00:04.240 Hi, my name is Michelle Steele. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:10.240 Pastor Philip and I want to thank you for listening to this message from Life of Faith Church. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:16.800 We have more resources available to help you build your faith and bring your world by the Word of God. 00:00:17.039 --> 00:00:22.879 From our website, lifeoffaith.net, you can connect to our YouTube channels. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:26.320 Watch the live stream feed from our church services. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:29.679 Access books and downloads in our web store. 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:36.799 And discover more about Life of Faith Church, producing my city, state, nation, and world. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:39.759 Visit lifeoffaith.net today. 00:00:43.679 --> 00:00:44.560 Glory to God. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:46.719 Let's go to 1 Timothy 6. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:50.640 You know, that just impressed me when she said that. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:59.039 You know how many times I've had people talk about how somebody just came up to them and said, I was praying for you, and the Lord told me to pay your car off. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:02.000 A lot. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:05.439 You know, you're not immune from that. 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:12.480 I was standing right here one night, and the Lord said, There's uh a person in here that can't make their car payment. 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:13.200 Right? 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:15.280 He said, I want you to make their car payment. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:19.040 And so I told, I said, I don't I don't know who it is. 00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:20.959 But I said it's only one. 00:01:22.719 --> 00:01:23.359 Right? 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:28.159 And and and and sure enough, they came up, of course, we paid their car payment. 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:36.560 But here's the thing there's another instance that the Lord said, There's a person here, they can't pay their utilities. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:39.599 And you tell them come up and you'll pay their utilities. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:43.760 And I said that, and they they didn't come up. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.840 And it was maybe five, ten minutes after service they came to me. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:49.439 I said, Too late. 00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:52.640 I gotta act when the Holy Spirit's talking to me. 00:01:53.599 --> 00:01:57.680 So the Holy Spirit will first start talking to you about where to sow, where to give, what to do. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:01:58.400 Right? 00:01:58.560 --> 00:01:59.359 That's what he said to me. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:03.359 I'll tell you where to sow, where to give, what to do, how to do it. 00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:03.920 Right? 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:08.080 And then once the seed's in the ground, he can start talking to people about how to help. 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:10.639 The seeds gotta be in the ground. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:12.560 Amen. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:19.680 1 Timothy 6, and we're gonna talk, uh, minister today uh for some time. 00:02:19.840 --> 00:02:21.520 We're on this road of revelation. 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:37.360 I've been ministering on uh the spirit of poverty, and the Lord said to me, talking about the spirit of poverty, he said that obviously uh you know there's a spirit that stands behind poverty, a poverty spirit. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:42.879 And he said to me, I'm gonna give you six signs that a poverty spirit's in operation. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:53.599 And so uh I've been ministering along those lines because uh as a as a pastor, God's getting us ready for something. 00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:04.639 And you know that we we are living, I I believe, especially the next two years, the next three years, I believe they hold great abundance. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:05.520 I really do. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:10.080 But I also believe there's challenging times coming. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:12.000 I believe that with all my heart. 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:16.240 And that's not doubt, that's not negativity, that's just seasons. 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:18.960 That's just how things go in the world. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:32.800 Uh, you know, uh the people that are in power, and I'm not saying that I'm I'll be very honest with you, I'm not saying that we're prosperous because of who's in power now, or that we're gonna be not prosperous if somebody else is in the white. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:33.680 That's not what I'm saying. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:43.439 But what I want you to understand is it can be greatly affected by the person that's in power, it can be greatly affected by the choices they're making. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:49.439 And as believers, we live in a world that operates in the temporal arena. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:03:52.560 Everyone in here, I don't know anyone in here. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:55.439 Anyone here this week got a spiritual paycheck? 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:58.960 An angel brought it to you. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:02.159 Oh, here's your check. 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:07.919 You have a raise. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:13.919 No, they did not do that, right? 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.560 Because it's it's temporal, right? 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:18.160 Like that as they call it what? 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:19.759 Cold, hard cash. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:23.199 Well, it's a misnomer because I've never found it neither cold or hard. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:25.839 It's kind of soft and warm, actually. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:31.839 But the the the the issue is the issue is that there will be challenges. 00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.079 And God's saying, I want to get you ready for it. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:36.959 Right? 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:46.560 I remember back in 2008 when the housing market fell apart, and you know, they they were they were charging exorbitant amounts for homes. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:47.839 I don't know if you remember that. 00:04:47.920 --> 00:04:50.639 Real estate people were making money hand over fist. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:55.680 I mean, they were selling$250,000 homes for$400,000. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:58.879 I mean, just crazy mortgage market. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.319 And the bubble burst and it all fell apart. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:06.480 People lost money, they lost their, they lost everything, right? 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:08.319 And it impacted the economy. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:20.160 But the Lord, if you were here at that time, some of you will remember, for over a year, he had us teaching on how to thrive in perilous times, how to stand in a time of trouble, right? 00:05:20.560 --> 00:05:28.560 Not because I'm so smart, but because if you're sheep of this pasture, I pray for you, and God will say what the sheep need to eat. 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:33.920 And so he keeps telling me, I'm getting people ready for this. 00:05:34.079 --> 00:05:41.519 So every raise you get, every bonus you get, every uh uh uh increase that you get on your job, right? 00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:47.680 Praise God for it, shout about it, glorify God for it, but don't just go run by something with it. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:50.240 Ask God, what do I need to do with this? 00:05:50.800 --> 00:05:51.120 Right? 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.399 Where do I need to invest it? 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:53.360 What do I need to do? 00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:53.759 Why? 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:55.839 He's preparing us for something. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:57.519 Hallelujah. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.040 And it's both good and challenging. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:08.639 It'll be he's preparing us for abundance to channel, let's say out loud, God show me where to channel this abundance. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.319 See, because he's gonna do that. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:14.879 The Bible says, am I helping you with this? 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.680 Joseph, remember Pharaoh had a dream? 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:27.120 He saw seven fat cows, and he saw seven skinny cows, and it says they were so skinny that they were they were almost frightening. 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:30.160 And it says that it frightened Pharaoh in his dream. 00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.120 And it says what? 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:37.839 That the seven skinny cows came and devoured the seven fat cows, and yet they didn't gain any weight. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:39.759 Right? 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:42.879 And Pharaoh told the dream to Joseph, what Joseph said. 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:44.639 He said, Here's what the Lord says. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.839 He says, There's seven years of abundance coming. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:48.879 Right? 00:06:49.040 --> 00:06:51.600 That's what the seven fat cows represent. 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:55.279 He said, but there's also seven years of famine coming. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:06:59.680 And he said, people will forget the abundance because of the famine. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:02.399 So he said, here's what we need to do. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:08.959 He said, we need to put a 20% savings plan in operation throughout the whole land. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:12.800 When did they put the savings plan in operation? 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:14.399 In the time of abundance. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.600 Why did they do that? 00:07:15.759 --> 00:07:17.199 Because the leanness is coming. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:20.800 Amen. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:24.959 And so people let let people look at you and they say, well, why? 00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:26.879 You know, I mean, we eat out three days a week. 00:07:26.959 --> 00:07:27.759 Why don't you? 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.319 Because lean leanness might show up. 00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:38.240 Are you following me? 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.920 He's getting us ready for something. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:45.439 But here's the thing it has minimal or no impact if I've already listened and already prepared. 00:07:46.879 --> 00:07:47.680 Is that right? 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.600 And I'm not saying there's going to be famine. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:50.800 That's not what I'm saying. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:08:00.079 I'm using that as an example to say in the 20 years of in the in the seven years of abundance, he was saving 20% of everything that came in. 00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.480 And when the leanness showed up, they fed the world. 00:08:06.319 --> 00:08:07.439 Oh, hallelujah. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:07.839 Why? 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:09.120 Because it didn't affect them. 00:08:09.279 --> 00:08:12.319 So there are things that are gonna affect the world, they don't have to affect us. 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:19.839 And it's not just because God will miraculously bring us something, it's because he's saying, right now, start putting something back. 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:20.560 Start. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:22.639 Amen. 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.240 So let's go through these real quick. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:28.079 We're not gonna teach on all of them. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.480 Six signs of poverty spirits at work. 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:32.639 Number one, a love of money. 00:08:33.279 --> 00:08:35.200 Six signs of poverty spirits at work. 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.559 Number one, a love of money. 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.600 Number two, trust in money. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:48.320 Number three, failure to be rich towards God. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:52.240 Failure to be rich towards God. 00:08:55.840 --> 00:09:00.000 Number four, a selfish me first attitude. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.799 A selfish me first attitude. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:16.879 Number five, a refusal to consistently sow and enter into the law of seed time and harvest. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:24.480 A refusal to consistently sow and enter into the law of seed time and harvest. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:33.759 Number six, inward jealousy of what others have or are able to do. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:38.720 Inward jealousy of what others have or are able to do. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:41.919 Anybody need any of those repeated? 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:45.519 Five and six. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:54.320 Number five, refuse to consist refusal to consistently sow and enter into the law of seed time and harvest. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:00.159 Refusal to consistently sow and enter into the law of seed time and harvest. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:06.799 Number six, inward jealousy of what others have or are able to do. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.159 Inward jealousy of what others have or are able to do. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:13.679 We got them all? 00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:15.120 Okay. 00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:30.000 The spirit of poverty has to be broken off of a person's life, not cast out of the person. 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:36.000 Obviously, we're believers, can't be possessed by a spirit other than the Holy Spirit. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:38.240 But it has to be broken off. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:38.639 Why? 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:47.919 Because it's it is predominantly, it's predominantly projected onto a person through their thinking, how they were taught. 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:51.679 And that thinking has to be broken off. 00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:58.000 And that that spirit of poverty constantly drives that thinking. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:02.559 Because the uh a poverty spirit starts with learned behavior. 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:07.840 What mindsets were cultivated over the course of the years? 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:16.799 You know, if if a person wasn't raised saving money, they adopted the mindset that it didn't matter if I saved money. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:25.360 I've talked to people before and they said, I'm glad I married the spouse I married because I would have never thought about saving money or retiring. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:31.360 And you know, if if you do think about that, you think, well, that's that's crazy. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:37.759 Well, it is crazy to you because you were taught, or you at least it came to your understanding at some point. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.679 There are people that don't know. 00:11:40.639 --> 00:11:46.639 And the spirit of poverty thrives in that because the spirit of poverty thrives in ignorance. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:51.919 What I'm consistently ignorant of, I have no knowledge of the value of. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:54.559 Hallelujah. 00:11:56.799 --> 00:12:02.720 Many are oppressed by that spirit and are not aware of it. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:05.679 Amen. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:09.840 It has to be recognized and pushed against. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.799 I have to push back against it. 00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.399 Amen. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:30.159 Because every listen, everything that you believe, every mindset, every thought process that you have about financial abundance is either going to age you or hurt you. 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.360 See, I was raised with this mindset about money. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:38.720 Spend it when you got it, because you don't know if you're going to get any more. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:41.679 Amen. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:48.000 And so consequently, when when uh when we got married, that was my mindset. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.320 Now see, this this is dangerous. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.440 Because it's you you spend everything. 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:03.360 And so the the mantra in our family was when I was growing up, was it only takes God a second. 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:06.960 Boy, we needed God to come through a lot of seconds. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:09.759 Right? 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:14.559 What if my parents would have just had a responsibility fund? 00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:22.879 Now see, this is not natural teaching, it's spiritual teaching. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.480 What if what if they would have just had a responsibility fund? 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:31.919 I mean, back in the 70s, what if they would have just had an account with$1,000 in it? 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:35.440 What could they have done with$1,000 in the 70s? 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:39.919 Some of y'all weren't alive in the 70s, I understand, so you don't know. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:53.039 But when you consider that$12 worth of stuff in the 70s cost$100 today, you can readily see how much farther$100 went. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:14:00.159 So what if that would have been taught instead of spend everything you get? 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:06.559 See, looking prosperous does not mean you're prosperous. 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.720 Somebody that drives up in a brand new car, there's nothing wrong with a brand new car. 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:16.639 Don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say here. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:19.519 That doesn't mean that they can afford it. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.360 It just means they got somebody to finance it for them. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:37.279 And you know, when you when you go to the to the to the whoever, the the auto lot, whichever lot you go to, they're just going by what you made them aware of. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:42.720 I mean, obviously they're going to run your credit, and if you got halfway decent credit, they'll give you a car. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:48.399 If you got halfway not decent credit, they'll give you a car with a big interest rate. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:53.600 Because they will find a lender that will lend you the money. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:15:00.000 And I've watched people sign contracts for upwards of 20% interest on a car loan. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:11.120 Because they thought that car, that new car, that new car smell, you know, you get into a car you can't afford, and that new car smell will make you sick to your stomach. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.159 This is important. 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.879 See, but that's that's imprinted on people. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:18.399 Right? 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.279 The spirit of poverty has to be recognized and pushed against it. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:30.720 There's times that you push against the spirit of poverty by saying, I'm not going to finance that because I don't need that to make me look wealthy. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:35.200 Listen, I am what I am what I am. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:42.960 I don't care what anybody thinks about my house, I don't care what they think about my car, I don't care what they think about what I wear. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:45.919 Well, your house isn't all that much. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.679 I could care less. 00:15:49.360 --> 00:15:50.960 Doesn't matter to me. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:53.360 Your car's not that fancy. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.799 It's paid for. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:57.200 Amen. 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:02.000 You'll never see a bumper sticker on my car that says, I owe, I owe, so off to work I go. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:04.720 This is important. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:12.480 See, it's it's it's it's it's imprinted on people. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:15.840 Hallelujah. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:19.039 And it has to be pushed against consistently. 00:16:20.559 --> 00:16:22.480 Everyone say consistently. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:26.240 So we want to deal specifically today with the love of money. 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:27.840 The love of money. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:33.600 Now, 1 Timothy 6 10, you could probably quote this in your sleep, but notice what it says. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:45.600 It says, For the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some have coveted after, they've erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:52.159 Now, there are two basic errors that people make when they're dealing with this scripture. 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:54.799 The first is misquoting it. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:59.919 And here's how they misquote it by saying, money is the root of all evil. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.240 I can't tell you how many times I've heard that. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:04.400 Well, you know what they say, money is the root of all evil. 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:07.200 You know what the Bible says, it's not what the Bible says. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:12.240 It says loving money is the root of all evil. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.200 Amen. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:20.240 And this is usually those that don't believe in what they call the prosperity message. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:25.039 You know that that gets me because there is no prosperity message. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:26.799 It's just what the Bible says. 00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:38.480 It was God through the uh it was the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John that wrote in 3 John 2 and said, I, beloved, I wish above all things that you would prosper and be in hell. 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:46.160 That word prosperous means to have a good journey, a good life, a prosperous journey, an effective journey, a successful journey. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.440 So boil it down. 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:49.759 God wants you to be successful in your life. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:53.200 It's not a prosperity message. 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.160 All right? 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:56.319 But that's what they're usually against that. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.200 I've had them say you're one of those prosperity guys. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:00.480 Thank you. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.880 I'm glad it shows because I would rather be that than a poverty guy. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:13.279 I'm you're I'm never gonna get up here and preach to you that God has any good thing in poverty and you not having what you need or what you desire. 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:15.519 There's nothing in it. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:17.119 Amen. 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:24.000 The people that preach that way have probably ever either never been poor or they don't know what the word of God says. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:28.400 If you've ever been poor and you think God has something to do with poverty, I don't know. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.680 You we need to help you. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:35.119 Listen, it's it's just like this. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:42.720 If you've ever watched anybody die with a horrible disease and then turn around and say God had a hand in it, you don't know God very well. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.799 Hallelujah. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:19:03.599 The second error is committed by those who believe it's God's will to prosper them when they emphasize that it says it's the love of money that's the root of all evil, and then they spend no time telling people what the love of money is. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.960 Listen, I know that my wife's been hearing the word 33 full-time years. 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:14.160 I know, because we'll be married 33 years this year. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:16.640 So I know she's been hearing the word that long. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:24.880 And she was in the conference that I just did, and she said, that's the first message I've ever heard anybody teach that told me what the love of money was. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.519 Think about that. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:28.640 People will warn you about it. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:30.640 Stay away from the love of money. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.839 What is it? 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:35.599 How can you stay away from something you don't know what it is? 00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.559 Is that right? 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:43.119 There are two basic errors, so amen. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.799 1 Timothy 6 9. 00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:46.079 Notice this. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:56.480 They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.519 And people say, see there, rich people get in trouble. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:00.960 No, it's not what it said. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:03.119 They that will be rich. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.240 Right? 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.680 Now, why is this important? 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:09.279 This is where the love of money begins. 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.559 Why? 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:13.839 All this person wants is to be rich. 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:16.079 That's their desire. 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:18.079 That's what they're going after. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:24.799 They just want money or they desire to be rich at any cost. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:32.319 And this desire to be rich at any cost is the problem, not the riches. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:42.400 I heard I heard I was watching an interview with a billionaire one time, and they they were talking about how much money he had, and they asked him, They said, You have all this money? 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.839 They said, How much is enough? 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:45.440 He said, just a little more. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:51.119 Well, you know, there's nothing wrong with being a billionaire. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:57.200 But he proved his heart was the love of money because it was just, I just need more money. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.519 Hallelujah. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.720 Well, that's the love of money. 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.960 Amen. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:15.200 They have thought about it and have given it deliberate, mature consideration and decided what they're after. 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:16.400 Money. 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:19.039 That's what I'm after. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:29.039 And you know, you don't just see this in higher-up people, you don't just see it in CEOs and Bernie Madoffs and all these different people. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:32.880 You see it in the guy that lives down in Bayser. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:37.039 You see it in the guy that lives in Bonner Springs or Olatha, right? 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.400 He's never home. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:40.799 He's working every hour they'll give him. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:58.480 He's just killing himself and just going after the money because he wants the boat, he wants the this, he wants the that, and his family's alone or her family's alone, and they would not tell you that they've entered into the love of money, but that's their whole pursuit. 00:21:58.960 --> 00:21:59.599 So our work. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:05.599 This job and I'll take a part-time job and I'll do DoorDash and money, money, money, money, money, money, money. 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.319 I don't want my kids to go through what I went through. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.680 Listen, that's the spirit of poverty talking. 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:14.160 You can get caught up in that. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:24.240 Your kids do not have to go what you go through what you went through if you will just keep your head right about the finances that God's blessing you with. 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:29.599 Don't try to erase your father's failure by not being there for yours. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.319 This is important. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.160 Amen. 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.079 Hallelujah. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:40.559 They thought about it and they've given it deliberate, mature consideration. 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:43.519 And what they decide, this is what I'm after. 00:22:43.839 --> 00:22:44.720 Money. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:46.720 Amen. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:54.799 So it's misplaced desires for riches. 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.359 It's a misplaced desire for riches. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:07.359 You know, the denomination I grew up in, we were big for saying, I don't want any of this old world's goods. 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:10.400 Well, they thought about them enough. 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:15.359 No, you you need this old world's goods. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:17.599 You just don't love them. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.559 Amen. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:27.759 And this misplaced desire for riches, here's what it causes: a lack of contentment. 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:35.119 See, contentment has been treated as insignificant by many. 00:23:36.880 --> 00:23:40.240 When in reality, it's the core of being prosperous. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:42.000 It's the core. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.960 In 1 Timothy, you're there in chapter 6. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:46.319 Look at verse 6. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:54.480 Godliness, but godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:56.079 Everybody say great gain. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:01.519 Now, there's a difference between contentment and satisfaction. 00:24:02.400 --> 00:24:07.599 Because again, what people say is, well, you just need to be content, whatever your lot in life is. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:09.440 It's not what the Bible says. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:13.599 It doesn't say be content with whatever your lot in life is. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:20.160 It says if you find yourself in a certain situation, the way out of it is to be content and believe God. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:29.759 If you find yourself in a financial struggle here today, you're not going to get out by worrying about it. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:31.680 You're going to get out by being content. 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:33.279 Okay, this is where I'm at. 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.599 Now let me sit down and count the cost. 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.960 What can I do to get out of this? 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:41.039 This is what the word of God says. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.200 So, Father, this isn't your fault. 00:24:43.359 --> 00:24:44.640 I know it's not your fault. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:48.240 I got myself into this, so I'm believing you're going to help me get out of it. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:50.000 But I'm not going to worry about it. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:51.119 I'm not going to complain. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:54.720 I'm going to be content and you're going to bring me out. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.200 Is that right? 00:24:58.160 --> 00:25:00.079 See, that's not satisfied. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.279 That's content. 00:25:01.440 --> 00:25:03.200 Okay, this is where I'm at. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.799 Well, I do. 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:06.880 Amen. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:12.799 You know, you could tell the Apostle Paul wasn't from Kansas because he said, I'm content in whatever state I'm in. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:17.519 It's a dad joke. 00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:21.599 You know the difference between lawyers and buzzards? 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:24.160 Lawyers get frequent flyer miles. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:26.640 Oh, oh, that's bad, isn't it? 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:27.279 Hallelujah. 00:25:27.599 --> 00:25:28.400 Dad jokes. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:28.960 There's another one. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:29.759 You want to hear another one? 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:31.119 Said, How do lawyers sleep? 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.119 Well, they lie on this side and they lie on this side. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.519 I'm not picking on lawyers. 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:41.839 I hope nobody in here is a lawyer. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:42.960 I'm in trouble. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.240 Jesus. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:46.319 Right? 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:49.119 But it's contentment. 00:25:49.519 --> 00:26:04.079 And this is so powerful because the Greek word for contentment is translated sufficiency, and it's translated that way in 2 Corinthians 9.8, all sufficiency in all things. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:22.240 But the adjective, content, which we find in Philippians 4.11, where Paul said, I've learned in whatsoever state I'm in to be content, it means having a sufficiency in oneself independent of others. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:32.559 So contentment is not being satisfied with poverty, but having sufficient substance in my life to be independent of others. 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:38.000 Whatever it is, I've learned to be content. 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:42.880 Whatever in life, I've learned to be content. 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.720 Hallelujah. 00:26:45.279 --> 00:26:48.559 That's why Paul said in 1 Timothy 6.5, notice what he said. 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:54.319 He said it was perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that what? 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:57.519 Gain is godliness. 00:26:57.920 --> 00:27:01.119 Or that godliness was a means of gain. 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.759 Hallelujah. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:16.319 See, godliness, though, he says, with contentment is great gain. 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:22.319 So again, godliness is not a way to get gain. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:33.119 God doesn't give you the opportunity to have seed time and harvest just so you can get more money and more stuff and a bigger car and a nicer house. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:35.039 What's the primary reason? 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.359 Number one reason, primary reason to be blessed. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.200 To be a blessing. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.799 So I can be generous. 00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:41.200 Right? 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:45.519 That's what Paul said in Ephesians when he was writing to people that had got saved recently. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:54.640 He said, Listen, you got born again, now let him that stole steal no more, but rather let him work with his hands so that he may have to give to him that doesn't have. 00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:56.960 Generosity. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:28:04.000 So the primary purpose for uh finances is to be a blessing. 00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:08.000 It's not a means of gain. 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.200 Hallelujah. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:17.680 There are times you put a seed in the ground with no thought about what you're gonna get back. 00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:24.079 And then there's times you focus that seed and you're believing God for something. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.039 Right? 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:27.119 But you're putting seed in the ground. 00:28:27.200 --> 00:28:30.559 And so you can constantly, consistently pray and thank the Lord. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:38.799 I thank you that the seed's in the ground and the harvest is coming up, and I thank you that I have all sufficiency in all things, no matter what the need is. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:39.440 Why? 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:42.880 Because I've given, therefore it's given unto me. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:44.559