FROM SPIRITUAL POVERTY TO PROSPERITY

When Jesus came into the world, the Israelites were under the yoke of the Romans, suffering from heavy taxes and poverty. They were expecting a Messiah to free them from the physical burden. But Jesus wasnt mainly concerned about it, but about their spiritual condition.

In the four gospels, in the life and words of Jesus there is just about a sentence about material needs —"Father knows that you need these things." It's important to notice that he always spoke about the Kingdom Of Heaven.

WHICH KINGDOM ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT?

World teaches us the BLESSEDNESS to be ; being great, healthy and wealthy in this world.

But in Matthew 5:3 & 6 Jesus teaches us the TRUE BLESSEDNESS

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." 

6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 

How is it possible for the poor to be called blessed?

To understand the spiritual, let us first understand it in the context of the world. What does it mean to be poor in the world? It could be lack or unmet needs, to not have basic or essential things. The different areas where there can be lack are finances, home, health, food, clothing, love, joy, peace, etc.

When Eden was created, there was no lack. There was complete protection, covering, and provision for living. Where did poverty come from? It came from sin. Similarly, lack in our life sometimes comes through sin. It opens a door that brings in restlessness, financial, or some other form of lack. It can be a result of one sin or a series of sins. This is especially true for those who are already believing Christians. Though God forgives our sins, the consequences of sin are still to be experienced by us.

God allows lack sometimes for our testing, teaching, or to humble ourselves—like he did for Job or for Jesus in the wilderness.

When God has planned a life for you, he will provide for you so that you can fulfill his plan. But instead of relying on him, we rely on our senses. God allows lack so that we become more dependent on him. In this way our poverty or crisis leads us to humble ourselves under his mighty hard.

For our soul to be satisfied & PROSPEROUS , we need to feed it with SPIRITUAL FOOD .

3 John 1:2: I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

All prosperity in life according to Gods will flows from the prosperity of the soul. For a spirit to be healthy, you need to be connected to Jesus. Soul prosperity—love, joy, peace, wisdom—comes from God. When connected with Jesus, waiting upon him, then the doors that need to be opened will open automatically in his time. You don't have to stress & strive. He will lead you to it, and give you the provisions and protection required.

When we lack soul prosperity, we sometimes lose even what God gives us; in the dissatisfaction of our soul we give into worldy lusts and greed, we destroy what God gave. We use our resources, like the money, the skills, etc., that God gave us, for our own desires rather than what God wants us to do with them. Let God guide us on what to do with the money, property, gifts, talents and other material blessings that God has given us.

Psalm 73:3-27 speaks of how the wicked people get rich and prosper in every way. But then the author sees the sanctuary of God and says, " Being with God and having him is enough for me."

Don't look to the world for satisfaction and validation . Let's be connected to God so that he gives us prosperity in our soul. He will give us wisdom to manage what he gives us.

As long as we have breath, he will supply what we need. The timing may vary, but even delay in God's hands is his good plan for us.

Why is it blessed to be poor in the spirit?

Blessed are those who recognize that they are poor in the spirit, that they are hungry and thirsty in the spirit. The moment we recognize that we are consuming so much of the world because of the poverty of spirit and that it truly cannot fill us and we turn to Jesus to be filled by him (THE BREAD OF LIFE) —then we are blessed.

Theres a beautiful connect in gospel of Matthew :

Matthew 6:33 says - Seek first kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things will be added to us.

As we read Matthew 5:3&6 it said - to those who are POOR IN SPIRIT belongs the KINGDOM OF GOD and those who HUNGER & THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS will be SATISFIED.

Just as our body hungers and thirsts, so does our SOUL. But let's take it to Jesus to FIND HIS KINGDOM & to be SATISFIED IN HIM.

ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT BEING POOR IN SPIRIT OR POOR IN THIS WORLD?

ARE WE WALKING BY WHAT WE SEE AS RIGHT & GOOD OR DESIRING TO WALK WITH GOD (RIGHTEOUSNESS)?

If we are concerned about poverty in this world, then we will want to build our own kingdom. But if we recognize that we are poor in the spirit, then we will desire HIS KINGDOM.

We can learn from Apostle Paul that whether having abundance or having lack in this world, being with Jesus is our true & constant source of Joy & strength

Phil 4:12-13: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.