Jesus Endured Our Poverty That We Might Share His Abundance Key Word: 2 Co 8:9; 2 Co 9:8 Jesus bore the poverty curse, which is presented in its most absolute form in Dt 28:48: Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Some months ago, while I was preaching on the theme of God s financial provision, I received a revelation from the Holy Spirit that went beyond anything in the sermon outline I had prepared. While I continued to stand before the people and speak to them, I was having an inner mental vision of Jesus on the cross. I saw Him there in all the stark reality the Scripture describes. The Holy Spirit went over the four (4) aspects of the poverty curse for me, one by one, showing me that Jesus totally exhausted the curse in all its aspects. First, Jesus was hungry when He was taken to be crucified, He had not eaten for nearly 24 hours. Second, Jesus was thirsty I thirst was one of His last utterances. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 1
Third, Jesus was naked the Roman soldiers had stripped Him of all His clothing and divided it among themselves. Fourth, He was in want of all thing He had no robe to wear while He died, nor did He own a tomb to be buried in afterward. G.O. Ministry family!! Jesus had nothing. Why? Because in the divine purpose of God, Jesus exhausted curse on our behalf. At first, I did not realize the full implication of what the Holy Spirit was showing me. Looking back, however, I would have to say that this revelation has given me the basis for my faith for prosperity. In the finality of the exchange, Jesus took the poverty curse so that we might receive the blessing of Abraham, whom God blessed in all things which is administered by the Holy Spirit. And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gen 24:1) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13-14) Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 2
Many passages of the Scripture support the fact that Jesus bore the poverty curse. First, let us look at two (2) particular verses, starting with 2 Co 8:9: For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. I used to quote the end of that verse as might be rich!! But the Holy Spirit showed me what it means might be rich. We can become rich and then become poor again, but to be rich has a sense of permanence. Jesus took the evil poverty so that we might have the good-riches. Jesus took our poverty so that we might have His wealth. Apostle Cho s emphasis Read: Dt 8:18 Some religious people suggest that Jesus was poor throughout His earthly ministry, but I cannot accept this concept as accurate. Beloved brothers and sisters!! Apostolic people need to keep in mind the distinction between Rich and Abundance!! Jesus was not rich in the sense of having a large bank account or great material possession, but Jesus certainly had abundance. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 3
Any man who can provide food for a crowd of five (5) thousand men (without along with women and children) is NO PAUPER!! Actually, Jesus had much more left over after feeding about 12 thousand people than He had when He started. (See Mt 14:15-21). WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF ABUNDANCE!! Furthermore, Jesus transmitted this abundance to His disciples. Read: Mt 21:21; Mk 16:17; Lk 10:17; Jn 14:12 When Jesus sent disciples out to spread the gospel message, He told them to take nothing extra with them. Yet their testimony afterwards was that they had lacked nothing. Read: Lk 22:35 THAT IS NOT POVERTY Jesus was never worried or perplexed. He was calmly and completely in control of every situation. He never doubted that His Father s goodness would provide everything He needed. And the Father never failed Him. Apostle Cho s emphasis Having poverty means having hunger thirst nakedness and being in need of everything. (Dt 28:48) Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 4
When exactly did Jesus become poor? Jesus began to become poor the moment He was identified with our sins. From that moment onward, He went deeper and deeper into poverty until, on the cross, He represented the absolute poverty described here. Understand that at the cross, His poverty was not merely spiritual. He was also physically and materially poor. Therefore, by all the law or logic, our wealth will not be merely spiritual, either. Jesus became absolutely poor in the physical, material sense so that we might become rich, having every physical and material need met and having something left over to share with other people. Second, 2 Co 9:8 is the other particular verse we will study that supports the fact that Jesus bore the curse: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. (2 Co 9:8) God is not stingy. He does not give just enough. He gives more than enough. That is abundance. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 5
In the verse above, there are two (2) instances of the word ABOUND and four (4) instances of the word ALL. I don t know if this language could be any clearer. What does it describe? God s grace I am very much interested enough in 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and 9, two (2) chapters that deal with money, the key word is grace. It occurs seven (7) times in Chapter 8, and twice in Chapter 9. It is a grace that operates in the realm of money. However, few professing believers understand the nature of God s grace. I have sometimes observed that those who speak the most about grace often understand it the least. There are three (3) basic principles that govern the operation of God s grace. 1. God s grace can never be earned: Conversely, anything that can be earned is not grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Ro 11:6) This Apostolic principle excludes most religious people from the grace of God, because they think they can earn it. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 6
2. There is only one channel of grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (Jn 1:17) Any form of grace that comes to us comes solely through Jesus Christ. 3. There is only one means by which we can appropriate God s grace, and that is faith. This truth is summed up in three successive phrases in Eph 2:8-9. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Few believers realize that this Apostolic principle applies just as much in the realm of financial and material provision as it does in any other area of our Apostolic lives. The Scripture warns us specifically against: IRRESPONSIBILITY (Pr 10:4), LAZINESS (Pr 24:30-34), and DISHONESTY (Eph 4:28). As long as we are guilty of any of these sinful behaviors, we have no right to expect God s grace to work in the financial aspect of our Apostolic lives. Therefore, Apostolic people are obligated to be honest, hardworking, and responsible. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 7
Beloved brothers and sisters!! Apostolic people must make an important, logical distinction between EARNING GOD S GRACE which is impossible and MEETING GOD S CONDITIONS which is obligatory. Apostolic people cannot earn God s abundance which comes only through grace; however, we are required to meet the conditions which God has laid down for receiving His abundance through faith. If we do not meet these conditions, our faith has no Scriptural foundation. In fact, it is merely presumption. G.O. Ministry family!! To meet God s conditions, our motives and attitudes must be right. Apostolic people would all do well to examine our motives very carefully, especially concerning monetary gain. Impure motives concerning money include: 1. Idolizing wealth Col 3:5 covetousness is idolatry 1 Tim 6:10 a root of all kinds of evil 2. Pursuing wealth by sinful methods Jer 17:11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 8
Pr 28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor. 3. Trusting ultimately in wealth for security and well being Pr 11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches 4. Using wealth for selfish gain and self-serving interests Pr 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Apostle Cho s note: In Lk 12:16-21, Jesus related the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns and filled them with his produce. But the Lord said to him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Lk 12:20) Jesus then added, So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Lk 12:21). Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 9
THE FIRST DIRECTION IN WHICH WE NEED TO BE RICH IS TOWARD GOD. Apostle Cho s emphasis Apostolic people considered four (4) wrong attitudes in relation to money. There is yet another attitude that we must be careful to avoid, and that is a wrong attitude toward the poor. The Word of God consistently warns us against despising or exploiting the poor. There are a multitude of Scriptural verses on this subject, but we will look at several verses from Proverbs: Pr 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. Pr 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. Pr 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. Pr 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse. Pr 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it. These verses place a tremendous responsibility upon us to have concerning for the needs of the poor. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 10
One mark of righteousness is considering the cause of the poor. Conversely, a mark of wickedness is simply averting one s eyes from the plight of the poor. Furthermore, a reward is promised in relation to caring for the poor. When we give to the poor, Solomon told us, we are lending to the Lord. When the Lord repays our loans, He does not forget the interest!! Let s look at the list of curses in Dt 28:15-48. Read this entire chapter for ourselves, considering whether we are enjoying a blessing or enduring a curse. If we are redeemed children of God, the curses do not belong to us, but the blessings do. The following verses are focusing on the blessings and the curses which related to wealth and poverty: Dt 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee Dt 28:17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 11
Dt 28:29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. Dt 28:47-48 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; 48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. The will of God is expressed in verse (Dt 28:47) that Apostolic people should serve the Lord our God with joy and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things. Abundance is a wonderful word that occurs many times in the Bible. The will of God is that we, as His people, should serve Him with joy and gladness for the abundance of all things He gives to us. Thank you, Jesus, for your work on the cross. We proclaim that we will serve You with joy and gladness for the abundance of all things, because Jesus endured our poverty that we might share His abundance. Amen. Apostolic Movement for Jesus Christ 12