3 John 2 (AMP) Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].

TWO DEFINITIONS WE MUST UNDERSTAND:

1) POVERTY: to be in want, lack, insufficient, empty, a deficiency in strength or power, having little or no money as a means of support, someone without hope.

2) PROSPERITY: to know God and fulfill His purpose for our lives; to succeed in reaching; to succeed in business affairs; to grow thrive, increase; to have desired result; to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects.

I. POVERTY DOESN’T COME FROM GOD!  ABUNDANCE AND PROSPERITY DO!

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

God never leads us to poverty, He always leads us to provision.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NLV) You know of the loving-favor shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, but He became poor for your good. In that way, because He became poor, you might become rich.

Jesus came to deliver us from every form of poverty and give us His prosperity.

RICH: to have an abundance so that you can give blessings to those in need, especially those in need of salvation

If you have a need or lack in your life, God wants to meet that need and provide.

QUESTION: WHAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO SEE GOD PROVIDE?

II. FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF POVERTY

1. FINANCIAL POVERTY

This type of poverty is the easiest to recognize and the most commonly thought of when discussing poverty.

How do you overcome financial poverty?

ANSWER: Place our faith in God as our Provider.  Faith in God releases His provision. We need to accept the fact that our God desires and is able to meet every one of our needs.

Philippians 4:19 (AMP) And my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2. EMOTIONAL POVERTY

A person doesn’t have to be in financial poverty to feel and experience a great void in their heart. The emotionally bankrupt often feel totally empty, broken-hearted, suicidal, depressed, discouraged, lonely, angry and full of fear.

QUESTION: HOW CAN YOU TELL IF SOMEONE IS IN EMOTIONAL POVERTY?

SIGNS OF EMOTIONAL BANKRUPTCY:

• Not sleeping well

• Edgy & quick to anger

• Feeling burned out

• Repeated moral failures

• Relationships are falling apart

• Resorting to drugs and/or drinking to numb the pain or escape

• Becoming careless and reckless with appearance and choices

How do you overcome emotional poverty?

ANSWER: The emotional peace and health we are looking for can only be found in Christ. Nothing and no one in this world can truly heal our emotional and mental sickness but Christ.

John 14:27 (AMP) Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

PEACE: a) a state of tranquility, exemption from rage, worry, fear and division; b) the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through faith in Christ and so fearing nothing; c) joy and prosperity

3. VISION POVERTY

Someone that is impoverished in vision can not see a better day. They are totally hopeless and faithless.  When they look at their future they only see problems, lack and more pain. When we suffer from lack of vision, we can not overcome what we are presently facing because we see no solutions.

QUESTION: WHAT CAN YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE SEEING SOLUTIONS?

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight with no vision.” – Hellen Keller

“Vision poverty is only being able to see your present condition.” – Marco Garcia

Proverbs 29:18 (VOICE) Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness.

RUN WILD: (para) to let go, neglect, quit, show lack restraint and self discipline, go backwards, reject instruction and guidance,

“When we have no vision of our future, we tend to look back at our past, which only leads to a repeat performance.“ – Marco Garcia

“Visionaries have the ability to see things not just how they are, but how they can be.” – Leadership University

How do you overcome vision poverty?

ANSWER: Build your faith in God by hearing and studying His Word. When we hear and study the Word, we are exposing ourselves to the unlimited vision and possibilities of God.

Joshua 1:8 (VOICE) Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success.

* Hope: the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best.

“Faith is vision, a vision of your desired future.” – Marco Garcia

Hebrews 11:1 (VOICE) Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen.

QUESTION:  WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU BELIEVED FOR SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD SEE COMING?

4. SPIRITUAL POVERTY

Even the financially rich can be spiritually poor.  A person might have everything the world can offer, but still feel empty inside. They don’t know the real meaning of life, and therefore live without a clear sense of purpose. The spiritually impoverished live for the now, not knowing where they will spend eternity.

“If we gain the whole world but don’t know God and fulfill His purpose for our lives, we are among the most impoverished.” – Marco Garcia

Mark 8:36 (AMPC) For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life [[a]in the eternal kingdom of God]?

How do you overcome spiritual poverty?

* ANSWER: You move from spiritual poverty to spiritual prosperity by acknowledging your spiritual poverty and recognizing and acknowledging your need for God.

Matthew 5:3 (AMP) “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].