Under the new covenant our sacrifices are not like what they were under the old. We do not offer up burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and trespass (or guilt) offerings; however, blood sacrifices are needed for atonement according to the law. Grain offerings many times were done alongside burnt offerings. In this teaching I shall show how Christ fulfilled the guilt (or trespass) offering ceremonial law of sacrifice. Yet we still have sacrifices to make in our lives.
We need to review the sin offering to properly understand the guilt offering. While some might say we are not under law but grace, the teachings of Torah fully apply today to people’s behavior.
— Ceremonial implications of guilt related to the sin offering (Lev. 5:14-6:7)
Lev. 4:13-14:: Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally (sāḡâ), and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which should not be done, and are guilty (‘āšam); when the sin which they have committed becomes known, then the assembly shall offer a young bull for the sin, and bring it before the tabernacle of meeting.
Remember the Hebrew word for guilty is ‘āšam (aw-sham’) which is to offend, be guilty, offend or trespass. But the trespass definition really just brings in confusion as we shall see.
Remember the first part of the bull offering was for any person but quickly focuses on the priest. The idea of the whole community is brought up again in verse 13. For the priest has to represent the whole community. The problem is the sin seems to have been hidden from society, in general. There are many private sins these days done by people in society. Many stay hidden or covered up but some get exposed. This brings guilt on the whole society. Did you know that the sins of the few stain all of society?
This is why Apostle Paul told the Corinthians ‘now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person’ (1 Cor. 5:11).
Condoning or accepting sinful behavior is not ok in the true church of Yeshua. It has to be exposed and dealt with properly. There used to be an item called excommunication which I have not heard much about recently.
Šāḡâ (shaw-gaw’) means to go away, stray, err. The NKJV translates this unintentionally but I put to you some did know they did wrong. Others may have been led down the wrong path through power or persuasion.
It says that the whole community does this and it is hidden from the eyes of the assembly. So it is likely more than one or two people doing wrong. So what does the ‘eyes of the assembly’ represent? There are also two different words for people. One is congregation and the other assembly.
It is interesting that there is a British terms these days called “shag”. It usually is meant in a sexual way but means other things also. In British slang, it can mean to ‘mess up’ or ‘scruff up.’
So like I open our Torah to this very page (557 in The Stone Edition the Chumsah) which is Leviticus 4. So I know in this it is the word of the Lord. It says of Rashi that if the high priest sins it is because of the common person dragging them down. However, when it comes to verse 13 it concludes it is the Sanhedrin that causes the nation to sin by making a bad ruling.
This points me to the ruling of the Sanhedrin on the eve of Passover when they brought Christ before the court. The ruling of that court was that the Christ, the Messiah was to die for blasphemy. The guilt of the Jews was due to a bad ruling of the religious leaders. It says in Matt. 26:57 that they led him to Caiaphas, the high priest then they brought in false witnesses. Then Caiaphas asked Yeshua ‘tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’. Yeshua answered with a quote from Daniel. He said ‘hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’
Daniel 7:13: I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.
Then read the next verse in Daniel: Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion,which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.
No wonder they considered Yeshua guilty of blasphemy for the conclusion of Daniel here is the Son of Man rules over all the Earth. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ’ (Acts 2:36).
It was the guilt imposed upon all of Israel because of the leadership!
Likewise the sin of the leader and of the common person also brings guilt (Lev. 4:22, 27).
Leviticus (5:2,3,4,17) also brings guilt (‘āšam) upon people for touching unclean animals, human uncleanness, swearing, or anything forbidden by the law. It is also helpful to look at other places where this word is used.
Jer. 50:7 the word ‘āšam is translated in the negative meaning to not offend or not be guilty. In this verse it was the advesaries of Israel making this statement. Why? Because Israel had sinned against the LORD. For it was the adversaries sent to perform divine justice against Israel. Also notice in verse 6 here it says their shepherds have led them astray. Such was the case I mentioned earlier of guilt put on Israel by the leadership when Yeshua was executed.
Hos. 5:15 ‘āšam is translated as offense. We acknowledge our offenses when we realize we have been doing wrong. This is the first part of repentance.
Zech. 11:5 talks about the flock destined for slaughter and those that slaughtered them feeling no shame or remorse (‘āšam). It is the owners, some shepherds, who feel no remorse or shame here.
So, ‘āšam can be personal guilt or remorse but may be brought about by bad leadership.
— The trespass or guilt offerings
Lev. 5:18 speaks of bringing a ram without blemish to the priest as a sacrifice for unintentional sins. The priest sacrifices the ram to make atonement for this person’s sin done in ignorance. The really strange thing is this offering is the same Hebrew word as guilt (‘āšam) but here it is not just applied as guilt but also relates to a sacrifice. The only real difference I see here from Leviticus 4 is that a ram is sacrificed instead of a young bull, a male or female goat or sheep.
Please not that in Lev. 5:15 the KJV calls this unintentional sin a trespass. This is unfortunate since the actual word here is maʿal (mah’-al) and not āšam which really implies guilt or shame. Ma’al is really an unfaithful, treacherous act, even a falsehood against either God or man. The KJV also translates this as trespass in chapter 6.
This confusion is partially corrected in newer translations but I want to give you a Google Septuigint translation which does not even use the word trespass: If a soul errs, forgets it, and sins unintentionally against the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring to the Lord for his trespass a ram without blemish from the sheep, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the holy things, concerning which he sinned (Lev. 5:15, Septuigint)
Lev. 6:2-3 speaks of trespasses (ma’al) against the LORD but which is directed to our fellow man. Such things as lying to your neighbor about what was delivered for safekeeping, about a pledge, about a robbery, if he has extorted from his neighbor, or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely. As I said ma’al are really malicious acts. In Spanish mal means bad or evil. The word malcontent is a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious. Other english words starting with mal include malady, malicious, malfunction, maleficent, and malware. We could just say ma’al is a bad person, one who is not trustworthy and even malicious. Such behavior should bring on guilt and shame because that is part of what spurs repentance.
Both in Lev. 5:16 and 6:5 the full value plus one-fifth more is required for either a trespass against the Lord directly or against our fellow man.
I think the idea of repentance and compensation is mostly lost on the Christian church. Courts many times give punitive damages so the idea is embedded into society. A voluntary contribution toward the evil we have done is good. In the case of the tax collector Zaccheus, who repented, wanted to give back 4x what he had cheated people out of (Luke 19:8). He was guilty of ma’al and then some.
sykophanteō (soo-kof-an-teh’-o) means to accuse wrongfully or extord or defraud. In a classical Greek story of sacred figs in Athens there was heavy penalties for stealing figs. For more on sycophants read the reference. A sycamore fig tree is what Zaccheus climbed up open. The fig was also representative of Israel so there is more to this story than I can dive into right now.
In Exodus 22 the law speaks of recompense for transgressions (pešaʿ, not trespass) and speaks mainly of theivery whereas the trespasses of Lev. 6 speak mainly of lying. Apparently Zaccheus felt like he did more than lie but used coercive and fraudulent methods to extract extra tax revenue. Four sheep were required as repayment if the sheep was slaughtered or sold so perhaps Zacheaus had lost the money or it was consumed through wild living so he had it no longer and so he was just echoing what the law required.
Bernie Madoff’s ponzi scheme is the closest thing I can think related to this in modern history yet most have not even receive back what they lost as of today. Jim Bakker was also convicted of fraud and conspiracy back in 1989. In general, we need to be very careful not to lie and certainly not steal.
Under the new covenant our sacrifices are not like what they were under the old. We do not have to offer up burnt offerings, grain and peace offerings,sin offerings, and trespass (or guilt) offerings; however, blood sacrifices are needed for atonement according to the law. In this teaching I shall show how Christ fulfilled the sin offering ceremonial law of sacrifice. Yet we still have sacrifices to make in our lives.
-- Ceremonial Aspects
--- Procedure for any person, specifically the priest
Lev. 4:2-3:: if a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and does any of them, if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.
In the first case a sin could be done by anyone but the 3rd verse focuses in on what the anointed priest does wrong. Notice it is a bull (male cow) that is offered up as the sin sacrifice.
Lev. 4:11-12:: But the bull's hide and all its flesh, with its head and legs, its entrails and offal, the whole bull he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire; where the ashes are poured out it shall be burned.
Christ himself suffered outside the camp Heb. 13:11-12:: For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Christ also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.
Notice here that Yeshua is equated to the flesh, head, legs, and inner parts. These parts got sacrificed on the cross outside of city gates (either the garden tomb or Church of the Holy Sepulcher). I know of nowhere in the bible it says Christ's blood was brought into the holy places. Some say the ark of the covenant was hidden underground below the cross and his blood seeped in from above but that is unproven.
Heb. 10:4-4:: it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.(see Ps. 40:6-8) Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Note that this section is for any person but points to the anointed priest. Christ was from an ordinary family yet he fulfilled the high priestly function when he was offered up upon the cross.
--- Procedure for a ruler
First notice a young male goat, unblemished is offered
Lev. 4:22-23:: When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally against any of the commandments of the LORD his God in anything which should not be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.
-- Procedure for common people
Now note a young female goat, unblemished is offered
Lev. 4:27-28:: If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally by doing something against any of the commandments of the LORD in anything which ought not to be done, and is guilty, or if his sin which he has committed comes to his knowledge, then he shall bring as his offering a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.
The sacrifice is normally a female goat but it can also be a female lamb (vs. 32).
-- New Covenant ideas of Sin Offerings
I also want you to also see something written in the book of Hebrews:
Heb. 10:26-27:: For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
You might have known that in all three cases both priest, ruler, and ordinary people sin unintentionally. There is nothing in Leviticus that spells out a sacrifice for deliberate sin. Some sin, know they are doing it, but later repent and seek forgiveness. The law provides no such forgiveness for sin. In fact, certain intentional sins receive either banishment or death. While Christ fulfilled the law He did not annul it (Matt. 5:18). In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. What is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Heb. 8:13)
Yeshua even stated this ‘I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come’. (Matt. 12:31-32)
This comes from part of the law: the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people (Num. 15:30).
kÄraṯ (kaw-rath') is the verb (Niphal stem) used here to mean to cut, cut off (like a body part) or cut down.
This does not necessarily mean execution but certainly means removing the sinful person from society. The question I have is does this mean there is no hope for reform? Also, what does presumptuously mean? The root of the word for presumptuous is hand so the implication here is an action, not just a thought.
Peter spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost and told them that they killed the Holy and Just One, the Prince of Life in ignorance (Acts 3:17). Sometimes we act in wrongful ways believing we are justified when just the opposite is true.
We shall learn next week there are certain sins under the trespass offering which can be atoned for by adding appropriate restitution. We also need to be careful against judging to harshly our neighbors, not casting the first stone because we disagree with their behavior and don’t even know the full story.
I could go on and say much more about our sacrifice for sin. The bottom line is the world needed a 'yeshua' to save us. The Jews needed the man called Yeshua HaMeshiach to save them. We also need him to save us. Let us pray as we move into the fall feast high holy days that God makes himself more and more real to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Addendum: One cannot replace the sin sacrifice that Yeshua brought us so any sin sacrifices we can offer are spiritual, even symbolic. Apostle Paul told the Romans: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). This idea of service points back to Exodus 12:25 where the children of Israel were commanded to keep the divine service of the passover which was to remind them of deliverance from Egypt. Today many enjoy the service of the seder, a special meal commemorating the Exodus. Our daily work and offering of our bodies as living sacrifices are a type of service that goes well beyond a meal (offering).
Under the new covenant our sacrifices are not like what they were under the old. We do not offer up burnt offerings,sin offerings, and trespass (or guilt) offerings; however, blood sacrifices are needed for atonement according to the law. In this teaching I shall show how Christ fulfilled ceremonial requirements for the peace offering. Yet we still have sacrifices to make in our lives.
— Ceremonial Aspects
Fellowship offerings like peace offerings were voluntary sacrifices expressing thanksgiving and fellowship with God. Core text is in Leviticus 3.
Lev. 3:1-3:: Peace offering. When his offering is a sacrifice of a peace offering, if he offers it of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting; and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar. Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the LORD.
This sacrifice had to be offered without blemish before the LORD. So was Christ also without blemish?
tÄÂmîm (taw-meem’) does mean without blemish and is complete or whole. The word also means innocent, having integrity.
Heb. 9:14:: speaks of Christ through the eternal Sprit as offering Himself without spot to God
1 Pet. 1:19 describes Christ as “a lamb without blemish and without spot”
2 Cor. 5:19 speaks of “him who knew no sin becoming sin for us” and Heb. 4:15 as “he was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin”
So Christ was indeed innocent and spotless in all senses of the word.
Our response is to mimic Christ in character. This can mean making sacrifices in our lives: our time, our talents, our resources, coming together, etc… We read in Ephesians: (Christ) might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:27).
We read “the priest shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of meeting”. So if Christ fulfilled this, then who laid a hand on his head and killed him?
I once watched a cow get slaughtered in Kenya. It was not a pretty sight. Christ was not killed in exactly the same way you would slaughter an animal (for his throat was not cut). Yet a messianic prophesy speaks about Christ this way:
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth (Is. 53:7)
Yeshua kept his mouth shut before the high priest.
Yet Apostle Paul quoted Psalm 44:22 to speak about Christians in the same way. For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter (Rom. 8:36).
We also read ‘the priest shall sprinkle the blood all around on the altar’. Who then sprinkled the blood and where was the altar?
In the past I have said that the cross is the altar for it is the place of sacrifice. Christ’s blood got sprinkled at the base of the cross, not by human hands but because of the crucifixion. Actually, we hear of the curtain of the temple being torn from top to bottom during his crucifixion (Matt. 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). Matthew and Luke provide more detail but the point is triply important because it is mentioned in all three synaptic gospels. It is not that Christ’s throat was cut open but it is more like Abba’s throat is torn asunder, top to bottom.
— Christ the Peace Offerings
We should contrast this to what Apostle Paul said to there church at Ephesus: Eph. 2:14-16:: For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Let’s not misread this passage. It does not say he abolished in His flesh the law of commandments. It says here he abolished the enmity which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances. I know I am making a big thing of a very small point. The point is the paragraph speaks of breaking down the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. To say that the law is gone goes against another new testament verse:
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled (Matt. 5:18).
Since heaven and earth are still here nothing has passed from the law. The point made in Ephesus and elsewhere is that Gentiles are not bound by the law. There should no longer be enmity or animosity between Jew and Gentile. The council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 shows that the early apostles came to such a conclusion.
Peace, like the peace offering, is something that Christ came to create. He was, as the peace offering, without blemish.
The last part of the peace offering is an offering made by fire.
Under the new covenant our sacrifices are not like what they were under the old. We do not offer up burnt offerings,sin offerings, and trespass (or guilt) offerings; however, blood sacrifices are needed for atonement according to the law. Grain offerings many times were done alongside burnt offerings. In this teaching I shall show how Christ fulfilled the grain offering ceremonial law of sacrifice. Yet we still have sacrifices to make in our lives.
— Ceremonial Aspects (flour, oil, frankincense, and salt)
Lev. 2:1:: When anyone offers a grain offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. And he shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it.
The grain offering is a voluntary offering, unlike the sin or guilt offerings.
Lev. 2:2:: the priest shall burn it as a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD.
Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma (Eph. 5:2). Christ went to offer himself voluntarily, saying not my will but thy will be done.
Notice next the difference between cooking in a pan vs. a covered pan:
Lev. 2:5:: if your offering is a grain offering baked in a pan, it shall be of fine flour, unleavened, mixed with oil.
Lev. 2:7:: if your offering is a grain offering baked in a covered pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.
marḥešeṯ (mar-kheh’-sheth) is a sauce pan or stewpan, a cauldron. NKJV uses frying pan.
It would appear that cooking in a covered pan could include leaven, however, verse 11 shows that all grain offerings must be devoid of leaven.
Lev. 2:11:: No grain offering which you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the LORD made by fire.
The reason given is that no burning of leaven or honey can be in any offering to the LORD by fire. I will come back to the idea of honey a bit later on. Apparently if you mead or roll bread while cooking it can minimize or stop the fermentation process. While yeast might still be present you avoid fermentation which is often represented by crusted bread. However, this is not the whole process because the meaded,cooked flour still needs to be put into the fire.
The priest scoops up the flour mixture from the frying pan with three fingers and puts it in the fire. The frankinsence is burned on top of the mixture placed there by the priest. If done correctlty, then there is never any leavening (rising) in the finisthed product.
So this is the spiritual process. If we happen to have leaven in our lives, which is probable since we are born again flesh and blood beings and that sin nature is still in us. God will simmer us in the frying pan so we will not ferment. Fermentation represents sin and we do not want any born again, spirit-filled believer to ferment. When we crust it is like the flesh appearing which is sinful. Rather, the Lord kneeds us and rolls us up in the frying pan of life. When ready our high priest places us into the fire. Done properly we have no leavening so Satan has no hold on our lives throught the firey trials and tribulations that can come our way. Can you now see that the process of refinement is extremely important.
1 Pet. 4:12:: Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you
This is the same reason we see Daniel and the three Hebrew youths not burned in the oven. It is like the three fingers of the priest placing the unleavened dough into the fire. Have you ever considered why the fires of life do not seem to affect some people to a great extent? Here is a secret of the kingdom. The youths did not eat the choice meats at Nebuchadnezzar’s royal court, they did not bow down the the idol the king made of himself, and they did not get burnt in the fire!
Lev. 2:13-16:: Every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.
I want you to also notice there is a slightly different process for firstfruits: If you offer a grain offering of your firstfruits to the LORD, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits green heads of grain roasted on the fire, grain beaten from full heads. You shall put oil on it, and lay frankincense on it. It is a grain offering. Then the priest shall burn the memorial portion: part of its beaten grain and part of its oil, with all the frankincense, as an offering made by fire to the LORD.
Remember also, the three wise-men from the east. They brought gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankinsense to the Christ child. These are costly gifts for a king but let’s not forget frankinsense was often used in a grain offering.
Firstfruits is taken from the ear of barley, while it is still green. That makes sense, because the grain has not yet become fully ripe.
Salt is a preservative and adds to taste. We read in Matthew:
Matt. 5:13:: You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
We, as believers in Yeshua’s atoning blood of the covenant, need to be seasoned with salt so we preserve what is good and add flavor to life. But most importantly so we can provide God proper sacrifices of our lives.
Firstfruits in our lives can be offered as a rather small offerings before the full harvest comes in. Christ himself is our firstfruits (1 Cor. 15:20,23) because he is the first born from the dead. He was raised from the dead on the feast of first fruits day. James 1:18 speaks of us as a type of firstfruits of his creatures. There are firstfruit people spoken about in Revelation (Rev. 14:4) and in Thessalonica (2 Th. 2:13-some manuscripts). Firstfruits does reflect the first of it’s kind. I am not going into depth on firstfruits here, just saying our lives can be a firstfruit right now before actually being raised from the dead.
— Yeshua as the bread of life
The first thing to notice when it comes to Yeshua is that he is an offering from God himself.
John 6:32-35:: Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Yeshua wanted to remind us of the offering that God himself gave the children of Israel in the wilderness. The idea that he was calling himself the true bread from heaven does not negate the value of the manna. Truth embodies not only name and semblence but also a nature.
To the Galatians Apostle Paul said: when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods (Gal. 4:8). They might even appear as gods unto us but their nature is fallen, reprobate, even evil.
Demons or devils might resemble God. Lucifer himself is often known as the morning star (shining one or light bearer) but he is not the bright morning star. Truth is a precious commodity for which Yeshua spoke to Pontius Pilot (John 18:38).
But even with the manna given to the children of Israel and fallen from heaven there were stipulations. There were to gather a certain portion for each person. Those that gathered to much shared with those who gathered too little. On the 6th day of the week they were to gather twice as much and baked and boiled it for the day and for the Sabbath day. Some did not listen and leftover manna for the next day and some went our on the Sabbath to look for manna. For it was also a test from the LORD to see if they would walk according to his law (Ex. 16:4). This lesson is not a teaching on the law, nor even on what God provides.
Manna from heaven appeared after the morning frost evaperates but it does not last very long after sunlight melts the manna. There was no need to add oil or frankincense. It is also interesing that Lev. 16:31 said the manna wafers tasted like honey. Honey was not allowed to be burnt in grain offerings because it might also ferment. Honey was in essence supplied by the Lord in the manna. Israel itself was to be a land flowing with milk and honey.
Lessons from manna suggest we should share such that there is equality and that we need a sabbath day of rest to worship the Lord and remember his provisions for the week.
Most importantly, remember that Christ is the firstfruits of all who have fallen asleep under his covering. While manna was stored in the ark of the covenant true manna is given by Christ alone.
Do you have a poverty mindset? Ways to be an overcomer will be discussed in coming posts. Ten thoughts or things to find out (not in any particular order): 1) I can’t afford that or it is not in my budget. 2) I will never get that back! 3) Let’s just charge it! (impulse buying) 4) I reap what I sow. Waste not, want not (even for God) 5) I am always afraid unexpected bills are right around the corner. 6) I can never be an overcomer. That is for others. 7) I keep blowing money, never seem to get it right! 8) Quick win mindset (lottery, ‘faith’ based quick rich schemes, instant reward incentives) without any real actions 9) My spouse/parent/friend needs it more than me. 10) It have always been this way in my family.
More details on #1:
Saying I cannot afford that or it is not in my budget can be Godly. We are told to plan and budget. Luke tells us of two situations where planning is critical:
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:28-33).
Building a tower can represent anything we build (a ministry, a business, a homestead, even a tower of Babylon). It does not have to be a godly thing even. Like a good archtect, nobody should start building without a plan. I remember building forts as a child in New York State. I had a plan. It was not written down but sort of took shape as I could find building materials. It was ok, but better planning would had made it more stable. It is said that we are planning to fail if we fail to plan. That is not entirely true (because of God’s mercy) but does make sense in the stragegic sense. Businesses are very competitive and lack of having a good, solid business plan is a recipe for failure. So we cannot affort to NOT plan and budget. Lack of proper investment (startup capital, e.g.) is like putting a seed in the ground, never having tested the ground or tilled the soil. Why would you dig a well, never having perked the ground?
Likewise, counting the cost in future battles is equally important. The battles we face are not all against armies of troops. We fight battles every day in many areas of our lives. It could be financial, but it also could be health-wise, relationship-wise, or even a spiritual battle against hidden, wicked forces of darkness. We need adequate resources. Adequate manpower is often the most important. Resources like food, water, and (military) provisions are equally important to sustain the battle. Without proper logistics we will ultimately fail. Napolean Bonepart once said “an army marches on it’s stomach”. It is in 1 Samuel chapter 24 where we see King Saul placing a curse on anyone who eats that day yet his son Jonathan did not hear and ate some honey on the ground. Jonathan declares that if they had eaten there would have been a much greater slaughter of the Philisteans that day (vs. 30).
It is true, there are some things we cannot truly afford today. But there are other things that are critical to our success that we cannot daily neglect. Our future successes are based upon our personal and corporate habits and care we exercise today.
More detail on item #2:
The law of reciprocity says that this is false: Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you (Luke 6:38)
The verse does not indicate what we give, only that we give. It could be money, time, effort, gifts, or even a pleasant remark. The good measure is the greek word metron from where we get in music a constant beat like given by metranone or like a meter as a unit of measure. In the sense of this verse it probably relates to a liquid or volume measurement. The idea here is we get back what we give away.
This measure is pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The word for pressed is piezo which is where we get the term piezoelectric, meaning electricity created when material is pressed together. It is the same word in Micah given in the Septuigint for treading on grapes. Shaking mixes a slushy mix so it is even. The point I want you to see is that is is running over. Pressing typically makes things smaller but to increase the volume so it is running over means increase. It could be fermentation when it comes to grapes but that is not the point- it is measured back to us as we use it but it is running over when people give unto us. I am reminded of Elisha and the widow woman who only had one jar of oil yet she was miraculously able to fill all of the jars in her house. Yet it is most of the time people who give unto us for good deeds.
When we do not see reciprocation from people it is because of the hardness of men’s hearts and the love of money. I have heard many say ‘you cannot outgive God’ but remember he loves a cheerful giver, not one who gives out of compulsion.
2 Cor. 9:6-8:: But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
In Corinthians it is grace that abounds yet it says that we might have an abundance for every good work. This can include money as well as many other things. The key thing here is ‘every good work’. A poverty mindset will never have an abundance for every good work.
More on Item #3:
You might be asking yourself why “let’s just charge it!” could be part of a poverty mindset. My answer to this is “it depends”. For sure if we see a really good buy we cannot affort at the moment there are times we need to seize the opportunity and purchase before this great ‘deal’ is gone. However, more often than not we use the credit card to purchase things we cannot afford and have no way of knowing when, or even if, we are going to pay off this debt. Interest charges can also make this purchse ‘not a good deal’ in the long run. In these situations, I would advise one to first seek the Lord and then ask if it is really that great a buy and if is it something we really need. Some people are really good at paying off credit cards every month so if that is you then I am probably not speaking into your life.
But what does the bible say? It says we become a slave as a debtor. It says we are wicked when we cannot pay back but righteous when we are generous and give. The new covenant says we should only owe a debt of love toward others. It says all of our needs will be supplied by His riches in glory.
Proverbs 22:7 states, “The borrower is slave to the lender,” indicating the burdensome nature of debt.
Ps. 37:21:: The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;
Romans 13:8 advises to “owe no one anything, except to love one another”
Ph. 4:19:: my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Modern finance repayment plans can be very generous but to borrow knowing you might declare bankruptcy is probably wicked. We should be generous, we should give to others, and have no debt (except what is absolutely necessary). The verse in Philippeans makes me think of asking what is a need vs. what is a want. For instance we might say I NEED a new house or I NEED a new car. Do you? What about sacrifice and kingdom building?
If your belief system says you think God wants me to be rich, you probably need not listen any further. He does know your needs and also what you can handle so he wants the BEST for you. Yeshua (Jesus) said it is more blessed to give than to receive (Luke 6:38,Acts 20:35). I think there is a need for sacrifice. Balance between debt and need is often what needs to be sought. The ultimate place to be, of course, is to pay of debts quickly, and be a lender, not a borrower.
I hope this discussion helps some.
More details on item #4:
I reap what I sow. Waste not, want not.
We read in Galations 6:7-8 ‘do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life’.
‘Waste not, want not’ is not explicitly in the bible but is a principle pulled from several areas: In John 6:13 after feeding the 5000 the disciples gathered up what was left and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten
It was Judas Iscariot who said this after the Mary wiped the feet of Yeshua with costly perfume: Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it (John 12:5-6)
Thomas Tusser coined the phrase ‘waste not, want not’ in a book Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry in 1576. While the phrase seems to have a basis in scripture it is not scripture. It is true, the disciples gathered together the fragments after Yeshua miraculously fed the 5000 and 4000 but the main take-away there is God’s miraculous multiplication, not waste of resources. In the case of Judas Iscariot it was about his love of money and thieving heart.
We see in Apostle Paul’s reaping consequences of sowing to the flesh which is corruption of the flesh. Under a recent message I gave we see that leaven or even honey can bring corruption into bread as it caused impurities to rise up in food. The flesh also reaps corruption from the effects of sin. If our sin is coveteousness we reap the consequences. If our sin is giving in to sexual lusts we reap consequences there also.
In opposition is sowing to the Spirit where we reap everlasting life. And the mystery here is this life begins here and now. Everlasting life has no end but also no beginning. We live now in the Kingdom of God and see its affects as we live as citizens.
So the issue is not so much waste as what we use resources to purchase or pursue. Pursing God, even wastefully, reaps everlasting life. Now I am one who value of the dollar and am careful on what I spend. But God is the owner of cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10). We need to know he is extravagent. So don’t close your minds by religiousity which sounds godly but does not take into account realities of the Kingdom. Just be sure your hearts and minds are clear of worldly lusts and fixed upon Christ and his kingdom.
More details on Item #5:
I am always afraid unexpected bills are right around the corner is probably a common concern. Like taxes and death I think bills are a part of life. Some bills are expected, other are unexpected and likely unwanted. We should bugdet for unexpected expenses. A small expense savings account would be best. I know of some people who don’t have credit cards and depend upon God (and most likely other people) to see them through unexpected expenses. Depending upon God is certainly faith and God many times works thru the generousity of others but to assume our friends are there just to bail us out when unexpected things occur can become abusive. I don’t want to come across as promoting credit cards but in a pinch they sure are nice, so long as you have a way to repay them quickly.
I want to key in on the word afraid. Fear is a spirit. There are many things we can fear, not just unexpected expense. 2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind”. Fear is not of God so we can rebuke and cast it out.
Let us think about what the word of God says about all of these things. We already covered some of this in item #3 and know the borrower is a slave to the lender and it is wicked to not repay debts. Expecting bad things is not an act of faith or faithful thinking. Much of spiritual warfare is against our minds so we need to win the battle that rages between our ears. We need to be of a mindset that God wants the best for us. There is a time of testing and training but it has a clear purpose for God is not the god of confusion and disorder.
The unfaithful servant with one talent said ‘I know you are a hard taskmaster, reaping where you do not sow and gathering where you did not scatter’ (Matt. 25:24). The text actually says a hard man but I added taskmaster for emphasis. When our view of God is messed up we will hold onto things out of fear. We make God out to be Pharoah, enslaving us to debt and making expenses for us without support. This is indeed a poverty mindset. Satan is the one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). Christ came to give us life instead. He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble (Ps. 46:1). Our enemy is fear and that is not of God.
Would it not be better to be of expectancy that blessing are right around the corner? The beatitudes speak of those blessed. Each of the blessings in Matthew 5 is tied to an action or an attitude. We should act with an attitude of thanksgiving and then we can rebuke the devourer for wanting to make our lives a misery of unexpected and unwanted things.
More detail on Item #6:
I can never be an over comer. That is for others. This can be true when we place limitations upon our own selves There are those that seem to have unlimited success and finances. They seem to have their entire life all wrapped up and pretty like a Christmas package. This might be so but it could also be a farce, even a lie. They might have all sorts of problems in their marriage, in their health, and even in their finances.
What does God say about us? For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.â€[Ps. 44:22]
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:36-37)
The sons of Korah are attributed to writing Psalm 44. The whole Psalm is a plea for help despite having much affliction and tribulation. This is how many of us can feel during times of the valley. We cannot always rise to be on top of mountains. Apostle Paul quoted from this background to show how we can be victories despite afflictions. You might feel that God has forgotten about you but that is not true.
What else does God’s word say?
Many are sthe afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all (Ps. 34:19)
David had nowhere to run but to Abimelech, a Philistine, while King Saul kept chasing him. Can you imagine running to the enemy’s camp to escape judgment? Our trials and testings are nothing in comparison to what young King David went through.
So when you feel defeated, know that others have been there before and that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). Even Elizabeth, in her old age, conceived John the Baptist. Not because his parents were so faithful but because God is faithful and he needs heralds to proclaim the coming of the messiah.
You too can be that herald. We can declare the deliverance of the Lord and the coming of righteousness. Just have faith and hold on when things look gloomy. God is preparing things and that can take some time.
More detail on Item #7:
I keep blowing money. I never seem to get it right.
The balance between needs and wants is an ever-present challenge. I already spoke about this on the, the let’s just charge it’ thought. The original thought here is of never getting it right was on not understanding the difference between need and want. But I would rather switch gears here to the idea of never seeming to get investment right. I have heard speakers like John Maxwell talk about investing in people. At the end of the day things are nice but people bring friendship and relationship. Some of the wisdom of Proverbs is germane here:
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).
I have to admit that in the first part of this verse, I still need to work on friendliness. Sometimes I just let Sharon answer because I don’t know the proper response. The last verse could just as well read ˜but there is a friend that sticks closer than a spouse’. We need a wise counselor even an investment strategist. The bible also says ‘there is a way that seems right unto a man but the end thereof is the way of death'(Prov. 14:12). When we seek counsel for investment we need to be wary of quick rich schemes and things that seem to good to be true
If we are not ultimately investing in people we can become selfish, even greedy. Investing in people is never wrong unless we are encouraging sinful behavior. In the end, godly development of people are all that really counts.
Then there is investment according to god’s word and his revealed will to each one of us. We might be called to the world of real estate, or banking, or just to the world of helping people. Each plan needs godly counsel and wisdom. God said to the Prophet Jeremiah ‘I know the plans I have for you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11)’. This is part of a letter to the captives sent to Babylon where he told them to make homes, plant gardens, and start families. To those who remained in Jerusalem will get the sword, famine, and pestilence and even a curse (verses 17-18).
So sometimes what looks like the ideal place can actually be a bad place and a place of captivity a place of blessings. Taken into the idea of investment, what this can mean is what looks adverse to the world can actually bring blessing, even refuge. Remember the letter was after the exodus of priests and prophets and all of the craftsmen and metal workers. Just saying, trying to hold onto something just because it is home is not always good. We sometimes have to go to unfamiliar ground in an unfamiliar place to be blessed. The bottom line is to invest in our future what God has planted us.
More detail on Item #8
Quick win mindset (lottery, ‘faith-based’ quick rich schemes, instant reward incentives) without any real actions. Let’s look at what the bible says about these things.
Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase (Prov. 13:11)
he’bel (heh’bel) has multiple translations: dishonesty, by fraud, vainly, with emptiness, by get-rich-schemes, hastily, so we can translate this verse multiple ways.
I believe verse 4 which states ‘the soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich’ (Prov. 13:4) helps us understand this chapter better. Long term gains are better than short-term wins. Winning the lottery, for instance, sounds nice but do you know what to do with the money to invest it? You might be making God rash promises like ‘if only’ … or ‘I will give’ …. Are you doing this with what you currently possess? Even a huge offering to God will only be there a short time. We can even use dishonesty and fraud in our zeal to chase after money or cheat others.
God looks at our hearts (1 Sam. 16:7) and weighs our hearts (Prov. 21:2). He searches the heart and tests the mind (Jer. 17:10). Matthew 6:21 says ‘for where your treasure is, your heart will be also’. We cannot fool God with good-sounding intentions.
Now I will not say that playing the lottery is ‘sin’. But how can it be faith when God is not involved? The bible says that whatever is not of faith is sin. This verse in Romans 14 speaks directly about what foods we eat but is also generalized to anything. You might say ‘but my win benefits charity or it is a church-based event’. That might be true but I still say ‘is this something I am doing to glorify God’?
Faith based quick rich schemes are things based in faith, even the christian faith, that seem to have value as godly things. Church bingo is probably harmless, so long as it does not go beyond the realm of being a fun and social activity. It is not that God is a grudge or the Grinch–he actually wants us to enjoy life but there are things that snare and entrap us and brings ruination. The question I have is whether or not God provides short cuts to hard work and diligence.
Instant reward incentives are popular these days–things that provide instant gratification by rewarding customers with perks, discounts, or freebies at the time of purchase or engagement. They require little or no investment so they are not really kingdom activities. Here is an article that will help you more in your understanding: https://spiritualhack.com/what-does-the-bible-say-about-quick-money/
1 Tim. 6:9 says ‘those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows’.
Notice here that Paul never says money is the root of all evil but the love of it. This desire, once conceived, brings forth sin, and when it is full blown brings forth death (James 1:15). It is not just love of money that destroys but unwise choices we can make to quickly pursue it. Destruction and perdition can include financial hell. We can easily be taken advantage of and manipulated when we follow after quick wins.
This all contributes to a poverty mindset. It is not that we have a mind thinking we are poverty-stricken. It is a mind that is not renewed and not thinking as one of God’s investors– one working wisely for the King. Not as one with a long-term strategy that builds wisdom and wealth. Remember the prodigal son? He got his inheritance quickly. He also lost it all quickly.
— More detail on item #9: My spouse/parent/friend needs it more than me.
I will not argue the point that there are many poor and need people in this world. I don’t even want to delve into reasons some are poor and needy. It could be their own faults or just circumstances in life. Maybe jobs don’t exist, maybe they don’t have the right kind of education, maybe they are just plain lazy.
What did Yeshua say about the poor and needy? I will share with you a story here: when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” When Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. (Matt. 26:6-11)
In the gospel of John we are told one of the chief people who complained to Yeshua. Judas Iscariot said “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it (John 12:5-6).
I am not discounting our responsibilities to take care of the poor and needy for there are literally dozens of bible verses which speak of taking care of the poor. Here is just one article that points out christian responsibilities. https://livingpraying.com/what-the-bible-says-about-caring-for-the-poor/
What I am pointing out, however, is motivations and of poverty mindsets. In the case of Judas his motivation was greed and a false pretense of piety. He was not overly concerned with the poor, only his livelihood. That is why he accepted 30 pieces of silver for betraying Christ.
Yeshua goes on to say in Matthew that she did it for my burial. Now Christ was buried and rose again on the third day. We do not yet have him physically with us but we have him now represented by his Holy Spirit.
So how does the desire to give all away to the poor give us a poverty mindset? If our mind is like Judas then it is not for the poor, only our own needs. But even if our mindsets are more honest and above-board where does that leave us? In the early church in Jerusalem they shared what they had with anyone who had needs.
In the early church in Jerusalem it says they were of one heart and one soul (Acts 4:32). So they all had the same aims, the same purposes. Those that had lands and houses sold them and brought in the proceeds to lay at the apostle’s feet. Acts 4:35 says they distributed to anyone who had need. However, Luke never goes any further to say they lived in a communal setting and shared all personal income. For sure we do not know all of the reasons why they did this. It could have been an expectancy that the kingdom was arriving very, very soon or something else. Nor do we see this view echoed in all of the letters Paul wrote to the gentile churches.
I only want to suggest here that giving away all we possess is godly if God so tells you to do so. Remember the wealthy young ruler in the synaptic gospels to whom Yeshua said sell all you possess and you shall have treasures in heaven? He also said then come follow me. The man did not sell any nor follow Yeshua. So my response for not selling all we possess is proper stewardship. In this we still need to follow Yeshua.
If we are not good stewards we are like the rich man in Luke 12 who had an over-abundance of crops, so much so he decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He was very stingy, who gave nothing to the Lord, nothing to the poor. He was not a good steward, just a hoarder. In fact, he did not have any plans to help anyone but himself (kind of like Judas planned). His crops and his goods all belonged to him alone. He was also a fool because the crops would eventually spoil and be of no use to anyone.
There are multiple parables on how to invest into the kingdom of God. I just wanted to try to answer the mindset that giving all away can lead to a poverty mindset. It does no planning nor takes any responsibility for our futures. It leaves no inheritance for the grandchildren (Prov. 13:22). We need to raise up future leaders and invest in people. We need to listen closely, God is speaking but are we listening?
More detail on Item #10: It have always been this way in my family
We should never give life to generational curses. A poverty mindset might have existed for your family but Christ came to set us free from our prisons of poverty mindsets and being of no reputation.
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:18-19 from Isaiah 61:1-2).
Yeshua stopped at the passage in Isaiah that read “the day of vengeance of our God” and the following ones that speak of mourning and heaviness. He was not there in Nazareth to proclaim judgment or harsh things. Yet he did say that no prophet is welcome in his own country, a prophetic statement of being largely rejected by Israel. In Capernaum, however his teachings were much more accepted.
You see, the Jews in Nazareth had a poverty mindset. The leaders rejected Yeshua and his teaching. He did not come to bring judgment yet they had already judged him. Perhaps it was because of their familiarity with his family.
In John 1:46 we read Nathanael asking the question “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”. This implies it was a hick town with nothing special about it.
When Yeshua makes the statement he saw Nathanael under the fig tree Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” (John 1:49). What a peculiar thing to say when all that Yeshua did was make an observation of him before Phillip sought him out. There is a hidden meaning in the words of Yeshua regarding Nathanael having no guile or deceit. It was a vague reference to Jacob as deceiver. Jacob implied is evident by Yeshua’s words to Nathanael “you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”. Philip had also told Nathanael “we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote, ”Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph†so at least on the words of Philip, Nathanael had something to believe. Peter, Philip, and Andrew were from Bethsaida and might have all been followers of John the Baptist. Teachings of John the Baptist could have easily influenced both Philip who then advised Nathanael.
Nathanael was from Cana, a city about 4 miles from Nazareth. Yeshua may have spotted him in Capernaum. My point is Nazareth had no reputation with the locals. I cannot prove with 100% certainty that Nazareth had a poverty mindset. All I can say is it did not have a good reputation with the locals and it’s rejection of Christ is prophetic of all of Israel.
Apostle Paul said that Yeshua made himself of no reputation when speaking to the Philippians. So poverty mindsets can mean more than financially poor. It can speak of not being noteworthy, not of any value. Yet also know that Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians this way “you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
We need to rise up above our ancestors. Even though Yeshua was from very humble beginnings he rose to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords because it was his destiny from the foundations of the world (1 Pet. 1:20).
Christ himself became a curse for us so we could be freed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). Curses are many times generational and those need breaking, even a poverty mindset.
More detail on Item #10: It have always been this way in my family
We should never give life to generational curses. A poverty mindset might have existed for your family but Christ came to set us free from our prisons of poverty mindsets and being of no reputation.
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD (Luke 4:18-19 from Isaiah 61:1-2).
Yeshua stopped at the passage in Isaiah that read, ˜And the day of vengeance of our God" and the following ones that speak of mourning and heaviness. He was not there in Nazareth to proclaim judgment or harsh things. Yet he did say that no prophet is welcome in his own country, a prophetic statement of being largely rejected by Israel. In Capernaum, however his teachings were much more accepted.
You see, the Jews in Nazareth had a poverty mindset. The leaders rejected Yeshua and his teaching. He did not come to bring judgment yet they had already judged him. Perhaps it was because of their familiarity with his family.
In John 1:46 we read Nathanael asking the question “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?â€. This implies it was a hick town with nothing special about it.
When Yeshua makes the statement he saw Nathanael under the fig tree Nathanael answered and said to Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" (John 1:49). What a peculiar thing to say when all that Yeshua did was make an observation of him before Phillip sought him out. There is a hidden meaning in the words of Yeshua regarding Nathanael having no guile or deceit. It was a vague reference to Jacob as deceiver. Jacob implied is evident by Yeshua's words to Nathanael "you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man". Philip had also told Nathanael "we have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" so at least on the words of Philip, Nathanael had something to believe. Peter, Philip, and Andrew were from Bethsaida and might have all been followers of John the Baptist. Teachings of John the Baptist could have easily influenced both Philip who then advised Nathanael.
Nathanael was from Cana, a city about 4 miles from Nazareth. Yeshua may have spotted him in Capernaum. My point is Nazareth had no reputation with the locals. I cannot prove with 100% certainty that Nazareth had a poverty mindset. All I can say is it did not have a good reputation with the locals and it's rejection of Christ is prophetic of all of Israel.
Apostle Paul said that Yeshua made himself of no reputation when speaking to the Philippians. So poverty mindsets can mean more than financially poor. It can speak of not being noteworthy, not of any value. Yet also know that Apostle Paul spoke to the Corinthians this way "you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor. 8:9).
We need to rise up above our ancestors. Even though Yeshua was from very humble beginnings he rose to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords because it was his destiny from the foundations of the world (1 Pet. 1:20).
Christ himself became a curse for us so we could be freed from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:13). Curses are many times generational and those need breaking, even a poverty mindset.
