Sunday August 8, 2021
https://www.facebook.com/Encountertexoma/videos/1156205741533618
Scarcity- the state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage. Insufficient for the supply! Especially food, money or some other resource.
The Bible mentions the topic of money and possessions over 2000 times because God knows that money and things are the #1 competition for your heart!
Overcoming the Scarcity Mindset.
The Scarcity mindset begins in the mind, not the wallet.
The Scarcity mindset says “THERE IS NOT ENOUGH!”
Haggai 1:6- ““You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
THE SCARCITY CYCLE:
God supplies: We consume-We lack-We Fear-We consume-We lack-We fear-..
The great toilet paper run of 2020.
When history teachers explain the run on toilet paper, students will be convinced that Covid-19 was a deadly diarrhea virus!
The Abundance Mindset says “THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!”
Everything about God is excessive, extravagant, more than enough!
If you view life with a scarcity mindset you will always be fearful and anxious. Jesus has a much better plan for your life.
John 10:10- “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!”
HOW DO YOU OVERCOME THE SCARCITY MINDSET?
2 Kings 4:1-2- “One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.
This woman was left with a lot of debt when her husband died. Mosaic law allowed you to enslave others to settle the debt. Her sons were about to become slaves . She was desperate!
THREE PRINCIPLES OF PROVISION:
- Don’t underestimate what you have.
“Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.”
The scarcity mindset is fixed on what I lack!
The abundance mindset asks, “What do I have?”
The farmer would never harvest a crop if he always diminished the tiny insignificance of the seed.
He doesn’t see it for what it is but for what it will produce when planted!
If you and I are going to be FAITH-FULL, we have to overcome the scarcity mindset!
2. More than enough often comes through what seems like less than enough.
2 Kings 4:3-5- “And Elisha said, “Borrow as many empty jars as you can from your friends and neighbors. Then go into your house with your sons and shut the door behind you. Pour olive oil from your flask into the jars, setting each one aside when it is filled.” So she did as she was told. Her sons kept bringing jars to her, and she filled one after another.”
THAT FLASK OF OLIVE OIL APPEARED TO BE LESS THAN ENOUGH
Jesus said, “If you have the faith of a “mustard seed” you can move the mountain.”
More than enough often comes through what seems like less than enough.
Your “nothing” is often God’s “something!”
JESUS FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND:
Matthew 14:16-18- “But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
Here’s what the disciples were saying, “We have nothing.”
Jesus says, “Bring your nothing to me boys!” Your nothing is often God’s something!”
Matthew 14:20- “They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.”
More than enough often comes through what seems like less than enough.
3. God’s abundance follows faith.
2 Kings 4:6-7- “Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing. When she told the man of God what had happened, he said to her, “Now sell the olive oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on what is left over.”
DID YOU CATCH THAT? NOT ONLY DID SHE HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY OFF HER DEBT BUT SHE ALSO HAD ENOUGH LEFT OVER FOR HER AND HER TWO SONS TO LIVE ON!
More than enough often comes through what seems like less than enough.
God’s abundance follows faith.
2 Corinthians 9:8- “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-11- “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”
CONCLUSION: I’ve got the faith to POUR because I belong to the God of MORE!
- Don’t underestimate what you have.
- More than enough often comes through what seems like less than enough.
- God’s abundance follows faith.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?