Introduction

The Bible has a lot to say about money and prosperity. And although, in the last 20 years there has arguably been wrong motives of some teaching on money – prosperity is biblically supported. Some preachers and teachers have taught on money in order to manipulate people to give. These ministers have used scriptures — sometimes out of context – as a means of twisting people’s arms into raising big offerings. Because of these abuses, honest Bible teachers have shied away from teaching on prosperity – in fear of being accused of being a “money preacher”. Yet, we cannot throw away the baby with the bathwater. Just because there have been abuses by some preachers and teachers concerning prosperity does not mean we should stop preaching and teaching on Biblical prosperity.

Most people are not against Biblical Prosperity

Thanks to many pioneers in the faith who suffered resistance, ridicule, and opposition from religious scoffers as they made gallant efforts to teach Biblical prosperity — currently most people in the Body of Christ do not have a problem with Christians being financially comfortable (or dare I say, rich). Many would agree that when God trusts someone with prosperity, that person is in a fantastic position to help others. And why would God not want us to be able to comfortably provide for our families, live in nice houses, drive nice cars, and enjoy ourselves? However, many saved, born-again believers are living on barley getting by street. But why? If God has promised us that we will “eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19) why are so many Christians broke? Although this is not an exhaustive list, I will share with you 5 reasons why some Christians are broke and how we can shift from poverty to prosperity.

Reason #1 – Christians who do not tithe are broke.

The Bible is pretty clear, if you do not tithe you will suffer financial setbacks. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this (Malachi 3:9-10, emphasis mine). I can already hear some of you saying, “Tithing was under the Old Testament law. We are no longer under the law.” Well there are two problems with this argument: 1. Tithing was established before the law. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek around 2,000 years before Moses enacted the law (Ref. Genesis  14:20). 2. Tithing is mentioned in the new testament also. Jesus said “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these (tithe) and not to have left the other undone (Matthew 23:22, emphasis mine). In this passage Jesus was reprimanding the Scribes and Pharisees because they were using tithes as a method for getting around taking care of the widows and orphans. Interestingly though, Jesus didn’t say stop tithing. He actually said when you tithe do not neglect your other responsibilities.  People will give you lots of excuses for why we are not required to tithe today. Tithing is really a heart issue though. The scriptures state that where a man’s or woman’s heart is, that is where there money is (Matthew 6:21). You can tell a lot about who and what people love by looking at there checkbook and their debit card statement. There are a lot of writings out now asking (and attempting to answer) the question of whether we are required to tithe today or not. I would argue that the question should not be “Do we have to tithe? But rather, “Where should we tithe”?  Our hearts should be in a place where we want to tithe. And if you feel as though you are obligated to tithe out of force, you probably should not tithe until you can give with a heart of gratitude. Giving out of a heart of gratitude is the only way you will experience increase from your giving.

Reason #2 – Christians who have participated in the occult are broke. 

People who consult psychics receive a curse of poverty.  Isaiah 8:19-21 says: When they say to you, ‘Consult the mediums and the spiritist (psychics) who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward. This scripture clearly states that people who consult psychics and mediums (consulting the dead) suffer poverty and lack.  If you have ever been to a psychic or consulted mediums, palm and/or tarot card readers, or played with Ouija boards you are under a curse with includes poverty. You should have someone who is skilled in deliverance to lead you through cleansing prayers so that you can be set free.

Reason #3 – Christians who are lazy are broke.

The scriptures admonish us as believers to be diligent in everything that we do. The scriptures also promise us that if we are lazy we will suffer poverty. Here are some scriptures from Proverbs that warn us about being lazy:

• Proverbs 20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.
• Proverbs 10:4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
• Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made fat.
• Proverbs 6:9-11 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”– Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.
• Proverbs 18:9 He also who is slack in his work Is brother to him who destroys.

And in the New Testament it says this:  For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. (Thessalonians 3:10). Remember this as well, procrastination is a first cousin to laziness because it puts off today what should be done today until tomorrow. When God gives us directions to do something we should be immediately obedient to what He says.

Reason #4 – Christians who are disobedient are broke. 

In Deuteronomy 28 God gives us a promises of wealth and prosperity when we do what He asks us to do. But when we disobey His commands, the scriptures promise use that we will be cursed and live a life of poverty. If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth (Deuteronomy 28:1).  Isaiah 1:19 states If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. God has promised us blessings and prosperity when we are faithful to do what He has told us. However, we can expect poverty, lack, and insufficiency when we disobey Him.

Reason #5 – Christians who walk in unforgiveness are broke 

Unforgiveness is probably the most common transgression that people commit. Primarily because not forgiving someone feels good to our flesh. When we do not forgive people in our flesh we feel vindicated because that(those) person(s) hurt us. Not forgiving that(those) person(s) makes us feel that we are getting back at that person. What’s so deceptive about unforgiveness is this – not forgiving somebody does not hurt the other person. Usually the person that hurt you has no knowledge that they hurt you. And if they do, most of the time they do not care. Holding on to unforgiveness only hurts you because God says if you do not forgive the person who offended you, He is going to judge YOU – not the other person. When Jesus asked his disciples, “How many times should you forgive somebody?” Peter replied “7 times!” Peter thought he had really said something profound. However Jesus corrected him and said, “No. You forgive 70 x 7″(Ref. Matthew 18:22). In essence Jesus was saying that we need to forgive people unto infinity. Jesus then gave a warning about people who refused to forgive people. He said that those who refuse to forgive others will be delivered to the tormentors (Ref. Matthew 18:24). This word tormentors may also include demonization. In 15 years of facilitating  deliverances, I have seen many, many cases of people who were tormented by demons because they refused to forgive someone.  In this scripture, Jesus is very clear on this issue: People who walk in unforgiveness will not be forgiven their debts. And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him (Matthew 18:34).  God is saying here that He will allow us to remain in debt until we forgive. Have you been praying for supernatural debt cancellation? According to the scriptures, it won’t happen until you remove all unforgiveness.

Conclusion

These 5 reasons for why Christians are broke is by no means exhaustive.  If you have been an offender of one, some, or all of these reasons, repent. Repentance is not just saying you are sorry, but making a conscientious decision to do better.  So if you were moving down and you are supposed to be going up, you move in the opposite direction. Or if God has told you to go East, and you are moving West, you turn around and go East.

God says in His word that He wants to prosper you:

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today. (Deut. 8:18). When we are prosperous, we demonstrate to the world that God is real. When we are wealthy we establish God’s covenant (promise) in the earth. God has promised us that He wants to us to produce wealth. So be it!

Would you like to receive a personal prophecy or prophetic counseling? If so, go to my website www.prophetkyle.com.