Mrs Mpono Mosaase Overcoming Poverty Definitions Poverty is

Mrs. Mpono Mosaase

Overcoming Poverty Definitions Poverty; is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty means that the income level from employment or economic activity (emphasis mine) is so low that basic human needs can't be met. (Investopedia). The UN goes further to say poverty’s manifestations include ……. social discrimination and exclusion, as well as the lack of participation in decision-making amongst others. Overcoming; to defeat, to deal with successfully, win a victory over, subdue, etc. this leads to a verb, overcomer. This is a person who establishes ascendancy and control and sometimes by force and or/persuation. so this means the question we want to answer today is how can we win a victory over lack, over exclusion and not being able to participate in decision making.

Conditions to Overcome Poverty v Even before we can talk about how to overcome, we need to look at what needs to hold. v The first condition that has to hold is to know who you are. A son of God (Galatians 3: 26, 4: 6 -7), a god (Psalm 82: 6), taking after God, As Jesus is so are we in this world (1 John 4: 17 ). He is God over all, so are we in this world, we are gods. We posses the power and the authority to put everything in its place (Coll 1: 17) v Ecclesiastes 9: 15 speaks to the fact that poverty or being poor indeed leads to exclusion. Surely this cannot be the portion of the sons of God.

Conditions to Overcome Poverty Cont. • • • Know for fact – the Covenant of wealth and blessing – wealth and not poverty is your covenant right as a son of God Poverty adds sorrow but the blessing of the Lord makes one rich without adding sorrow to it (Proverbs 10: 22). God’s covenant is established by Him giving us the ability to produce wealth (Deuteronomy 8: 18).

v Conditions to Overcome Poverty cont. Have vision! Have a sense of purpose. What is it that God has mandated you to accomplish? Why are you here? Is it just about you or its even for those God has entrusted to you? How wide, how compelling is this vision? Proverbs 29: 18 MSG “if the people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed”. v Until this is very clear in every fibre of your being there is no overcoming anything, but with clarity and unwavering conviction that you are a son and in a covenant of wealth with God, that there is something specific to accomplish there is nothing that will stop you, you will leap over walls and run against troops (Psalm 18)

What To Do – Put Your Hands to Work v v v With the vision in mind, with its blueprint not leaving your sight and the conditions/conviction above, First! Put your hands to work and do not be lazy! Simple truth! God blesses the work of our hands and commands a blessing on what is there Deut 28: 8. Many times we do not apply this but expect to be handed down things Proverbs 6: 6 -11 – follow the ants, they don’t wait to follow someone’s/employer’s lead, the simply set out to work Start with what you have no matter how seemingly small. This will then grow and begin to attract more. Luke 16: 10 (be faithful with small things and you will be trusted with much) Do not be too choosy – I used to think that agriculture is only meaningful if it is at a large scale and small scale is meant for others and not me, but how can I move to a larger scale when I don’t even know the basics? gone are those days of such thinking – no matter how small, I have started and I know God is going to bless and expand

What To Do cont. – Seek and Function In God’s Wisdom • • • You are to seek the wisdom of God above all things. Proverbs 4: 7 Overcoming poverty and creating wealth is one of the results of the operation of God’s wisdom in your life (Proverbs 3: 13 -16) Wisdom enables you to spot unique opportunities and grow your wealth (Ezekiel 28: 4)

What To Do cont. –Form Strategic Alliances v Often the vision that God gives us is outside the scope of a solo reach v Therefore, seek strategic alliances!! v When you have put your hands to work, you know what you can offer, v Do not limit your offering to just money (lack of money can block people’s minds). Knowledge, skills, expertise, that thing that’s unique to you, that’s God given, that is still value you can offer. v This leads to growth and significance and as such you can not be excluded where it matters. v Strategic alliances also provide clout when it comes to decision making tables

What To Do cont. – Pray v Pray! many take this for granted. v Life is spiritual, there is only so far you can go by yourself and hence find yourself in a rut of poverty. v Use the authority God has given you to speak over situations and circumstances. v Enforce through your decrees and declarations.