“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP
Because Jesus became poor, you and I have been made rich – rich in every way – not just spiritually. We know this, especially since this scripture, taken in context, is talking about money and material things. How did Jesus become poor? There is no evidence that Jesus, or His family, were any poorer than any of the other people among whom they lived. Rather, Jesus became poor by voluntarily becoming a man – giving up His rights and privileges, as God, and becoming human. He became subject to human limitations such as place and time. He was still essentially God, in the flesh, but He set aside His glory and His rights to experience everything we experience and ultimately, to take our place and bear the punishment for our sins and sickness and death and lack. Hebrews 2:17 AMP says, “So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.”
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 KJV
Jesus Christ humbled Himself to come and serve us. He became “poor” when He became human, because He gave up, and set aside, so much on our behalf – even His reputation. However, He never went without anything that He needed. He had a money bag and a treasurer (Judas), He had houses to stay in and people to serve Him and provide for Him. He never went without. When Jesus had a need, He knew exactly where to find it every time. In this way, He demonstrated the provision of God that would be available for all God’s children if they would believe and obey.
When Jesus needed temple tax, He got it out of a fish’s mouth:
However, in order not to give offense and cause them to
stumble [that is, to cause them to judge unfavorably and unjustly] go down to the sea and throw in a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find there a shekel. Take it and give it to them to pay the temple tax for Me and for yourself. Matthew 17:27 AMP
When the multitudes needed food, He fed them from only five loaves and two fish (and still had leftovers):
Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Matthew 14:19-21 NKJV
When He needed transportation, He knew where to go to get it and who would willingly give it up for His use:
When He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called [the Mount of] Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 30 Telling [them], Go into the village yonder; there, as you go in, you will find a donkey’s colt tied, on which no man has ever yet sat. Loose it and bring [it here]. 31 If anybody asks you, Why are you untying [it]? you shall say this: Because the Lord has need of it. 32 So those who were sent went away and found it [just] as He had told them. Luke 19:29-32 AMP
Paul learned the secret. He knew that he would never lack anything if he put his faith in God. He did not need to worry or fear, because the Lord was his source and supply:
I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
Philippians 4:12-13 AMP
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 AMP
The Lord is my Shepherd – I will not lack! (Psalms 23:1) If you are a tither and a giver, then you are not dependant only on an earthly bank account – you have a heavenly bank account! Whatever you need is available to you, when you need it, because Jesus became poor so that you could become abundantly supplied! Hallelujah!
