Letting Go to Embrace More: You take hold of your spiritual inheritance by letting go of idols

Spirit of Mammon Idolatry: the worship of an object, seeing it as your source Exodus 20:3 “you shall have no other Gods before me” Source of your safety, security, identity, value, hope and future Idolatry related to finances: biblically is a Spirit of Mammon - Mammon means “riches” in Aramaic - Serving Mammon is serving a spirit of riches. Fountain or Drain

Freedom from Idolatry such as a Spirit of Mammon - 3 questions Receiving from God as our source - 3 solutions

Matthew 6:19-21 and 24 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Question Are you more concerned about treasures in this world or treasures in heaven?

Greed “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

Response: Tithing Genesis 14:18-20, Proverbs 3:9-10, Acts 4:34-37, Revelation 4:10

Response: Tithing Malachi 3:8,10-12 “Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house... And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.”

Do you make decisions out of fear or faith? Question Do you make decisions out of fear or faith?

Fear/Worry Exodus 15-17 Israelites complaining about leaving Egypt “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1John 4:18 “

Response: Offering Mark 12:41-44 “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

Question Do you spend more time managing your finances or more time with the Lord?

Control/Self-Sufficiency Revelation 3:17 “You say I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing. But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.”

Response: God as our Source Genesis 13:8-15

Summary Questions 1. Are you more concerned about wealth in this world or treasures in heaven? Spirit of Greed - Tithing 2. Do you make decisions out of fear or faith? Spirit of Fear - Offering 3. Do you spend more time managing your finances or more time with the Lord? Spirit of Control - God our Source

Fountain or Drain