BREAKING THE SPIRIT OF

POVERTY
Recognizing Poverty
The cycle of life and death reminds us that we bring no material wealth into this life and we take none with us when we leave. Wealth is used by YHWH to test and prove people, but poverty is the curse of never having enough. Poverty is not the state of being poor or needy, it is the state of wanting, it's the torment of never having enough. Two Hebrew words for poverty are translated as "want" or "poverty", not to be mistaken with "need". If one has plenty but is always wanting more, that is poverty. Wanting is the opposite of being content, those who cannot stop wanting are entrapped by desire. For many the big problem with wealth is that it brings accountability, wealth brings prestige, power, satisfaction, sense of accomplishment, control, independence, freedom, admiration and much more, but the big problem with wealth is that those who have it are accountable to YHWH for what they do with it. The years fly by and sooner or later each one of us has to determine how we'll slice up the pie, and allocate what we have to others. A friend once shared an experience of two neighbours, a wonderful self made multi-millionaire couple, hard working, model citizens who never planned to die, just after the husband turned 65 and was planning to enjoy his money he had a stroke and died, the wife devastated by her loss died less than a year later, they had no children. In the last few months of her life an animal lover convinced her to donate her fortune to animal rights, she did and everything they worked for, literally went to the cats and dogs. These people never planned it that way, they got into a tight spot, called death. Most souls want the loved ones to benefit from all their hard work, and pass on the torch so that they will have better lives. The big problem with all wealth is when there is no pulse, wealth cannot another minute buy. One fellow with paper worth of nearly a hundred million suggested that I was his "living hell", when I reminded him there is a difference between being entrusted with wealth and striving to make a fortune. The biggest problem with wealth is that whether we have it or not, we are each accountable to YHWH for every bit of it, that's why when HaMashiyach and His talmidim were discussing the fortunes of the wealthy Mashiyach explained; "And again I say unto you, It is easier for a rope to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Elohim." Matthew 19:24 As it turns out there is only ONE WAY that you can put YOUR rope through the eye of a needle, but read the response of the Talmidim! "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?" Matthew 19:25 Who then can be saved? That's the million dollar question for those who have wealth isn't it? Here's the million dollar answer.

Our wealth was never "OURS" to begin with, It has always belonged to YHWH.
We have either used our talents, gifts and abilities to attain the wealth in a righteous way, or we've stolen it by taking more than our fair share of the pie. If YHWH has given us or our ancestors talents to create wealth, it's obvious He did so to partnership with us. YHWH gives so that we will give back to Him. The Torah not only teaches about giving tithes and offerings, it also teaches about the mentorship, equalization and distribution of wealth. The religious institutions don't teach much on the accountability of wealth as the focus is more to do with operations, and "dirty money" is welcomed in Rabbinical Judaism, Christianity and Islamic institutions because, money provides power to the institution. Abraham is the father of Faith, in his day he was the wealthiest man on earth, the world knows of Abrahams Faith and his cattle, servants, sheep etc, but those in the Kingdom of Elohim also know of a specific calling and number that tells the "rest of the story". The number is three hundred and eighteen, that's the number of trained (educated) men that Abraham personally "discipled," and what did Abraham train them in? The voice of YHWH, the charge of YHWH, the commandments of YHWH, thestatutes of YHWH, and the laws of YHWH. The prime numbers between 7 and 49 add up to 318. The name Eliezer equals 318, Eliezer means: El is my help. Until YHWH revealed Torah through Moshe and then through haMashiyach, Abraham was the measure of a Man of YHWH. By YHWH's authority, the wealth of the wealthy is the property of the poor, YHWH makes people wealthy and He makes them poor, YHWH tests our souls to show us what is inside. Poverty sometimes visits the wealthiest of the wealthy, it is not only reserved for the poor or the poor. The wealthy man who wants, has much bigger "issues" than the poor who wants, the poor imagines wealth, the wealthy have it but remain impoverished by their want. There are many who unwittingly invite poverty into their lives, by making friends with the "impoverished", poverty can wear itself off on others, poverty is a "spirit". The impoverished are always wanting, they don't know why they never have enough. Lottery tickets are a sign of poverty. A brother asked me whether I thought it was a good idea to buy a ticket for the hospital lottery, he poked a glossy brochure in my face, and while I read it, he said maybe he should get a couple tickets because he would have a better chance. I said yes, that's a great idea and pulled out my calculator. Yes I said, if you buy $100,000 of tickets, then you will have a one in a hundred chance of winning. I said, why don't you put 100 pieces of paper in a bowl and calculate how many times in a thousand that you will pick the right one. That was the end of

the discussion, he got the point. Those who are impoverished by lottery tickets, whether they are wealthy or poor. Lottery tickets are a tax on the ignorant, and proof that a person is not satisfied with what YHWH has given them in this life. A friend once volunteered with the Salvation Army, and discovered that the organization had $10,000,000,000 (Billion) US in cash in their bank accounts, but he, well he was out in the cold ringing the bell and begging people for more money, 10 Billion was not enough? How could the second richest organization on earth, surpassed only by the Catholic Church, still beg for money, when they have so much they are not spending? While traveling through many of the poorest parts of the world one notices that even some of the smallest and poorest villages have massive churches, dwarfing all other buildings in the village, and the priests (pastors) live in luxury and drive luxury cars. One time while in California a business associate was eager to attend the Crystal Cathedral for a meeting, from the parking lot I couldn't help but ask myself, how did mankind ever become so impoverished? Church people spend over 98% of their wealth on themselves. Torah requires a man who serves as a "Levite", have no inheritance, YHWH supplies his needs. For a man to be a "Levite" he must serve YHWH. All of the gifts, talents, wisdom, intellectual ability of the "Levite" are for service unto YHWH, not for himself. The application of YHWH's wisdom as ministered by the Levite are to ensure there is no poverty among the people. In Israel Rabbis rake in $60,000 US a year from the Israeli government (plus perks), but the average wage in Israel (after the top one percent of the very rich is taken off) is under $10,000 US, about one fifth of what the average Jew makes in the USA. The cost of living in Israel is much higher than the USA, so when the dust settles, about 30% of Jews living in Israel live below the poverty line, while the Rabbis get fat. Canada and the US rank as two of the lowest contributor countries to the poorer nations, Canadians and Americans pledge millions but give very little, but the "administrators" of the charities are very well padded indeed, very rarely do North American Governments or Corporations give without strings attached. Jews are the most financially successful ethnic group in the US, with a median household income of twice the general American population. Most people are well aware that Jews control a disproportionate amount of wealth per capita on earth, estimates range from one quarter to one third of all the wealth on earth, yet one in five Israeli Jewish children will go to bed hungry tonight. I've seen the devastation of poor and needy young and elderly in Israel, let me tell you, your ideas about all Jews being rich is a joke. According to Haaretz newspaper in Israel, one in five adult Israelis live below the poverty line. Arab oil brings in billions of dollars each day into the Arab world, yet Arab countries have some of the most devastating poverty and greed on earth. Let's be fair, greed is an equal opportunity employer whose transgressions visit all religions and cultures. If only a small percentage of people on earth began to observe the Torah, poverty as we know it could easily be eliminated, the reason poverty continues year after year, is because people only like to talk about Torah and the Scriptures. "Delight yourself also in YHWH; and He shall give you the Mishala (petitions) of your heart." Psalm 37:4 Mishala comes from the root word Sha'al which is to ask, YHWH will be the One who prospers us and removes poverty far from us, He does much more than supply our needs, He also gives us the power to enjoy the things He provides us. "Grant not, O YHWH, the Ma'avay (desires) of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves." Psalm 140:8 Ma'avay comes from the word 'avah which is desire or lust, most think that it is wise to ask for what you desire, but this is a trap of the carnal flesh. We are to ask YHWH for what pleases Him and do His will for the good for ourselves and others. Delight in YHWH and He shall give you the petitions of your heart, but the desire of the wicked is to exalt themselves. "Don't speak to yourself in your heart, that YHWH Elohim has cast them out from before you, saying, for my righteousness YHWH has brought me in to possess this land:" Deuteronomy 9:4 When we have YHWH as our Father we receive an awesome inheritance from Him that ensures we will never want for anything. Our Father YHWH instructs His Children to walk in Faith and Observe His Torah so that "everything will go well with you all the days of your lives" and we will always remember it is YHWH who brings Blessings into our lives. YHWH's children are to be free of poverty, it's not optional, poverty is the opposite of Faith and Contentment. Some people work hard to be rich. Some people work hard to be poor. YHWH does not raise up people to have wealth, position and authority only as a reward, but as a test, and to equip us for His Work. YHWH made everything, He owns everything, His Servants are Stewards of that which belongs to Him. In reality He lends to us so we can give to others, Sanctify His Name, and be satisfied to see the fruits of His Kingdom on this earth.

"Buy the Truth and Sell it not also Wisdom, and Instruction, and Understanding"
Proverbs 23:23 "Six days shall you labour, and do all your work: But the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of YHWH Elohim: In it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: therefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:9-11 There is so much wisdom in Torah that helps us to permanently avoid poverty, the first and obvious thing is "Six days shall you labour". We are free to choose by Torah standards what we are going to do, but He says we "shall labour". The second and obvious thing is, "you shall not do any work" on Shabbat. Some think if they work on Shabbat, they will gain even more riches, these souls are demonstrating their poverty. "Faith" demands action, Shabbat requires that we stop working, by Faith. Poverty is to be in a state of "want", one way to prove we are not in "want" is to celebrate what we have in YHWH. When we celebrate Shabbat we celebrate Mashiyach in our lives, if we have Him we have EVERYTHING! It is not possible to want if one already has everything there is. The Shabbat is not a religious duty, but a state of being! Wealth is not about acquiring or supplying needs, it's a state of being, those with riches can easily deceive themselves into believing they have entered into blessings, some are preoccupied to demonstrate their wealth before others, which is evidence of their poverty. YHWH gives the power to have Wealth, outside of Him there is no Wealth, only poverty or riches. Avraham, Yitzak and Ya'akov have everything, they have the power to trust YHWH and enjoy all what they have. The wealthy man never fears loss, he is content, he has everything.

Freedom from Poverty

Those who find themselves in poverty and want to flee from it, must find their Way to YHWH, but if the blind follow the blind they will both fall into the ditch. Some years ago I was working as a Financial Advisor and on the board of a Public Company, I was studying the Word of YHWH and learning to apply Torah to my heart, my soul was expanding in the Truth and I wanted to share my experience with others. One day after cashing in some stock options, I made my way home during the rush hour, hundreds of people were headed toward the underground trains, I was thinking of what I was going to do with YHWH's portion of the stock options. As I was walking, my eyes made contact with a man begging for money, there were hundreds of people between the man and myself, but his eyes were fixed on me, he would not take them off me, maybe he "smelled" money? The fellow kept on staring at me, he walked through the middle of the crowd, eyes fixed on me. I could see that I was not going to be able to give him the shake. "Meester... please... Meester... I only need twenty five cents, juz twenty five cents"... I stopped and looked at him and said, "just twenty five cents? well if that's all you need sure!" The fellow looked at me, "well Meester... I need food how about a dolla? Can you give me a dolla?" Then I said, "just one dollar? well if that's all you need sure!"... he paused then he said, "well Meester..." pause... "could you give me five dollas, pleez, jus fi dollas". By this time I couldn't help myself, the man was a hundred percent sincere and I took a liking to him, I said. "Listen, I must confess, do you Believe in G-d?" The man said "yes". I said, "Well, so do I, and I Believe He just told me to bless you", would you be willing to accept a Blessing from G-d?" The man's face changed, he lit right up with an enthusiastic, "YES!" I told the fellow something like, "I'll take you to my place for dinner, then we'll talk about how much money I should give you, would you like that?" The man didn't know what to say, but he started to walk in the direction I was going and we were off. The rest of the story took nearly eight years to unfold, in the beginning the fellow stole, cheated, lied etc but he also did his best to learn about haMashiyach and Torah, and YHWH kept on strengthening him and revealing Himself and His Word to him. He and I lost contact for several years, then one day I was invited to teach about Pesach and do a Seder, and as the people were entering the home I recognized the fellow, he had been transformed, he was full of peace, prosperity, contentment and full of Joy and Gladness. YHWH brought this fellow back into my life, to show His Great Power and Blessings upon those who obey His Commandments. The transformation testified of the Power of Mashiyach, I could give many more examples, including my own life, but if you know Mashiyach, you probably have many testimonies similar to mine. There is only One Truth, and Truth itself is the only thing that brings freedom from poverty.

Torah is Freedom
"But you shall remember YHWH Elohim: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His Covenant which he swore unto your fathers, as it is this day. And it shall be, if you do at all forget YHWH Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which YHWH destroys before your face, so shall you perish; because you would not be obedient unto the voice of YHWH Elohim." Deuteronomy 8:18-20

Remember YHWH Elohim, it is He that gives you power to get wealth, it's that straightforward! That He may establish His Covenant which he swore unto your fathers, our fathers are Avraham, Yitzak and Ya'akov, the Fathers of all the Household of Faith. By returning to the teachings of our Fathers we are making Covenant with YHWH and showing our intentions to be His legitimate children. All wealth is inherited through the blessings of our Fathers, to inherit we must be legitimate children. By Faith, we repent of our sin keep His Commandments. If we choose to rebel then our Father simply cuts us out of His blessings. And it shall be, if you do at all forget YHWH Elohim, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. No man can serve two masters. As the nations which YHWH destroys before your face, so shall you perish; Nations were destroyed, many perished and much of humanity is still choosing to rebel and be stubborn against YHWH and His Mashiyach, the price of rebellion is massive. because you would not be obedient unto the voice of YHWH Elohim. We must choose daily to hear the voice of YHWH Elohim, this is the Way to freedom. Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and the sojourner that is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear YHWH Elohim, and observe to do all the words of this Torah:" Deuteronomy 31:12 " None are excluded, men, women, children, and the sojourner, even the visitors who are not part of the family are invited so they may:

HEAR: Each day the Word of YHWH must be read aloud and ingested into our souls. We hear the word so that we can live it, as we live it we apply the word and only make decisions to act based upon the Word of YHWH. Hearing the Word does not mean that one only hears the sound of the Word being read. It means we hear it in our Hearts and we do it. A good steward hears His Master and doesn't waste time asking redundant questions or trying to make something easier for himself, he knows that His Master is well acquainted with all Truth and has all Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding. The good steward hears the Word, immediately takes it to heart and acts upon what He has heard.
Each day when we apply the word we learn. Learning does not only mean that we understand, but that we DO the Truth. The Mashiyach said, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it be of Elohim, or whether I speak of myself." John 7:17 By doing we learn, the pagans teach that one learns through the mind, but these are forever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. As we DO we are able to teach others, the very act of DOING causes motion and change in us and around us. There is a ripple effect around us when we DO, like a rock thrown into the calm water, but the ripples surround us by 360 degrees and go outward from us in seven dimensions, the synergy of motion helps us move in new directions as we DO. Fear means Fear, do not accept counterfeit ideas about the Word of YHWH. If a person is not willing to have a relationship with YHWH on HIS TERMS because they have no intention to FEAR Him that's their choice. Many people follow theological lies that FEAR doesn't mean fear, instead they teach that it means respect, awe and love. These say that YHWH really does not want us to FEAR HIM, they teach only that, "God is Love". One cannot argue with this because they have fashioned a god by their "theology". It's a bald-faced lie to change or distort the Word of YHWH, and no lie is of the Truth, the repercussions of disseminating lies is that more people will suffer. YHWH demands that His Children FEAR HIM so we must learn carefully what the FEAR of YHWH ELOHIM is, as we study to learn the Fear of YHWH we discover that, "The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endures for ever." Psalm 111:10 Those lacking the FEAR of YHWH will have the fear of man. Ask yourself, why would someone not FEAR the Creator YHWH Elohim? He as the Author of Life, full of Mercy, Justice, Truth, Forgiveness, Longsuffering and Love. Let's ask Him to put the Righteous FEAR of YHWH in us. The Hebrew word for Fear is Yare which means fear, afraid, terrible, terrible thing, dread, dreadful, to fear, revere, be afraid. MORE of the FEAR of YHWH means MORE POWER and GRACE in HIM. Those who make light of the FEAR OF YHWH, are following man or a god of their own making.

LEARN:

FEAR YHWH ELOHIM:

OBSERVE TO DO ALL THE WORDS OF THIS TORAH: YHWH asks that we do these FOUR THINGS. It is very straightforward, but if we choose to go our own way and NOT listen to His Word then He "will even send a curse upon you, and curse your blessings: ...because you do not lay it to heart." and "this people who know not the Torah are cursed" and "Cursed be the man that obeys not the words of this covenant" and "He that turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, even his prayer shall be abomination." There are hundreds of Scriptures that speak of the need for us to Observe the Torah. False religions have made up gods by their own imaginations. YHWH said through the

Prophet Jeremiah, "How do you say, We are wise, and the Torah of YHWH is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes writes falsehoods. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the Word of YHWH; and what wisdom is in them?" False religions have written their own Bibles, they've fashioned a god from their own intellects and "Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to YHWH: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished." In other words even if they join together and can get multitudes of people to agree with their false theology, they will not be protected by it. Each of us already has a good idea whether or not we want walk with YHWH and be His children, if we say YES and AMEN, then we can have confidence in Him to deliver us from any snares that we might need to overcome. Poverty is indicative of one being caught by the hand of the wicked. If you want to help yourself or others who struggle with poverty, you need a plan of escape, the enemy doesn't want us to be free. The plan of escape is to invite Yeshua HaMashiyach into our lives and let Him radically change us, and give us Grace to walk in Torah, He is the Deliverer.

"Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked."
Psalm 82:4 We all have unique circumstances and challenges that we face, at times we may feel financial limitations are being imposed on us, the common lie of the enemy is to believe that we will be satisfied with more money, but the way to freedom is purification. All the lies of the enemy must be broken by the authority of the Word of YHWH. "The words of YHWH are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." His word will purify us and try us. "The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." Elohim is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams thereof shall make glad the City of Elohim, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Elohim is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: Elohim shall help her, early in the morning. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. YHWH of Hosts is with us; the Elohim of Jacob is our refuge. Come, behold the works of YHWH, what desolations he has made in the earth. He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am Elohim: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. YHWH of Hosts is with us; the Elohim of Jacob is our refuge. Psalm 46 YHWH be with you! Shalom U'Vrachot,