Oceans in the Desert

by Kathi Pelton

When we think of poverty we usually think of those who lack basic needs and live in less than desirable conditions. Yet, a poverty spirit can exist in a person who lives in a mansion, drives a fancy car, and takes extravagant vacations. Often the poverty spirit will mask itself in greed. Greed is defined as an intense and selfish desire for something; especially wealth, power, or food.

Greed is addictive and often insatiable. It always needs more and feels a lack even in the midst of abundance. Why is this? It is because often greed is just the pain of a poverty spirit taking control. It may start with a true need but if not dealt with it can quickly become a black hole that can never be filled or satisfied.

Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”

There is a filling up and overflow of every good and perfect thing when we become part of our Good Shepherd’s flock.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:32

When we come to know Christ as our Savior we become sons and daughters of God. As we fully leave the “orphan spirit”—which walks hand in hand with a spirit of poverty—in order to receive the spirit of sonship, we become aware that we not only are a part of a family but are also joint heirs with the Kingdom of God; a kingdom that has no lack. His Kingdom is filled with abundance, beauty, fruit, resources, relationship, love, and every good and perfect gift.

In the place of sonship our lives go from having our roots planted in a dry and desert land, where there is always lack and thirst, to being planted by streams of refreshing waters and fruitful orchards where we thrive in every season.

Greed often begins in need! The deep need for a father, a family, a place to call home is inherent in every person because that is how God made us. When that need is not met we take on an orphan spirit that believes that there is no one to watch over them, therefore the person becomes their own self-protector and “self” becomes the focus for the sake of survival. Eventually this “self” focus will take root and give place to greed.

In the Book of Luke, chapter 12:13-21 we read about the parable of the rich fool who stored up his treasures on earth but did not have relationship with God. He stored up an abundance and then decided to live to satisfy the desires of his flesh. That night he died leaving his earthly storehouse behind yet having no heavenly treasure stored up.

“Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”” Luke‬ ‭12:15‬

The end of this parable says this,

““Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”” Luke‬ ‭12:21‬ ‭

Need that is filled outside of a rich relationship with God merely becomes greed that will make you a fool. The person who invests in a rich relationship with God will be a person who gives generously and yet lacks no good thing. That person will be rich in life and when death comes he will have eternal treasures stored up that will have no end.

God desires to give you the gift of sonship which will satisfy you and make you generous in every way. A greedy person becomes an idolater, worshipping the things of this world (Ephesians 5:5), and never being satisfied. As sons and daughters we have been given the Kingdom of God which lacks nothing. We can give to others in need without fear of being left in want. We can love others more than ourselves without fear of not having our needs met. We can become selfless and still know that we have a Father that watches over every detail of our lives.

Part of the amazing gift that God is giving His people in these days is the gift of freedom that has kept His people from the fullness of sonship. We were not created to live in the grip of “want” that leads to the captivity of greed. If you sense a root of greed that stems from a poverty or orphan spirit then God is reaching out to you to set you free. He will exchange the orphan identity for the identity of a son or daughter. He will exchange the deep fears of poverty and lack for the assurance of His Kingdom that has peace and plenty. He will exchange the greed that never satisfies with the riches of relationship with Him that make you generous. Lastly, He will set you free from being self-focused to being Christ-focused, which will make you a light to the world.

It is His great love that offers you this supernatural exchange!

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