ARTICLES ON DEBT for the Spiritually-Minded
Drowning in Debt? How to Set Yourself Free
By Sharon Bowman
You’ve probably heard the prayer, maybe even prayed it a couple of times yourself: “Oh, God, if I could only win the lottery and pay off everyone I owe.” Or it may have sounded like this: “Dear Lord, just help me get out of debt and I promise I’ll cut up the credit cards.”
So what do you do when you’re drowning in debt? How do you begin to set yourself free?
Don Bowman, Certified Public Accountant and Crown Financial Ministries trainer and group leader, helps Christians understand the Biblical perspective of money management. In his classes, Don shows how the Bible provides the solutions to problems caused by too much debt.
“It’s all about stewardship and contentment,” Don explains. “When we take care of the money God gives us - giving, saving, and spending wisely - we feel happier no matter how much or how little we have.”
Don says that it’s not the amount of money you have that creates the happiness or unhappiness you feel. Instead, it’s what you do - or don’t do - with what you have that is important. And the Bible gives you the advice you need to help turn your money problems around. Don offers the following six Biblical-based steps to get you started:
Step One: “…Jesus said sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32 NIV. Hand it over. Pray. Admit that what you are doing isn’t working and ask God for the guidance you need. then follow that guidance. Even Jesus prayed when facing one of his biggest challenges.
Step Two: “…A wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15 NIV. Seek help. You can’t do it alone. Ask your pastor, a church member, a family member or friend where you can go for specific financial advice. Check out nonprofit organizations in your area that deal with debt management. Don adds, “You go to a doctor for medical help, so go to a financial expert for debt-reduction help.”
Step Three: “Give, and it will be given unto you…” Luke 6:38 NIV. Give cheerfully. At first, it may seem like a paradox - giving to others before getting out of debt yourself - but it works. It doesn’t matter how much you give in the beginning. What matters is the act of giving and the spirit in which you give, and it matters that you give consistently. With the act of giving consistently - to your church, a charity, or a person in need - you demonstrate your thanksgiving to God for what you already have. With the spirit of giving - cheerfully, without thought of reward - you demonstrate your faith that God will provide and that you are putting God first in your life.
Step Four: “…The borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 NIV. Buy with cash, not with credit. Put the credit cards in a drawer. Use a debit card or cash for food and other essential purchases. Practice saying to yourself in the mirror: “I don’t use credit cards.” Or: “I don’t have the money to purchase that at this time.” Don adds, “If you think you really need something but don’t have the cash to buy it, wait two weeks. Then re-evaluate your needs. Or, better yet, go help somebody in some way who doesn’t have what you already have, and then ask yourself if you really need the item you think you need.”
Step Five: “Be sure you know the conditions of your flocks.” Proverbs 27:23 NIV. Track your money. Just like the TV commercial asks, “Do you know where your children are going?” Don asks, “Do you know where your money is going?” He suggests that, for the next 30 - 60 days, you keep track of every penny you spend. Use a small pocket-size notebook or index card and jot down each expenditure. Then, at the end of the day, tally up the amounts and the categories. One of Don’s Crown Financial Ministries’ students discovered that the amount of money he and his wife spent on dining out each month was equal to a monthly payment on a new car. Once you know where your money is going, you can make small changes each day that will add up to significant changes down-the-road. For example, putting the $2.00 you spend on a Starbucks coffee each working day into a savings account adds up to about $500 in savings each year.
Step Six: “Steady plodding brings prosperity…” Proverbs 21:5 TLB. Pay it off. Get out of debt, one credit card at a time. If possible, put all your debt onto one low-interest credit card, then begin to pay off as much of it as you possibly can each month. By paying more than the monthly minimum, you will see your debt drop consistently. This will give you the incentive to continue until you are debt-free. Don adds, “Your debt didn’t happen overnight. It took you awhile to get into debt and it’s going to take you awhile to get out.”
Finally, Don reminds us that we need to do our part to set ourselves free. “When we take care of our pennies,” Don explains, “God will give us dollars.” It doesn’t mean that we become penny-wise, pound-foolish. Rather, it means that we acknowledge that God is in charge, and one of the ways we show our faith and gratitude to Him is by becoming good stewards of what He gives us.
Michelle Ruder, one of Don’s Crown Financial Ministries’ students, sums it up: “You plan for your earthly future by saving. You plan for your heavenly future by giving.”
We set ourselves free when we learn how to give, save, and spend - wisely, humbly, and gratefully.
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NOTE: If a Pastor wishes to use this article as the basis of a sermon, a free, downloadable note-taking page to accompany the sermon will be available in PDF format from Don’s website at the end of July. The note-taking page can be used by church members to remember the important points. Please cite the source when using this material. Thank you.
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Don Bowman, MBA, CPA, is a Vice President of an international consumer electronics company and also teaches business and personal finance courses at Long Beach City Community College in Southern California. He is the author of "Tithing, Taxes, and Turmoil" (to be published in 2007) and a member of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Log onto the new website www.moneymanna.net (at the end of July 2006) for Don’s free financial tips for Christians. For more information about money management, email Don at dpb50@cox.net.
Sharon Bowman is the author of "If Lazarus Did it, So Can You: Resurrecting the Learning in Your Churches, Schools, and Homes." Log onto www.Bowperson.com for more information about her books and free articles.
Mountain Moving Faith
By Rod Nichols (Rod@RodNichols.com)
In January of 2000, Karen, my wife, and I found ourselves $120,000 in debt. We had never been extravagant, but with five children, several times of unemployment, and some bad business decisions, we found ourselves with a mountain of debt. Everyone around us (even other Christians) said we should declare bankruptcy and start over, but we knew that the Bible says that we should pay back what we borrow (Psalm 37:21), so we inquired of the Lord through a time of prayer and fasting. In that time the Lord gave us the first step - sell our family home.
This was our first faith test, as we had been living in that large five-bedroom home for ten years and still had three of our five children living with us. We questioned to make sure that this was a word from the Lord and when we were convinced, put the house on the market.
One major problem with the house was that it had a large, rotted deck that we had not used in a number of years, but couldn’t afford to have repaired. We were praying about what to do with the deck and shared our prayers with a friend who had recently transitioned from ownership of a construction company into full-time ministry. A few days later, he told us that the Lord had instructed him to rebuild the deck for us. We mustered together a group of workers and within three days the old deck was replaced by a brand new deck, all at no cost to us.
A second concern was the condition of the stucco finish on one side of the house. It had deteriorated badly and was in need of repair. Now if we were living in Arizona or New Mexico or California, this would not have been a problem, but when you live in Washington State, there are few who are proficient with stucco. We could not find anyone who would do the repairs, so again we took it to prayer. A few days later our son-in-law was at the house and our stucco problem came up in conversation. He said that a friend of his, who had recently moved from California, was a stucco expert and could probably help. Within a week the stucco was repaired and he only charged us for his cost plus a small hourly wage and agreed to take his fee out of the profits we would reap upon selling the house. This was clearly the work of the Lord and bolstered our faith in the process.
The house sold and we made about $20,000. We immediately tithed $2,000, gave some on top of the tithe, paid the stucco guy, and paid deposits to rent a house. $12,000 went toward the debt mountain. The Lord led us to a new rental house that had plenty of room and reduced our monthly costs. Once settled into our new home, we inquired of the Lord for the next step. I remember thinking that it sure would be nice if God would just give us the whole plan at once, but supposed that if He did, we’d just mess it up.
During that prayer time, the Lord gave me a vision of working at the church that we had co-founded with some other couples. I had been in lay ministry for many years, but had never considered myself a Pastor. After sharing the dream with our Senior Pastor, he revealed that it was an answer to prayer and within the week I was doing the work of an Associate Pastor. (Later I was licensed and ordained). It didn’t appear that the church had enough money to pay me, but as time went on, God blessed the church abundantly and I was able to receive a very nice weekly salary.
The Lord also blessed us with a part-time, internet-based business that had grown steadily for a number of years. As we embarked on this debt elimination journey, God began to really bless this business and it grew supernaturally. I had also published a book, which brought in additional income and the Lord opened up a number of opportunities for paid speaking engagements where we could sell books.
Although we still had a mountain of debt, we were chinking away at it quickly. It was at that time that I realized how God had used both our faith and talent to begin moving the mountain. James said that “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:20) We continued to stay very lean in our spending and funneled all extra income toward the debt. God gave Karen the supernatural ability to manage the funds.
In the middle of our success came our second major faith test. We were making substantial sum of money every week and had been tithing consistently. However, we received some counsel that God would rather have us put the tithe amount toward the debt and get it paid off. This advice came from a godly person and made sense, but before deciding, we decided to ask God. He led me to a study of tithing and giving, which took me to a number of scriptures, including Malachi 3:8-11. Through the process I learned that the tithe (first 10%) actually belongs to God and is holy. According to Malachi 3:8, if we stopped tithing, we would be robbing God and would be cursed. However, 3:10 told me that if we tithed, God would open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we wouldn’t have room enough and that he would keep the devourer (Satan) from eating away at the other 90%. Needless to say, it was an easy decision and we continued to tithe. We trusted that the Lord would bless our obedience and would pour in more financial blessings. He did.
In November of 2001 the last of our children left home and so we inquired of the Lord as to the next step. During a time of prayer and fasting, He led us to downsize from the 1900 square foot rental home to a 900 square foot apartment, which would cut our monthly costs in half. He also led Karen to go back to work and quickly provided her with an excellent job at a custom framing shop. Despite any experience in either retail or custom framing, God promoted her to store manager just four months after starting. As before, we kept our expenses low, continued tithing and giving above the tithe, and put all extra money toward the debt. At this point we were taking big chunks out of the mountain.
The final test of faith came in January of 2003 when the Lord told me to step down from my Associate Pastor position, retire from our internet business, and write full-time. This was going to reduce our income dramatically, which didn’t seem to make sense in the natural, but I had learned to trust the Lord and was obedient. The test continued, as I didn’t really know how to make money writing. He led me to some great resources and after four months of full-time writing, I landed my first magazine article, which netted a whopping $75. After six months of writing, I joked that I had made more money in my bowling league than I did writing. However, I still believed that God was going to do something big.
We had part ownership in a house that Karen’s family had built. We had prayed that the family would put the house on the market and finally in 2003 it happened. If the house sold for anywhere close to its appraised value, we would be able to pay off all or most of the debt. But, by January 2004 the house had been on the market for nearly a year without a single offer. Without the Pastoral income and with our business income dwindling, we were not able to pay off the big chunks as we had previously. Our faith was wearing thin, so on March first, we joined our church body in a corporate forty day fast for breakthrough.
In my prayer time prior to the fast, the Lord told me that He was going to do some huge things both in the church, as well as in individual lives. I sensed that something big was going to happen with the debt, but did not get a clear answer as to whether the house would sell. During that time of fasting and prayer, God brought our church an amazing new building for a fraction of its value and created the opportunity for me to publish my second book, God’s Prosperity Plan. The book was based on a course I had been co-teaching with our Senior Pastor for several years. It contained all of what we had used to get our financial life back on track. The book was released in late July, 2004 and God's favor was immediately on the book, as sales took off. You can order the book at www.GodsProsperityPlan.com or on my website at www.RodNichols.com.
The fast ended on April 9th (Good Friday) and although there had been many great breakthroughs, the house had not sold and our income had not increased. We were thankful that God was continuing to take care of all our needs and so we lacked nothing, but the debt was still well over $70,000. However, a couple weeks after the fast ended, we discovered that there had actually been an e-mail offer on the house that was sent to Karen’s oldest brother, but because he was out of town, the message was not received until April. After some negotiations, the house was sold. We received $76,000, which enabled us to tithe, pay off all the debt, with some left over. God is a God of more than enough!
Jesus said “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) Although I had read that scripture many times, it never made as much sense as it does today. Our faith was small and even wavered at times, but it was that little bit of faith, combined with God’s power that removed our mountain of debt.
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Rod Nichols is an Associate Pastor at Truth and Grace Foursquare Church in Tacoma, WA. He is also a published author and accomplished public speaker and teacher. Rod’s latest book, God’s Prosperity Plan (www.GodsProsperityPlan.com) was released in late July, 2004. He is also a regular contributor to Men of Integrity Magazine. Rod is married with five children. He and his wife Karen live in beautiful Washington State. For more of Rod’s articles and stories visit www.RodNichols.com.
War on Debt – Seven steps to eliminate debt in your life
By Chris Walsh
1. Tithe and sow seed into the kingdom of God.
Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
2. Set a Goal to get out of debt
Habakkuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Proverbs 19:20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Proverbs 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
3. Make a list of all of your debts
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
4. Add no new debts
Proverbs 23:2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
5. Set a Time frame – 1 year, two year plan - Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Ecclesiastes 8:6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
6. Stay focused – you are walking towards freedom, stay with it.
7. Look at ways to increase household income –
a. By Faith.
b. Part-time work
c. Sell stuff you are not using.
d. Give stuff you are not using, Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
The gospel, as applied to money – His name is Jesus
He came - Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
When Jesus was born, God Himself came to the earth. He received a royal welcome, rich men brought him treasure. You too, are a holy child. When you were born again, God came into the earth again to live inside of you. You are a child of the king. God will provide richly for His own.
He lived - Luke 8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. Rich people gave Jesus money to support His ministry. As you step out and obey God to fulfill your ministry, rich people will give money to you.
He died: 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Jesus died, to redeem us from the curse. One of the curses is poverty. Deut 28:47 shows the result of one serving under the curse.
47 Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;
48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
See Jesus literally fulfilling this curse for you. When you serve the Lord with gladness of heart, you shall receive the abundance of all things. Yet, see Jesus on the cross in v 48, literally acting as a substitute for you and I.
48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, (Jesus was surely hungry on the cross) and in thirst, (He cried, I thirst) and in nakedness, (They cast lots for His garment) and in want of all things: (he was made poor that you and I should be made rich) and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
He rose: Maybe it seems like your finances are too messed up for even God Almighty to straighten out. Well, that’s why I preach the gospel.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor;
If I could have worked out my sin some other way, I probably would have tried it, but I couldn’t. Jesus died for sinners. If I could have been healed of epilepsy as a boy by modern medicine, I would have, by thank God for a praying mother. The great physician took my case on, and He healed me. Many times it looked like I was going under financially and I was buried in the tomb.
Ps 91: 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
I have cried unto Jehovah Jirah, El Shaddai, our Father of lights from whom every good and perfect gift comes, and He has performed this very word to me. He has delivered me.
He reigns! Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.He ascended on high, where He sits at the right hand of God His Father, and ours. Jesus is Lord! Because He reigns He still is a storm stopper. Because He reigns, miracles still occur. Because He reigns, His power is readily available. He loves you, and if God, Creator of heaven and earth be for you, who can be against you. He is Lord of your debt if your belong to Him. He divided loaves and fishes twice to meet needs, He is well able to multiply your resources if you ask Him.
Now, is there anybody in this place today with enough guts to ask?
Father, I see that you are well able to meet my needs. You are God alone. I need you to get me out of debt, once and forever. Please deliver me, and show me how to live in your abundance. Amen!
Financial Prayers
By Chris Walsh
Financial Confessions
In many previous teachings, I describe the heart of God with respect to providing for His children financially. I roughly subdivide this teaching into three areas:
1. Tithes and offerings.
2. Stewardship and work
3. Reaping
God will provide for you because He loves you, and you are His child, yet he expects you to work both naturally and spiritually.
This prayer list is the spiritual part of your work, recognizing that God ever watches over His Word to perform it, and His Word does not return to Him void, but accomplishes that which He sent it out to perform (Jer 1, Is 55:10,11). God expects us to declare His decrees, in partnership with Him, that He might glorify Himself on your behalf, performing His Word in power.
As you declare these promises, and believe them on purpose, great change has come to your life. Angels will come from heaven to help you, for they are ever active to listen to the voice of God's Word in the earth (Heb 1:14, Ps 103:20). You have already been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places (Eph 1:3), but Jesus taught us to pray that His kingdom come here in the earth, as it is in heaven. There is no lack in heaven, there are incredible riches and streets of gold there.
God's Word, proclaimed in faith in this generation, will bring the realities of heaven into the earth, and you will see the provision and extravagence of our God appear in your life and finances.
My only requests for this list are:
1. Pray for me and my family as we continue to seek God regarding our calling to the nations as teachers and missionaries.
2. Please duplicate and send this list to as many people in the Body of Christ as possible, that the gospel be financed in this last day.
I love you, and pray for you, pretty much daily.
Chris
The Confessions:
We thank you for the hidden riches from the secret places stored up for us in the gospel in these last days and the end time transfer of wealth coming to us. Money cometh! Big Money Cometh! Large Money Cometh!
Job 36:11 May we obey and serve you, spending our days in prosperity, and our years in pleasures.
Psalms 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
Thank you Father for bringing us out into our wealthy place.
Psalms 35:27 Let us shout for joy, and be glad, for we favour your righteous cause: yea, saying continually, Let the LORD be magnified, for you have pleasure in the prosperity of us, your servants.
Psalms 118:25 Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Joshua 1:7, Rom 8:1 Make us strong and very courageous, that we may observe to do according to all the law, the law of the new covenant, the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus: turning not from it to the right hand or to the left, that we may prosper wherever we go.
Psalms 1:3 And we are like a trees planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth our fruit in our season; our leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever we doeth shall prosper.
Ecclesiastes 11:6 This morning we sow our seed of prayer, and in the evening we withhold not our hand: praying that both shall prosper, either this and that, that they both shall be alike good.
Show us today what to sow, and where. Help us to be quick to give, and responsible stewards of the gifts and graces granted us.
Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. Thank you for wisdom, and the riches and honour your wisdom produces.
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches. Thank you for strength to retain riches.
Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
Deuteronomy 26:9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
Deuteronomy 26:15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
2 Chronicles 1:11 And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: I ask for wisdom and knowledge to lead your people.
2 Chronicles 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
Psalms 112:3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. As your child, I thank you that wealth and riches are in my house. I have believed I have received my debt-free house, now!
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Prosperity Promises - Two
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Father, I thank you that as we give, it is given back unto us, good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, you are dealing with men to give unto our bosom. We give generously, and we receive generously.
Psalms 41:1 <> Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Father, show us how you would have us allievate the suffering of the poor today. I thank you that you deliver us in our day of trouble.
Ps 72: 12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
God I am needy. I have no one on earth to help me. I need your help. I need you to move in every area of my life.
Gal 3: 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Gen 12: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Genesis 24:35 And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.
Father, I choose to believe. I am a person of faith. I am your child through Jesus. Now, I have to hold you to your Word. You say I am blessed with the blessing of Abraham. You are making of me a great nation. You are making my name great. I shall be a major blessing in the earth. You bless those who bless me, and curse those who curse me. We are in covenant through the body and blood of Jesus, celebrated through the bread and the wine. We are tithers. We are committed to doing your will for our lives. Now you are multiplying our goods, our silver gold, and resources, and granting many people to serve us. Thank you for performing this word for me today.
Deut 8: 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.
7 For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;
8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.
10 ¶ When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
11 Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;
13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;
18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Father, I do not despise your chastening. Teach me, and instruct me daily the way I need to go. To the best of my ability, I have obeyed you, and this is my good land. A land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein we eat bread without scarceness, we shall not lack any thing in it; Help me to be grateful, and careful to bless you and give you all of the glory for what you have done here. I have eaten, and am full, and am building a goodly house here, to live well and glorify you. I thank you for multiplying my silver and gold and everything that I own. Now I especially thank you for the power to get wealth to establish your covenant here in the earth. By your grace, I will preach the gospel in this place by every available means you make available to me, in Jesus name.
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
God I thank you that your Word is true. These promises are true. You cannot lie. You always perform your Word, and make it good.
You said that the days I now walk in are so great that I will forget the hardness of the lean years. I believe it and receive it!
Debt Confession (Creflo Dollar)
Lord, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for my deliverance from debt. Your Word says that I am to owe no man anything but to love him. As I continue to build my faith in this area, I fully expect to receive income and debt cancellation. I am wealthy and prosperous in every area of my life. My needs are met and my storehouses overflow with abundance.
I come against all oppression in my life and declare that I have supernatural protection against the onslaught of the enemy. I command the angels of God to go now and bring to pass my financial soundness and wholeness. I am a wise and faithful steward; therefore, I walk in manifested abundance and debt-freedom daily.
Your Word says that You delight in the prosperity of Your servants. As I serve You with my finances, I declare that I have my harvest of debt-deliverance right now. Amen!
Scriptural references:
• Romans 13:8
• Romans 10:17
• Psalm 112:3
• Philippians 4:19
• Deuteronomy 28:8
• Proverbs 3:9-10
• Psalm 103:20-21
• Luke 12:42
• 1 Corinthians 4:2
• Psalm 35:27
In the name of Jesus, I'm out of debt, my needs are met and I have plenty more to put in store. I walk in abundance and good health daily. Lord, Your Word says that it is Your will for me to prosper and excel in every area of my life.
Because I am a faithful and wise steward over my finances, the wealth of the wicked is being transferred into my hands. I know what to do with it because I place You first in all things. You direct my path and give me wisdom to manage what You have placed in my hands. As a believer, I am blessed to be a blessing until all families of the earth have been blessed.
I am a distribution center. I am a money magnet. Money cometh to me now! I command income to come my way. Lord, I receive Your blessing-Your power to get wealth-right now. In Jesus' name, Amen!
Scriptural references:
• Philippians 4:19
• 3 John 2
• Psalm 35:27
• Luke 12:42
• Proverbs 13:22, The Amplified Bible
• Proverbs 3:6
• Genesis 12:2
• Psalm 112:9
• James 5:1-5
• Deuteronomy 8:18
1 Chronicles 14:11 So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim.
Father, I thank-you that as I pray and seek your face, standing boldly upon your Word, you are breaking through upon my enemies, by my hand. You are the Lord of our BREAKTHROUGH!.
Psalms 23:1 ¶ <> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Lord we thank you that you are our shepherd, and we shall not lack.
Pr 8: 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
Father, we love you, and love your ways. We seek you early today, thanking you for leading us in the way of righteousness, into your decisions. I thank you that we inherit substance, and YOU fill our treasures.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Father, we recognize that every good and perfect gift in our lives comes from you. How well we know that everything we have, need or desire comes from you. Father, we ask you freshly for your gifts today, the Holy Spirit, provisional and financial miracles, miracles of multiplication, healing and recreative miracles, wisdom, favour, direction, strength, health, love in our home, and your financial provision.
2 Cor 9: 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your Proverbs righteousness;)
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Father, I ask you to make all grace abound toward us, that we always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work. Father, our heart is to disperse abroad, and give to the poor. Now I thank you for seed to sow, bread for our food, and that you are multiplying our seed sown, that we are enriched in everything in all bountifulness, causing many to be thankful to you.
Ministry to the Poor
19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Show us Lord, how you would have us minister to the poor.
Psalms 41:1 <> Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Father, we not only consider the poor, but we long to be part of your ministry there. Show us how we can provide.
Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
We Bless you Lord, and thank you that Today, this very day, you have loaded us with your benefits. We believe we receive them, today!
Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Father, today, I choose to walk by faith, uprightly. I’m asking you for the things of eternity, souls, anointings, grace to fulfill your callings, and money for my mission in this generation.
For prayer, comments, or to send checks:
Chris Walsh
13125 E 16th place
Tulsa, OK
74108
USA
Email: chrisandkaren06@hotmail.com
Or : Chrisandkaren2@sbcglobal.net
Faith Measured in Bottles of Oil
By Lynda Schultz
No one knows her name. Her story is recorded briefly, tucked away amidst epic battles and personal issues of life and death. Of what importance is a preacher’s widow, living in reduced circumstances, in the light of bigger news events?
But when your creditors are pounding down your door demanding that you turn over your children so that they can work off a debt; when you have nothing to offer in exchange for their servitude except a little oil in the bottom of a jar, it really is of little importance who’s fighting whom in some faraway conflict on a foreign battlefield. The immediate and the urgent take precedence over everything else.
The story is recorded for us in 2 Kings 4:1-7. The woman is the widow of one of God’s prophets. We aren’t told how the family got into debt. It wasn’t unusual for the time. In fact, Leviticus 25 gives the rules to be followed when a member of the community sold himself to another because he couldn’t provide for his family any other way. And whether it was the prophet’s own debt, now to be paid off by his sons, or debts that accumulated after his death as the widow tried to look after her family, we are not told. But she was in a desperate situation.
So the widow went to find the prophet, Elisha. She explained her problem. And she includes the statement: “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord” (4:1). Did she wonder if “revering” the Lord was enough, considering that the Lord her husband had revered had not protected her children from the possibility of indentured servitude?
Elisha asks: “what do you have in your house?” What little she may have had to pay off the debt was already gone. She replies: “your servant has nothing there at all...except a little oil” (4:2).
The comment reminds me of the answer the disciples gave to Jesus when asked by the Lord to feed the crowd. What do you have? Nothing—a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread, but that’s not enough to feed all these people.
That all depends on who has his hands on the fish, and the bread, and the oil. And what happens to all these “few” depends on just how far the possessors of the “little” are willing to trust God.
Elisha instructs the widow to collect all the jars in the neighborhood. He specifically tells her: “Don’t ask for just a few” (vs. 3). How far was this widow willing to go? She and her sons collected all the jars they could find and then shut themselves up in their house and went to work.
Elisha’s instructions were to fill all the jars. We don’t know how many jars there were, but she filled them all, and she filled enough. And when the last jar was filled, that “little” bit of oil stopped flowing (vs. 6).
The story goes that the widow was able to sell all the jars of oil, pay off her debts, and still have enough to live on afterwards (vs. 7).
What would have happened if the widow had ignored Elisha’s instructions to collect the jars, thinking him crazy to suggest such a project? What would have happened if she had not collected all the jars, or if she had grown weary and decided not to fill them all?
Her complete faith, her unqualified obedience, her tenacity in not giving up in the face of a humanly impossible situation, provide us with huge lessons that we can learn. When our situation is desperate, when we only have a “little” or a “few”, when the pressure is on us and we don’t know what to do, God leaves a little story, in the middle of “bigger” stories, to remind us that faith exercised in absolute obedience will always be responded to by the Almighty God in whose hands we rest.
