This Debt Is Killing Me, and I Want Out .
This Debt Is Killing Me, and I Want Out
It’s no surprise that people everywhere are struggling with seemingly mountains and mountains of financial debt. In the richest nation in the world, people are being overwhelmed with issues of money. Sadly, Christians whom the world should be looking to for solutions are in the same predicament. I believe that people can do better and God’s people should do better.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:19b that “money is the answer to all things”. I have been ministering on the subject of stewardship in the area of finances for over 18 years. I have taught on this subject to youth groups, mentoring groups, churches, as well as my own congregation. Because I am not satisfied with the continued trap that God’s people seem to be entrenched in; I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit to revisit this issue again.
The Problem
Some of the most common and repetitive problems I have observed from God’s people are: no specific plans or goals, buying illusions, owning nothing, overconsumption, failure to act, procrastination, not harnessing group economics, an improper mindsets.
How did we get here?
While there is no one size that fits all in dealing with money, a few reasons people are where they are stem from: ignorance, no vigilance and guidance from leaders, because you have decided to be where you are, and for the black people (slavery and a system that is still being utilized against you). I don’t mean in any way to sound divisive or racial, but it is what it is.
The Solution
While it is necessary to look at the past and talk about the problem, I don’t wish to dwell there. Let’s look at some solutions. This is by no means an exhausted list. They are: develop and implement a plan, play to win; not play to play, embrace a new attitude and mindset, and last; say “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND I WANT OUT”.
Prepare For the Journey
The great preacher Billy Graham said “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will straighten out almost every other area of his life”.
The challenge:
* Assess where you are by preparing a financial statement of everything you have and everything you owe. Subtract what you owe from what you have and this figure is your net worth. Don’t worry if it looks bad right now. It’s gonna be alright.
* Too much debt and not enough savings. The Bible has 2,350 verses on how to handle money. Proverbs 24:3, 4 KJV says Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: V4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
* Effort on your part.
* Getting serious about learning to handle money God’s way.
* Become more disciplined in spending.
* Don’t dwell on the pass (Philippians 3:13, 14).
* Don’t wait until things get worse.
* Ask yourself the hard question about everything you have: Do I really need this? If not, sell it.
* Keep track of every penny spent for the next 30 days. Remember the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.
Let me close this portion of this series with a scripture from Proverbs 21:5a NIV which says “The plans of the diligent lead to profit”. A plan with a series of small, continuous, achievable steps will enable you to stop debt from killing you; and you will come out.
Why Join a Local Church? Pt 2 .
The New Testament is not silent concerning individual involvement in a group setting. In part 2, we will look at “Biblical reasons why Christians should be members of a Church Today”.
Biblical Reasons Why Christians Should Be Members of a Church Today
• You prove that you’re not ashamed to identify with Christ or his people. When you join a church you make it clear whose side you’re on.
• You stop being an independent Christian and place yourself under the discipline and protection of other Christians.
--- Jesus set up an accountability system
--- If you are not a part of the church, they can’t do what Jesus said to do.
--- You place yourself outside the spiritual watch care unless you join the
Church.
• You participate in a greater unified effort of God’s people to obey Christ’s command to reach others.
--- Joining a church is like putting one candle with many others. They give off more light collectively than one lone candle ever could.
--- Together there is greater penetration into the world’s darkness.
• You have a greater opportunity to use your spiritual gift “for the benefit for all” I Corinthians 12:4, 7, 11. There are many opportunities in the local church.
--- The church needs to know that you stand with her doctrinally and support her ministry goals before you are asked to minister in certain positions.
• You participate in a more balanced ministry than you can otherwise experience (Ephesians 4:11-16).
• You demonstrate your commitment, not to “spiritual hitchhiking”, but to the proper working of each “individual part” in the visible body of Christ.
--- If you are searching to know Jesus, that is first and most needed.
--- If you are sincerely and actively seeking God’s will in a decision about a church home, which shouldn’t be done quickly.
--- A wise person evaluates a church carefully before joining.
--- You encourage new believers to the same “good works” of commitment to the local body of Christ (Hebrews 10:24, 25).
--- When you join the local church you provide a positive example that says “this is worth being a part of and I recommend it to you”.
• You encourage a ministry when you value and join it. Imagine an unmarried couple dating for ten years with no proposal. The bride to be has to be wondering why she has not been asked to be married.
--- The people and pastor are glad whenever you come. But if you never, they begin to wonder. In a sense, you could discourage the church and leaders, if after a reasonable time you don’t join it. Turn from living for yourself and follow Christ, the head of the church. Then present yourself to the church for baptism as a symbol of identification with Christ and his church.
--- If you are attending college, you should pray for a local church to faithfully attend and participate.
In the third and last part, we will look at what church membership involves.
Again, if this message has benefited you in anyway, we would love to know. Just email us from this site.
Why Join a Local Church? Pt 1 .
The word church throughout the New Testament refers to a specific local church (The fellowship of the followers of Jesus Christ in a particular area where they meet, pray, and worship together). Was this an official joining or mutually assumed? In I Timothy 5:9 N.I.V., there was a list widows. Instructions for church discipline make sense only in the context of membership Mattew18:15-17; those in and out of the church I Corinthians 5:11-13; and when you gather I Corinthians 5: 4.
When we look at the word join; it means to glue or cement together, to unite, to join firmly; Acts 5:12,13N.I.V. The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
• They had to know who was there or not I Corinthians 14:23.
• Pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership is best befitting within a setting of a church. See: I Timothy 3:1; Acts 20: 17, 28; Philippians 1:1; Titus 1: 5-7; Hebrews 13:17.
Metaphors Describing Local Churches
• Flock: Sheep belong to specific flocks.
• Household: You’re either a member or not.
Other metaphors: Temple and Body
• There was no drifting Acts 2:47.
In the Part 2 we will look at Biblical reasons why Christians should be members of a church today. Let us know if this message has benefited you. You can email us through or web site.
Jesus is Touching Prison Inmates .
Jesus is Touching Prison Inmates
Each week our ministry teams up with a few local Ministers and men of God that have a desire to bring the transforming message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God is at work behind the prison bars where men who have make some poor choices are receiving hope, instruction, direction, and God’s powerful word that has the ability to save to the utmost.
Here is a writing by an inmate name Vinson Walker with his permission.
Follow the Leader
The Most High in my life is not a marijuana, the praise that I give bruises knees and shows honor. My blessings through Christ go further than food. The truth in God’s word is water to bare fruit.
So ask each morning for strength in the evening. When the sun goes away and the moon brings forth demons. Fires in the flesh burning deep when the heart’s grieving. Sin all around, and eyes lust for the world’s pleasing. Think about Adams choice that caused treason, that broke allegiance to the will of God’s reason.
We had it all; no need to work in the evening, to then give it all away in the hand of satans deceiving.
So believe it or not, is your choice for a season. But know that God’s grace is with us when we need it. Some don’t even appreciate the gift of just breathing, awaking to the sunshine and
choice freedom.
It took coming to jail to realize my life’s meaning. The Lord kept me strong, when my faith was at it’s weakest. Now I am full grown in spirit, my soul’s gleaming. I came as a boy, Now I’ve grown with Christ’s feature. God is my head, so holy. My thoughts are deeper. My wisdom speaks knowledge and understanding for teaching. Plus, I’m a father, the root to my seeds growth.
My life is an example, my chief is the Holy Ghost. So my hands fold 365 till my eyes close. I am told to follow God’s voice and return home. Breaking the cursed mold, from birth to many years old. I gave my life to the light of the world and let go.
Dear friend, will you Pray for the many incarcerated men and women that are behind prison bars. Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send labors into his vineyard. And who knows, you may be one of the ones God wants to go to the prison.
.
Reaching The Goal .
1 Tim. 4:7, 8
There is a recurring idea in Pauls letters to both Timothy and Titus. That idea is godliness. 11 of 15 times in scripture the word godliness appears in Pauls letters. Jesus Christ embodied godliness. In the Old Testament reverence led to obedience. In the New Testament the godly person structured his life around Jesus, living life as he lived it and thus revering and worshiping God.
Godliness can be summarized as consistent conduct that is consistent with the character of God. Godliness is: continuous, constantly moving, ongoing and unchanging. It begins with the revelation of God thru his word and his Son by the Holy Spirit. Gods character must be understood. As we progressively understand who God is, we become godlier.
If godliness is Gods goal for our lives, then falling short of it is not an option. We need more than good intentions.
Related scripture: Psalms 37: 5-11; Matthew 6:33; Romans 8:28: Colossians 3:1-4
You can pray something like this:
Father, bless me, your child, with a thirst for godliness. I reject a thirst for religion without the life that is only in you. I want to become the man or woman of God you want me to be. I want to love you with all of my heart, mind, soul and strength. I pray with my brothers and sisters in Christ that we will become your godly church. Give us a mind-set for godliness. Be the center of our focus, and the focus of our faith.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Godliness is not an event, but a lifestyle. Seeking Gods will and direction is a godly act in itself. It all begins with God.
Gods Purpose, Function, and Ministries for the Local Church
The spirit of God is moving throughout the earth today to call out a people for his glory. He is ordering world events ( Ps. 75:6,7; Dan. 2;20,21) and watching over his word with a keen eye (Isa. 55:10,11). God is preparing the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ. At the same time, he is preparing the bride of Christ (All who repents and place their faith in Jesus Christ) for the marriage of the Lame. The church is getting ready for the coming of the Lord.
God wants the church to be all that he ordained it to be (Eph. 5:25-27). He wants to use the church as a powerful instrument to extend his kingdom and purpose. And, God wants to build the kind of faith in his people that will make all of this possible.
I pray that this sermon will help you better understand Gods glorious purpose for the church and equally as important; your part in that purpose. We need a vision from Gods perspective, not mans. I also pray that God will build into you a love for his church and a renewed desire to see it as a place of refuge and training in these last days.
The church is a mystery:
The church can only be known, explained, or fully understand through divine revelation of the word of God (Matt. 13:11; Rom. 16:25-27; Eph. 1:17-19). God has purposely concealed certain things and hid them in mystery form and yet there is a time for those purposes to be unveiled
(Dan. 12:4). God is the revealer of secrets God is the source of all knowledge and he has a perfect and full view of everything (Col. 2:3). Only he can declare the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:9,10). The good news is; God has a desire to let his people in on what he plans to do (Ps. 25:14). In fact, a part of what the Holy Spirit does is reveal to Gods people what he plans to do (I Cor. 2:9-11; John 16:15; I Cor. 4:1).
The scriptures speaks of several mysteries: of the kingdom, iniquity, godliness, faith, translation, the seven stars, the woman, Babylon, the marriage of Christ and the church, God, Christ, the gospel, his will, and the mystery.
I am going to bring this part of the message to a close.
Look for part 2 next.
If this sermon has helped you in any way, we would like to know. Be encouraged to continue until Jesus comes.
THE CURE FOR WORRY.
Luke 12:22-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on (v22).
A look in any newspaper or television news channel quickly informs us of the state of society and what is foremost on peoples minds. Our economy is going through some tough times. Jobs are downsizing, being out sourced, and have left many people with feelings of uncertainty. The housing market that sent house prices soaring to all time highs has now went bust; leaving many with adjustable rate mortgages scrambling to make the payment and others wanting to sell their homes that are slow to attract buyers.
We are now in the election process for the presidency of the Unite.d States of America. We have heard the debates over global warming, war, the economy, health care, securing our borders, the abortion and right to life issue, taxes, special interest groups verses the working poor and middle class, high heating cost and gas prices, and so forth.
Then there are social issues such as attempts to redefine the family, loved ones addicted to alcohol or drugs, a nephew in jail, a family member dealing with a long term illness, violence in our schools, difficulties with coworkers on the job, and a host of other things that have many people upset and feeling disillusioned.
I have come to declare to you today that you do not have to fret; you do not have to worry or be afraid. Why? Because God is able. God wants you to know that he is in control of everything and every situation. You can trust God. Jesus never fails.
This text tells us that God will take care of our physical and material needs as believers when we seek the kingdom of God. Matthew 6:33 declares But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things will be added unto you. Listen my friend, trusting God about your problems is a lot better than worrying or going off about it. Your anxiety over things can distract you from serving God. Jesus taught his disciples as he is teaching us today to be content with what you have and do not worry about your day to day needs. When we do that we will be cured from worry and will be able to say I have got nothing to worry about and nothing to fear because God is on my side.
YOUR DEEPEST LONGING.
What is the most pressing question on your mind today? Perhaps it is where you are going to eat after church; or how your going to pay for a car repair. Some of you have deeper questions on your mind: school, who your kids are hanging with, your sick parents, etc.
What are you pursuing? Most of us are after something: the American dream of owning your dream home, a spouse, a better job, getting a degree, or paying off all your debts. Life is a pursuit. Each of us are pursuing something. While these are interesting and important pursuits; we would not necessarily say they are lifes most important pursuit.
What is the greatest desire of your life? If you are single maybe it is being married. For some it may be a promotion, a baby, a dream vacation, etc. There is nothing necessarily wrong with any of those desires, unless they take Gods place as the ultimate desire of your heart. Someone said; God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. In what or in whom are you most satisfied?
If we are Christians, it seems that Jesus Christ our Savior and God should hold our greatest satisfaction. What or who is God your deepest longing? The psalmist declared in Ps. 63:1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirst for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land.
David wrote this psalm when he was in the desert of Judah as he desired Gods presence, provision, and protection.
We really need to ask ourselves, Is God the ultimate source of my satisfaction? Is God my biggest joy? And if he is not, how can we expect to worship him or bring him glory?
What is your deepest longing?
The Duty of Honor.
Ex. 20:12 Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. KJV
Eph. 6: 2,3 Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise: v3 That it may go well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. KJV
Years ago, it was almost unheard of that a child would talk back, curse, hit, or disrespect their parents. Times have certainly changed. Children, as well as grown children routinely ignore, fight with, and speak to their parents like they were dirt. As a child growing up in the 1950s, if you so much as rolled your eyes, sucked your teeth, stomped away, or muttered under your breathe; you were in trouble. You just might get hit with a back hand, a dish rag, an extension cord, or etc. In fact there was not much talk about child abuse and kids were very slow about sassing any adult back.
Where do we find answers to such a radical shift the behavior of children today? The best and time tested place is in the word of God. With so many children with discipline issues and an overall lack of respect; we need a moral and spiritual compass to guide us alone the journey of life. The bible is an unfailing compass to put us on the right track to restoring honor to those who should be honor.
Honor- to respect and love, great respect given because of worth, noble deeds, high rank, or credit; to speak well of, to speak politely to , asking in a manner that shows courtesy and respect.
For those with godly parents it means following their example and teaching of putting God first.
Parents have a special place in Gods sight. Even if you find it hard to get along with your parents, you are still commanded to honor them ( Matt. 15:4; Deut. 5:16; 27:16; Mark 7:10).
There are ways you can honor your parents:
*** provide financial assistance
*** care for them when they are ill
*** Pass on their godly values to your children
*** The way you work, talk, and the morals you practice all show respect
There is a difference between obeying and honoring. To honor is for a lifetime. In fact each family member should relate to one another with thoughtfulness and love.
***Romans 12:11 says we are to honor others.
As a Christian we should honor others because they are created in Gods image and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a good practice to put others first.
We should honor church leaders as well as those in authority (1 Thes. 5:12, 13; Romans 13:1-8) Hold them in high regard. Express your appreciation. Thank them. Support and love them. When we apply Gods word to our lives; we then receive Gods grace and divine enablement to do what we alone could never successfully do. Let us fulfill our duty to honor.
.
Stop the Lying.
Ephesians 4:25
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
There is an epidemic that is plaguing our society that is so commonly used and taken for granted that very few hardly notice. It is lying. What is a lie? A lie is simply defined as any time our word does not agree with Gods word. The apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter 4 is describing the old obsolete filthy rags of the old man and his nature which are being discarded. Similar words that could be used are to: put off, lay aside, cast off, to put off from ones self.
Every born again believer has been made a new creature in Christ Jesus. We have been called to a life of godliness. Our behavior and example is to be modeled after God himself. You see, God intends for his people to be a witness and pattern for sinful humanity. My brother and my sister, you may not be a preacher, and perhaps you are.
One thing is for sure and that is that our conduct is the most effective sermon we will ever preach and that the world around us may ever read.
Lying is to be put away definitely and deliberately. Lying speaks of everything false: deception of every kind, dishonesty in personal relationships, unscrupulous practices in public relationships, and corruption in government. Speaking the truth habitually is the only way to deal with neighbors, family, co-workers, or those in the body of Christ. Any time we say, tell, talk, preach, utter, or use words we should speak the truth. In Psalms 119:29 David says; Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. Proverbs chapter 6:16-19 declares; v16 These six things doeth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: v17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, v18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, v19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren.
It is the character of Gods people that they be children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Truth is a debt we owe one another. But lying is what it is: lying. Lying is a great sin; so great that Revelation 21:8 says; But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremogers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. We must realize that lying is very injurious and hurtful to Christianity. It hurts you and grieves the spirit of God. Is it worth it? Oh how we desperately need honesty restored in the house of God and among the people of God. We have to keep our tongue under control. Proverbs 8:7 says; For my mouth shall speak truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Lying really is serious. So serious that it is listed as one of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:16; Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Did you know that it is estimated that 90% of Americans are not truthful under certain circumstances.
Are you guilty of any of the following?
*** Cheating on an income tax return
*** Complimenting people when you know you really did not mean it.
*** Telling your spouse to tell callers your not home when you are there.
*** Telling white lies if it keeps you out of trouble.
*** Telling creditors that the check is in the mail when you know you have not mailed it yet.
*** Exaggerating when you repeat things you have heard.
*** Saying I will call you tomorrow and you do not.
When we say I will we need to be responsible to do it. Do not over commit. You know that it lying is an epidemic when even men and women of the clergy routinely lie. As I bring this message to a close; as Christians, we all need to stop the lying. Let us represent our father well in this life. When the work force is looking for employees, they should want a Christian. When our society is looking for the truth, they ought to be able to confidently seek out God fearing followers of Jesus Christ. Lets stop the lying and lets start with the pulpit and church leaders.
