Freedom From the Bondage of Debt!

Why talk about debt?

Because debt directly affects our relationship with God…

Why talk about debt?

Because our possessions may at times compete with the Lord…

Why talk about debt?

Because most Americans struggle with debt in pursuit of the “American Dream”

II Kings 4: 1-7 (NIV)

1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”…….

II Kings 4: 1-7 (NIV) cont’d

….. 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

Play Movie Preview:

“The Widow’s Oil”

(a production by Crown Ministries)

Debt denies God the opportunity to provide

Consider the story of the Widow’s Oil…

What if the Widow denied that she had a jar of oil?

What if the Widow never got jars from her neighbors?

What if the Widow never poured oil in those jars?

What if the Widow never paid her debts?

What if the Widow borrowed more money to pay her debts?

What does the Bible say about DEBT?

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8, NIV).

Read the first portion of Romans 13:8 carefully from several different Bible translations:

“Owe no man any thing” (KJV). “Pay all your debts” (TLB). “Owe nothing to anyone.” (AMP)“Keep out of debt and owe no man anything” (AMP).

What does the Bible say about DEBT?

DEBT is considered as slavery and hardship

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave (Proverbs 22:7).

Let the creditor seize all that he [the wicked] has; and let strangers plunder the product of his hand (Psalm 109:11).

When you are a slave to debt… God is not your master. (Matthew 6:24)

What does the Bible say about DEBT?

DEBT is considered as slavery and hardship

A slave does not have control.A slave does not have access.A slave does not have confidence.A slave does not have power.A slave does not have a voice.

My Testimony

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. (Malachi3:10).

Is your answer “Yes” to Any of these Questions?

“Managing our Finances God’s Way”by: Crown Financial Ministries

6-week Small Group StudyComing Soon!

Start Date, Time, Location to be announced

Questions????

For more information and many resources:

www.crown.org