Supernatural Intervention to Pay-Off Debt

Abide in Me | Part 8 | February 25, 2024

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This March at Heartland

• Easter at Heartland
  March 29-31 – Reserve Your Seat today!
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• Saturday Morning Prayer Gatherings
  Saturday, March 16 & March 23, in the Auditorium

• Finances God’s Way Seminar Series
  April 13, April 20, May 4, and May 11

• Sign Your Family up for the Free Spring Carnival
  Friday, March 22

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the Gardener...you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." John 15:1,4–5,7–9 NKJV

5 Financial Categories

1. Struggling

2. Surviving

3. Stable

4. Secure

5. Surplus

Ron Blue, Master Your Money

5 Biblical Financial Principles

1. Spend less than you earn

2. Avoid the use of debt

3. Build margin (save)

4. Set long-term goals

5. Give generously

Ron Blue, Master Your Money

Do not conform to the pattern of this world… Romans 12:2 NIV

Doom Spending

Spending money despite concerns about the economy and foreign affairs to cope with stress.

“With inflation and the cost of living increasing, it makes me wonder where our world is heading. I know it won’t get better, and I would rather live it up and spend money as opposed to saving,” Jake Pierce, Age 25 (Sun-Times)

Q: Why are you against credit cards?
Q: Can I close a credit card if I still have a balance?
Q: Is all debt bad? 
Q: Should I ever co-sign a loan?

Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts; if you lack the means to pay, your very bed will be snatched from under you. Proverbs 22:26–27

Q: Is bankruptcy an option to get out of debt?

The wicked borrower takes out loan, won’t pay it back... Psalm 37:21

Protect yourself from impulse

10-10-80
God First 10%
Save Second 10%
Live on the rest 80%

10-10-80 Budget
God First (Tithe)
Save Second (WIF)
Dog
Mortgage
Utilities
Food/Groceries
Fuel/Auto Maintenance
Ins. Auto/Home/Life
Phone/Internet/TV
Scuba stuff
Wife’s mystery fund
(No college payment)
(No car payment)

The problem with greed is that it masks as need.
What is a need?
What is want?

You can’t get out of debt with the same lifestyle that got you there.
Cut everything but the essentials.

God uses money to demonstrate His power

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 Kings 4:1

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” 2 Kings 4:2

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” And she said,  “Your servant has nothing in the house at all, except a small jar of oil.” 2 Kings 4:2

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few." 2 Kings 4:3

"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.” She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 2 Kings 4:4–5

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. 2 Kings 4:6

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 the rest.” 2 Kings 4:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7, NKJV

Sources

• Experian (2023). "Experian 2023 Consumer Credit Review"

• Experian (2023). "Experian Study: U.S. Consumer Debt Reaches $16.84 Trillion in Q2 2023."

• Experian (2023). "Experian State of Automotive Finance Market Q2 2023."

• Experian (2023). "Average Credit Card Balances up 13.2% to $5,910 in 2022."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Household Debt and Credit."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Finance Rate on Personal Loans at Commercial Banks, 24 Month Loan."

• Federal Reserve (2023). "Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income."

• TransUnion (2023). "Credit Industry Snapshot."

• USAToday (2023) "Average debt in America: 2023 statistics"

 Resources

If you would like meet with our someone from the Heartland Church ministry team to help you assess your financial situation and explore options to get out of debt or guidance on God’s financial principles, email us here!

Debt payoff apps can help you keep track of all those numbers, plus offer useful budgeting features like debt calculators and expense tracking. 

Check out this Compound Interest Calculator. The longer you save, the greater the multiplication effect. This is how you experience exponential growth in your savings. 

Register for a “God Owns it All” Small Group

Start Saving Now!

Wesleyan Investment Foundation (WIF) is a ministry partner at Heartland Church. For over 75 years WIF has been creating investment win-wins for investors and ministries around the world. Money invested with WIF earns competitive rates, is easily accessible to you, and is used to advance the Kingdom of God by making loans to local churches.