Intro:

Another week of news clips this week showing the devastation of the continued war in Gaza and Israel. It’s so sad, tragic! We are reminded every week of the nearness of Jesus return, and our need to get ready.

The Bible warns us that the days ahead are perilous, especially for Christians… But there is good news from Jesus this morning: With perfect prophetic foresight JESUS has seen everything that will take place in your future — He knows the future of the Israel/Hamas war, He knows the future for America. He knows the wars that will come to this country and those we will avoid, He knows the disasters that will strike, and more than all this Jesus knows the path of safety through the time of trouble which is coming on our world. As you look at the news, remember the words of Jesus:

[Jhn 16:33 NKJV] 33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

It was for this reason that Jesus opened the book of Revelation to John, and commissioned him to write it for us — not so that we would fear the future, but seeing the turmoil ahead, we would be prepared for it and clearly see the path forward. And so this morning I’d like to open up one of the ways we can prepare for the future conflict that Revelation unmasks:

That future crisis that is coming to America, and yes even to North Idaho, which prophecy predicts with 100% certainty is a financial crisis! Now I know you’ve heard the doomsayers say it: “The stock market will crash!” and usually they give a month or year, “The Housing Bubble will burst”, “The Dollar will collapse”, “Invest now in Gold or Crypto”

But friends, the financial crisis that is coming is bigger than a stock market crash, or a housing bubble. Let’s read it

[Rev 13:17 NKJV] 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Let me tell you — MONEY is no small issue at the end! If you are a true follower of God, you can expect a Colossal Financial Crisis, and the devil is crafty because he pulls together a genius plan to ruin you at the end of time. HERE IT IS:

SHORT SKIT OF HOW THE DEVIL WILL RULE THE WORLD

[PUT ON BLACK SUITE JACKET]

The Devil: “I’ve got it, a plan that is sure to work”

______________Demon 1: “What is it boss? What do you have up your dark sleeve?”

Devil: “I’ve got a plan that is certain to destroy every Christians, and it involves their money!”

______________Demon 2: “Wow, that’s brilliant… but what are you going to do with their money boss? Are you going to take it from them?”

Devil: “Oh, eventually, but in the meantime, I’ve got something EVEN better, I’m going to give it
to them!”

______________Demon 3: “But I don’t get it? How will giving Christians money, destroy them?”

Devil: “Hahahaha, Oh you will see… First, I will get them to crave money more than God, as those coins roll in, I’m going to lead them to trust in their gold, and then, then I will silently chain them with debt… and they will become a slave to the gold they love.”

______________Demon 4: “And then what’cha going to do to them boss?”

Devil: “Then I’m going to lead them to a final climactic decision, one that I’ve been planning for centuries…. hahahahaha,  I will cut off their bank accounts, threaten them with their debt, and when the pressure of their need for gold is at it’s peak, I will show them the world and say, all this can be yours if you worship me.”

______________Demon 5: “And… and… and if they refuse?”


Devil: “Oh they won’t refuse, you don’t realize how powerful gold is to the human heart… They will sacrifice everything for gold, and if they don’t, they will compromise to save their life… When that Christian sees that he can’t buy, or sell — he will be mine!!! Hahahahaha!!!”

____________________________________________

The story is true, you can know with prophetic certainty that at the end of time Satan will use your own money and financial situation to try to rob you of eternal life. In fact, you see this strategy played out over and over again in scripture:

The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who forfeited their eternity for money:

1. Gehazi (Elisha’s servant) — lied to Naaman to get some garments and silver, and was cursed with leprosy (2 Kings 5)
2. Achan — a man who coveted the nice things of this world, and paid himself a Babylonian garment and a wedge of gold from the spoils of war, and the results of taking what God had forbidden, his whole family perished. (Joshua 7)
3. Judas — Betrayed the Savior, for what? How much was the life of Jesus worth to this disciple, the devil convinced him that 30 pieces of silver was a good deal. And what did Judas get in return for his greed? Scripture tells us he was filled with demons and died by suicide, and a secured the eternal reputation as the most despised disciple. (Matthew 26)
4. Annanias and Saphira — In the early church, this couple both were struck down dead because they lied about money, promising to give to the church, and then withholding a portion of that gift…. (Acts 5)

With such a stunning track record of success, why wouldn’t the devil use money at the end of time to ensnare the people of God? Paul even warns Timothy, a fellow pastor in the faith:

[1Ti 6:10 NIV] 10 … Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Be warned! This issue will come as a test to every Christian at the end. 

But when we look at money in scripture, we find that there is all sorts of things the Bible says about money — the Bible talks about tithe, offering, taxes, taking care of the poor — but there is one money issue that I am convicted will be a MAMMOTH issue during the reign of the beast power, and throughout Armageddon because it is the one financial issue that is directly tied to your freedom — GETTING INTO DEBT!

So this morning we are going to look at God’s plan and counsel in scripture regarding debt. Should a Christian get into debt? How do we get out of debt? and what do we owe God and our fellow man? We are going to start with a Bible verse warning us not become slaves!

1 Corinthians 7:20-23  “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.”

During the time of the new testament, the dominant reason for slavery in ancient societies such as Egypt, The Middle East, and China was almost entirely to pay back a DEBT.^[1]

Meaning, we can assume that likely every single christian slave, who was a member of the church in Corinth, (the church Paul was writing this passage to) were in slavery because of Debt. Other, less likely reasons for slavery were prisoners of war, or kidnapping, but the overwhelming majority of reasons for enslavement was to pay your debts.

So what is Paul saying to the church in Corinth?

“Were you called while a slave?” — did you receive Jesus while suffering for your debts? Don’t be discouraged, or disheartened “For he who is called int eh Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman”

Don’t let your debt, rob you of the joy that is yours through Christ Jesus!!!

But…. then Paul adds…. IF you CAN be free (that is, free from your debt slavery) then “use that freedom”. Why? Because, “You were bought at a price, therefore do not become slaves of men.”

Here is the package in plain english: “Are you in debt, don’t let your debt sink you — focus on the freedom you have in Jesus, He can and will provide for your needs, for He cares for sparrows and even more He cares for you — But friends, if you can get out of debt, do it, because as a Christian your freedom was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus. He gave everything so that you can be free. So be free from debt, and resolve to not get back into debt ever gain.”

That’s what Paul is saying!

Freedom is one of the most cherished values of a Christian, because it cost the Son of God so much — His body broken, His blood spilt, so that you and I can be free from sin, free from condemnation, free from enslavement. Because we value freedom as Christians more than any other people on the planet, it is our duty to do all within our power to preserve and exemplify that freedom in our life.

[Gal 5:1 NKJV] 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

In the Old Testament God lays out His ideal for His people with regards to avoiding debt:

[Deu 15:6 NKJV] 6 “For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

Why did God warn them not to borrow?

[Pro 22:7 NKJV] 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower [is] servant to the lender.

[Pro 22:7 NASB] 7 The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower [becomes] the lender’s slave.

God had just taken Israel from slavery in Egypt, and was leading them to the promised land of freedom. It was never God’s will for His precious people to head back into slavery!!!

As Christians we can glorify God by how we manage our money. We bear a Christian witness to the world by how we choose to spend and save… and according to this verse, it is God’s will for His people to live free from debit because If we live a life free from debt, spend within our means, while faithfully placing God’s kingdom as our first financial priority— others will look at us as Christians and say: “Wow! These people live differently”, They aren’t drowning in debt, they have self control in their spending, they are patient and work hard for all they get, and look how God blesses them!  Don’t you want to glorify God in this area of your life also? The New Testament echoes this:

[Rom 13:8 NKJV] 8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

If you are in bondage to money, you can not be an effective servant of God?

Matthew 6:24  “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and

mammon.”

Friends this is the primary reason why the Bible teaches that Christians should be debt-free. As long as you are in debt, you’re service to God is hindered, in reality it is split — you have two masters! No one can serve two masters, especially at the end of time when Satan uses our gold against us.

“Be determined never to incur another debt. Deny yourself a thousand things rather than run in debt. This has been the curse of your life, getting into debt. Avoid it as you would the smallpox. Make a solemn covenant with God that by His blessing you will pay your debts and then owe no man anything if you live on porridge and bread.” —  Adventist Home, 393

“Shun the incurring of debt as you would shun leprosy.” — Counsels on Stewardship, 272.

But Pastor, what if I’m already in debt? Or what if I have to get into debt to live? Is it a sin for a Christian to incur debt? The Bible answer is NO! Although the bible warns Christians to avoid debt, there are also times when a true child of God may find themself in debt for one reason or another. Let’s look at an example from the Old Testament:

2 Kings 4:1  “A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.”

Now what we can say for sure, is that those who were part of the “sons of the prophets” or sometimes it is called the “schools of the prophets”, were men who were filled with God’s Spirit, and walked with Him! The Bible says that this woman “feared the LORD”^[2]

So this woman and her deceased husband weren’t just anyone, this family was part of a group that walked very very close to God. They sought to follow His will, and be in complete harmony with Him. And yet, this godly woman found herself in debt! When Elisha found the woman in debt, he didn’t chastise her because of her debt instead Elisha worked a miracle to help her to get out of debt. — and this is just what we also must do. If we find ourselves in debt as a Christian, our response is simply to turn to the Lord and seek by His help to be free from debt as quickly as possible. Let’s turn to this biblical story and see how Elisha helped her to pay her debts:

[2Ki 4:2-7 NKJV] 2 So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” 3 Then he said, “Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors–empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 “And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought [the vessels] to her; and she poured [it] out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “[There is] not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you [and] your sons live on the rest.”

There are godly christians today, who may be walking just as close to the Lord as did one of the son’s of the prophets, who find themselves in debt. Perhaps we got into debt in order to move into the country, or in order to get a home, or we needed to borrow money to get a car… If we are in this position, or maybe we are in deeper debt because of school loans, or health issues… If we find ourselves buried in debt, you need to know and believe that God is willing to help us out of this pit… in order that we can live free lives in service to Him. The point is that a Christian’s attitude is always to avoid unnecessary debt, and to get out of debt as quickly as possible.

The idea that debt would sometimes be a necessity among God’s people was built into their divinely ordained system…. In Deuteronomy 15, God gave instructions to the Israelites that all debts should be canceled after seven years. Obviously, God knew some of His people would incur debt, but His ultimate goal for His people has been, is, and will forever be to free us from debt!

That naturally brings us to the logical question: If a Christian is in debt, what is the biblical path to getting out of debt? The Bible gives us some principles to guide us:

1. We must get out of debt, without defrauding God or government!

Matthew 22:21  “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

The principle we glean from this verse is that if you owe something to someone, whether it is taxes to the government, tithe to the Lord, or your payment to the Mortgage company — As Christians we should stand good on our promise to pay what we owe, and TRUST THAT THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. God wants us to pay our debts, and to pay them honestly.

“Some have not come up and united in the plan of systematic benevolence [returning tithe and offering], excusing themselves because they were not free from debt. They plead that they must first ‘owe no man anything.’ But the fact that they are in debt does not excuse them. I saw that they should render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” — Councils on Stewardship, 258.

2. You must be filled with God’s Spirit in order to achieve a debt-free life

Why is this true? Just listen to the fruits of the spirit, and see if any of these are needed to get out of debt?

[Gal 5:22-24 NASB20] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

In order to manage your finances properly as a christian, you will need several of the fruits of the spirit, specifically patience, faithfulness, “Self-Control”. and notice the last part of that verse — if we belong to Jesus, what will we be willing to crucify? Our desires! Which is exactly what is needed if you are going to be free… But the good news for the Christian is that Jesus is willing to give you to tools or the fruits needed so that you can be free — Just ask Him for His Spirit, and the wonderful fruits will be yours.

“It is so easy in preparing your table to throw out of your pocket twenty-five cents for extras. Take care of the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves. It is the mites here and the mites there that are spent for this, that, and the other, that soon run up into dollars. Deny self at least while you are walled in with debts…. Do not falter, be discouraged, or turn back… When you can stand forth a free man again, owing no man anything, you will have achieved a great victory.” — Counsels on Stewardship, 257

3. Our Income Must Exceed Our Expenses

This is just math, right? If we are going to pay back our debt, the math has to come out in the positive. If we earn $1,000 we can not spend $2,000 and come out ahead. Jesus had something to say about this — He said:

[Luk 14:28-30 NKJV] 28 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost (make a budget!), whether he has [enough] to finish [it]– 29 “lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see [it] begin to mock him, 30 “saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

Becoming debt free means setting a plan, making a budget, and looking at the areas you can trim from your expenses. Perhaps it means praying for a higher paying job? Or starting a business in an area you have expertise?

“Many poor families are poor because they spend their money as soon as they receive it… When one becomes involved in debt, he is in one of Satan’s nets, which he sets for souls… using money for any purpose, before it is earned is a snare.” — Adventist Home, 392.

Friends, I know this sermon is a more practical sermon, but the time is coming when the issue of buying and selling according to bible prophecy will be a serious issue — I would call it a coming crisis, and there are things we can do to prepare for this time. Start now to find ways to not rely on your gold! Learning to garden, to can applesauce, to cook great meals, to mend your own clothes — simple things that you can do now to prepare for a time when the doors of stores are closed to you as a Christian.

How can I prepare my wealth for Armageddon?

1. Pay off your debts – and strive to live a debt free life
2. Work towards the goal of owning your Home
3. Build an emergency fund that can sustain you for 6 months

But even more important than any of these recommendations is the counsel of Jesus on wealth preservation at the end of time:

[Mat 6:19-21 NKJV] 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus is telling us to make God’s kingdom our financial priority! When we follow God’s counsel and the principles He gives concerning wealth, we are walking the path of freedom and preparing ourselves to stand against the devils plans at the end of time!

Appeal: Today, You can make a financial covenant with God. Here it is:

“I covenant by the grace of God to live within my means, to exhibit self control in my finances, and to glorify God by making steps towards living a debt-free life.”

Who here would be willing to make this covenant with the Lord this morning?

Closing Prayer