Overcoming Financial Sorcery
- -  a lesson in Christian stewardship  - -

INTRODUCTION
The Bible contains much instruction regarding finances and our responsibility as Christian stewards of God's provision. In this teaching we look at the worldly devices that have been employed to lead us down the wide road toward financial ruin by appealing to the carnal man - particularly the "love of money." Good stewardship requires that we be alert to the deception and trickery that would separate us from that which God has put in our hands so that we might be wise stewards of his financial blessing..

OUR CHARGE FROM JESUS
A focal point for what follows is our charge from Jesus. His instruction to us in Mt 22:39 regarding our fellow man is to love him as our self. In Mt 7:12 (NIV) Jesus said:

So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

This instruction doesn't require any lengthy interpretation. We know well and good how we wish to be treated. In financial matters we certainly have no desire to be tricked, duped, deceived, scammed, stolen from, etc. Concerning our money we expect it to retain its purchasing power and not have another assume control of it and bring financial harm to us. While we recognize the need for our brother and our neighbor to receive a just profit for services he performs, we do not want him to profit by giving us less than that to which he agreed; i.e. to cheat us. With regard to Mt 7:12, we should treat him in like manner.

What I want to show here is that the world's system has been designed to ultimately bring financial ruin to its participants. In the process, however, it provides us with benefit at our neighbor's expense - to his detriment; i.e. to achieve unjust gain; to plunder his assets. The fact that you might be profiting at your neighbor's expense without realizing it is, perhaps, one of the most successful ploys Satan has succeeded in perpetrating against the true believer in Yeshua.

FINANCIAL INTEGRITY - ACCORDING TO THE WORD
First, let's look at a fundamental scriptural teaching regarding honest weights and measures. Proverbs 16:11 (NIV) states:

Honest scales and balances are from the Lord; all the weights in the bag are of his making.

While the interpretation of this verse is rather straightforward, relating it to our current day economic system and to walking in holiness in the financial matters of our lives has, by and large, eluded the body of Christ. The reason for this is two-fold:

1. The "love of money" is a deceptive and seducing spirit that can easily become part of our lives without the realization that we are in bondage to it. Heeding worldly financial instruction which is contrary to scriptural teaching, for instance, rather than taking the time to search out Bible truth in financial matters is clearly an open door for such seduction to gain a foothold in our lives.

2. The world system has had widespread control over the nation's monetary system for so long that most do not understand, or care to understand, that:

"money", by definition, does not even exist in modern society.

To be sure, this is not just a matter of semantics or a concern to be quickly dismissed as being non-pertinent to our financial well-being. The constant bombardment (brainwashing) of financial advice by major media and Wall Street hypesters is so strong that, along with the ungodly, Christians have come to accept their teachings as truth.

THE U.S. DOLLAR - AN UNJUST WEIGHT
Dishonest scales and balances are at the very core of our national financial system. This came to be in 1933 when, through a series of executive actions, the gold and silver money (assets) of the American people were confiscated and replaced with Federal Reserve Notes (liabilities or debts). From that time on there has, in fact, been no money in our society. This process made it possible for central bankers, in conjunction with political leaders, to create what they call money (Federal Reserve Notes) without constraint. This is because it was no longer necessary to produce anything in order to acquire the money. It is simply printed at will. Through the nation's banking system the newly created (fiat) "money" is then loaned out to the public at interest. Such easy money waters down the money supply, destroying the purchasing power of dollars already in circulation.

This point can not be over-emphasized: What we call money is, in fact, DEBT. But, more than that, a Federal Reserve Note has one distinct privilege not permitted with any other note agreement.

The Federal Reserve Note (FRN) is a promise to repay NOTHING.

When we make purchases today we simply receive a good or service in exchange for a Federal Reserve IOU nothing. All seems well as long as everyone is willing to receive FRNs in exchange for goods or services. What we are ill-prepared for is what will happen when foreign nations begin unloading dollars on world markets and the international exchange value of the dollar plummets. Because the dollar has no intrinsic value and is no longer tied to a gold backing, it will one day be recognized for what it is: worthless - and nobody will accept it. Seem impossible? Read on.

When "money" becomes disassociated from labor and natural resources and is created, at will, by the wicked it should be clear that a very real theft has been perpetrated against the people. Why, you ask? Because the process of creating money outside of ordained authority is nothing less than counterfeiting. Scripturally, the ordained authority for wealth creation is:

"By the sweat of your brow." Genesis 3:19 (NIV).

THAT'S IT!! It's just that simple. And any rationalization or attempt to realize gain outside of this injunction is to defraud, deceive, or counterfeit. Such actions are dishonest because they bring benefit to one at the expense of another - a direct violation of Mt 7:12.

In what you've read above, one point should be very evident:

The human heart is desperately wicked.
Jeremiah 17:9.

Hard currencies such as gold and silver are replaced with paper for only one reason: the love of money or GREED.

When gold and silver are the only money in a society, evildoers are constrained by the fact that to obtain money requires labor.

Not willing to expend the effort to achieve honest gain, workers of iniquity seek to prosper unjustly from the labor of others. This is known as PLUNDER.

Perhaps it is difficult to believe that there are connivers in this world who would go to such lengths as to plan and implement this kind of grandiose, devilish scheme. If so, you have greatly underestimated the enemy's desire to destroy you.

Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
1Peter 5:8

The above is the essence of the world's monetary system. The demonic nature of this system lies not only in the theft perpetrated by replacing money with IOUs but also in the fact that the make-believe money continually being pumped out tempts those seeking instant "prosperity" to become borrowers.

DEBT IS WHAT MAKES THIS WORLD GO ROUND.
Proverbs 22:7 brings us a very vital insight into the borrower/lender relationship. This verse tells us quite plainly that:

the borrower is SERVANT to the lender.

Debt in an honest money system is one thing, although even here the debtor is still bound to the lender. In a dishonest system such as we previously described we see a much more sinister situation with more perilous results. Debt influences even stocks and bonds because of the extensive leveraging employed in these markets. The result is distorted market valuations which lead investors to have expectations that are unrealistic and that will never materialize. The overabundance of funds chasing these investments introduces a casino-type mentality causing investors to forget sound, financial criteria and trade more frequently to realize quick gains.

One need not look far to understand that the world's financial system is deliberate and focused in its attempt to entice people to borrow. To make it appealing, it is designed to bring gain and benefit. The purpose of such financial graciousness, we are to believe, is so we'll be able to have all that we "need" to be prosperous and to feel good about ourselves. BEWARE!!

The scoundrel's methods are wicked, he makes up evil schemes to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.
Isaiah 32:7

The goal of this effort is hardly so benign. The perspective of debt financing for the manufacturer or merchant is simply to help him sell his products. On the broader scale, however, the objective is to ultimately secure complete and total over the borrower.

In Christian ministry this is where we've missed it. Many financial teachers and counselors have led people to believe that debt is OK as long as you can manage it.

Let me ask you to think about the following questions:
- Do you believe that God is in the process of shaking the world?
- Do you believe that only that which is of God will remain standing?
- Do you believe that our financial and economic system will withstand God's shaking?

Most leaders and fellow believers I speak with say YES, YES, NO.
Even those who teach that debt is OK if you can manage it say YES, YES, NO.

If your answers were YES, YES, NO, the next question is:
- Do you believe that you will be able to manage your debt after this world's system has experienced the shaking of God?

There seems to be general agreement that the world's system is destined for destruction. Most believe, however, that: "it won't happen to me." Everyone is glad to receive stock market gains and enjoy the world's goodies by borrowing to have them. But few are ready for the major losses and foreclosures that will be incurred as a result of the shaking.

Do you see what a finely woven web the enemy has spun? This is no accident. It is by crafty and cunning design. And many are caught within it - not even aware of how far they are from God in these matters. Neither do they perceive the destruction soon to be experienced.

THEREFORE LET US . . . GO ON TO MATURITY He 6:1 (NIV).
How deep is your desire to please God? Are you content where you are or do want a greater measure of His presence and power? If the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart through this teaching then He is calling you into a deeper, more holy walk with Jesus.

On the surface it would appear that only those who create this counterfeit money are guilty of wrongdoing; that even if the whole system is wicked and unjust, it's the only one we have to work with and, if debt is required to survive within it, so be it.

This reflects much of the thinking in the body of Christ and is why so much financial hardship exists even among Christians; because we have simply accepted the world's instruction and not sought truth in this area. We must believe and know that God has a better way, a holy way, and that if we are to prosper, prosperity will come from Him and according to his holy ways.

A time is coming when many will be ashamed because of their inattention to or their mishandling of the word of God. But the Bible tells us how to stand apart from those who have done so:

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Timothy 2:15

Timothy tells us here that our failure to rightly divide the word of truth is due to our lack of study of God's word. The key to knowing spiritual things, Paul tells us, is the Holy Spirit:

the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
I Corinthians 2:10

COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE Rev 18:4.
If the world's financial system will be judged and suffer God's wrath, what is to be the response of His people? The answer is found in Revelation 18:4.

We are to "come out" of it; to flee it; to distance ourselves from it in every way possible.

We are not to be like the world but to show the world holiness and righteousness. What will be our testimony to our family, friends, and neighbors if our finances are devoured along with the rest of the world?

An unjust man is an abomination to the just; and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 29:27

LEARN MORE
Many of you reading this may feel that you are not tied to the world 's investment system because you don't personally invest in stocks mutual funds, etc. Please realize, however, that retirement funds such as IRAs, SEPs, 401(k)s, annuities, and pensions all invest in this world's markets. If you would like to learn, specifically, what steps you can take to be set apart and holy in your financial life simply click on the email address below. Let me know how God ministered to you through this teaching and request our message:

HOW DO I COME OUT?

We'll get it right out to you so you can begin handling your finances God's way.

CONTACT US

For detailed teaching on how unjust weights and measures in our national monetary and economic system rob individual citizens of wealth, click on the link below.

GO TO EDUCATION SERIES INDEX

RETURN TO HOME PAGE