Elisha multiplies the widows oil She can cancel her debt 2 Kings 4:1-7 Victory in Finances Elisha multiplies the widows oil She can cancel her debt 2 Kings 4:1-7

Elisha – 2 Kings 4:1-7 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves." And Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?" And she said, "Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil." Then he said, "Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside." So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another." Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest."

Why did it happen? Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Have you been sowing into fertile soil consistently? Misplaced confidence – money or Christ? Spending - seasonal Sowing – lifestyle Living a lie - We buy things we don’t need, with money we don’t have, to impress people we don’t even like Pro 19:3 Blame = B Lame

Faith Number of jars = indication of their faith Worry - the ancestor of the word, Old English wyrgan, meant “to strangle.” Its Middle English descendant, worien, kept this sense and developed the new sense “to grasp by the throat with the teeth and lacerate” or “to kill or injure by biting and shaking.” (Matt 6:31-34) If God brings you to it, … He will bring you through it. It is our faith that fails, not His promise. (Eph 3:20; Matt 9:29) Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent. Turbulence on plane – trust pilot (Psa 56:3)

Obedience God's provision is as large as We know ... but don't DO … your faith … willingness to obey We know ... but don't DO

Attitude A gem cannot be polished without friction; the child of God cannot be perfected without adversity. Rejoice .. Pray .. Give thanks (1 Thess 5:16-18) The mind justifies what the heart has chosen.

Whiners vs Winners Whiners Winners have a scarcity mentality blame things beyond their control and never take responsibility for what they can control wait for things to happen "minimum input", "maximum expectation" people. have an abundance mentality focus strictly on what they can control and do their best to control those areas well make things happen "maximum input", "minimum expectation" people

Resources You always have something! ... Sons (asset) ... Oil Make the best of what we have - include Jesus The way to increase what we have is to use it - skills, talents, money, faith!

Team Work / Family One of her sons was employed to bring her empty vessels, and the other carefully to set aside those that were full Family ... married couples ... friends (need to be a friend first [sowing])

Source Approach the right source Gaining godly counsel Favour among neighbours Contacts – don’t burn bridges Do what you can to help (Acts 3:6) Pay it forward (2 Kings 2:9)

Work Only place work before success is dictionary Momentum Not hoarding talents - but trading with them, that doubles them (Matt 25:16) Go outside – doesn’t just drop into your lap Pro 28:20 Committed and persistent work pays off; get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs (The Message) Encourage Kingdom Businesses

Opportunity Keep focused Settle debts Make hay while the sun shines Keep focused Settle debts Psa 37:21 The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

If you don't live by the Principles … you must trust for the Miracles Tithes – 1st give yourself to the Lord .. all other giving easy. Offerings – yellow bin Generosity - Christ is not valued at all unless … He is valued above all. Debt - Give and pay what you owe promptly Surety - Be careful about co-signing Idols - house, car, career, holiday, investments, retirement ... anything that comes before God Needs or Greeds? Be Content - Philippians 4:11-13 Enjoy God’s provision in moderation

Principles for Financial Success Spend less than you earn – 1 Tim 6:6 Avoid the use of debt - Psa 37:21 Build liquidity - Pro 21:20 Set long term goals Believe that God owns it all - Psa 24:1 I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess. -- Martin Luther

Points of Action Where am I now - financially, attitude? What needs changing - mindsets, habits (spending)? Have I sown according to God's plans and leading? How can I be part of the answer and not the problem? You can give without loving, … but you cannot love without giving. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”