OVERCOMING A SPIRITUAL DEFICIT
8/23/07
2 Cor 4:15-18
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(KJV)
What is the national debt crisis?
What is the national debt solution?
Every year, the federal government budget rises, as does the U.S. National Debt. Every year, the media, the politicians and the "experts" tell us the rise in the U.S. National debt is a crisis.
Every year, we search for a "national debt solution."
Yet somehow, we never seem to find that national debt solution.
An eye-popping $9 trillion gross national debt is owed by the "General Fund."
That’s the part funded by our income taxes. Half of that goes for the military and to pay interest on the debt
The debt game When politicians (of both parties) talk about the debt, they don’t like talking about $9 trillion, so they add up all the funds, as shown above, and talk about the "debt held by the public
They call this the "national debt," and they call its yearly increase the "deficit."
But this way of talking makes it sound like the money put into Social Security and into government and military pensions funds, all of which is borrowed by the General Fund, is not owed to the public. But it is.
That money came from everyone’s paychecks (FICA) and is owed to them in retirement.
Every president has promised to keep that money safe. So, really, the whole $9 trillion is owed to the public.
In fact, over $2 trillion of what they call "held by the public" is actually held by foreign interests, while 100% of what is owed by Social Security is owed to Americans.
How did the General Fund end up $9 trillion in the hole? Tax cuts and spending increases--largely military spending increases, plus there is a little debt left over from WWII. Check when and how did the national debt accumulate?
THERE IS A DEFICIT MORE ALARMING THAN THAT---- IT’S THE SPIRITUAL DEFICIT!!
ARE YOU RUNNING ON EMPTY?
LOOK AT THE APOSTLE PAUL
1 Cor 15:31
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
(KJV)
1 Cor 14:18
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
(KJV)
INVEST !!
MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THOSE THINGS THAT LAST.
Matt 6:19-21
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(KJV)
Matt 13:44
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
(KJV)
Luke 12:21
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
(KJV)
Things that will overcome the spiritual deficit;
THERE IS ONE SINGLE PRINCIPLE THAT WILL DO IT!
Matt 6:33
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(KJV)
#1. SOULS, SOULS, SOULS.
Acts 2:47
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
(KJV)
#2. Get plugged in to a good apostolic church and stay involved.
Acts 2:46
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 5:42
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
(KJV)
#3. Pray through everyday
Ps 86:3
3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.
(KJV)
Prov 8:34
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
(KJV)
#4. . Read the bible everyday.
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(KJV)
Matt 6:11
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
(KJV)
#5. Renew your vow to God.
Ps 61:8
8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (KJV)
#6. Die out to self.
Luke 9:23
23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(KJV)
1 Cor 15:31
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
(KJV)
# 7. Encourage one another.
Heb 3:13
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
(KJV)
# 8. PRAISE HIM!
Rom 15:11
11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
(KJV)
1867 epaineo (ep-ahee-neh’-o);
from 1909 and 134; to applaud:
KJV-- commend, laud, praise.
Heb 13:15
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
(KJV)
3956 pas (pas);
including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:
KJV-- all (manner of, means), alway (-s), any (one), every (one, way), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whosoever.
THEN WHEN WE DO OUR PART OF THE DAILY COMMITMENT GOD GIVES US SOME WONDERFUL BLESSINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY!!
Ps 68:19
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah
(NKJ)
Lam 3:22-23
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
(RSV)
