There is a movie entitled "The International". While I have not seen it, it was playing on a TV where I was this week. One particular scene caught my attention.
Apparently, the plot of the movie is about two people trying to prove that international banks are engaging in corrupt activities ranging from organized crime, government destabilization, and arms trading. In this particular scene, the two investigators confront Umberto Calvini (an arms dealer and political candidate) about this relationship.
Although they are speaking about international banking in the movie, I felt they could have been speaking about Satan himself.
DA Whitman: Mr. Calvini, we’d like to know why the IBBC, a bank would be purchasing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of missile guidance and control systems from your company?This is Satan's objective with mankind as well; to keep us as slaves to debt - the debt of sin.
Calvini: The IBBC has purchased billions of dollars worth of Silkworm missiles from the People’s Republic of China which they have presold to clients in the Middle East. Contingent upon the missiles being equipped with VOLCON guidance systems. My company is one of only two in the world which produce the VOLCON.
DA: But why is the bank committing so much of its capital and resources to the sale of these missiles?
Calvini: It’s a test. Small arms are the only weapons used in 99% of the world’s conflicts and no one has the capacity to manufacture them faster and cheaper than China. What Skarssen (IBBC CEO) is attempting to do is to make the IBBC the exclusive broker of Chinese small arms to the Third World. And the missile deal is the gateway transaction.
Lou: Yeah, but billions of dollars invested simply to be a broker? There can’t be that much profit for them.
Calvini: No. This is not about making a profit from weapon sales. It’s about control.
DA: Control the flow of weapons, control the conflict.
Calvini: No, no. The IBBC is a bank. Their objective isn’t to control the conflict; it’s to control the debt that the conflict produces. You see, the real value of a conflict, the true value is in the debt that it creates. You control the debt, you control everything. You find this upsetting, yes? But this is the very essence of the banking industry, to make us all, whether we be nations or individuals slaves to debt.
"Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin." John 8:34
Due to sin which occurred in the Garden of Eden, mankind acquired a debt for sin which was owed to God (Romans 5:12-17). As one brother once put it, it is like what those in the United States might call the national debt. It gets compounded over time and passed on to each new generation virtually ensuring that it can never be repaid.
Yet Jesus did (Romans 5:11)! The Son of God came as a sinless offering and laid down His life for our sins. Jesus not only paid the debt for all sin, but in Him we also have power over sin.
"I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:19-23
We must understand that - just like the banks - Satan uses conflict as a means to an end: debt creation. He is not simply trying to make our lives miserable (such is just an added bonus for him). He is after our freedom in Christ (II Corinthians 3:13; Galatians 2:4, 5:1; II Peter 2:19-22)! In each conflict he is sifting us, seeing if we will forsake the liberty we have in Christ only to be brought back into the bondage of sin.
"...for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." II Peter 2:19b
So in your next trial, don't be distracted by Satan's fiery darts, but remember that you already have the victory in Christ whereby you can live!
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Romans 8:12-13
I've listened to Pastor Price's teachings on debt and mortgages. Right now we are in debt. I am praying and praying for God to show us a plan to get out and stay out. I've said to my husband that if we ever have the opportunity to sell our house and not have a mortgage we shouldn't get another one. He is in complete disagreement with this. He believes it's an investment. Our views of our financial situation are on different pages. I think we need to pray and seek and pray and seek harder. He thinks we just need more income. More income will help but I don't think it's going to solve the problem. We have bills on hold that we can't pay and he is just waiting for the day when the children are older and I can go out and work full-time. That's his solution. How in the world can we get out if he doesn't see what the real issue is?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteHave you been eavesdropping on my house? :-)
My husband and I pretty much agree on our views of debt: we don't want to get into it anymore. Our past ignorance in this area - particularly as to what God's word says and our subconsciously buying into the "American Dream" - got us in a heap of trouble which we are still trying to get out of to this day.
While we both are against more debt, we find ourselves in need of a car with no way seemingly to get it apart from incurring more debt. We are both just taking it to prayer and asking God to give us wisdom & favor. In the end, I trust God to work it out, even if it is a way we do not presently see or understand. Like you said, pray and seek.
Sooo, I say all of that to indicate that I understand how challenging it can be to live our values when finances are lacking.
I don't always have the same answer that my husband has about things, BUT I know that by honoring him as the head (which means honoring his decisions) God will take care of the rest.
I have found that the best solution for such discord is prayer. God can move to change your spouses heart (if that is what is needed) and He can move to give you peace about his decision.
In the end, I think part of the purpose of the rat race is to show us (the church) how evil it is. Like an exasperated rat running around on the mill to get a piece of cheese, God wants us to finally give up our own efforts and trust Him. He promises to meet all of our needs. Once we have figured out that our survival is not based on how fast/well we run the rat race, we can truly depend on God and His supernatural provision will come.
Pray, pray, pray...and trust the Lord. He will work it out. Don't give up on your husband or feel discouraged by where you think he is right now. Remember, God is molding each of us every day as we live and walk before Him. None of us are today where we were 5 years ago, so who knows what God will be working in your husband as well.
Be encouraged! :-)
Thank you LDM! I really needed that encouragement! I will honor my husband and I will keep praying for God's guidance and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteI do have another question.
ReplyDeleteHow do I know when I am in the realm of control/witchcraft? Sometimes, when I make small suggestions or show him articles I feel like maybe I am trying to force my husband to change his thinking in a subtle way (I don't know if that makes sense). Should I just keep suggestions or interesting things I learn to myself since I know he doesn't agree? I do have opinions but I'm not sure if I should always voice them because I am afraid of trying to manipulative.
Hi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteOh, I understand exactly what you are saying and I have been there.
A wife should feel completely comfortable sharing her perspectives and insights with her husband. A Godly husband will consider those inputs as he consults God about what to do (Genesis 21:12).
I have found that the Holy Spirit will guide you even in this. For me personally, I consult God with what to say to or share with my husband in areas where we do not see the same. More often than not (after I have let my husband know my perspective) God tells me to hold my peace. That doesn't mean that the info I have is not valuable, but God wants me to trust on Him to lead my husband and not my "bright ideas." :-)
Now, that is how God deals with me. He may not deal with you the same way. But just pray and ask God before you share additional info. More times than not, it is likely your motivation is to change his perspective. So just remember that the head of every man is Christ. Let Christ lead and mold Him; trust God to do what He alone can do. You don't want a husband who just does what you want - because you don't know everything either :-) - but one who seeks and hears from the Lord to lead his family.
We had a leadinng to get out of debt years ago. We also believe in not having a mortgage. Mort = death. Its a death contract. We sold our house, payed down our debts. We are now renting and are debt free. God has blessed us by providing a profit from the house sale. If we ever buy again it will be fully paid for. When God says no debt, he means no debt. Also if the economic system does fail, we might have a debt forgiveness programme and then system reboot. Hey is sounds great , you get to keep your house, and the debt is paid off, but what will they want in return. You can bet the price will be alot highter than just money. The only way to be free of economic babylon is to truly have no debt. Its all by Gods grace.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteIt is by God's grace. I am thankful for what He has taught us and continue to rely on Him to bring us through getting out of all debt. Your story is certainly an inspiration of what God can do when we trust Him.
Thanks for sharing!