Participants: Lisa Wellington (Host), Abraham Jules
Series Code: POH
Program Code: POH000001
|
00:03 Where can you find hope for the hopeless?
00:07 Opportunity for transformation? 00:11 Peace amid life's storms? 00:15 Only in God's free gift of eternal life. 00:20 From New York, join us on the Pathway of Hope. 00:30 How often do we take our blessings for granted? 00:34 We sometimes don't know the value 00:36 of what we have until it is gone from us. 00:40 Then and only then do we realize 00:43 how blessed we are. 00:45 It was Steve Shepherd who said, 00:49 if our power is shut off, as it was in recent times 00:53 in this beautiful city of New York, 00:55 suddenly we are thankful for electricity. 01:00 If we lose a friend, or loved ones 01:02 to the enemy of death, 01:04 suddenly we discover how much he or she meant to us. 01:09 If our water becomes too polluted to drink, 01:12 then suddenly we appreciate having good water. 01:16 Someone once said that you can consider yourself blessed 01:21 if you have health and wealth. 01:23 Speaking of wealth, I could do with some of that right now. 01:29 The Bible records numerous accounts of people 01:32 who have had great blessings. 01:35 When I think of the blessing of health, 01:38 we think of the woman with the issue of blood 01:41 who touched Jesus by the hem of His garments 01:44 and received the blessing of healing. 01:48 When I think of the blessing of wealth, 01:51 I think of Job's riches 01:52 being multiplied after he lost it all. 01:56 And finally, when I think of the blessing of life, 02:01 I think of Lazarus, 02:03 who had the joy and privilege of being resurrected to life 02:07 by the giver of life, Jesus Christ. 02:11 Join us now as Dr. Abraham Jules highlights 02:15 how you can get your blessings and keep them. 02:25 Ride on, King Jesus 02:30 No man can a-hinder me 02:34 Ride on, King Jesus, ride on 02:39 No man can a-hinder thee 02:42 No man can a-hinder thee 02:48 Ride on, King Jesus 02:52 No man can a-hinder thee 02:57 Ride on, King Jesus, ride on 03:01 No man can a-hinder thee 03:05 No man can a-hinder thee 03:10 In that great getting up morning 03:14 Fare thee well, fare thee well 03:18 In that great getting up morning 03:22 Fare thee well, fare thee well 03:27 When the roll is called up yonder 03:31 Fare thee well, fare thee well 03:35 When the roll is called up yonder 03:40 Fare thee well, fare thee well 03:44 When the last trumpet has sounded 03:49 Fare thee well, fare thee well 03:53 When the last trumpet has sounded 03:57 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:01 There's a better day a-coming 04:06 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:10 There's a better day a-coming 04:14 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:19 In that great getting up morning 04:23 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:27 In that great getting up morning 04:31 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:36 In that great getting up morning 04:40 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:44 In that great getting up morning 04:49 Fare thee well, fare thee well 04:54 No man can a-hinder thee 04:57 No man can a-hinder thee 05:02 No man can a-hinder thee 05:06 No man can a-hinder thee 05:12 Ride on, King Jesus 05:16 No man can a-hinder... 05:25 Thee 05:27 Ride on, King Jesus, ride on 05:31 No man can a-hinder thee 05:35 No man can a-hinder thee 05:40 Ride on, King Jesus 05:44 No man can a-hinder... 05:53 Thee 05:55 Ride on, King Jesus, ride on 05:59 No man can a-hinder thee 06:03 No man can a-hinder thee 06:07 No man can a-hinder thee 06:11 No man can a-hinder thee 06:16 No man can a-hinder thee 06:20 No man can a-hinder... 06:29 Thee 06:40 God's word has been given to us as a guide. 06:45 Certainly is a means of comfort 06:47 over the years, but more importantly, 06:50 God intends for each of us to be blessed. 06:52 I found a word in the Book of Haggai, the 1 chapter. 06:59 And I'll read and you're hearing 07:01 verses 2 through 7. 07:04 These verses form the foundation of everything 07:07 we shall say this evening. 07:10 And the Haggai says, 07:11 "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts saying, 07:16 'The people say the time has not come, 07:20 the time that the Lord's house should be built.' 07:24 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet saying, 07:29 'Is it time for you, O ye, 07:32 to dwell in your ceiled houses, 07:35 and this house lie waste?' 07:38 Now, therefore, thus sayeth the Lord of hosts. 07:42 Consider your ways. 07:44 You have sown much, and bring in little. 07:48 You eat, but you have not enough, 07:51 you drink, but you are not filled with drink. 07:55 You clothe you, but there is none warm. 07:59 And he that earneth wages earneth wages 08:04 to put it into a bag with holes. 08:07 Thus sayeth the Lord of hosts. 08:10 Consider your ways." 08:13 I want to bring to you a message tonight, 08:16 obsessed with being blessed. 08:21 I invite you to bow your heads with me. 08:22 Loving Lord, we know 08:25 that it is Your intent to bless Your people. 08:30 We know that Your desire for us is good and good only. 08:34 We pray as this word is brought forth 08:37 that the conditions up on which our blessings 08:39 shall be received and retained 08:41 will be understood by your people. 08:44 Thank you for this word and thank you 08:46 for Your love and mercy toward us. 08:49 In the name of Jesus we pray 08:50 with joy abundant and thanksgiving. 08:53 Amen, amen. 08:56 As Christians we have a marvelous calling 09:02 and we're called to an inheritance 09:04 that is not only for time but for eternity. 09:11 God is in the blessing business and He wants more 09:16 than anything else for His children 09:18 to be in right relationship with Him 09:22 so that the blessing blockers will not be able 09:26 to retard their growth 09:28 and ultimately deter their destiny. 09:32 Now the Book of Haggai gives us 09:34 a vivid portrayal of the man or woman 09:38 who receives the blessing and favor of God 09:42 and in turn gets hold of the secret 09:45 to keeping the blessings flowing into their lives. 09:50 So in utter simplicity, Haggai now outlines 09:54 how God's children can live and walk 09:57 under God's continual blessing and favor. 10:01 Yet, Haggai also shows the causes and reasons 10:05 why God's people, why God's people lose God's blessing 10:12 and how they can find their way back 10:14 in covenant relationship with Him. 10:17 How precious the promise that God blesses 10:21 those who walk in faithfulness. 10:25 He shows favor to those who favor Him. 10:28 Isn't it a wonderful experience 10:30 to be in the presence of someone 10:32 who has the exuberance of Christ above them? 10:36 I love to be in the company of blessed people. 10:39 You can sense a subtle peace about them, 10:43 a steadiness in them, a Spirit filled attitude. 10:47 They are simply blessed. 10:50 You know, no nation 10:52 was ever so blessed as the nation of Israel. 10:55 God told them, "I picked you out 10:57 of all the peoples of the nations. 11:00 I carried you in My own arms, I found you, 11:04 I bathed you and I clothed you, but then you turned sour on Me. 11:09 You turned on Me committing spiritual adultery." 11:13 Do you know, ladies and gentlemen, 11:14 that nations and families and individuals 11:18 sometimes lose the blessings of God 11:21 and Haggai gives three reasons 11:23 why they forfeit the favor of God. 11:27 Number one, God's interest is replaced with self interest. 11:34 Haggai 1:2 says, 11:35 "This people say, the time has not come, 11:38 the time that the Lord's house should be built." 11:42 The Israelites gave up building the Lord's house 11:45 in order to build their own homes. 11:48 Now this scene takes place 68 years 11:51 after Solomon's Temple was destroyed. 11:54 A remnant had returned to Jerusalem 11:57 out of Babylonian captivity, 11:59 specifically to rebuild God's house. 12:03 And indeed they laid the foundation of the temple 12:06 with zeal and excitement. 12:08 But then they began running into some hard places, 12:12 difficult times, discouragements. 12:15 Do you know, friend of mine, 12:16 what happens in our lives is this, 12:18 whenever we face difficulties and discouragements, 12:21 it's a way of Satan getting a hold 12:24 of our lives and turning us back. 12:28 The devil will use your circumstances 12:31 to control you, if you allow him. 12:34 Slowly, the Bible says, 12:35 they lost interest in the work of God 12:38 and they said, this just isn't the time. 12:42 We are having too many problems. 12:44 I want to suggest you, ladies and gentlemen, 12:47 that's what the devil does. 12:50 We're going through tough economic times in this country 12:53 and, may I say, around the world. 12:55 And there are folk who are determined 12:57 to remain faithful to God 12:59 in their giving in these difficult times. 13:03 What the devil does, he says, well, 13:04 you got to hold on to what you have. 13:06 Forget God's church, forget God's house. 13:09 May I remind you, ladies and gentlemen, 13:10 we live by faith and we ought to be faithful stewards of God. 13:15 Can you say amen, somebody? 13:16 And you can't beat God giving, no matter how hard you try. 13:26 Problem with the Israelites 13:28 in this text was their self-interest 13:33 had possessed their every thought. 13:36 Now today many of us come to God's house 13:39 and we just sit by, too busy in our careers 13:43 and too busy with our families, too busy with our own interest. 13:48 Some say someday I'll have time when my mortgage is paid, 13:53 then I'll be able to put the Lord's interest first. 13:56 As soon as I've paid my bills 13:57 and put aside a little nest egg, 14:00 then I'll give more time to spiritual matters. 14:03 Jesus in the Book of Revelation says, 14:05 we are lukewarm, giving less 14:08 and less of our time and our resources 14:11 to the cause of the Kingdom of God. 14:14 Perhaps at one time in your life, 14:17 you are filled with zeal. 14:21 For the things of God, 14:22 you were filled with the Spirit. 14:24 Christ was your all, your everything. 14:29 But now you've got a problem, 14:32 you've become wrapped up in making money, 14:34 trying to improve your lifestyle. 14:36 And suddenly your interests 14:38 have overwhelmed the interest of God. 14:41 It begins very subtly, friends. 14:44 You have pushed His priorities for you on the back burner. 14:49 What are the consequences 14:51 for replacing God's interest with self interest? 14:54 God says you're gonna pay a high price. 14:58 Haggai 1:6 says, "You have sown much, and bring in little. 15:03 You eat, but you have not enough, 15:06 you drink, but you are not filled with drink, 15:09 you clothe yourself, but nobody is warm, 15:13 but he that earneth wages earneth wages 15:15 to put them in a bag with holes." 15:18 If God is out of your line-up and your priorities, 15:21 whatever you do will fall flat. 15:26 You will fail. 15:30 Listen to the counsel of our Savior in Matthew 6:33. 15:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 15:37 and all these things shall be added onto you." 15:43 But Haggai gives us a second reason, 15:45 why people lose God's blessing and God's favor. 15:49 That is, they refuse to give up comparing and contrasting. 15:55 First reason why they lose God's blessing is, 15:57 God's interest is replaced by self-interest. 16:00 The second reason is they refuse 16:02 to give up comparing and contrasting. 16:05 Verses 12 to 14, 16:07 the people did fear before the Lord 16:10 and they came and they'd work 16:12 in the house of the Lord of host, their God. 16:14 Finally the people were convicted 16:16 of their self-interest and returned 16:19 to working on the temple. 16:21 As they stood before the foundation of the temple, 16:23 the walls started going up, but something was wrong. 16:28 Many of the older people began weeping. Why? 16:31 Because they had seen 16:33 the splendor of Solomon's Temple, 16:36 68 years earlier and this new one did not measure up. 16:43 Comparison seemed as nothing. 16:47 They began to talk about past glory, 16:49 saying this temple has no ark in it. 16:52 There is no mercy seat, no cherubim. 16:55 There is no consuming fire on the altar. 16:58 No Shekinah glory coming down on the house. 17:01 After all our hard work, 17:03 all our sacrifice and obedience, 17:05 all our putting God's interests first, 17:07 we don't measure up. 17:12 A lot of people are giving up 17:13 because they don't think they will ever measure up. 17:18 Like the Israelites they have gone back to God 17:20 putting Him first, seeking His will, building His house, 17:24 but when they look at their lives they say, 17:25 I have so little to show for my struggles. 17:28 I have so little of God's holiness, 17:30 so little of the glory in my life 17:32 compared to other Christians, I'll never measure up. 17:37 I'll never have victory. 17:40 Ladies and gentlemen, I'm convinced 17:42 this is why so many Christians give up the fight. 17:45 They compare themselves to other believers 17:47 and they become discouraged 17:49 because they feel hopelessly inferior. 17:52 Haggai showed Israel, 17:54 they were focused on the wrong object. 17:56 They had lost sight of the fact 17:58 that God's glory hadn't been drained or depleted. 18:02 What God has done in the past, He can do it again. 18:09 God sent this word to them, 18:12 chapter 2 verses 4 and 5, He says, 18:14 "I am with you, said the Lord of hosts, 18:17 be strong, all ye people of the land, 18:21 and work, for I am with you, 18:24 My spirit remaineth among you, fear ye not." 18:29 "The glory of this latter house 18:31 shall be greater than of the former, 18:33 saith the Lord of hosts." 18:35 God was saying to them, 18:36 "You may have thought the glory 18:37 of the first house was something. 18:40 But it was nothing compared to the glory that's ahead. 18:44 You'll have My peace upon you, 18:46 My glory will flood your soul. 18:50 Just stay in the precious fear of the Lord. 18:53 Keep going, keep doing the work of the Lord. 18:55 No matter how you feel, be strong for I am with you." 19:01 God's interest... 19:05 is replaced with self interest that will destroy you. 19:09 Comparing and contrasting 19:12 will rob you off the blessings of God. 19:15 And the third reason we lose God's blessing and favor is, 19:19 number three, the touch of death. 19:21 Jewish law had said, "He that toucheth the dead body 19:25 of any man shall be unclean seven days. 19:28 Whosoever toucheth the dead body 19:30 of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, 19:33 defileth the temple of the Lord." 19:36 Numbers 19:11, 13. 19:37 Now listen to Haggai's word to Israel. 19:41 Haggai 2:13, 14, he says, "Then said Haggai, 19:46 if one that is unclean by a dead body 19:49 touched any of these, shall it not be unclean? 19:56 And the priests answered and said it shall be unclean. 20:00 Then answered Haggai, and said, so is this people, 20:04 and so is every work of their hands, 20:09 and that which they offer is unclean." 20:13 Now Haggai was saying, 20:14 "If at any point death touches you or you touch death, 20:18 you have become defiled. 20:21 You're unclean, you have defiled the whole body, 20:24 the temple of God." 20:25 Now God had imposed these strict laws 20:28 for health purposes, to protect the people 20:32 against the spread of contagious diseases. 20:35 Yet to the Jewish mind, 20:36 death was always a type of corruption and sin. 20:40 Even the New Testament ties death to sin. 20:44 Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you hath He quickened, 20:48 who were dead in trespass and sins." 20:51 According to Ezra and Nehemiah, 20:54 the death touching Israel was sensuality 20:57 and mixture with the world. 21:00 Israelite men had lusted 21:02 after heathen Canaanite women and married them. 21:06 They had children who didn't even speak the Jewish language. 21:09 There was an unholy mix and may I suggest to you today, 21:13 ladies and gentlemen, 21:14 that God is still holding His people 21:17 to high and holy and pure standard. 21:25 When you're thinking about marrying, 21:26 you ought to think about marrying someone 21:28 who loves the Lord. 21:31 I know everybody is interested in Mr. Cute and Miss Pretty. 21:36 But God is interested not only in the external beauty 21:39 but what's on the inside. 21:43 Beloved, if at any point in your life 21:45 you have a touch of the world, a tinge of compromise, 21:49 a desire that is pulling at you, 21:51 that is a touch of death 21:52 and it will cost you the blessing 21:54 and the favor of God. 21:56 Haggai posed another question to the people 21:58 in chapter 2 and verse 12. 22:00 He says, "If one bear holy flesh 22:02 in the skirt of his garment, 22:04 and with his skirt to touch bread, 22:06 or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? 22:10 And the priests answered and said, it shall be unclean." 22:15 Now Haggai pictures a priest carrying home 22:18 a cut of sanctified meat from the altar of sacrifice. 22:22 The prophet asks, "Does that holy meat 22:24 transfer holiness to the garment?" 22:27 Now here is Haggai's point. 22:30 Being around holy things 22:32 does not transfer holiness to you. 22:37 These Israelites thought the land itself was holy, 22:40 so living on the land made them holy. 22:43 Likewise today, many Christians convince themselves 22:46 that they are right with God as long as they come to church. 22:54 They have confused church membership 22:57 with being a part of the kingdom. 23:00 They think that through the sanctifying praise 23:03 and prayers of God's people, 23:06 somehow the holiness of God will be transferred to them. 23:10 Yet singing in the choir, doing good works, 23:14 sitting at the Lord's table, none of these spiritual things 23:17 in themselves can make you righteous. 23:20 You can sit in a Holy Ghost filled meeting 23:22 and soak in all of the blessings of God, 23:25 but it would not make you holy if death is touching you. 23:32 On the other hand, death 23:35 and corruption of sin are transferable. 23:38 Sin is a communicable disease. 23:42 It spreads to everything it touches. 23:45 If sin is touching you at some point, 23:47 it begins to spread through your whole body. 23:50 And if there is something of the world in your heart, 23:53 if the touch of death is not purified, 23:56 you are in God's disfavor and all you do 23:59 is unclean in His sight. 24:01 But thank God tonight, ladies and gentlemen, 24:04 this is the bad news how you can lose your blessing. 24:08 But thank God tonight that He has made provision 24:12 for the cleansing of every touch of sin. 24:15 Are you battling a secret sin? 24:18 Has that sin hindered the flow of God's blessing to you? 24:22 Do you feel empty, dry and lonely? 24:25 Listen to God's word to you tonight. 24:28 "My little children, these things 24:30 write I unto you, that you may not sin. 24:34 And if any man sin, 24:35 we have an advocate with the Father, 24:37 Jesus Christ the righteous, 24:39 and He is the propitiation for our sins." 24:43 "If we confess our sins," He says, 24:46 "He is faithful and just to forgive us 24:48 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 24:51 If you want to be clean, run to Jesus. Amen. 24:57 Become faithful once more, putting God's interests first 25:03 and seeking Him with all your heart. 25:06 Start work again on the temple of the Holy Ghost. 25:09 The Lord has promised you, 25:10 He says, "Mark it down on your calendar." 25:13 God says, "From this day, 25:15 I'm gonna favor you and I'm gonna bless you." 25:20 Somebody wants me to pray for them tonight. 25:23 Somebody even out looking at this broadcast, 25:27 you want for God's blessings to rest upon you, 25:30 you want to be in favor with God, 25:32 you want Him to bless your life with abundance. 25:36 You want peace, joy and happiness. 25:39 You want contentment in our Savior. 25:42 At this time I want to pray for you. 25:44 You can bow your heads wherever you are 25:46 as we lift you up before God Almighty. 25:49 Loving Lord and our Savior, we know above everything else 25:53 that you want to bless Your people. 25:56 Somebody has had the touch of death in his life. 26:00 We have compromised, 26:01 we have allowed the blessing blockers 26:04 to get in our way, but tonight, 26:06 we want to give You free reign in our lives. 26:09 Forgive us of our sins, 26:12 give us the empowerment of Your Holy Spirit. 26:15 Move upon our hearts and help us 26:17 to start putting your interest above our own interests. 26:21 Help us to stop comparing and contrasting 26:26 and help us, oh, God, to keep our lives pure and clean. 26:30 Forgive us where we've done wrong 26:32 and give us overcoming power 26:34 and becoming power to be more like You. 26:38 Thank you for the word of God tonight 26:40 and we pray that Your word 26:41 will never return unto You void, 26:43 but someone who needs that word tonight 26:45 will respond in the affirmative to Your call, 26:49 calling us out of the world of darkness and sin. 26:52 Thank you, oh, God. Again in the name of Jesus, 26:55 our Lord and our Savior. 26:56 Let everyone say,amen. 26:58 Amen. Amen. 27:01 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope. 27:05 If you would like to be prayed for 27:07 or would like to learn more about God's word, 27:10 please call 1-877-520-HOPE 27:16 or 1-877-520-4673. 27:24 You may also watch more of our programs 27:26 online at www.pathwayofhope.tv. 27:34 If you would like to make a tax-deductible love gift, 27:37 please send your gifts to Pathway of Hope 27:41 at P.O. Box 280704, 27:46 Queens Village, New York, 11428. 27:51 Thanks for watching Pathway of Hope 27:53 and may God's blessings be yours today. |
Revised 2014-12-17