Where can you find
hope for the hopeless?
00:00:03.02\00:00:07.80
Opportunity for transformation?
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Peace amid life's storms?
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Only in God's free
gift of eternal life.
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From New York, join us
on the Pathway of Hope.
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How often do we take
our blessings for granted?
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We sometimes
don't know the value
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of what we have
until it is gone from us.
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Then and only then do we realize
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how blessed we are.
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It was Steve Shepherd who said,
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if our power is shut
off, as it was in recent times
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in this
beautiful city of New York,
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suddenly we are
thankful for electricity.
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If we lose a
friend, or loved ones
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to the enemy of death,
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suddenly we discover how
much he or she meant to us.
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If our water becomes
too polluted to drink,
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then suddenly we
appreciate having good water.
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Someone once said that you
can consider yourself blessed
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if you have health and wealth.
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Speaking of wealth, I could
do with some of that right now.
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The Bible records
numerous accounts of people
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who have had great blessings.
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When I think of
the blessing of health,
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we think of the woman
with the issue of blood
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who touched Jesus by
the hem of His garments
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and received the
blessing of healing.
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When I think of
the blessing of wealth,
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I think of Job's riches
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being multiplied
after he lost it all.
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And finally, when I
think of the blessing of life,
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I think of Lazarus,
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who had the joy and privilege
of being resurrected to life
00:02:03.41\00:02:07.81
by the giver of
life, Jesus Christ.
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Join us now as Dr.
Abraham Jules highlights
00:02:11.51\00:02:15.49
how you can get your
blessings and keep them.
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Ride on, King Jesus
00:02:25.62\00:02:30.12
No man can a-hinder me
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Ride on, King Jesus, ride on
00:02:34.77\00:02:39.08
No man can a-hinder thee
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No man can a-hinder thee
00:02:42.81\00:02:48.11
Ride on, King Jesus
00:02:48.14\00:02:52.73
No man can a-hinder thee
00:02:52.76\00:02:57.18
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on
00:02:57.21\00:03:01.64
No man can a-hinder thee
00:03:01.67\00:03:05.37
No man can a-hinder thee
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In that great getting up morning
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:03:14.09\00:03:18.54
In that great getting up morning
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:03:22.96\00:03:27.16
When the roll
is called up yonder
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:03:31.81\00:03:35.94
When the roll
is called up yonder
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:03:40.35\00:03:44.75
When the last
trumpet has sounded
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
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When the last
trumpet has sounded
00:03:53.23\00:03:57.50
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:03:57.53\00:04:01.75
There's a better day a-coming
00:04:01.78\00:04:06.21
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:04:06.24\00:04:10.36
There's a better day a-coming
00:04:10.39\00:04:14.64
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:04:14.67\00:04:19.16
In that great getting up morning
00:04:19.19\00:04:23.22
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:04:23.25\00:04:27.60
In that great getting up morning
00:04:27.63\00:04:31.82
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:04:31.85\00:04:36.25
In that great getting up morning
00:04:36.28\00:04:40.38
Fare thee well, fare thee well
00:04:40.41\00:04:44.78
In that great getting up morning
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Fare thee well, fare thee well
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No man can a-hinder thee
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No man can a-hinder thee
00:04:57.97\00:05:02.27
No man can a-hinder thee
00:05:02.30\00:05:06.79
No man can a-hinder thee
00:05:06.82\00:05:12.32
Ride on, King Jesus
00:05:12.35\00:05:16.43
No man can a-hinder...
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Thee
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Ride on, King Jesus, ride on
00:05:27.36\00:05:31.50
No man can a-hinder thee
00:05:31.53\00:05:34.98
No man can a-hinder thee
00:05:35.01\00:05:40.41
Ride on, King Jesus
00:05:40.44\00:05:44.64
No man can a-hinder...
00:05:44.67\00:05:47.77
Thee
00:05:53.18\00:05:55.28
Ride on, King Jesus, ride on
00:05:55.31\00:05:59.60
No man can a-hinder thee
00:05:59.63\00:06:03.08
No man can a-hinder thee
00:06:03.11\00:06:07.41
No man can a-hinder thee
00:06:07.44\00:06:11.82
No man can a-hinder thee
00:06:11.85\00:06:16.24
No man can a-hinder thee
00:06:16.27\00:06:20.45
No man can a-hinder...
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Thee
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God's word has been
given to us as a guide.
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Certainly is a means of comfort
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over the years,
but more importantly,
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God intends for
each of us to be blessed.
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I found a word in the
Book of Haggai, the 1 chapter.
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And I'll read and you're hearing
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verses 2 through 7.
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These verses form the
foundation of everything
00:07:04.60\00:07:07.50
we shall say this evening.
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And the Haggai says,
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"Thus speaketh the
Lord of hosts saying,
00:07:11.31\00:07:16.23
'The people say
the time has not come,
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the time that the
Lord's house should be built.'
00:07:20.51\00:07:24.92
Then came the word of the Lord
by Haggai the prophet saying,
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'Is it time for you, O ye,
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to dwell in your ceiled houses,
00:07:32.12\00:07:35.71
and this house lie waste?'
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Now, therefore, thus
sayeth the Lord of hosts.
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Consider your ways.
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You have sown much,
and bring in little.
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You eat, but
you have not enough,
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you drink, but you
are not filled with drink.
00:07:51.55\00:07:55.55
You clothe you,
but there is none warm.
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And he that
earneth wages earneth wages
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to put it into a bag with holes.
00:08:04.02\00:08:07.37
Thus sayeth the Lord of hosts.
00:08:07.40\00:08:10.38
Consider your ways."
00:08:10.41\00:08:13.08
I want to bring to
you a message tonight,
00:08:13.11\00:08:16.64
obsessed with being blessed.
00:08:16.67\00:08:21.21
I invite you to
bow your heads with me.
00:08:21.24\00:08:22.70
Loving Lord, we know
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that it is Your
intent to bless Your people.
00:08:25.12\00:08:29.98
We know that Your desire
for us is good and good only.
00:08:30.01\00:08:34.31
We pray as this
word is brought forth
00:08:34.34\00:08:37.29
that the conditions
up on which our blessings
00:08:37.32\00:08:39.32
shall be received and retained
00:08:39.35\00:08:41.56
will be
understood by your people.
00:08:41.59\00:08:44.17
Thank you for
this word and thank you
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for Your love
and mercy toward us.
00:08:46.52\00:08:49.25
In the name of Jesus we pray
00:08:49.28\00:08:50.71
with joy
abundant and thanksgiving.
00:08:50.74\00:08:53.95
Amen, amen.
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As Christians we
have a marvelous calling
00:08:56.92\00:09:02.19
and we're called
to an inheritance
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that is not only for
time but for eternity.
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God is in the blessing
business and He wants more
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than anything
else for His children
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to be in right
relationship with Him
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so that the blessing
blockers will not be able
00:09:22.35\00:09:26.03
to retard their growth
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and ultimately
deter their destiny.
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Now the Book of Haggai gives us
00:09:32.82\00:09:34.49
a vivid portrayal
of the man or woman
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who receives the
blessing and favor of God
00:09:38.48\00:09:42.40
and in turn gets
hold of the secret
00:09:42.43\00:09:45.71
to keeping the blessings
flowing into their lives.
00:09:45.74\00:09:50.40
So in utter
simplicity, Haggai now outlines
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how God's
children can live and walk
00:09:54.32\00:09:57.44
under God's
continual blessing and favor.
00:09:57.47\00:10:01.94
Yet, Haggai also
shows the causes and reasons
00:10:01.97\00:10:05.56
why God's people, why
God's people lose God's blessing
00:10:05.59\00:10:12.83
and how they can
find their way back
00:10:12.86\00:10:14.92
in covenant
relationship with Him.
00:10:14.95\00:10:17.71
How precious the
promise that God blesses
00:10:17.74\00:10:21.46
those who walk in faithfulness.
00:10:21.49\00:10:25.02
He shows favor to
those who favor Him.
00:10:25.05\00:10:28.96
Isn't it a wonderful experience
00:10:28.99\00:10:30.39
to be in the presence of someone
00:10:30.42\00:10:32.48
who has the
exuberance of Christ above them?
00:10:32.51\00:10:36.05
I love to be in the
company of blessed people.
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You can sense a
subtle peace about them,
00:10:39.75\00:10:43.36
a steadiness in them,
a Spirit filled attitude.
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They are simply blessed.
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You know, no nation
00:10:50.62\00:10:52.30
was ever so blessed
as the nation of Israel.
00:10:52.33\00:10:55.07
God told them, "I picked you out
00:10:55.10\00:10:57.63
of all the
peoples of the nations.
00:10:57.66\00:11:00.02
I carried you in My
own arms, I found you,
00:11:00.05\00:11:04.09
I bathed you and I clothed you,
but then you turned sour on Me.
00:11:04.12\00:11:09.31
You turned on Me
committing spiritual adultery."
00:11:09.34\00:11:13.36
Do you know,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:11:13.39\00:11:14.58
that nations and
families and individuals
00:11:14.61\00:11:18.02
sometimes lose
the blessings of God
00:11:18.05\00:11:21.64
and Haggai gives three reasons
00:11:21.67\00:11:23.64
why they forfeit
the favor of God.
00:11:23.67\00:11:27.14
Number one, God's interest
is replaced with self interest.
00:11:27.17\00:11:34.21
Haggai 1:2 says,
00:11:34.24\00:11:35.89
"This people say,
the time has not come,
00:11:35.92\00:11:38.83
the time that the
Lord's house should be built."
00:11:38.86\00:11:42.18
The Israelites gave up
building the Lord's house
00:11:42.21\00:11:45.36
in order to
build their own homes.
00:11:45.39\00:11:48.59
Now this scene
takes place 68 years
00:11:48.62\00:11:51.77
after Solomon's
Temple was destroyed.
00:11:51.80\00:11:54.94
A remnant had
returned to Jerusalem
00:11:54.97\00:11:57.57
out of Babylonian captivity,
00:11:57.60\00:11:59.95
specifically to
rebuild God's house.
00:11:59.98\00:12:03.49
And indeed they laid
the foundation of the temple
00:12:03.52\00:12:06.02
with zeal and excitement.
00:12:06.05\00:12:08.65
But then they began
running into some hard places,
00:12:08.68\00:12:12.61
difficult
times, discouragements.
00:12:12.64\00:12:15.58
Do you know, friend of mine,
00:12:15.61\00:12:16.74
what happens in
our lives is this,
00:12:16.77\00:12:18.94
whenever we face difficulties
and discouragements,
00:12:18.97\00:12:21.80
it's a way of
Satan getting a hold
00:12:21.83\00:12:24.43
of our lives
and turning us back.
00:12:24.46\00:12:28.33
The devil will
use your circumstances
00:12:28.36\00:12:31.34
to control you,
if you allow him.
00:12:31.37\00:12:34.48
Slowly, the Bible says,
00:12:34.51\00:12:35.86
they lost
interest in the work of God
00:12:35.89\00:12:38.88
and they said, this
just isn't the time.
00:12:38.91\00:12:41.98
We are having too many problems.
00:12:42.01\00:12:44.88
I want to suggest
you, ladies and gentlemen,
00:12:44.91\00:12:47.13
that's what the devil does.
00:12:47.16\00:12:50.05
We're going through tough
economic times in this country
00:12:50.08\00:12:53.20
and, may I say,
around the world.
00:12:53.23\00:12:55.61
And there are
folk who are determined
00:12:55.64\00:12:57.77
to remain faithful to God
00:12:57.80\00:12:59.72
in their giving in
these difficult times.
00:12:59.75\00:13:03.18
What the devil
does, he says, well,
00:13:03.21\00:13:04.60
you got to hold
on to what you have.
00:13:04.63\00:13:06.46
Forget God's
church, forget God's house.
00:13:06.49\00:13:09.13
May I remind you,
ladies and gentlemen,
00:13:09.16\00:13:10.89
we live by faith and we ought
to be faithful stewards of God.
00:13:10.92\00:13:15.61
Can you say amen, somebody?
00:13:15.64\00:13:16.83
And you can't beat God giving,
no matter how hard you try.
00:13:16.86\00:13:22.12
Problem with the Israelites
00:13:26.19\00:13:28.42
in this text was
their self-interest
00:13:28.45\00:13:33.45
had possessed
their every thought.
00:13:33.48\00:13:36.73
Now today many of
us come to God's house
00:13:36.76\00:13:39.76
and we just sit by,
too busy in our careers
00:13:39.79\00:13:43.66
and too busy with our families,
too busy with our own interest.
00:13:43.69\00:13:48.64
Some say someday I'll have
time when my mortgage is paid,
00:13:48.67\00:13:53.63
then I'll be able to put
the Lord's interest first.
00:13:53.66\00:13:56.21
As soon as I've paid my bills
00:13:56.24\00:13:57.81
and put aside a little nest egg,
00:13:57.84\00:14:00.51
then I'll give more
time to spiritual matters.
00:14:00.54\00:14:03.28
Jesus in the Book
of Revelation says,
00:14:03.31\00:14:05.27
we are lukewarm, giving less
00:14:05.30\00:14:08.07
and less of our
time and our resources
00:14:08.10\00:14:11.10
to the cause of
the Kingdom of God.
00:14:11.13\00:14:14.79
Perhaps at one
time in your life,
00:14:14.82\00:14:17.94
you are filled with zeal.
00:14:17.97\00:14:21.24
For the things of God,
00:14:21.27\00:14:22.35
you were filled with the Spirit.
00:14:22.38\00:14:24.62
Christ was your
all, your everything.
00:14:24.65\00:14:29.65
But now you've got a problem,
00:14:29.68\00:14:32.04
you've become
wrapped up in making money,
00:14:32.07\00:14:34.45
trying to
improve your lifestyle.
00:14:34.48\00:14:36.89
And suddenly your interests
00:14:36.92\00:14:38.52
have overwhelmed
the interest of God.
00:14:38.55\00:14:41.25
It begins very subtly, friends.
00:14:41.28\00:14:44.29
You have pushed His priorities
for you on the back burner.
00:14:44.32\00:14:49.45
What are the consequences
00:14:49.48\00:14:51.14
for replacing God's
interest with self interest?
00:14:51.17\00:14:54.69
God says you're
gonna pay a high price.
00:14:54.72\00:14:58.62
Haggai 1:6 says, "You have
sown much, and bring in little.
00:14:58.65\00:15:03.92
You eat, but
you have not enough,
00:15:03.95\00:15:06.69
you drink, but you
are not filled with drink,
00:15:06.72\00:15:09.61
you clothe
yourself, but nobody is warm,
00:15:09.64\00:15:13.32
but he that
earneth wages earneth wages
00:15:13.35\00:15:15.93
to put them in
a bag with holes."
00:15:15.96\00:15:18.06
If God is out of your
line-up and your priorities,
00:15:18.09\00:15:21.75
whatever you do will fall flat.
00:15:21.78\00:15:26.36
You will fail.
00:15:26.39\00:15:30.24
Listen to the counsel of
our Savior in Matthew 6:33.
00:15:30.27\00:15:33.41
"But seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness,
00:15:33.44\00:15:37.76
and all these things
shall be added onto you."
00:15:37.79\00:15:43.13
But Haggai gives
us a second reason,
00:15:43.16\00:15:45.35
why people lose God's
blessing and God's favor.
00:15:45.38\00:15:49.80
That is, they refuse to give
up comparing and contrasting.
00:15:49.83\00:15:55.11
First reason why they
lose God's blessing is,
00:15:55.14\00:15:57.57
God's interest is
replaced by self-interest.
00:15:57.60\00:16:00.50
The second reason is they refuse
00:16:00.53\00:16:02.45
to give up
comparing and contrasting.
00:16:02.48\00:16:05.76
Verses 12 to 14,
00:16:05.79\00:16:07.46
the people did
fear before the Lord
00:16:07.49\00:16:10.13
and they came and they'd work
00:16:10.16\00:16:12.00
in the house of the
Lord of host, their God.
00:16:12.03\00:16:14.46
Finally the
people were convicted
00:16:14.49\00:16:16.63
of their
self-interest and returned
00:16:16.66\00:16:19.00
to working on the temple.
00:16:19.03\00:16:21.05
As they stood before the
foundation of the temple,
00:16:21.08\00:16:23.63
the walls started going
up, but something was wrong.
00:16:23.66\00:16:28.55
Many of the older
people began weeping. Why?
00:16:28.58\00:16:31.55
Because they had seen
00:16:31.58\00:16:33.48
the splendor of
Solomon's Temple,
00:16:33.51\00:16:36.16
68 years earlier and this
new one did not measure up.
00:16:36.19\00:16:43.28
Comparison seemed as nothing.
00:16:43.31\00:16:47.32
They began to
talk about past glory,
00:16:47.35\00:16:49.69
saying this
temple has no ark in it.
00:16:49.72\00:16:52.18
There is no mercy
seat, no cherubim.
00:16:52.21\00:16:55.57
There is no
consuming fire on the altar.
00:16:55.60\00:16:58.48
No Shekinah glory
coming down on the house.
00:16:58.51\00:17:01.57
After all our hard work,
00:17:01.60\00:17:03.27
all our sacrifice and obedience,
00:17:03.30\00:17:05.45
all our putting
God's interests first,
00:17:05.48\00:17:07.94
we don't measure up.
00:17:07.97\00:17:12.16
A lot of people are giving up
00:17:12.19\00:17:13.33
because they don't think
they will ever measure up.
00:17:13.36\00:17:18.17
Like the Israelites
they have gone back to God
00:17:18.20\00:17:20.57
putting Him first, seeking
His will, building His house,
00:17:20.60\00:17:24.11
but when they look
at their lives they say,
00:17:24.14\00:17:25.77
I have so little to
show for my struggles.
00:17:25.80\00:17:28.78
I have so little
of God's holiness,
00:17:28.81\00:17:30.56
so little of
the glory in my life
00:17:30.59\00:17:32.48
compared to other Christians,
I'll never measure up.
00:17:32.51\00:17:37.44
I'll never have victory.
00:17:37.47\00:17:40.12
Ladies and
gentlemen, I'm convinced
00:17:40.15\00:17:42.19
this is why so many
Christians give up the fight.
00:17:42.22\00:17:45.31
They compare
themselves to other believers
00:17:45.34\00:17:47.83
and they become discouraged
00:17:47.86\00:17:49.38
because they feel
hopelessly inferior.
00:17:49.41\00:17:52.34
Haggai showed Israel,
00:17:52.37\00:17:54.02
they were focused
on the wrong object.
00:17:54.05\00:17:56.60
They had lost sight of the fact
00:17:56.63\00:17:58.68
that God's glory hadn't
been drained or depleted.
00:17:58.71\00:18:02.23
What God has done in the
past, He can do it again.
00:18:02.26\00:18:06.24
God sent this word to them,
00:18:09.41\00:18:12.38
chapter 2 verses
4 and 5, He says,
00:18:12.41\00:18:14.59
"I am with you,
said the Lord of hosts,
00:18:14.62\00:18:17.51
be strong, all ye
people of the land,
00:18:17.54\00:18:21.56
and work, for I am with you,
00:18:21.59\00:18:24.57
My spirit remaineth
among you, fear ye not."
00:18:24.60\00:18:29.18
"The glory of this latter house
00:18:29.21\00:18:31.29
shall be greater
than of the former,
00:18:31.32\00:18:33.24
saith the Lord of hosts."
00:18:33.27\00:18:35.04
God was saying to them,
00:18:35.07\00:18:36.18
"You may have thought the glory
00:18:36.21\00:18:37.41
of the first
house was something.
00:18:37.44\00:18:40.10
But it was nothing compared
to the glory that's ahead.
00:18:40.13\00:18:44.36
You'll have My peace upon you,
00:18:44.39\00:18:46.43
My glory will flood your soul.
00:18:46.46\00:18:50.14
Just stay in the
precious fear of the Lord.
00:18:50.17\00:18:53.04
Keep going, keep
doing the work of the Lord.
00:18:53.07\00:18:55.74
No matter how you feel,
be strong for I am with you."
00:18:55.77\00:19:01.87
God's interest...
00:19:01.90\00:19:05.87
is replaced with self
interest that will destroy you.
00:19:05.90\00:19:09.68
Comparing and contrasting
00:19:09.71\00:19:12.77
will rob you off
the blessings of God.
00:19:12.80\00:19:15.60
And the third reason we lose
God's blessing and favor is,
00:19:15.63\00:19:19.06
number three,
the touch of death.
00:19:19.09\00:19:21.96
Jewish law had said, "He
that toucheth the dead body
00:19:21.99\00:19:24.98
of any man shall
be unclean seven days.
00:19:25.01\00:19:28.48
Whosoever toucheth the dead body
00:19:28.51\00:19:30.56
of any man that is dead,
and purifieth not himself,
00:19:30.59\00:19:33.72
defileth the
temple of the Lord."
00:19:33.75\00:19:35.98
Numbers 19:11, 13.
00:19:36.01\00:19:37.76
Now listen to
Haggai's word to Israel.
00:19:37.79\00:19:41.13
Haggai 2:13, 14, he
says, "Then said Haggai,
00:19:41.16\00:19:46.27
if one that is
unclean by a dead body
00:19:46.30\00:19:49.83
touched any of these,
shall it not be unclean?
00:19:49.86\00:19:56.61
And the priests answered
and said it shall be unclean.
00:19:56.64\00:20:00.59
Then answered Haggai,
and said, so is this people,
00:20:00.62\00:20:04.64
and so is every
work of their hands,
00:20:04.67\00:20:09.62
and that which
they offer is unclean."
00:20:09.65\00:20:13.01
Now Haggai was saying,
00:20:13.04\00:20:14.60
"If at any point death
touches you or you touch death,
00:20:14.63\00:20:18.54
you have become defiled.
00:20:18.57\00:20:21.07
You're unclean, you
have defiled the whole body,
00:20:21.10\00:20:24.57
the temple of God."
00:20:24.60\00:20:25.64
Now God had
imposed these strict laws
00:20:25.67\00:20:28.73
for health purposes,
to protect the people
00:20:28.76\00:20:32.03
against the spread
of contagious diseases.
00:20:32.06\00:20:35.16
Yet to the Jewish mind,
00:20:35.19\00:20:36.91
death was always a
type of corruption and sin.
00:20:36.94\00:20:40.85
Even the New
Testament ties death to sin.
00:20:40.88\00:20:44.49
Ephesians 2:1 says,
"And you hath He quickened,
00:20:44.52\00:20:48.30
who were dead in
trespass and sins."
00:20:48.33\00:20:51.43
According to Ezra and Nehemiah,
00:20:51.46\00:20:54.29
the death touching
Israel was sensuality
00:20:54.32\00:20:57.82
and mixture with the world.
00:20:57.85\00:21:00.15
Israelite men had lusted
00:21:00.18\00:21:02.35
after heathen Canaanite
women and married them.
00:21:02.38\00:21:06.27
They had children who didn't
even speak the Jewish language.
00:21:06.30\00:21:09.92
There was an unholy mix
and may I suggest to you today,
00:21:09.95\00:21:13.56
ladies and gentlemen,
00:21:13.59\00:21:14.95
that God is still
holding His people
00:21:14.98\00:21:17.69
to high and holy
and pure standard.
00:21:17.72\00:21:25.15
When you're
thinking about marrying,
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.55
you ought to think
about marrying someone
00:21:26.58\00:21:28.04
who loves the Lord.
00:21:28.07\00:21:31.01
I know everybody is interested
in Mr. Cute and Miss Pretty.
00:21:31.04\00:21:36.58
But God is interested not
only in the external beauty
00:21:36.61\00:21:39.25
but what's on the inside.
00:21:39.28\00:21:43.12
Beloved, if at
any point in your life
00:21:43.15\00:21:45.73
you have a touch of the
world, a tinge of compromise,
00:21:45.76\00:21:49.07
a desire that is pulling at you,
00:21:49.10\00:21:51.09
that is a touch of death
00:21:51.12\00:21:52.35
and it will
cost you the blessing
00:21:52.38\00:21:54.12
and the favor of God.
00:21:54.15\00:21:56.28
Haggai posed another
question to the people
00:21:56.31\00:21:58.28
in chapter 2 and verse 12.
00:21:58.31\00:22:00.43
He says, "If one bear holy flesh
00:22:00.46\00:22:02.20
in the skirt of his garment,
00:22:02.23\00:22:04.42
and with his
skirt to touch bread,
00:22:04.45\00:22:06.43
or pottage, or wine, or oil,
or any meat, shall it be holy?
00:22:06.46\00:22:10.56
And the priests answered
and said, it shall be unclean."
00:22:10.59\00:22:15.05
Now Haggai pictures
a priest carrying home
00:22:15.08\00:22:18.63
a cut of sanctified meat
from the altar of sacrifice.
00:22:18.66\00:22:22.23
The prophet asks,
"Does that holy meat
00:22:22.26\00:22:24.60
transfer
holiness to the garment?"
00:22:24.63\00:22:27.56
Now here is Haggai's point.
00:22:27.59\00:22:30.21
Being around holy things
00:22:30.24\00:22:32.72
does not
transfer holiness to you.
00:22:32.75\00:22:37.14
These Israelites thought
the land itself was holy,
00:22:37.17\00:22:40.07
so living on the
land made them holy.
00:22:40.10\00:22:43.15
Likewise today, many
Christians convince themselves
00:22:43.18\00:22:46.92
that they are right with God
as long as they come to church.
00:22:46.95\00:22:51.81
They have
confused church membership
00:22:54.88\00:22:57.38
with being a
part of the kingdom.
00:22:57.41\00:23:00.23
They think that
through the sanctifying praise
00:23:00.26\00:23:03.06
and prayers of God's people,
00:23:03.09\00:23:06.12
somehow the holiness of God
will be transferred to them.
00:23:06.15\00:23:10.50
Yet singing in the
choir, doing good works,
00:23:10.53\00:23:14.08
sitting at the Lord's table,
none of these spiritual things
00:23:14.11\00:23:17.71
in themselves can
make you righteous.
00:23:17.74\00:23:20.26
You can sit in a
Holy Ghost filled meeting
00:23:20.29\00:23:22.89
and soak in all of
the blessings of God,
00:23:22.92\00:23:25.25
but it would not make you
holy if death is touching you.
00:23:25.28\00:23:29.52
On the other hand, death
00:23:32.77\00:23:35.55
and corruption of
sin are transferable.
00:23:35.58\00:23:38.66
Sin is a communicable disease.
00:23:38.69\00:23:42.15
It spreads to
everything it touches.
00:23:42.18\00:23:45.14
If sin is
touching you at some point,
00:23:45.17\00:23:47.25
it begins to spread
through your whole body.
00:23:47.28\00:23:50.49
And if there is something
of the world in your heart,
00:23:50.52\00:23:53.37
if the touch of
death is not purified,
00:23:53.40\00:23:56.00
you are in God's
disfavor and all you do
00:23:56.03\00:23:59.15
is unclean in His sight.
00:23:59.18\00:24:01.91
But thank God
tonight, ladies and gentlemen,
00:24:01.94\00:24:04.89
this is the bad news how
you can lose your blessing.
00:24:04.92\00:24:08.23
But thank God tonight
that He has made provision
00:24:08.26\00:24:12.30
for the cleansing
of every touch of sin.
00:24:12.33\00:24:15.93
Are you battling a secret sin?
00:24:15.96\00:24:18.61
Has that sin hindered the
flow of God's blessing to you?
00:24:18.64\00:24:22.57
Do you feel
empty, dry and lonely?
00:24:22.60\00:24:25.52
Listen to God's
word to you tonight.
00:24:25.55\00:24:27.99
"My little
children, these things
00:24:28.02\00:24:30.68
write I unto you,
that you may not sin.
00:24:30.71\00:24:34.11
And if any man sin,
00:24:34.14\00:24:35.63
we have an
advocate with the Father,
00:24:35.66\00:24:37.66
Jesus Christ the righteous,
00:24:37.69\00:24:39.84
and He is the
propitiation for our sins."
00:24:39.87\00:24:43.66
"If we confess
our sins," He says,
00:24:43.69\00:24:46.10
"He is faithful
and just to forgive us
00:24:46.13\00:24:48.80
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:24:48.83\00:24:51.45
If you want to be
clean, run to Jesus. Amen.
00:24:51.48\00:24:57.35
Become faithful once more,
putting God's interests first
00:24:57.38\00:25:02.97
and seeking Him
with all your heart.
00:25:03.00\00:25:06.18
Start work again on the
temple of the Holy Ghost.
00:25:06.21\00:25:09.67
The Lord has promised you,
00:25:09.70\00:25:10.76
He says, "Mark it
down on your calendar."
00:25:10.79\00:25:13.48
God says, "From this day,
00:25:13.51\00:25:15.51
I'm gonna favor you
and I'm gonna bless you."
00:25:15.54\00:25:20.38
Somebody wants me to
pray for them tonight.
00:25:20.41\00:25:23.02
Somebody even out
looking at this broadcast,
00:25:23.05\00:25:27.70
you want for God's
blessings to rest upon you,
00:25:27.73\00:25:30.82
you want to be
in favor with God,
00:25:30.85\00:25:32.91
you want Him to bless
your life with abundance.
00:25:32.94\00:25:36.65
You want peace,
joy and happiness.
00:25:36.68\00:25:39.11
You want
contentment in our Savior.
00:25:39.14\00:25:42.21
At this time I
want to pray for you.
00:25:42.24\00:25:44.21
You can bow your
heads wherever you are
00:25:44.24\00:25:46.53
as we lift you up
before God Almighty.
00:25:46.56\00:25:49.82
Loving Lord and our Savior,
we know above everything else
00:25:49.85\00:25:53.71
that you want to
bless Your people.
00:25:53.74\00:25:56.33
Somebody has had the
touch of death in his life.
00:25:56.36\00:26:00.67
We have compromised,
00:26:00.70\00:26:01.78
we have allowed
the blessing blockers
00:26:01.81\00:26:04.17
to get in our way, but tonight,
00:26:04.20\00:26:06.52
we want to give You
free reign in our lives.
00:26:06.55\00:26:09.75
Forgive us of our sins,
00:26:09.78\00:26:12.12
give us the
empowerment of Your Holy Spirit.
00:26:12.15\00:26:15.32
Move upon our hearts and help us
00:26:15.35\00:26:17.68
to start putting your interest
above our own interests.
00:26:17.71\00:26:21.88
Help us to stop
comparing and contrasting
00:26:21.91\00:26:26.40
and help us, oh, God, to
keep our lives pure and clean.
00:26:26.43\00:26:30.70
Forgive us
where we've done wrong
00:26:30.73\00:26:32.29
and give us overcoming power
00:26:32.32\00:26:34.83
and becoming power
to be more like You.
00:26:34.86\00:26:38.15
Thank you for the
word of God tonight
00:26:38.18\00:26:40.43
and we pray that Your word
00:26:40.46\00:26:41.56
will never return unto You void,
00:26:41.59\00:26:43.28
but someone who
needs that word tonight
00:26:43.31\00:26:45.92
will respond in the
affirmative to Your call,
00:26:45.95\00:26:49.83
calling us out of the
world of darkness and sin.
00:26:49.86\00:26:52.53
Thank you, oh, God.
Again in the name of Jesus,
00:26:52.56\00:26:55.11
our Lord and our Savior.
00:26:55.14\00:26:56.90
Let everyone say,amen.
00:26:56.93\00:26:58.23
Amen. Amen.
00:26:58.26\00:27:01.88
Thanks for
watching Pathway of Hope.
00:27:01.91\00:27:04.99
If you would
like to be prayed for
00:27:05.02\00:27:07.29
or would like to
learn more about God's word,
00:27:07.32\00:27:10.43
please call 1-877-520-HOPE
00:27:10.46\00:27:16.80
or 1-877-520-4673.
00:27:16.83\00:27:24.02
You may also watch
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00:27:24.05\00:27:26.54
online at www.pathwayofhope.tv.
00:27:26.57\00:27:34.15
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00:27:34.18\00:27:37.84
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00:27:37.87\00:27:41.40
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00:27:41.43\00:27:46.94
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00:27:46.97\00:27:51.87
Thanks for
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00:27:51.90\00:27:53.86
and may God's
blessings be yours today.
00:27:53.89\00:27:57.03