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Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000031S
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00:09 Sermon #S017 - (Claim Your Benefits 3 Part 2)
00:19 Welcome to the Breath of Life Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell. 00:25 In today's episode, Pastor Snell will share part two of the third 00:30 and final episode of the message titled Claim Your Benefits. 00:34 Let's discover more about the benefits of God through the study of His Word. 00:41 Pastor Snell: And one of the things I want us to understand fundamentally is that favor comes from God. 00:48 Are you all with me today, Church? All right, so can we go to the good book for just a moment? 00:52 Go with me in your Bibles, Proverbs 18:16. Proverbs, turn in your Bibles with me. Let me teach you just a moment. 00:59 Proverbs 18:16. When you get there, say I'm there. 01:05 Proverbs 18:16. In other words, you don't have to sign up for this. You don't have to pledge for that. 01:13 I need you to know that it is God that is going to position you where you're supposed to be. Proverbs 18:16, 01:21 turn your Bibles, you all waiting for it to come on the screen. Go to the word. Proverbs 18:16, 01:26 the Bible says, that a man's, what? Gifts make room for him and bring him before great men. 01:36 In other words, Saints, I need you to understand that you don't have to get in with them in order to get where you want 01:44 to go. Because how many of us know that it is the gift that was assigned to you by God that opens 01:51 up doors for you that man is unable to deny? Are you all hearing the words today, Saints? 01:58 Go with me over in your Bibles to Proverbs 22:29. Proverbs 22:29, when you get there, just say, "Pastor, I'm there." 02:08 Proverbs 22:29, hear the word of the Lord. The Bible says, "Do you see a man who excels in his work?" 02:18 The Bible says, "He will stand before kings. He will not stand before unknown men." I need you to understand, Beloved, 02:26 that the key to success, friends of mine, is making sure you manage your gift, that you are diligent with your gift, 02:36 that you multiply and enlarge upon your gift, and the Bible says that you won't have to chase down man's favor, 02:44 but the excellence of your work will open up doors and bring you before great men or people of influence. 02:53 Are you all hearing the world today, Saints? 02:55 In fact, I want you to go a little further. Go to Proverbs 16:7. Proverbs 16:7. 03:04 There are some things I need you to see today. Proverbs 16:7. When you get there, 03:09 let me hear say Amen one more time. 03:11 [ Congregation: Amen ] 03:12 Proverbs 16:7, Because, see, there are some who feel like I got to do certain things 03:16 because my enemies are greater than my allies. And I got folk coming for me when I didn't send for them. 03:23 But I need somebody to understand this. Proverbs 16:7. When you get there, say Amen. 03:28 [ Congregation: Amen ] 03:30 The Bible says, "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." 03:42 Oh, God. Do you realize the favor of God is so strong that God will make folk who don't like you start liking you? 03:53 That my God will take folk who are against you and he'll reverse it and make them your advocates. 04:02 Oh, okay, it's going to get better in just a minute. 04:05 Go over to the Book of Numbers. The Book of Numbers 23. Numbers 23:11. Listen, we're going to rejoice in a minute. 04:12 Numbers 23:11. When you get there, say, Amen. 04:17 [ Congregation: Amen ] 04:19 Numbers 23:11. Now, you remember the story of Balak where he sent the false prophet Balaam to 04:26 send curses on the land of Israel. I need you to understand that God intervened in the situation 04:33 and God sent blesses instead of curses, then the word says in verse 11, "Then Balak said to Balaam, 04:40 'What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies and, look, you have blessed them, 04:49 you have blessed them bountifully.' 04:54 So he answered and said, 'Must I not take heed to speak what the Lord has put in my mouth?'" 05:03 In other words, the prophet is like, I went to curse but by the time it got from my belly out of my mouth, 05:14 it turned into a blessing. And, see, how many of us know that God will favor you in such a way that on your job, 05:24 they may come with the intent to fire you. They call you into the office, give you a pink slip, 05:30 and they say, "You're f--" "You're f--" "You're f--" "You're promoted with a raise," you all not hearing me. 05:44 In other words, ah, your spouse was so angry, they called to say, "I want a d--" "I want a d--" "I want a d--" 05:56 "I want to keep working it out." Are you all hearing me today? In other words, when you apply for the loan of the house, 06:06 the loan officer calls you in because your credit is in the 300s. 06:10 They say, "Sir, I hate to inform you 06:14 but your loan application has been d--" "It's been d--" "It's been d--" "It's been approved with a low-interest rate." 06:26 How many of us know that when you're under favor, they may send curses 06:33 but in midair, they turn into blessings because God will make even your enemies be at peace with you? 06:42 Are you all hearing me today, Saints? 06:44 [ Congregation: applause ] 06:47 And it's crazy, Church, because the woman's focus is on Jesus because she knows, remember we said who she is. 06:56 She recognizes that she is a daughter. And even though the sons say, "Send her away," she knows I'm a daughter, 07:07 and because I'm a daughter, what the son says can't change how the father feels about a daughter. 07:18 So let me say it this way. In my house, 07:21 my two sons probably rightly believe that my daughter gets away with more stuff than what the boys are allowed. 07:31 So there are times where I'm going to do something for my daughter and my sons kind of ganging up on her 07:36 and they're like, "Well, Brooke did this wrong and Brooke did that wrong." And see they think because they are sons, 07:42 they can change the way I feel about the daughter but because I've already decided what I'm going to give the daughter, 07:50 none of the other children can change what she's going to receive. There are times when the youngest, too, 07:57 they're going to gang up on the oldest child but because I've decided what I'm going to give the oldest child, 08:03 what the other kids say doesn't really matter about how I'm going to take care of that one. 08:08 There are times when the older, too, want to go ahead and expose the youngest one 08:13 but what I have intended for the younger one is not going to be changed by what the other children say. 08:19 And what I'm saying to somebody today is that it doesn't matter what he thinks, it doesn't matter what she thinks, 08:25 it doesn't matter what they think, as long as you know who you are in Christ, 08:30 it doesn't matter what the other children say as long as you know who you are in the Lord. 08:36 Are you all hearing me today, Saints? The third thing this teaches us, friends of mine, 08:44 is that faith doesn't mind watching other people eat. It's going to get rough in here for a minute. 09:00 All right. So, play along with me. Jesus says, okay, I'm only sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. 09:11 But the lady, the girl, she knows who she is. She knows who she is in Him. 09:16 So she's already traced her lineage all the way back to the Canaanite, the woman who had a baby with Simeon. 09:23 And she says, okay, you sent to the lost sheep, we don't circumcise, we don't keep the Sabbath, 09:28 yet we are part of that lost lineage in Israel. So, guess what, Jesus? We qualify, I'm here to claim that benefits. 09:37 And so, Jesus, wanting to test her faith a little bit more, says some other things to her. 09:47 Now, I'm going to pause the say this. When I talk about Jesus testing her faith, 09:53 I want to be clear that Jesus already knows how much faith she has. Are you all with me? In other words, 10:01 He's not trying to make her audition for a blessing. So when he talks about testing the faith, in other words, 10:11 what he wants is her faith to be revealed. Stay with me, Church. He wants her faith to be demonstrated. 10:22 He wants to put her faith on display. 10:26 See, the reason Jesus drags this thing out is he wants his disciples to get a lesson in what real faith looks like. 10:37 Are you all with me today, Saints? In other words, friends of mine, every now and then in the journey of faith, 10:43 Jesus needs a demonstration. Every now and then, He draws some things out so your faith can be put on display. 10:59 So, understand, when the Bible talks about how he tests this person's faith, or Job's faith was tested, 11:06 understand this is not a situation where God is trying to make somebody audition or prove how much they believe. 11:12 Remember, we already learned three weeks ago, that Jesus put himself in her path. 11:17 He had already determined that he was going to bless her. 11:20 So he is not trying to make her audition to receive what he already intended. 11:26 But when the Bible talks about testing faith, it is a reference to, especially in the New Testament, 11:33 a reference to the Roman practice of how a shield would be formed. 11:40 So understand that when the silversmith finished a shield before he put it in the hands of the soldier, 11:47 what he did was he tested it. And so, in order to test it, 11:52 what he would do is there would be a public demonstration where he would take it through a gamut of buffeting test, 11:59 where it would be hammered publicly, where it would be exposed to fire publicly, 12:04 it would be exposed to elements publicly and the reason he tested it, 12:09 it was not to prove something to the silversmith who created it, 12:14 it was designed to authenticate it before the soldier 12:19 so that they know that it's able to handle the tests that are going to come it's way. And every now and then, 12:26 friends, what God designs to do is He says, I need to test the shield of your faith. 12:33 I need to take it through some buffetings 12:37 so that those who are around you will have a demonstration that faith is capable. 12:47 All right. So some of us ain't rejoicing yet. See, this will make sense, friends, 12:53 until you understand your life is not your own. 13:04 Then Paul says, we are made a spectacle unto man and unto angels. 13:12 So you're walking around acting like you own the deed to your own life 13:20 but do you realize you are brought with a price and you are His workmanship, 13:27 and every now and then, God draws some things out 13:32 because there are some people that are about to go where God has already sent you. 13:40 And in order for them to know that faith works, they need to see a demonstration. 13:47 So, in other words, there's somebody that needs to be a demonstration that when life wipes you all out, 13:57 that you can start over again in Christ, that when you get wiped out financially, 14:04 God needs a demonstration to teach the world that God is able to restore the years that the locusts have taken, 14:11 and God is able to restore what the cankerworm is eating away. After the divorce, sister, 14:19 God needs you to be a demonstration of forgiveness so your children are not corrupted by the root of bitterness. 14:29 Sometimes, God needs a demonstration of how to grieve and come through it with your faith intact. 14:39 Sometimes, God needs a demonstration of what it means to have your enemies come for you when you didn't send for them. 14:47 Sometimes, God needs a demonstration of what it's like to suffer with affliction in your body 14:54 and understand the reason some folks don't believe God is able it's because they've never ever seen a demonstration. 15:01 But do I have seven or eight saints who are willing to say, "Lord, I want you to get the glory from my life. 15:09 Lord, I won't just glorify you in a song, I won't just glorify you with my mouth but, Lord, 15:15 get the glory from my life's experience." See, you all remember, 15:22 I need you to get this that being a test case is the highest compliment, oh, God. 15:34 Being a test case is the highest compliment God can give you. 15:45 Has thou considered my servant Job? You remember the devil didn't ask for Job. 15:53 Job was recommended by God, so favor wasn't just the house, it wasn't just the cattle, 16:01 it wasn't just that he had more than everything else. But when God needed a test case, 16:06 He had somebody he can count on that would bring his name the glory. Are you all hearing what I'm saying today, 16:14 Saints? And understand, Beloved, that this is the other side of favor. See, favor isn't just who He blesses the most, 16:25 it's who he tests the most. Oh, God. 16:29 In other words, does anybody remember that child that always got called up to the chalkboard in school? 16:38 In other words, that child that the teacher always picked on to go 16:42 and give the answers in front of the class when you're growing up, 16:46 you think the teacher's calling on you because they're trying to surprise you on a day when you don't have the answers? 16:52 No, when you keep getting called on, it's not because you don't have the answers, 16:57 it's because the teacher has so much trust 17:00 or belief that they need somebody to testify that the answer is already present. 17:08 Are you all hearing me today, Saints? So there's an ugly side of favor. Are you all hearing me? 17:14 So, Jesus says, it's actually like, when you look at it, it's actually kind of funny. 17:20 He says, "I can't take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs." So, at first, he says, 17:36 I'm only sent to the chosen house. She says I qualify, I claim that benefit. But then he goes a little further, 17:43 drags it out, and says, "Listen, I can't take the food and give it to the dogs." 17:48 Now, but she says, okay, Jesus, that's how you want to play it. I'm here for this. 17:59 She says, but even the dogs, oh, God, I feel my help coming up. 18:09 She says, "Even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the master's table." 18:17 Now, understand that the word "crumbs" is not talking about the tiny particles that get caught in your beard or mustache, 18:25 that the word "crumbs" is actually better in translated scraps or leftovers. 18:34 Now, you all got to remember in order to get this, back in the day, dogs didn't eat dog food. 18:47 They ate the same food that people ate. So that when it was time to eat, you didn't cook one meal 18:58 and put it on the table and then go to your pantry and get some Alpo. Are you all hearing what I'm saying? 19:07 And understand that because similar to now because dogs are a part of the family when the people ate, 19:16 all dinner was was a dog watching people eat first. So that, guess what? When the dogs were watching the people eat, 19:31 they didn't get mad. When they saw the people eating, the dogs start licking their lips. When they saw people eating, 19:42 the dogs start wagging their tails. When the dogs see the people eating, the dogs start sitting up 19:49 because he knew that when they were eating, it was just a matter of time before their portion was about to come. 20:00 So when they were sitting at the table, the dog didn't get mad, the dog got turned up 20:06 because he knew that his portion was about to come. 20:10 Now, watch this. You remember like most times when you cook a big meal, 20:18 most of us don't have portion control to a science. So that it's on Thanksgiving dinner, 20:27 have you ever noticed at your Christmas dinner, you almost throw away more food than you consume? 20:37 So you're actually looking for somebody, your cousin, and poking them to come by 20:43 because you got so much left over that if you don't, it's going to go bad. 20:48 So that those who come for the leftovers, actually get more than those who are actually sitting at the table. 20:58 Are you all hearing what I'm saying? 21:00 So, she says, I'm like a little dog. I don't get mad when other people eat. 21:06 I don't mind watching other people eat first. Now, this is important 21:14 because some of us get moved out of faith when we have to watch other people eat. 21:22 Oh, help me, Lord. See, some of us lose faith when other people get to the financial table first, 21:30 when others get to the medical table first, when others get to the romantic table first, 21:36 when others get the healing first, we get all bent out of shape because we have to watch somebody else eat. 21:44 And I guess what I'm saying to somebody today is instead of getting mad that you have to watch somebody eat, 21:51 maybe you ought to praise God that you got a seat at the table. 21:55 You want to thank Him that you're close enough to where the meal is being served. 22:06 See, and let me just say, 22:08 it is hard in your flesh if you're not looking through the eyes of the spirit to watch other people eat. 22:16 Am I just telling the truth? It's hard to see somebody else eating financially when you're not. 22:22 It's hard to see somebody at the table of motherhood when you hadn't been able to get there yet. 22:28 It's hard to see somebody at the table of matrimony when your Boaz is nowhere in sight. 22:34 It's hard to see somebody at the table of financial prosperity when you're struggling to pay the bills 22:40 but I need you to get this, friends, that when you are at the table, 22:48 don't get mad at having to watch other people eat first. 22:54 Oh, help me. That's the word for somebody. Don't leave the table 23:02 because you're watching somebody else eat. See, this is why the Bible says, unless you understand this principle, 23:09 you would live your life trying to avoid other people's prosperity. See, it's quiet as it's kept in the church. 23:19 See, the Bible says, we're supposed to rejoice. Oh, you all mighty quiet in here today. Don't act brand-new. 23:25 The Bible says we're supposed to rejoice with those that rejoice, but it's quiet as it's kept, 23:31 some of us are so tiny and small and jealous-hearted that we can't rejoice when others rejoice. 23:38 The truth is, we rejoice when others fail and we only rejoice when others are doing bad and what I'm saying is - 23:47 I don't want to be so small in my faith where I have to avoid your prosperity. 23:52 I want to get to a place where I can celebrate your prosperity. 23:56 See, the problem with some of us is our faith only grows in a vacuum 24:02 but God has set up Church where faith is supposed to grow in the community. 24:08 Oh, I'm going to keep preaching this. See, you only rejoice when you get blessed 24:13 but when somebody in the community gets blessed, guess what? I shout as if I got blessed. 24:20 In other words, when they get a house, you ought to shout like you got a house. 24:25 When they get healed, you ought to shout like you got healed. When they lose some weight, 24:32 you ought to rejoice like you lost some. If they find a good man, you rejoice like you got a good man. 24:39 If their marriage gets back together, rejoice like your marriage got back together. 24:44 Why? Because if you're at the table, it's just a matter of time before you get to share in the portion. 24:54 And if you watch them eat first, you'll get more than those who are seated at the table. Are you all hearing me today? 25:04 Listen, listen, I'm almost done but watch this. I remember back in January, I went to preach in Raleigh, 25:12 North Carolina. I want to preach for Pastor Austin Humphreys and his wife, Jalisa. He grew up in this church. 25:19 Y'all know who I'm talking about. And it's crazy because I stayed with him for the weekend 25:23 and they got this big black dog, it's some type of Labrador or some sort and the dog's name is Bane. 25:30 And it's crazy, I hadn't been around dogs really like that since I was a little boy so when we were growing up, 25:37 the same thing like the dogs kind of ate what we ate. So, when I get to the house and see Bane, he knew I was a rookie. 25:54 He took advantage of my ignorance. 25:57 So whenever we sat down at the table he would come right next to my leg and start wagging his tail. 26:05 And so, when I felt his tail beating on my leg, I would just take something whatever we were eating, 26:10 put it down on a napkin, and let him eat some of it, too. 26:13 And so, after a while, I did that and they saw me doing it. They were like, no, he's not supposed to eat human food, 26:22 he's a dog. And I'm tripping 'cause I'm like, "All our dogs ate was human food," right? 26:31 So, because I'm now trying to obey the rules of the house, whenever we sat down at the table, 26:39 Bane will come and will start wagging his tail next to my leg, but because I want to obey the master of the house, 26:46 I don't give him no food. So then he comes around to the other side, rubs up against my other leg, 26:53 and starts wagging his tail but because I'm trying to obey the rules of the house, 26:58 I don't give him no food but because I'm taking too long to feed them bread from the master's table, 27:04 let me tell you what Bane does. This is the table. He takes his head and puts it on the table, 27:12 and he just starts wagging his tail. No, I need you to know, he doesn't bark, he doesn't growl, he doesn't howl, 27:21 he just keeps his head on the table to let me know that I ain't going nowhere. 27:29 I'm going to stay right here and I'm going to be in this position. 27:35 I'm going to keep anticipating until some food falls from the master's table. 27:42 Do I have any saints? You hadn't got it yet but you're saying that God, I'm putting my head on the table of faith. 27:53 I ain't going to bark, I ain't going to growl, I'm just going to wait. 27:59 I want you to know, Lord, that I'm not going nowhere. I'm like Jacob. 28:05 I'm going to remain and I'm not going to let you go until you bless me. 28:13 Somebody put your hand on the table today. Are you hearing the word today? 28:21 Remain, abide, be still, let them eat first, but know that your portion is en route. 28:31 Are you all hearing me, Saints? 28:33 (Breath of Life Theme Music) 28:57 [End] |
Revised 2022-08-23