Pastor Richard Waialeale
April 25, 2021 - W2117

Windows of Heaven

Divine Appointments - God's Unfinished Work

Pastor Richard Waialeale

April 24 & 25, 2021

[Testimony of Roy and Debra Tokuhama.] 

ROY:  Our business is Abby Carpet & Floors of Hawaii.  When we first started the business in 1989, it was by circumstance.  It was not something that we had planned; I think it was a divine appointment.  I didn't think it was a good time to start a business because we felt that God told us that Debra should stay at home and raise the kids: our son was only a year old and we had just built a new home and if I started this business, we wouldn't have a guaranteed income! I felt so unprepared, unqualified, and nervous!

What started as a minor corporation, quickly turned into a striving small business. We had a great business plan and idea, so we expanded; and by the time we completed the expansion in 2006, we were ready to go--not knowing that 2007 was right around the corner!  If you recall, 2007 was described as the Great Recession when the housing bubble burst and mortgages were defaulting.  So, it affected the banking, construction, and the real estate industry--which were all tied together.  Basically, we were in a survival mode starting in 2007, until we had nothing!

DEBRA:  It seemed that every decision we made didn't work, and we were losing money! But I felt that God didn't tell us to quit--the word He gave us was "persevere!" We read in James 1:2 HCSB: "Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials."

I thought, oh, this is what we're going through!  It lasted 7 years and it was a long difficult trial! Sometimes the trials felt that it would never end! But God was faithful and always encouraged us by bringing good people to help us. Once at our lowest point, He gave us a glimpse of His goodness by giving us a huge hotel contract, reminding us, "I'm still here!"

During this time, we memorized scriptures; and I had my favorite ones posted all over the house: "Do not fear for I am with you," "Do not be dismayed for I am your God.  I will strengthen you.  Surely, I will help you.  Surely, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I claimed them!

ROY:  Before the storm, I thought I knew God and that I was a good Christian.  But, as we were going through the storm, God helped us to know and trust Him more by showing us that this was His business and that He would rescue us! 

DEBRA:  God has provided exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask for: the people He's brought into our company over the last 5 years are amazing!  During a pandemic year, we had the highest sales that we've had in the last 15 years! Sometimes, it seemed that God wasn't doing anything--but we kept pressing into Him anyway--praying, reading His Word, claiming His promises, paying our tithe, going to church, listening to worship music that spoke of exactly what we were going through--all of which kept us going! 

ROY:  In Jonah Chapter 3, verse 1, KJV says: "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time," so I knew that God was a God of second chances, that no matter how we messed up, God would redeem our mess!  So, to anybody out there that feels like you're at the end of the road, God is faithful, and He will open a door for you. He is a God of second chances!

[End Video]  

PASTOR RICHARD:  Three times in the Old Testament, the phrase, "Windows of Heaven," is used.  In the Greek, the word window is "sluice" or "sluice gates."  A sluice is a man?made, artificial concrete structure that shoots across the river--a dam.  In the middle of that dam is a sluice gate which lets the water flow out--and the pressure is incredible!

Roy and Debra went through 7 years of the most challenging times in their lives--then God opened the floodgates--The Windows of Heaven!  Roy said that as they look back to that time, they recognize the faith and obedience it took to survive 7 years without an income! What are the prerequisites to have the confidence to know that God will provide? 

Malachi 3:10 NASB says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse...and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts,“and I will open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."

One day, I heard the Lord say to me so clearly! "Richard, you need to make a choice:  Either you trust in me, or you trust in yourself."  So, the first point God said through His Word is:  

1. IF YOU WANT GOD'S BLESSINGS, YOU MUST DO IT GOD'S WAY! 

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV says: "⁶Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The apostle Paul tells us that there is a Spiritual Law: give sparingly and you will reap sparingly; give bountifully and you will reap bountifully.  That's an absolute law of God. I don't know how gravity works, but even if I were to ignore or deny gravity, it doesn't alter the affects in the least.  The law of Sowing and Reaping is as certain as the law of gravity.  The Lord is insistent upon this principle and says, "Test me, prove me, and see." Our faith is important to us, and if we want God to provide for us, then we must...

2.  PUT JESUS FIRST IN EVERYTHING WE DO. 

[Video by Denzel Washington, speaking to a college graduating class:]  

"Number one, put God first.  Put God first in everything you do.  Everything that you think you see in me and think that I've accomplished, everything that you think I have, and I have a few things are by the grace of God!  Understand that.  It's a gift! 

"On March 27th, 1975, 40 years ago, I was flunking out of college--I had a 1.7 grade point average!  I hope none of you can relate! I was sitting in my mother's beauty parlor and looking in the mirror; I see behind me a woman under the dryer and every time I looked up, she was looking at me in the eye.  I didn't know who she was, and she said, "Somebody give me a pen or a pencil I have a prophecy: 'Boy, you are going to travel the world and speak to millions of people.'"  Now, mind you, I had just flunked out of college and I didn't know what I was going to do. I'm thinking about joining the Army--and she's telling me I'm going to travel the world and speak to millions of people!  Well, I have traveled the world, and I have spoken to millions of people.  But that's not the most important thing; the most important thing is what she told me that has stayed with me since.  God has protected, directed, corrected, and humbled me.  If you want to do what you think I've done, then do what I've done, and stick with God!"   

[End Video]

The great evangelist D.L. Moody said Moses spent the first 40 years thinking he was somebody under Pharaoh's covering; then he spent the next 40 years learning he was a nobody, under no covering; in the last 40 years of his life, he discovered what God can do with a nobody! If you want God to bless your finances, put Him first in your finances--pay your tithe! Tithe doesn't mean ten--it means the first ten.  

Matthew 6:33 NIV says: "...seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God wants to provide, help, and bless, but He cannot do it if we're not under His covering, and if we're breaking His laws!  Please, know that I love you and I only want God's best for you; so, if you're a young adult living with your girlfriend or boyfriend, get out of that!  If you're into pornography, get rid of that!  God wants to bless your future.  How do you know that God will provide for you; and how do you get confidence?   Put God first, then you will have confidence to build.

2 Chronicles 14:7 NIV says: “Let us build up these towns, and put walls around them, with towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God and he has given us rest on every side.” So, they built and prospered."

Keep moving in the direction that God is calling you to.  Honor God by putting Him first and move in His righteousness. Clean up the bad relationships.  Get rid of sin in your life! God is ready to provide for you, but He is waiting for you to come under His order--His alignment. 

3. GAIN LIFE EXPERIENCES. 

The difference between a veteran and a young leader, a novice is that a veteran has more life experience than a novice.  A veteran has confidence because he has gone through tons of life experiences!  A young leader is still growing and has no experience; just fear and worry of what might happen.

Someone once said, "Experience helps you recognize a mistake when you make it again.  If you're a young leader, develop patience and endurance; get rid of impatience, rudeness, and disrespect.  Be willing to give more than you're willing to receive.   

Luke 6:38 NIV says: "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

If you treat others graciously and compassionately, these qualities will return to you in full measure.  We are to love others--not to judge them! Watch for the windows of heaven to open. We want to emulate the faithfulness of Joshua and Caleb, of putting God first.  Joshua is 110 years old when he delivers his last charge--his last will and testament. 

Joshua 24:14-15 NIV says: "¹⁴ Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond...and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ ...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Many are interested in God's blessing, but God is seeking for a commitment from us! Joshua and Caleb were totally committed to God; and after thousands of years, they are still impacting lives!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Roy and Debra went through 7 years of the most challenging times of their lives, without an income! 

1. What gave them the confidence to know that God would provide for them during this time? 

2. If we want God to provide for us, what are three things that we must do?

3. Why is gaining life experiences so important?

4. If you want God's ____________________, you must ______________________.