Build Your Church_Part 2 Haggai 1:5-10

SELF EXAMINATION - Haggai 1:5-10

INTRO: Myers-Briggs; Enneagram; Strength Finders. All designed to give you an view of who you are; who God created; provide a perspective on how you operate in various environments. They are all a type of SELF EXAMINATION.

In today’s passage, God’s calls us to SELF EXAMINATION. HE WANT US TO UNDERSTAND WHO HE CREATED US TO BE; OUR MOTIVATIONS OF SERVING; OUR INVOLVEMENT IN HIS KINGDOM.

SELF EXAMINATION reminds us, we belong to HIM; we are His people. Thy will be done, NOT my will be done.

SELF EXAMINATION reminds us of His call to glorify Him. He will not share His glory with another.

SELF EXAMINATION reminds us that WE are to advance His kingdom, not build our own.

SO HOW DOES SELF EXAMINATION ACCOMPLISH THIS?

SELF EXAMINATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH OUR INDIVIDUAL INVENTORY. (5-6)

Why are our efforts to live prosperous failing? Because we have NOT place God in His rightful place in our lives.

OUR INDIVIDUAL INVENTORY MAY REVEAL We have deviated from the lessons of integrity and obedience. What are the results? The Texts list 5.

HARVEST - Invest = little return.

FOOD SHORTAGE = hunger

THIRST = always desiring something more but never satisfied. (Thirsty)

CLOTHING = no outward protection

WAGES = little power to purchase

We can’t fool God about our finances. Acts 5

God is OMNIPRESENT. He sees our struggles and provides the solution. We must RESPOND.

SELF EXAMINATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH OUR PERSONAL RESPONSE. (7-8)

Your response to God can affect the entire group - ACHAN; JEHOSHAPHAT.

What is the solution God has provided?

go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Hag 1:8.

Our RESPONSE is to stretch ourselves.

We must make the effort/sacrifice …to build His house.

Why will He take pleasure in this? take pleasure = Hebrew is to signify God’s acceptance. ABEL’S OFFERING.

How will this honor God? - God is HONORED Because of His Will.

God’s Will is that His name be glorified throughout the earth. Remember His Name is on the Building.

Because God’s will is that is every person is brought to salvation. Remember that’s why He sent His Son.

Because God’s Will is the advancement of His Kingdom, not our own. Remember the Church is the visible representation of the future.

Because God is OMNISCIENT, He knows all things. He knows what WE need to do to get out of the mess we’ve created.

SELF EXAMINATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH OUR UNWAVERING TRUST (IN HIS GRACE). (9)

How can you say TRUST? No doubt some of US are led to ask, “Why has the Lord not prevented all of this?”

but TRUST His Grace - allows a harvest, even though it’s a little, it’s enough to get by.

TRUST allows us homes and families.

TRUST reminds us He power to change our circumstances when we glorify His name.

We glorify Him in many ways…And one of those ways is to Build His Church.

God is OMNIPOTENT. He alone has power to bless or blow it all away.

CLOSE: SELF EXAMINATION will lead us to the lessons of the past - We must make God our TOP PRIORITY.

We must not ignore His House. We must always CONSIDER HIS HOUSE.

Let’s activate our TRUST in God and not lean on our own understanding.

I encourage you to Respond to the call - Build Your Church.