CONSIDER YOUR WAYS
Notes
Transcript
PURPOSE:1. The Historical Purpose: Haggai preached with a singular purpose in mind, that of challenging and encouraging the LORD’s people to complete God’s work. The LORD Himself had given the returned exiles the task of rebuilding the temple. It was their charge and theirs alone; for that reason, it was to be their top priority. Tragically, the people allowed many distractions to get in their way. Haggai’s message was therefore timely and straightforward: the people needed to get their priorities in order to finish the work of the LORD.2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose: the book of Haggai is brief, but it contains an abundance of valuable and practical truths. Unfortunately, Haggai is often overlooked or even dismissed as irrelevant or too brief to deserve much attention, but this is a grave mistake. The message is of vital importance to believers in every age. Three great lessons stand out:
PURPOSE:1. The Historical Purpose: Haggai preached with a singular purpose in mind, that of challenging and encouraging the LORD’s people to complete God’s work. The LORD Himself had given the returned exiles the task of rebuilding the temple. It was their charge and theirs alone; for that reason, it was to be their top priority. Tragically, the people allowed many distractions to get in their way. Haggai’s message was therefore timely and straightforward: the people needed to get their priorities in order to finish the work of the LORD.2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose: the book of Haggai is brief, but it contains an abundance of valuable and practical truths. Unfortunately, Haggai is often overlooked or even dismissed as irrelevant or too brief to deserve much attention, but this is a grave mistake. The message is of vital importance to believers in every age. Three great lessons stand out:
Haggai 1: 1 “In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,”
Haggai 1: 1 “In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,”
I Chronicles :3 :17 “And the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,”
Ezra :5:2 “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak set out and began to build the house of God that is in Jerusalem. And with them the prophets of God were helping them.”
Haggai 1: 2 ““Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘This people says, “The time has not come to rebuild the temple of Yahweh.’ ””
Haggai 1: 2 ““Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘This people says, “The time has not come to rebuild the temple of Yahweh.’ ””
Haggai :1 :3 “And the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying,”
Haggai :1 :3 “And the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying,”
Haggai :1 : 4 ““Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your houses that have been paneled while this house is desolate?”
Haggai :1 : 4 ““Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your houses that have been paneled while this house is desolate?”
Haggai : 1 : 5 “And so then, thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!”
Haggai : 1 : 5 “And so then, thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!”
Haggai :1 :6 “You have sown much but have harvested little. You have eaten without being satisfied; you have drunk without being satiated; you have worn clothes without being warm; the one who earns wages puts it in a pouch with holes.’”
Haggai :1 :6 “You have sown much but have harvested little. You have eaten without being satisfied; you have drunk without being satiated; you have worn clothes without being warm; the one who earns wages puts it in a pouch with holes.’”
Deuteronomy :28: 38 ““You shall carry out much seed to the field, but you shall gather little produce, for the locust shall devour it.”
Haggai :1 :7 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!”
Haggai :1 :7 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Consider your ways!”
(Give Attention To.)
(Give Attention To.)
Haggai : 1: 8 “Go up the mountain and bring wood and build the house so that I may be pleased with it and honored,’ says Yahweh.”
Haggai : 1: 8 “Go up the mountain and bring wood and build the house so that I may be pleased with it and honored,’ says Yahweh.”
Ezra :3:7 “So they gave money to the stone craftsmen and skilled craftsmen, and food, drink, and olive oil to the Sidonians and Tyrians, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the authorization over them of Cyrus king of Persia.”
Haggai 1 : 9 “‘You have looked for much, and look! It came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ declares Yahweh of hosts. ‘Because my house is desolate and you are running each to your own house!”
Haggai 1 : 9 “‘You have looked for much, and look! It came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?’ declares Yahweh of hosts. ‘Because my house is desolate and you are running each to your own house!”
Haggai :1 :10
Haggai :1 :10
Haggai :1 :10 “Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld the dew and the earth has withheld its produce.”
Haggai :1 :10 “Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld the dew and the earth has withheld its produce.”
Leviticus: 26 :19 “And I will break the pride of your strength; and I will make your heaven like iron and your land like copper.”
Haggai :1 :11 “I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, on what the soil produces, on human beings and wild animals, and on all their labor.’ ””
Haggai :1 :11 “I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, on what the soil produces, on human beings and wild animals, and on all their labor.’ ””
Haggai :1 :12 “Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people gave heed to the voice of Yahweh their God and to the words of Haggai the prophet, as Yahweh their God had sent him, and the people feared Yahweh.”
Haggai :1 :12 “Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people gave heed to the voice of Yahweh their God and to the words of Haggai the prophet, as Yahweh their God had sent him, and the people feared Yahweh.”
Haggai :1 : 13 “And Haggai the messenger of Yahweh spoke to the people with the message of Yahweh, saying, “ ‘I am with you’ declares Yahweh.””
Haggai :1 : 13 “And Haggai the messenger of Yahweh spoke to the people with the message of Yahweh, saying, “ ‘I am with you’ declares Yahweh.””
Haggai :1 :14 “And Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and did the work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God,”
Haggai :1 :14 “And Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and did the work on the house of Yahweh of hosts, their God,”
Haggai :1 :15 “on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.”
Haggai :1 :15 “on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.”
Haggai :2 :1 “In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying,”
Haggai :2 :1 “In the seventh month on the twenty-first day, the word of Yahweh came through Haggai the prophet, saying,”
Haggai :2 :2 ““Speak Now: to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,”
Haggai :2 :2 ““Speak Now: to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,”
Haggai :2 :3 “‘Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing to you?”
Haggai :2 :3 “‘Who among you is left that saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it seem like nothing to you?”
Haggai :2 :4 “‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh. ‘Take courage, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and take courage, all the people of the land,’ declares Yahweh. ‘Do the work, because I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts,”
Haggai :2 :4 “‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares Yahweh. ‘Take courage, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and take courage, all the people of the land,’ declares Yahweh. ‘Do the work, because I am with you,’ declares Yahweh of hosts,”
Haggai 2 : 5 “‘according to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit is with you; do not be afraid.’” (fear ye not)
Haggai 2 : 5 “‘according to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit is with you; do not be afraid.’” (fear ye not)
Is. 63:11 “Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is the one who led up them from the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who puts his Holy Spirit inside him,”
Haggai :2 :6 “For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land.”
Haggai :2 :6 “For thus says Yahweh of hosts: ‘Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and dry land.”
Haggai :2 :7 “I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts.”
Haggai :2 :7 “I will shake all the nations so that the treasure of all the nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says Yahweh of hosts.”
Haggai :2 :8 “‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.”
Haggai :2 :8 “‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares Yahweh of hosts.”
Haggai :2 :9 “‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace’ declares Yahweh of hosts.’ ””
Haggai :2 :9 “‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says Yahweh of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace’ declares Yahweh of hosts.’ ””
(Bless)
(Bless)
Zech:2:5 “And I will be for it a wall of fire all around,’ declares Yahweh, ‘and I will be the glory in its midst.’ ””
Haggai :2 :10 “On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Haggai, saying,”
Haggai :2 :10 “On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Haggai, saying,”
1. The Historical Purpose: Haggai preached with a singular purpose in mind, that of challenging and encouraging the LORD’s people to complete God’s work. The LORD Himself had given the returned exiles the task of rebuilding the temple. It was their charge and theirs alone; for that reason, it was to be their top priority. Tragically, the people allowed many distractions to get in their way. Haggai’s message was therefore timely and straightforward: the people needed to get their priorities in order to finish the work of the LORD.
1. The Historical Purpose: Haggai preached with a singular purpose in mind, that of challenging and encouraging the LORD’s people to complete God’s work. The LORD Himself had given the returned exiles the task of rebuilding the temple. It was their charge and theirs alone; for that reason, it was to be their top priority. Tragically, the people allowed many distractions to get in their way. Haggai’s message was therefore timely and straightforward: the people needed to get their priorities in order to finish the work of the LORD.
2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose: the book of Haggai is brief, but it contains an abundance of valuable and practical truths. Unfortunately, Haggai is often overlooked or even dismissed as irrelevant or too brief to deserve much attention, but this is a grave mistake. The message is of vital importance to believers in every age. Three great lessons stand out.
2. The Doctrinal or Spiritual Purpose: the book of Haggai is brief, but it contains an abundance of valuable and practical truths. Unfortunately, Haggai is often overlooked or even dismissed as irrelevant or too brief to deserve much attention, but this is a grave mistake. The message is of vital importance to believers in every age. Three great lessons stand out.
I.a. First, disobedience to God is a frequent cause of believers’ struggles. Put another way, God’s blessings follow or depend upon our obedience. The returned exiles were experiencing a variety of difficulties and hardships such as poverty, divisiveness, and resistance to their work (1:5–11; see Ezr. 4). Through Haggai, the LORD explained exactly why this was so. The people were not being blessed because they were neglecting the work of the LORD. Rather than being diligent and persevering, the people had easily given up and begun to pursue their own interests. They were focusing on themselves while completely ignoring the LORD (1:3–4). Their disobedience was leading to one hardship after another.
I.a. First, disobedience to God is a frequent cause of believers’ struggles. Put another way, God’s blessings follow or depend upon our obedience. The returned exiles were experiencing a variety of difficulties and hardships such as poverty, divisiveness, and resistance to their work (1:5–11; see Ezr. 4). Through Haggai, the LORD explained exactly why this was so. The people were not being blessed because they were neglecting the work of the LORD. Rather than being diligent and persevering, the people had easily given up and begun to pursue their own interests. They were focusing on themselves while completely ignoring the LORD (1:3–4). Their disobedience was leading to one hardship after another.
II.
II.
b. Second, and similarly, the LORD must come first in our lives. Just as God gave the returned exiles a special job to do, God has given every believer a special task on earth. We are called to walk closely with the LORD, to trust Him, to put Him first in life. Doing God’s will must be our top priority.
b. Second, and similarly, the LORD must come first in our lives. Just as God gave the returned exiles a special job to do, God has given every believer a special task on earth. We are called to walk closely with the LORD, to trust Him, to put Him first in life. Doing God’s will must be our top priority.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33).
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33).
III.c. Third, we must believe in, cling to, and hold on to God’s promises throughout life. No matter how faithfully we walk with the LORD, we will still face hardships. Difficulties are a part of life. God allows hardships to test us, strengthen us, and draw us nearer to Himself. Still, we must persevere and never give up. To encourage the returned exiles, the LORD reminded them that they had been specially chosen by Him, called to do His work. God also reminded them that He was with them, helping and sustaining them to get their work done. These are the great promises God gives to every believer, and we must trust these promises fully. God will provide every resource we need as long as we depend on Him.
III.c. Third, we must believe in, cling to, and hold on to God’s promises throughout life. No matter how faithfully we walk with the LORD, we will still face hardships. Difficulties are a part of life. God allows hardships to test us, strengthen us, and draw us nearer to Himself. Still, we must persevere and never give up. To encourage the returned exiles, the LORD reminded them that they had been specially chosen by Him, called to do His work. God also reminded them that He was with them, helping and sustaining them to get their work done. These are the great promises God gives to every believer, and we must trust these promises fully. God will provide every resource we need as long as we depend on Him.
SUMMARY:
SUMMARY:
⇒ God’s Call to His People: Reject a Negative Spirit and Be Strong (2:1–9).⇒ God’s Call to His People: Be Holy, Trust and Obey Me (2:10–19).⇒ God’s Call to His People: Believe My Promises (2:20–23).2. Haggai is “The Great Book That Calls Us to Practical Living—to Living for God and Putting Him and His Work First.” As believers, we have been chosen by God to know and serve the LORD, chosen to be blessed and to make a difference in this world for Him. Therefore, we need to finish the work of the LORD. This means that we must make God first priority in our lives. As we do our part to help build God’s kingdom, we must reject discouragement and a negative spirit. Life itself can be difficult—sometimes serving the LORD even more so—but God has given us the promises of His Word to sustain us. All of His resources are available to us. Our part, then, is to live holy lives before Him, learning to trust and obey God completely.
⇒ God’s Call to His People: Reject a Negative Spirit and Be Strong (2:1–9).⇒ God’s Call to His People: Be Holy, Trust and Obey Me (2:10–19).⇒ God’s Call to His People: Believe My Promises (2:20–23).2. Haggai is “The Great Book That Calls Us to Practical Living—to Living for God and Putting Him and His Work First.” As believers, we have been chosen by God to know and serve the LORD, chosen to be blessed and to make a difference in this world for Him. Therefore, we need to finish the work of the LORD. This means that we must make God first priority in our lives. As we do our part to help build God’s kingdom, we must reject discouragement and a negative spirit. Life itself can be difficult—sometimes serving the LORD even more so—but God has given us the promises of His Word to sustain us. All of His resources are available to us. Our part, then, is to live holy lives before Him, learning to trust and obey God completely.