First & Then

6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!

8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.

9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.

10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops.

11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”

1. First seek His Kingdom and Righteousness, Then blessings follow

1.1. Pursue a relationship with God

Matthew 6:33 “33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

1.2. Examine the outcome of your efforts

Haggai 1:5–6 “5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.””

1.3. First things first

Haggai 1:8 “8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.”

1.4. Trust God’s Timing

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

2. First sow on good soil, Then reap a bountiful harvest

Genesis 8:22 “22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.””

4 Laws of Sowing and Reaping

2.1 We reap what we sow

Galatians 6:7 “7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

2.2. We reap where we sow

Galatians 6:8 “8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

2.3. We reap after we sow

Galatians 6:9 “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

2.4. We reap more than we sow

Malachi 3:10 “10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

3. First repent, Then receive God’s Favor

3.1. Favor comes by faith

Ephesians 2:8–9 “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”

3.2. Favor follows the obedient

Proverbs 3:1–4 “1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

3.3. Favor ain’t fair - Be Loyal

2 Chronicles 16:9 “9 For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.””

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