2013:The Year of our Lord Haggai 1:5-8

It is interesting to note that the purpose of the BC AD dating system was to make the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. However, when the B.C. A.D. system was being calculated, they actually made a mistake in pinpointing the year of Jesus' birth. Scholars later discovered that Jesus was actually born around 4-6 BC, not 1 AD. That is not the crucial issue. The birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ are the "turning points" in world history. It is fitting, therefore, that Jesus Christ is the separation of "old" and "new." BC was "before Christ" and since His birth, we have been living "in the year of our Lord.

Why do we call call Him “Lord” O.T.- Yaweh

in N.T. Kyrios – diety Father or Son.

When we call Him Lord we are saying He is our Ruler or Master.

So is He… your Master… your Ruler if yes you should be encouraged by the message today… if not… let His Word encourage you to let Him have His way with you so that you can say 2013 the year of my Lord. Cause There will come a day…

Philippians 2:10-11, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Scripture context: The work on the Temple has now been ceased for fifteen years, and for the most part ignored, claiming “well it’s not time to rebuild” God sends Haggai & Zechariah with a message for God’s people that is still relevant today & fitting to kick off a New Year. Like a lot of the O.T. records of God’s dealings with Israelites

Their defective perspective led to selective objectives so they got an executive directive allowing them more effective objectives.

I. Consider your ways (v.7) (self-interest over God’s will)

their house/God’s house… here with the close of one year and birth of a new… good time to do an internal spiritual inventory

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5

[ Testing the Spirits ] Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28

But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. Galatians 6:4

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 1 Thessalonians 5:21

TRANSITION: The internal life of the sold out believer will bring about external movement or progress… Go up

II. Go up (v.8)

(16 examples of "Go" from Jesus) Take action or "Go up" to remedy our ways after consideration… if need remedied. If we are going right direction then we will want to continue to become more effective.

Matthew 5:24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Matthew 5:41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Matthew 6:6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Matthew 8:4 And Jesus *said to him, “ See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest

Matthew 8:32 And He said to them, “Go!” And they came out and went into the swine

Matthew 9:6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He *said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”

Matthew 9:13 But go and learn what this means: ‘ I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 10:6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Matthew 11:4 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

Matthew 14:22 [ Jesus Walks on the Water ] Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.

Matthew 18:15 [ Discipline and Prayer ] “ If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;

Matthew 21:2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me.

John 8:11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “ I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”]

John 15:16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

III. Bring wood (V.8)

-70 years (during captivity) He has allowed the trees to grow back… He provided the wood... God’s provision. God has provided you with gifts all that u need to carry out His will… & you are to use it for that reason…

Illus. Using What God Has Given

A man from out east had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch and had finally saved enough money to buy his dream spread in Wyoming. His best friend flew out to visit and asked, “So, what’s the name of your ranch?” His buddy told him that he had a really hard time coming up with a name that he liked. He and his wife couldn’t agree on what to call it so they settled on, “The Double R Lazy L Triple Horseshoe Bar-7 Lucky Diamond Ranch.”

His friend was really impressed and then asked, “So where are all the cows?” To which the new rancher replied, “We had quite a few…but none of them survived the branding!”

IV. Rebuild the temple (v.8)…

God has rebuilding for every one of us to do. For some of us He wants to rebuild our own lives, and our families, churches, communities, and nation… but not according to your interest… But it must be done God’s way, with God’s stuff, for God’s glory. v.8