The People Obey the Lord

Order of Service

Welcome

Prayer

Hymn -

Notices

Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm Wed

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm

Tithes & Offerings - £

Main Prayer

Hymn -

Reading

Haggai 1:12–15 ESV

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Sermon

A Favourable Response

Haggai 1:12 ESV

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.

Haggai has declared God’s declaration of consequence against the people for their selfishness and failing to put Him first

Poor economic situation

Few in numbers

29th August 520 BC

The response from Zerubbabel and Joshua was immediate (24th day - 18 years of failure) and decisive

coincides with fig and grape harvest season

purposeful, coordinated action within a reasonable timeframe constitutes genuine, immediate response to God’s command.

“All the remnant of the people”

remnant - few survivers / obedient to God

acknowledged that Haggai declared the Lord’s message

accepted the message

“The people feared the Lord” - demonstrated the appropriate reverence for the Lord and His Word

committed themselves to the work to which Haggai called them

Not all prophets were so fortunate

often many found a few listeners would respond

in other cases their messages went completely unheeded

Reassurance from the Prophet

Haggai 1:13 ESV

Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”

“I am with you” - the Lord’s encouragement to those who obey

A Renewed Commitment

Haggai 1:14–15 ESV

And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

“the Lord stirred up the spirit”

“they came and worked”

21st Sept 520 BC

Temple - Place of Worship, Individual Believer, Kingdom of Heaven

Three more messages:

each one providing at pivotal points the encouragement or prodding needed for the people to continue the work.

“be strong” & “Be courageous” encouragement to keep to task

maintaining spiritual and practical committments over time demands more than initial enthusiasm

reminders to stay on task, that’s not a character flaw but a normal feature of sustained obedience

whether a child, believer or ourselves

Examples of reluctant pathway to obedience

Jonah

Gideon when called to save Israel questioned God’s presence and his own adequacy

Jeremiah, when called, resisted saying “I am only a youth”

Conclusion

God’s dealings with reluctant obedience aren’t punitive but redemptive

His declaration of his commands are clear

His expectations are clear

The consequences are clear

It also shows God's example of enactment of Grace, Mercy and Love in His dealings with the stuborn sinful human nature of His People.

These passages are significant in understanding of our spiritual walk with God to see ourselves as God sees us

The goal isn’t compliance born of fear — but genuine obedience rooted in trust and understanding

An example to parents of how to bring up their children to obedience rather than to wrath.

Parents who recognize their children’s struggles as normal human resistance—not defiance—can offer encouragement and reassurance rather than punishment

Understanding ourselves as God sees us—capable despite our reluctance, worthy of patient guidance—transforms both our spiritual walk and our capacity to shepherd others toward genuine, heartfelt obedience.

Hymn -

Q&A

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology