On Priorities

The Command to Rebuild the Temple

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.” 3 Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

7 “Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the LORD. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

The People Obey the LORD

12 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. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” 14 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, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

I’d like to take a moment to welcome everyone here this morning. Some may be new to church, some may be wondering about God and Christianity, and some may have lost faith or experienced pain due to people in the church. I’m glad that each of you are here, and I want you to know that you are safe and loved. I will also warn you that I will not be able to answer all of your questions, meet all of your needs, or heal all of your wounds. But don’t give up hope, Jesus Christ can do more than we ask or think, and I pray that he makes himself known to you this morning.

We’re going to be looking at a portion of writing from the Old Testament. The Bible is the most important book for Christians, and in it we believe are the very words of God spoken to his people across all time. The Bible is divided into two parts: the first part is called the Old Testament and the second part is called the New Testament. So we’re going to be going to the first part together. And it’s actually quite bigger than the second part. There are lots of stories and poetry and the detailed history of an entire nation. Please don’t check out because I said “history.” I want you all to be captivated by this book, because it has something to say to each of us.

Just over 15 years have passed since the Jews returned to their homeland from decades of exile in Babylon. In 538 BC, King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing them to go home and rebuild the destroyed temple of God in Jerusalem. Upon their arrival they were able to quickly lay the foundation, but it was not long before they began to face fierce opposition to their project from others dwelling in the same land. Eventually, construction came to a halt, and a foundation of national apathy began to solidify. The Jews decided to shift their focus to their own lives and general well-being. Times got harder. Repeated droughts struck the land, and in turn, the output of their crops. Despite their efforts to stay wealthy, warm, and well-fed, they couldn’t. They had hoped to see the desert transformed into a landscape of blossoming beauty, but instead signs of life and hope seemed to disappear. If things would only get better, they could finish building the temple! In the meantime, they simply had to take care of themselves.

Welcome

Just over 15 years have passed since the Jews returned to their homeland from decades of exile in Babylon. In 538 BC, King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing them to go home and rebuild the destroyed temple of God in Jerusalem. Upon their arrival they were able to quickly lay the foundation, but it was not long before they began to face fierce opposition to their project from others dwelling in the same land. Eventually, construction came to a halt, and a foundation of national apathy began to solidify. The Jews decided to shift their focus to their own lives and general well-being. Times got harder. Repeated droughts struck the land, and in turn, the output of their crops. Despite their efforts to stay wealthy, warm, and well-fed, they couldn’t. They had hoped to see the desert transformed into a landscape of blossoming beauty, but instead signs of life and hope seemed to disappear. If things would only get better, they could finish building the temple! In the meantime, they simply had to take care of themselves.

It is in this context that God opens his mouth to speak to his people through the mouth of the prophet Haggai. In 520 BC, over a period of about 3 months, Haggai delivers a series of 4 messages from God to Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest. This morning we are going to look at the first of these 4 messages, and seek to understand what it is that God intended for his people then. Beyond that, if it is true that Christians are also called the people of God, then we should seek to understand what it is that God intends for his people today. So my goal is to persuade you that God not only had a message for Israel in 520 BC, but that he also has a message for the Church in 2017 AD.

Raise your hand if you have ever started something without finishing it.

There are many things I have started but not finished. Most of the time, they are small things that probably don’t need to be finished. But sadly, this tendency toward apathy has at times affected the most important area of my life. I would argue that there is no area of our lives of greater importance than that of our relationships with other people, and most of all, our relationship with God. It is in these araeas that apathy can have significant consequences. Because when it comes to relationships, there is no greater joy or blessing than when we obey God. I believe that if we fail to obey God, we cannot know true life. Am I suggesting that we need to be perfect to experience blessing? Absolutely not! I am suggesting that we need to be willing. Let me tell you a little bit about a nation that would not have experienced God’s blessing and joy if he had not stepped in to remind them of what was most important.

It’s been 15 years since the Jews returned to their homeland from decades of exile in Babylon. In 538 BC, King Cyrus of Persia issued a decree allowing them to go home and rebuild the destroyed temple of God in Jerusalem. Upon their arrival they were able to quickly lay the foundation, but it was not long before they began to face fierce opposition to their project from others dwelling in the same land. Eventually, construction came to a halt, and a foundation of national apathy began to solidify. The Jews decided to shift their focus to their own lives and general well-being. Times got harder. Repeated droughts struck the land, and in turn, the output of their crops. Despite their efforts to stay wealthy, warm, and well-fed, they couldn’t. They had hoped to see the desert transformed into a landscape of blossoming beauty, but instead signs of life and hope seemed to disappear. If things would only get better, they could finish building the temple! In the meantime, they simply had to take care of themselves.

(ESV)

It is in this context that God opens his mouth to speak to his people through the mouth of the prophet Haggai. In 520 BC, over a period of about 3 months, Haggai delivers a series of 4 messages from God to Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest. This morning we are going to look at the first of these 4 messages, and seek to understand what it is that God intended for his people then. Beyond that, if it is true that Christians are also called the people of God, then we should seek to understand what it is that God intends for his people today. So my goal is to persuade you that God not only had a message for Israel in 520 BC, but that he also has a message for the Church in 2017 AD.

The message is the same both then and now:

Let’s go and read Haggai chapter one together. Haggai is the name of a prophet, spelled “H-A-G-G-A-I.” You could typr that into your bible app, or if you have a white paperback bible with the letters “ESV” at the top, you can turn to page 461. We are going to be about 15 pages before the New Testament. So listen to the word of the LORD as I read .

The Command to Rebuild the Temple

Haggai 1:1–15 ESV

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.” 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.

Haggai 1:1–11 ESV

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

The People Obey the Lord

12 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. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 14 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, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Haggai 1:1–11 ESV

In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest: “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

There are three things that God does in Haggai chapter one that emphasize this point:

God confronts his people.

God commands his people.

God comforts his people.

By Identifying Their Misplaced Priorities

“Consider your ways.”

Reflect

Prioritize

“Consider Your Ways”

Reflect On Your Life

(ESV)

Reflect

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Haggai 1:2–6 ESV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Reflect

(ESV)

Haggai 1:3–6 ESV

Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes.

Prioritize

Reflect

Prioritize

(ESV)

Haggai 1:9–11 ESV

You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

Something happened to Israel’s passion for God’s purpose. Opposition, discouragement, and self-interest had led them to prioritize their own comfort over the glory of their God. This pattern of slowly drifting from the main goal is only natural for human beings. What’s natural for you and I is to fear, worry, and doubt…all of which disrupt focus and kill passion. We begin to craft our own timeline, believing that we know what’s best. We may not necessarily become lazy, but we work very hard for the wrong reasons. At some point, we become aware of the fruitlessness of our efforts, but we fail to consider that maybe things are difficult because we have neglected the most important thing: the glory of God.

Are you trying as hard as possible to

We can see here in Haggai that God doesn’t hesitate to point out the core issue: misplaced priorities. He says, “consider your ways.”

God confronts all of his people. He says to you and I, “consider your ways.”

What are your misplaced priorities?

Where are you striving to find fulfillment and satisfaction, only to be disappointed?

Are you waiting for your circumstances to change before you feel ready to serve the LORD?

What are your misplaced priorities?

Consider your ways.

By Inviting Them Into His Purpose

Israel’s mandate: “Build my temple!”

“Build my temple!”

B

(ESV)

"Build The House”

Israel’s Mandate: “Go and build my temple!”

(ESV)

Haggai 1:7–8 ESV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.

The Church’s Mandate: “Go and make disciples!”

(ESV)

John 15:8 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Don’t wait to have your life completely together before you answer the call to serve God and his people!

Make Disciples

Regardless of their circumstances, they must build the temple. God’s glory is at stake. He said it once, and he’ll say it again: build the temple. God is glorified among the nations through his people when he dwells in their midst. This is what sets God’s people apart from the world: their God is the only God, and he is holy, and he makes sinners righteous, and he comes to them and dwells in their midst. Nothing will ever truly be better unless God is with them. Ultimately, true blessing is not found in health or wealth, but in the presence of God.

God’s glory is at stake!

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Regardless of their circumstances, they must build the temple. Why? God says, “So that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified.” God’s glory is at stake. And how is he glorified? When he dwells in the midst of his people. He’s glorified when he can be seen in the lives of his people. But when his house lies in ruins, and the people busy themselves with their own houses, there’s no glory there. It’s time for them to build the temple. It’s time for them to obey. If they don’t, their problems will continue.

How will the people do it? There might still be opposition. There might still be drought and famine.

They will do it with God’s help.

By Imparting His Presence and Power

(ESV)

"I Am With You”

The People Obey the Lord

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.

12 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. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 14 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, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Disciple

(ESV)

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20

As long as they obey him, they need not worry about the how. God is with them, and he will provide for all of their needs.

There is no greater blessing than for God himself to dwell among his people. This is what sets God’s people apart from the world: their God is the only God, and he is holy, and he makes sinners righteous, and he comes to them and dwells in their midst. Ultimately, true blessing is not found in health or wealth, but in the presence and power of God.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

If God is not for us, we can certainly imagine the terrible consequences...

Has something happened to your passion for the things of God?

Have you hoped for something that hasn’t come?

Prioritize

Are you waiting for your circumstances to change before you decide to go all in?

Israel’s Mandate: “Go and build my temple!”

So hopefully you now understand what it is that God intended for his people in 520 BC. But what does God intend for his people in 2017? These days, the people of God are known as Christians.

God gave a mandate to Israel: “Build my temple!”

God has also given a mandate to the Church: “Make disciples!”

Israel’s Mandate: “Build my temple!”

The Church’s Mandate: “Make disciples!”

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The reason we are to make disciples is the same reason the Jews were to build the temple: that God would be glorified!

John

John 15:8 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

And it is not by accident that the apostle Paul describes the Church as God’s temple.

(ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

(ESV)

When we make disciples, we are building the temple. And just like Israel was challenged to put their self-interests aside for the sake of God and others, you and I must do the same if we are to be obedient to God’s command.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Maybe you’re wondering, “Asa, how do I do this? Building a temple sounds pretty simple. But how do I make disciples?”

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(ESV)

Mark 12:29–31 ESV

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

John 15:8 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

He says to you and I, “consider your ways.”

Has something happened to your passion for the things of God?

Where are you striving to find fulfillment and satisfaction, only to be disappointed?

Are you waiting for your circumstances to change before you decide it’s time to serve the LORD?

What are your misplaced priorities?

Are you waiting for your circumstances to change before you decide to respond to God’s never-changing mandate?

Reflect on and prioritize your life.

Obey God’s commands.

Maybe God is withholding his blessing because of disobedience.

Be strong and trust God’s goodness.

The Israelites were commanded to “build the temple.” You and I are commanded to make disciples.

Will we wait, or will we trust and obey?

In everything you do, do it all for the glory of God.

He is with us, and he will give us strength to succeed in our mission.

Let us consider our ways, our misplaced priorities.

If you have questions about anything you’ve heard this morning, or a concern with something I’ve said, I would love to connect with you. Please stick around after the service to talk with me, or email me at pastorasa@northlifechurch.ca

At this time the ushers will come forward to receive the offering. If you’re visiting this morning, we do not expect you to give any money. But we certainly don’t want to keep you from giving if God is leading you to. Let’s stand as Erin leads us in a closing song together.

Let us build the house, we are commanded to make disciples.

And be encouraged, God is with us. He will give us strength and we will surely succeed in our mission.

On Priorities

​

Consider Your Ways

Consider Your Ways

Consider Your Ways

Introduction

Build The House

Consider Your Ways

Build The House

Consider Your Ways

Overview

Overview

Overview

Main Point: Obedience To God Brings Him Glory and Must Be Our Priority

Consider Your Ways

Build the House

Pray

Main Point: Obedience To God Brings Him Glory and Must Be Our Priority

God Confronts His People

God Commands His People

God Comforts His People

God Confronts His People God Commands His People God Comforts His People

God Confronts His People God Commands His People God Comforts His People

God Confronts His People

Things for you and I to consider...

I Am With You

I Am With You

I Am With You

God Confronts His People: “Consider Your Ways”

God Commands His People

God Commands His People: “Build The House”

God Comforts His People

God Comforts His People: “I Am With You”

Conclusion

What About The Church?

Conclusion

“Make Disciples”

Conclusion

God Confronts His People

God Commands His People

God Comforts His People

Main Point: Obedience to God Brings Him Glory and Must Be Our Priority

Pray