Re: Committing to God given Purpose
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This morning we are in a series entitled RE.. The word Re is the “prefix” for many restorative words… we talk about renewal, refreshing, refueling, rethinking, re purposing… remodeling
--- The word Re means to do something again..
We are going to be looking at the word recommit… and what it means to Commit ourselves to a God given Purpose..
When we talk about Committing to a God given purpose…There is the implication that there is a point to life — life is more than a string of random events..
When my brother Robert was a teenager…he was wrestling with Christianity and Faith… you could say he was indifferent to Christianity…
God had a purpose for Rob and
Dwane share with Rob that God had a much better plan than what was written on His key chain… the timing was right and he made received the gift salvation…
that God had a much better plan than what was written on His key chain… the timing was right and Rob received the gift salvation… God had a purpose for Rob and he has a plan for each of us.
I remember this one weekend when pastor Dwane Udd and evangelist... stayed at our house and he went outside and spoke to Rob while he was working on his motorbike… Rob had this Key chain… that had the word written on it “born to loose” Dwane share with Rob the Gospel… Christ died for him and that God had a much better plan than what was written on His key chain… the timing was right and Rob received the gift salvation…Rob life changed dramatically… There is a point to life… life has purpose and meaning.
that not only did God create with intention - but that there is and end goal..and it includes... our good and His glory…
Life is not the random mess which it may sometimes appear.…
Life is not the random mess which it may sometimes appear.…
God has two purposes in that plan: our good and His glory.
is probably the best known verse in the Bible..
John Stott say that is the best known verse in the Bible..give much comfort like that pillow we lay heads on..
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
The Bible teaches us that …God has a plan....
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Paul tells us that not only do we have a purpose but that God is ceaselessly, energetically and purposefully active on our behalf. His purpose is for our our ultimate Good and His Glory… Regardless of your station in life or the circumstances you find yourself in....God is working all things together for good... … There is Nothing in our lives that is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
It is not so much the destination but a process of walking in obedience....Oswald Chambers tells us that…
The Message of Romans a. Five Unshakeable Convictions (28)
Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence.
High Definition Commentary: Romans Romans 8:18–30
It is not our definition of what good looks like—rather, God’s purposes determine the good
God is working all things.. … good, bad and the ugly are working towards God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
My Utmost for His Highest July 28th—After Obedience—What?
God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future
That is that all things… good, bad and the ugly are seen as having a positive outcome in God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
God works good for those who are called according to his purpose… The word purpose is prothesis… which means plan or intention... It is — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides planned actions… God has a plan… and it includes us… the church are those who have been called out… for purpose… There is divine intention… in calling…
iour definition of what good looks like—rather, God’s purposes determine the good…God is working all things.. … good, bad and the ugly are working towards God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
God that is presumed as the undergirding and directing force behind all the events of life’.
It is — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides planned actions.
That is that all things… good, bad and the ugly are seen as having a positive outcome in God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
God is working all things.. … good, bad and the ugly are working towards God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence…
Over the past few weeks we have been in the book of Haggai… HAGGAI MESSAGE TO Judah that God has a PLAN and a PURPOSE … That is the rebuilding of the temple.... The book of Haggai is a plea for God’s people to commit to God’s purposes… often we say that we need the right people before we can make a difference in the world… just need good people....
.
Philip Brooks said,
“It does not take great men to do great things; it only takes consecrated men.”
Which leads us to the question of our commitments..
We commitment.
We commit ourselves to family, to our work... to exercise… to personal growth…the bottom line is that we commit to things that we value… Now sometime this can become a little blurry...
is not so much the destination but a process of walking in obedience..In order to walk in obedience in the now.. we need to think about the things that we are commited to… often these are the things that we deem important…
God is presumed as the undergirding and directing force behind all the events of life (moo) God is working things… He is ceaselessly, energetically and purposefully active on our behalf. His purpose is for our Good and His Glory… That all things… good, bad and the ugly are seen as having a positive outcome in God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence… God has a saving purpose, and is working in accordance with it.
He is ceaselessly, energetically and purposefully active on our behalf. His purpose is for our Good and His Glory… That all things… good, bad and the ugly are seen as having a positive outcome in God’s eternal plan. Nothing is beyond the overruling, overriding scope of his providence… God has a saving purpose, and is working in accordance with it.
Commitment is an important word.
In order to walk in obedience in the now.. we need to think about the things that we are commited to… often these are the things that we deem important…
We commit ourselves to family, to our jobs…our business... to exercise… to friends… we commit to things that we value…
We commit ourselves to family, to our jobs…our business... to exercise… to friends… we commit to things that we value…
Things that we consider important can change over time…and priorities can change… We have to discriminate when we commit…because you cannot be commited to everything.
How do we determine the things that we are to commit too and the things that we need to let go of? Sometimes is difficult to make out the forest from the trees… right..
Sometimes is difficult to make out the forest from the trees… right..
Forty years ago there was a neglected and sagging house was marked for demolition when the city of Ipswich in MA needed a new parking lot. Residents of the area recognized the historic value of the old home, and fought to save it from the bulldozers.
They feared that the destruction of the old house meant losing touch with the past. Today, the house is a permanent display at the National Museum of American History. Though visitors can not actually go inside the structure, they can look through windows and cut away walls to get a sense of what it was like to live in the house during various periods of American history.
Fresh Sermons Can You Spare Some “Change?”
Forty years ago, the neglected and sagging house was marked for demolition when the city of Ipswich needed a new parking lot. Residents of the area recognized the historic value of the old home, and fought to save it from the bulldozers. They feared that the destruction of the old house meant losing touch with the past. Today, the house is a permanent display at the National Museum of American History. Though visitors can not actually go inside the structure, they can look through windows and cut away walls to get a sense of what it was like to live in the house during various periods of American history.
The question is what should we change and what should we preserve? Life is all about answering these kinds of qualifying questions.... I am a big fan of thinking through what is working and what is not working…
Learning to stop and reflect is a powerful device… When you do this you see that there is opportunities to recast our future… by separating the things in our life that we need to change and the things that need to stay the same.
We have the opportunity to recast our future… by separating the things in our life that we need to change and the things that need to stay the same.
Some houses do need to be torn down, but some need to be put into museums. And some things in our lives need to change, and others need to stay the same.
That process begins when we honestly re-evaluate our core values. What are your values, the things that you’ll fight and die for? What are the things that make you uniquely you?
In order to do this you have to get passed the window dressings of your life and drill down to the core. If we are to Dig deep and you’ll discover values like these-values that define who you are. You will also discover, if you are honest in your reflection, some areas of your life that need to change.
Be sure to get passed the window dressings of your life-drill down to the core.
A practical device that we could use to motivate us is the “What if” Question?
For instance, you may define yourself as a young person, an attractive person or a healthy person. Some of those things will definitely change. You can’t stop father time from making you older. Get passed those surface things, drill deep, discover who you are.
What if we prayed and Revival hit our church this year?
What if we invited more families to church?
Revival hit our church this year?
What if our church became evangelistic in our outreach?
What if I commited to praying for my family?
The message of Haggai… Is basically… a call to reflect....Consider your ways? It is a values question.
Dig deep and you’ll discover values like these-values that define who you are. You will also discover, if you are honest in your reflection, some areas of your life that need to change. I
Those enduring values are the continental divide of your soul. They are the things that cannot, and should not change. Things
The Jews who were taken into Exile by the Babylonians have now returned to Jerusalem - And under the leadership of the governor Zerbubabel and the priest Joshua… they have a God give Purpose and that is to to rebuild the Temple—
Fresh Sermons Can You Spare Some “Change?”
During this time of the year, we reflect upon the past and rethink our future. While we reflect, we have a great opportunity to recast our future by separating the things in our life that we need to change and the things that need to stay the same. Some houses do need to be torn down, but some need to be put into museums. And some things in our lives need to change, and others need to stay the same.
That process begins when we honestly re-evaluate our core being. What are your values, the things that you’ll fight and die for? What are the things that make you uniquely you? Be sure to get passed the window dressings of your life-drill down to the core.
For instance, you may define yourself as a young person, an attractive person or a healthy person. Some of those things will definitely change. You can’t stop father time from making you older. Get passed those surface things, drill deep, discover who you are.
Those enduring values are the continental divide of your soul. They are the things that cannot, and should not change. Things
We are back in the book of Haggai… where the Jews have returned after 48 years of exile in Babylon…
If something looses value in our thinking process our commitment will wavier....
Let me give you an example - You may have served in a ministry…
We are back in the book of Haggai… where the Jews have returned after 48 years of exile in Babylon…
they are the right the people and the right time… called for a unique purpose...
but they got discouraged by pressure from those who opposed the vision... Need to understand that their is always going to be opposition to vision… Vision is not your priority… it’s not my priority… It’s God priority… the fact that we are living in a fallen world means there will always be opposing forces to vision.
What
the temple no longer becomes the priority… they will get it to it some time…
opposition led them to their priorities shifted…from task of rebuilding the temple to building their own homes… Sixteen years later the temple should have been rebuilt but it still lay in ruins...
And for 16 years the temple remains in ruins...
Their priorities shifted…from task of rebuilding the temple to building their own homes… Sixteen years later the temple should have been rebuilt but it still lay in ruins...
Haggai’s message is simply..
Reflect -
Repent -
Reflect on your life - Repent from your past ways-… Be Restored in your relationship to God - Start Rebuilding ---- Commit and recommit your life.... this is ongoing.
Tim Keller points out that this is the natural progress of Faith...
“Faith begins with understanding, which leads to conviction and completes itself in commitment.”
discouraged by out side pressure and the building stops for 16 years…
Repented -
something looses value in our thinking process our commitment will wavier....
“Faith begins with understanding, which leads to conviction and completes itself in commitment.”
and the building stops for 16 years…
Commitment to a God Vision is what it is going to take to reach a God given purpose…
Restored -
The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive Noah and the Reasons of Faith; Faith as Understanding
Faith begins with understanding, which leads to conviction and completes itself in commitment
Commitment is what it is going to take to reach the goal...
Rebuilding -
Remembering and Recommitments.
T/s If we are going to be committed to His purposes there are three areas that need alignment..
If something looses value in our thinking process our commitment will wavier....
1. God’s Purposes and our values.
1. God’s Purposes and our values.
1. Commitment to Realign our values.
1. Commitment to Realign our values.
Have you ever had alignment issues with your car? …You are on the highway and your car keeps drifting to the side of the road… you might your car is pulling to the right…Now you have two choices you can continue driving your car like this.. which means that you are always…holding your steering wheel off centered… or you can go into the shop and have car aligned..
Alignment means understanding that God has a purpose for you. Purpose is tied to the seasons of life.. Life is full of different seasons and each one looks a little different… Solomon recognized this and in Ecclesiastes lists 28 seasons that one can go through...
What we need to understand is what season you are in right now… Life is full of different seasons and each one looks a little different… Solomon recognized this and in Ecclesiates lists 28 seasons that one can go through...
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
Simplify Chapter Nine: From Stuck to Moving On
Some seasons are easy to identify; others are less distinct.
Identifying your current season is vital to simplifying your life. It equips you to be more fully present and engaged
Some seasons are easy to identify; others are less distinct. Identifying your current season is vital to fulfilling your purpose… You aren’t in your current season by accident. God’s hand is in it, and there’s a purpose to His activity. What does God want to teach you during this unique, never-to-be-exactly-repeated season?
Simplify Chapter Nine: From Stuck to Moving On
You aren’t in your current season by accident. God’s hand is in it, and there’s a purpose to His activity. What does God want to teach you during this unique, never-to-be-exactly-repeated season?
Some seasons are easy to identify; others are less distinct. Identifying your current season is vital to fulfilling your purpose…
Identifying your current season is vital to simplifying your life. It equips you to be more fully present and engaged
This is what can happen to our values… Values are the things in our lives that we deem important… They keep us going in the right direction...
Israel was meant to be in a season of rebuilding… but they got distracted.
We normally live from values… but at times our purpose and our values get out of sinc…
God uses Haggai’s message to bring alignment to their purpose..
Prophets were often despised because they said said the hard things… they tackled the issues that everyone would rather avoid Haggai’s first message is simply — Consider your ways… you have tried living for yourself… How is it working out.... You built paneled houses… but you always are lacking… you never have enough.. The second message is I am with you… start building because the latter Glory the temple is going to surpass the former Glory… It is going to look different..... but God is in it -
Prophets were often despised because they said said the hard things… the issues that everyone would just rather avoid all together…
Haggai’s first message is simply — Consider your ways… you have tried living for yourself… How is it working out.... You built paneled houses… but you always are lacking… you never have enough..
Haggais second message is God is with you… the latter temple is going to be more glorious than the first temple..
Haggai’s second message is God is with you… the latter temple is going to be more glorious than the first temple..
has presented the argument that they need to consider how they build their lives… They have built houses for themselves… but they still continually in need…
The Third message is about being committed to the right values..
So what is important is to make sure we a commited to the Right things.
Haggai encourages them… the Lord is with them… spirit ignites their hearts… they return to building...
If we are going to commit to values we need to make sure they are the right values…
Someone might read the book of Haggai… and conclude that God wants us to build buildings….
Because the presence of the temple ment that people would become Holy because there is now a temple… Haggai message is that the people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
The people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
The Teacher’s Commentary 76: Hag.—Putting God First
What basis then is there for hope? Haggai’s response is, essentially, God’s grace.
God is good to us, not because we deserve it, and not because His presence makes us holy, but simply because He has chosen to bless us
The people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
We will kind of miss the point of Haggai if we make just about the physical temple because…
What Haggai is pushing on is that God values People and His presence…by the way... These are the only two things that have eternal values… everything else that we value… is temporal.
The scripture is clear that the Church is not about the physical plant the building ...but rather the church is made up of people… People gather in a place where they sense and know his presence… God’s ultimate desire… is to dwell among and in his people.
If it was about temple building then it would be about better materials… As we get towards the NT - God is not in the building business… but inhabiting people business… that’s why Haggai says the latter Glory will be greater than the former glory.. God’s presence come and live within believers.
If we don’t value People and His presence… two things that are dear to God… Even though we are committed to things that might even be good… we are operating from the wrong value system… we are then committed to the wrong things…
The prophet Haggai has a way of presenting truth that challenges our presuppositions and assumptions… I have made some assumptions about ministry…and been wrong…
God is good to us, not because we deserve it, and not because His presence makes us holy, but simply because He has chosen to bless us
The prophet Haggai has a way of presenting truth that challenges our presuppositions and assumptions… I have made some assumptions about ministry…and been wrong…
Assume we just have great worship music… they will come...
Great preaching… they will come..
build the building they will come..
Have the right program they will come..
Haggai presses hard on some of my and maybe some of your assumptions. He is going to use a parable that is going to press on assumption that you have held to be true...
Committed to a ministry… committed to
This is what Haggai is going to bring to the attention of the Priests… through telling them a parable…
This is what Haggai is going to bring to the attention of the Priests… through telling them a parable…
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet,
11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law:
12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”
14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.
15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord,
hag 2:10-
Like the parables that Jesus taught the purpose is to use a story to teach us a deeper truth… if the priest who was caring meat which is consecrated to be offered to God in his apron… touched something along the way does what ever he touch immediately become Holy…
the answer is No…
Among those working on the rebuilding project there were some, if not many, who thought that if they just got that building reconstructed, it would be like a good luck charm.
inhabiting people business… that’s why
This why Haggai says in verse...
Since they rebuilt God’s temple, He would bless them with a bountiful harvest.
Haggai says… does your building the temple sanctify… people… a nation..... looking at the wrong thing… What spreads is not you good works or efforts…The opposite is true… if a priest touches a dead body… it is going defiled everything he touches is defiled...
it is always easier to spread spiritual pollution and defilement than it is to spread holiness and virtue. Haggai is dealing with the issue of trying to figure out a formula...
Haggai is dealing with the issue of trying to figure out a formula...
We are wanting the formula to success… chasing after the principle instead of the principled one… We more concerned about.... the ends that the means of getting there...
We will kind of miss the point of Haggai if we make just about the physical temple because… What Haggai is pushing on is that God values People and His presence…by the way... These are the only two things that have eternal values… everything else that we value… is temporal.
What Haggai is pushing on is that God values People and His presence…by the way... These are the only two things that have eternal values… everything else that we value… is temporal.
The scripture is clear that the Church is not about the physical plant the building ...but rather the church is made up of people… People gather in a place where they sense and know his presence… God’s ultimate desire… is to dwell among and in his people.
What Haggai’s message reveals is that the exiles hearts were not right before God. They were not drawing near to Him with clean hands and pure hearts - David talks about our approach to God.
If it was about temple building then it would be about better materials… As we get towards the NT - God is not in the building business… but inhabiting people business… that’s why Haggai says the latter Glory will be greater than the former glory.. God’s presence come and live within believers.
If we don’t value People and His presence… two things that are dear to God… Even though we are committed to things that might even be good… we are operating from the wrong value system… we are then committed to the wrong things…
The prophet Haggai has a way of presenting truth that challenges our presuppositions and assumptions… I have made some assumptions about ministry…and been wrong…
2.
Assume we just have great worship music… they will come...
Great preaching… they will come..
build the building they will come..
Have the right program they will come..
Haggai presses hard on some of my and maybe some of your assumptions. He is going to use a parable that is going to press on assumption that you have held to be true...
The Exiles motives were wrong
Their hearts were not right before God. They were not drawing near to Him with clean hands and pure hearts - David talks about our approach to God.
But their hearts were not right before God. They were not drawing near to Him with clean hands and pure hearts (
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully.
God is saying that during the sixteen-year period when the temple was neglected, the people may have thought themselves holy because they were back in the Holy Land and the holy city, but in fact they were defiled because of their disobedience. The result was that everything they did was polluted—the harvests were poor and economic and commercial life had declined. God reminded them of this.
Outward religion is never enough… never the standard is never going to cut it…
T/s If we are going to be committed to His purposes there are three areas that need alignment..
God looks on the heart..
1. God’s Purposes and our values.
2. God’s Purposes and our Assumptions
2. God’s Purposes and our Assumptions
1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 983: Confronting Big John
One day a bus driver was driving along his usual route when a big hulk of a man got on. He was six feet eight inches tall, built like a wrestler, and his arms hung to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, “Big John doesn’t pay!” Then he sat at the back of the bus.
The driver was five feet three inches tall, thin, and very meek, so he didn’t argue with Big John. But he wasn’t happy.
The next day the same thing happened, and the next. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for bodybuilding, karate, judo, and self-esteem classes. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become stronger and more confident. So when Big John entered the bus and again declared, “Big John doesn’t pay!” the driver finally took him on. He stood up, glared at Big John, and bellowed, “And why not?”
With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, “Big John has a bus pass.
One day a bus driver was driving along his usual route when a big hulk of a man got on. He was six feet eight inches tall, built like a wrestler, and his arms hung to the ground. He glared at the driver and told him, “Big John doesn’t pay!” Then he sat at the back of the bus.
The driver was five feet three inches tall, thin, and very meek, so he didn’t argue with Big John. But he wasn’t happy.
The next day the same thing happened, and the next. The bus driver began to lose sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.
Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for bodybuilding, karate, judo, and self-esteem classes. By the end of the summer, the bus driver had become stronger and more confident. So when Big John entered the bus and again declared, “Big John doesn’t pay!” the driver finally took him on. He stood up, glared at Big John, and bellowed, “And why not?”
So why is it important be Committed to the Right things?
With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, “Big John has a bus pass.”
Assumptions are the things that we have come to believe to be true with out any real evidence.
If we are going to commit to values we need to make sure they are the right values… not assumptions...
You could read the book of Haggai… and make the assumption that God wants us to build buildings…. Build the building and people will come…
maybe that God will provide wealth… There is a verse that says.
And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
Hag
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
What happened to the Exiles when they started building is they made the assumption that presence of the temple ment that people would become Holy… This was presumptive...
The Exiles made the assumption that presence of the temple ment that people would become Holy… Haggai message is that the people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
Because the presence of the temple ment that people would become Holy because there is now a temple… Haggai message is that the people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
Haggai message is that the people of Judah must not put their hope in their own supposed holiness, or in the supposed holiness of the house of God.
We will kind of miss the point of Haggai if we make just about the physical temple because…
What Haggai message focuses on is that God values People and His presence more than buildings…
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
haggai
by the way... These are the only two things that have eternal values… everything else that we value… is temporal.
The scripture is clear that the Church is not about the physical plant the building ...but rather the church is made up of people… People gather in a place where they sense and know his presence… God’s ultimate desire… is to dwell among and in his people.
If it was about temple building then it would be about better materials… As we get towards the NT - God is not in the building business… but inhabiting people business… that’s why Haggai says the latter Glory will be greater than the former glory.. God’s presence come and live within believers.
If we don’t value People and His presence… two things that are dear to God… Even though we are committed to things that might even be good… we are operating from the wrong value system… we are then committed to the wrong things…
The prophet Haggai has a way of presenting truth that challenges our presuppositions and assumptions… I have made some assumptions about ministry…and been wrong…
Assume we just have great worship music… they will come...
Great preaching… they will come..
build the building they will come..
Have the right program they will come..
If I do the right the things God will bless me… If I attend church.... If I am good person.... God is going to bless that...
Going through the motions is not going to cut it...
The assumptions… If I do the right the things God will bless me… If I attend church.... If I am good person.... God is going to bless that...
To prove the parable is true just look at the last 16 years.. think about how things have been for the past 16-18 years. When you did nothing --- holes in your purses...
If you have any other doubts about this just
We don’t have the resources… this can wait...
Just because you are
Haggai says… lets do a review of the last 16 years… Before you started with the building project.... The assumption was that it was time to focus on your own needs...
.
15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord,
16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.
through touch.....
The assumption was that if you worked really hard that you would have abundance.... Work hard equals… fruitfulness.... build bigger barns..
Haggai says, lets test and see is your premise is water tight… Ok look at the last 16 years.. Where you assumed that it was not the time to build the temple....assumed you were making progress....
When you went to the bank to make a withdrawal… you wanted to take 20 heaps… but discover that there is a short fall… you only have 10…
you would take 20 heaps… but discover that there is a short fall… you only have 10...
you would take 20 heaps… but discover that there is a short fall… you only have 10...
Then you come to your wine vats an you want to draw 50 and there is only 20...
What lessons do we learn from mistakes that we have made?
What is the lesson to be drawn from 16 years?
Opening Up Haggai Holiness and Defilement
From the day the people sorted out their priorities and began work on God’s house, they were showing true inward holiness and obedience to God’s word, and he promised that they would experience his blessing in the future.
The issue is wrong assumptions and priorities are costly…
On the other hand what happened after they got their priorities straight.. Haggai tells the exiles to reflect on the day that they started building....
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
From the day the people sorted out their priorities and began work on God’s house, they were showing true inward holiness and obedience to God’s word, and he promised that they would experience his blessing in the future.
What basis then is there for hope? Haggai’s response is, essentially, God’s grace.
God is good to us, not because we deserve it, and not because His presence makes us holy, but simply because He has chosen to bless us.... Isn’t that the message of Grace… Grace is simply unmerited favor.... God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.... I was at Barnes and Nobel the other day and just looking at what Christian books were for sale… most of them had to do with How to live a blessed life.... How to live in prosperity.... There is assumption that Christianity means prosperity…
In the past the people had suffered greatly because of disobedience, but from now on the Lord’s blessing would accompany their labour
Blessing Comes from the Lord...
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
This section is both the conclusion to the prophet’s previous statements and an introduction to a fresh idea. In the past the people had suffered greatly because of disobedience, but from now on the Lord’s blessing would accompany their labour
Haggai 2:15-17
Haggai says
15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord,
16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
Blessing works like this:
it is also the conclusion to the prophet’s previous statements and an introduction to a fresh idea. In the past the people had suffered greatly because of disobedience, but from now on the Lord’s blessing would accompany their labours (cf. 2:19).
Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
Two lessons defilement is easy… It is easy to do things in your own strength.
2. It is impossible to impart holiness to someone else…
Blessing works like this:
Haggai
Haggai
Opening Up Haggai To Impart Holiness Is Impossible
A person’s heart is made holy only by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, and that is the gift of God. Holiness cannot be communicated to our inner life by external things such as church attendance, baptism, confirmation, and observance of certain rituals or moral living. God can use these things to bring us to faith in Christ, who alone can cleanse the heart through the gift of the Holy Spirit and bring us into holiness of life. Peter made this point very forcefully when he preached on the Day of Pentecost:
As to the first question, probably the sense of what he is saying is, “From today onward, start thinking about how things have been for the past 16-18 years. Write it down and you will later see that God’s true blessing began at this very time” (adapted from Robert Alden, Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervan], 7:590).
A person’s heart is made holy only by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us, and that is the gift of God. Holiness cannot be communicated to our inner life by external things such as church attendance, baptism, confirmation, and observance of certain rituals or moral living. God can use these things to bring us to faith in Christ, who alone can cleanse the heart through the gift of the Holy Spirit and bring us into holiness of life. Peter made this point very forcefully when he preached on the Day of Pentecost:
Write it down and you will later see that God’s true blessing began at this very time”
Here is the principle.. its easier to spread defilement..
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2
The process of being made clean or holy before Yahweh requires intentional effort. Becoming impure, on the other hand, requires no effort, only contact with the unclean. The lesson for the people was that they had not taken appropriate action to deal with their uncleanness. Their failure to rebuild the temple created a cloud of disobedience over all they did.
The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
This section is both the conclusion to the prophet’s previous statements and an introduction to a fresh idea. In the past the people had suffered greatly because of disobedience, but from now on the Lord’s blessing would accompany their labour
The blessing is that God is going to Establish them as a nation…
T/s If we are going to be committed to His purposes there are three areas that need alignment..
1. God’s Purposes and our values.
2. God’s Purposes and our Assumptions
3. God’s Purposes and our Impact
3. God’s Purposes and our Impact
The last message that Haggai gives is to Zerubbabel the govenor of Judah… … Haggai encourages Zerubabbel in his role as political leader of the nation, despite the difficult and uncertain times that the Persian Empire was experiencing.... there is going to be a shacking of the nations… but God would cause Zarubbael to stand… He would make Zerubabbel like a signet ring.
They are going to go through a period of time when the nations are going to be shaken.... Haggai addresses Zerrubabel the point person —
20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
Haggai encourages Zerubabbel in his role as political leader of the nation, despite the difficult and uncertain times that the Persian Empire was experiencing.... there is going to be a shacking of the nations… but God would cause Zarubbael to stand.
20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,
22 and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23 On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
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20 But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”
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Difficult days were coming .... nations are going to be shaken. In the middle of this God says to Zerubbabel that he was going to make him like his signet ring…
God says to Zerubbabel that he was going to make him like his signet ring…
The signet ring was a stone carved with the symbol of the person in power. It was used by pressing it into clay tablets to authenticate what was written on them. That is, it was much like a signature today. The signet was a precious object. So it was kept on the ruler’s finger or on a cord around his neck. It was guarded with his person. God was telling Zerubbabel that he was going to be like that to God.
God was going to place the governor on his finger or hang him around his neck so that, though the nations and even heaven and earth should be shaken, Zerubbabel would remain safe. He would be kept secure until God had done all the things spoken about in this prophecy.
God was going to place the governor on his finger or hang him around his neck so that, though the nations and even heaven and earth should be shaken, Zerubbabel would remain safe. He would be kept secure until God had done all the things spoken about in this prophecy.
In the middle of the chaos Zerubbabel was going to be God’s image bearer...
We need to remember the nature of Biblical prophecy that it often has has immediate fulfillment and long term fulfillment..… Like the wide angel on a camera… it’s not foretelling but forthtelling… it’s a picture of things of to come.
It is like a sign post of things to come
This is the second time Haggai brings up the shacking of nations and the out pouring of God spirit.
We are told that God will shake the heavens and the earth… Now some scholars tell us The shaking of nations will take place in the great Tribulation, which will be followed by Christ’s coming in glory… Now this can happen at some point depending on your view of this period in history… different camps... pre… mid.. post… depending on your view of Christs coming… what follows is the millennial reign of Christ.... Which could be interpreted as Christ filling the temple.
This was also the 3rd Century’s Church fathers Augustine - view who saw as the Christ Desire of nations coming at the second coming of Christ…
This is refering to
7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.
8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.
9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”
Hag 2:7-
There is this interesting phrase in the KJV - NIV use the phrase the Desired of nations… It’s a Messianic title for Jesus. One of the verses of Charles Wesley’s Hark! the Herald Angels Sing contains a verse that mentions this name of Christ as the “Desire of Nations”
Augustine says, Obviously his first coming was not desired of all nations, for unbelievers did not even know whom they should desire to come..
The picture we have is that after then nations are shook their is going to be an outpouring… God will fill his temple.
We are told that God will shake the heavens and the earth… Now scholars tell us that the shaking of the nations -
The shaking of nations will take place in the great Tribulation, which will be followed by Christ’s coming in glory… This is the second time Haggai brings up the shacking of nations and the out pouring of God spirit.
This is the second time Haggai brings up the shacking of nations and the out pouring of God spirit.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
The picture we have is that after then nations are shook their is going to be an outpouring… God will fill his temple.
Hag 2:
This is going to be an mighty out pouring of God’s spirit… Why will God shake the nations?? So that the treasures of all nations… would come into the temple...
in the KJV - NIV use the phrase the Desired of nations… It’s a Messianic title for Jesus. One of the verses of Charles Wesley’s Hark! the Herald Angels Sing contains a verse that mentions this name of Christ (and several others as well). Though rarely sung, it contains deep biblical truth:
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
The people of the world desire Christ even though they do not know it for he alone can meet their deepest needs. One of the verses of Charles Wesley’s Hark! the Herald Angels Sing contains a verse that mentions this name of Christ (and several others as well). Though rarely sung, it contains deep biblical truth:
Come, desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Hag 2:
Augustine says, Obviously his first coming was not desired of all nations, for unbelievers did not even know whom they should desire to come..
Obviously his first coming was not desired of all nations, for unbelievers did not even know whom they should desire to come..
Here is the thing when the name
Second, it reminds us that we should not allow problems and difficulties, and the social and political upheavals of the day, to dishearten us and cause us to despair in God’s work. God promised Zerubbabel that the mighty mountain (think of these as difficulties) would become level ground. Jesus used the same figurative speech to symbolize the obstacles encountered in the Christian life.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.
7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
Haggai 2:6-
The shaking of nations will take place in the great Tribulation, which will be followed by Christ’s coming in glory
who is the govenor of Judah… who came back with the
to be an instrument behind the
Opening Up Haggai Zerubbabel Encouraged
it tells us that in our work for God’s kingdom we are not to rely on our own strength and power alone, but upon God’s Spirit working through us. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.’ There is, of course, a place for human strength, planning and organization in the church’s work, but it is God’s Spirit coming upon his word who makes an impact on people’s souls, reclaims backsliders, and energizes God’s people for witness and service.
Second, it reminds us that we should not allow problems and difficulties, and the social and political upheavals of the day, to dishearten us and cause us to despair in God’s work. God promised Zerubbabel that the mighty mountain (think of these as difficulties) would become level ground. Jesus used the same figurative speech to symbolize the obstacles encountered in the Christian life.
Conclusion
We are living in days where the nations are restless… Yesterday, I got the notification on my app… and it just showed exactly what the people in Hawaii got… that was the message… Emergency Alert… Ballistic Missile threat inbound to Hawaii… Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill… Those poor people in Hawaii had to wait 40 minutes before the authorities said they had made a mistake… But, that kind of threat didn’t surprise me that could happen… We are certainly living in days when the nations can be shaken… But.... in the midst of all the uncertainty.
God says to Haggai, I’ll make you a signet ring… you will be an image bearer… That is the role
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What a comforting verse - In this shacking that Christ and his church will continue… that God’s purpose will prevail....
It didn’t surprise me that could
What a comforting verse - In this shacking that Christ and his church will continue… that God’s purpose will prevail....
What if we invited more families to church?
What if our church became evangelistic in our outreach?
What if I commited to praying for my family?
What if I commited to living on purpose?
The Minor Prophets, Volume 2: (Micah–Malachi): An Expositional Commentary Word to the Governor
I point out one last thing. The closing words of Haggai are “the LORD Almighty.” This designation of God occurs fourteen times in the book. It is appropriate, because it focuses on the strength or sovereignty of God. It is as if God is saying, “I, the sovereign God, stand behind these promises.” The sovereign God is not just Haggai’s God. He is not just Zerubbabel’s or Joshua’s God. He is our God, if we have come to him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our God stands behind his promises.
The second temple building project shows us that Yahweh can bring his people together around the idea of his presence and that he desires to be in his people’s midst.
of his presence and that he desires to be in his people’s midst.