Sermon Tone Analysis

The principle of this message serves as a powerful incentive to believers of today.

As long as we are doing the work God has given us to do in accordance with his will, we are valued participants in God’s great program of making his salvation known to the lost, no matter how small our part may seem to be in comparison to others.

God Speaks to His People

God’s People Will Face Discouragement

God Has Made Promises to His People

The Promises of God

God Has a Plan for the Future

Jesus Has Saved Us

God Has Given Us His Spirit

All Nations Will Give Glory to God

Introduction and Overview

Last Haggai sermon: October 29, 2017.

Haggai Overview

Obedience to God brings him glory and must be our priority.

God’s Promises Fuel Perseverance

If the purpose of the first message from God to Israel was a call to rearrange their priorities, then the purpose of the second message which we’ll look at today is an encouragement to stick to it.

How do you see something through to its completion?

How do you get to the finish line instead of quitting halfway through?

(Jewish remnant, commission to rebuild temple, opposition both external and internal, apathy towards God, shift in focus, quick discouragement, God is faithful and speaks encouragement, hope for the future, motivation to press forward).

Main Point: God’s Promises Fuel Perseverance

God wants the us to stay focused on him and his promises.

When we begin to compare our present reality to our past experiences, and this is particularly true for the local church, discouragement will inevitably take hold and keep us from moving forward.

But when we focus on what God has done and what he has planned, we will be motivated to work towards something new and better for his glory.

Discouragement: What’s the Point?

It’s been 3 weeks since they resumed construction.

Already, some of the people can tell…this place isn’t going to be anywhere near as magnificent as Solomon’s temple.

How in the world can we regain our status as a nation with a temple like this.

We need gold.

We need silver.

We need cedars from Lebanon.

(Two years after they returned from Babylon and begin laying the foundation of the temple).

Younger Israelites rejoice.

The older Israelites weep.

Discouragement turned into vocalized doubt and possibly bitterness.

Excitement faded away for the entire people.

What’s discouraging you?

Are you comparing your efforts?

Has your discouragement spread?

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Present Promise: I Am With You

Deliverance from Egypt.

If God isn’t with us, then there is no hope.

Present Promise: I Am With You

Present Promise: I Am With You

If God is with us, then there is no need to fear.

Miracles and wonders.

(Great Commission)

Establishing

Past Promise: I Made A Covenant With You

Deliverance from Egypt.

Miracles and wonders.

Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Future Promises: I Will Bring Glory and Peace

Herod would further beautified the temple.

Jesus, God in flesh, would be in the temple as a baby, a boy, and then a man.

The temple would be destroyed.

Colossians 1:20-23

We are now the temple of God.

In the new heaven and earth, there will be no temple.

But God will dwell with his people and from Jerusalem the whole earth will be filled with glory and peace.

Colossians 1:20-23

Colossians 1:20-23

We don’t always live to see the fruit of our labor.

But at the same time, we will live to see the fruit of our labor.

We don’t always live to see the fruit of our labor.

But at the same time, we will live to see the fruit of our labor.

Colossians 1:20-23

Colossians 1:20-23

We don’t always live to see the fruit of our labor.

But at the same time, we will live to see the fruit of our labor.

Colossians 1:20-23

The physical appearance of a church (building, numbers, programs) is not as important as the presence of God with his people.

That is why God can say to his people not to be concerned with how the new temple looks compared to Solomon’s temple.

It doesn’t matter what the temple looks like if God decides to fill it with his glory.

And his glory is Jesus Christ, who is greater than the temple.

Colossians 1:20-23

Perseverance: Be Strong, Fear Not, Work

The physical appearance of a church (building, numbers, programs) is not as important as the presence of God with his people.

That is why God can say to his people not to be concerned with how the new temple looks compared to Solomon’s temple.

It doesn’t matter what the temple looks like if God decides to fill it with his glory.

And his glory is Jesus Christ, who is greater than the temple.

Observation: The physical appearance of a church (building, numbers, programs) is not as important as the presence of God with his people.

That is why God can say to his people not to be concerned with how the new temple looks compared to Solomon’s temple.

It doesn’t matter what the temple looks like if God decides to fill it with his glory.

And his glory is Jesus Christ, who is greater than the temple.

Main Point: God’s Promises Fuel Perseverance

God wants us to stay focused on him and his promises.

There will be times when comparing our present reality to our past experience will lead to discouragement and keep us from moving forward.

But when we focus on what God has done and what he has planned, we will be motivated to work towards something new and better for his glory.

What’s discouraging you?

Are you comparing your efforts?

Has your discouragement spread?

NorthLife Church