Sermon Tone Analysis

Text: Haggai 1:1-8 “In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest: 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD’s house.’

” 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

6 You have planted much, but harvested little.

You eat, but never have enough.

You drink, but never have your fill.

You put on clothes, but are not warm.

You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.

8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD.”

(Haggai 1:1–8, NIV)

Theme: The kingdom of God is the reign of God in the universe and by extension, the reign of God in the believer’s heart.

Are you a Kingdom Person who has Kingdom priorities?

ILLUS.

The late Dr. W. A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas once told the story of preaching in the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago.

That evening, he was entertained at the home of deacon James L. Kraft, who was superintendent of North Shore’s Sunday School.

This same James L. Kraft just happened to be the founder of Kraft Foods.

He told Criswell that as a young man he had the desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman of cheese in the world.

He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese and began as a young man with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy.

After making his cheese, he would load his wagon and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell his cheese.

As the months passed, the young Kraft began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.

One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to the horse.

He said, "Paddy, there is something wrong.

We are not doing it right.

I am afraid we have things turned around and our priorities are not where they ought to be.

Maybe we ought to serve God and place him first in our lives."

Kraft then drove home and made a covenant with the Lord that for the rest of his life he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.

God blessed that decision.

Kraft told Criswell, "I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church than to head the greatest corporation in America.

My first job is serving Jesus."

Have you made your first job serving Jesus?

I. GOD’S PEOPLE MUST HAVE A KINGDOM PRIORITY

1. in this evening’s message, I want you to consider a number of questions ...

a. Do you live for the sake of the King and His Kingdom?

b.

Are your energies directed to Christian aims?

c.

How do you spend your time and money?

d.

Are you willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ?

2. these questions all deal with the priorities in your life

ILLUS.

A recent survey, George Barna asked American adults about their priorities.

Here are some of the results: 91% of adults listed having good physical health as their top priority in life.

75% of adults said that living with a high degree of integrity, which was defined as having one marriage partner for life, having close friends, and having a clear purpose for life.

Seven out of ten adults say having a close, personal relationship with God is a top priority, (that’s the good news) but at the same time, only half of all adults identify being deeply committed to the Christian faith as a top priority (that’s the bad news).

a. it appears that Americans want to be spiritual, but they don’t necessarily want to be Christian

3. I submit to you this evening, that to be truly spiritual, Temple Building must be your first priority in life

A. BACKGROUND OF HAGGAI

1. the opening statement in the Book of Haggai is about having right priorities

2. Haggai is the first prophet to preach in Israel after they have returned from the Babylonian captivity

a. because the people of God failed to put God first in their lives, God allowed the Babylonian militarily machine to conquer their nation

b. most of Judah’s inhabitants were sent off into exile as slaves

3. through the providence of God, (which you can read about in the Book of Daniel) the Jews in exile were finally allowed to go back to Jerusalem 70 years later

a. a group of about 50,000 Jews returned to their land with great joy

1) they put God first in their lives

2) they began to build a Temple to God

2) they worshiped the Lord

b. but their courageous faith was met with opposition from the local people

1) this opposition, accompanied by several poor harvests, and the broken walls of Jerusalem caused the people to become discouraged

2) they lost their spiritual focus and turned their attention toward things other than worship and God’s Temple

4. along comes the prophet Haggai

a. this prophet, along with Zechariah, will challenge the people of God to reconsider their priorities

b. he calls them to reverence and glorify God by completing the Temple in spite of opposition

5. Haggai’s challenge is still valid in the Christian’s life today

a. just as Haggai called the people of God to focus their attention on building God’s Temple, so the Holy Spirit calls every believer here to focus their priorities on temple building

II.

GOD’S PASSION IS THAT ALL MEN MAY SEE HIS GLORY

1. God had instructed His people to build the Temple for one reason and one reason only

a. that purpose is found in King Solomon's prayer of dedication of the very first permanent Jewish Temple

“And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.”

(1 Kings 8:59–60, NIV)

2. God is not playing cosmic hide-and-seek

a.

He wants to be known and to that end He has given us convincing revelation of Himself that we might turn to Him through repentance and faith

A. GOD HAS ALWAYS DESIRED A PRESENCE AMONG HIS PEOPLE

1.

He walked with Adam & Eve in the garden in the cool of the day

2.

He appeared as an angel to the Old Testament patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

3.

He met with Job through the whirlwind

4.

He met Moses at a burning bush

5.

He visited Samuel, and David and Solomon and the prophets through dreams and visions

6.

He journeyed with the Hebrews during their exodus wandering as a pillar of smoke by day and a pillar of fire by night

7. God has always desired fellowship with His people

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.”

(Leviticus 26:12, NIV)

B. THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE BECAME A PLACE OF MEETING BETWEEN GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

1. the Temple which Solomon built was a magnificent structure

a. it was not a large temple by standards of that day, but its opulence and lavishness were renowned throughout the world at that time

2. Scriptures tell us that at the dedication of the Temple, God's glory filled the Temple with such an overpowering presence that the officiating priests had to leave

“When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD.

11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.”

(1 Kings 8:10–11, NIV)

3. the Temple was a place where one could ...

a. meet God

b. offer sacrifice

c. find forgiveness

“Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”

(Psalm 48:9, NIV)

"But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple."

(Psa 5:7, NIV)

4. the Temple represented God's presence among His people