College & Career Session 2: What was Haggai's Message?
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Who here has ever read the book of Haggai?
By show of hands?
Be honest.Raise your hand if you have just glossed over this book
It falls under the Minor Prophets.
This is possibly the most neglected section in the Old Testament, and maybe even the entire Bible.
When I was in Bible College, I was excited to take a Message of Isaiah Class.
I had the blessing to work at the school over the break to work in housekeeping and hear what the next semester class schedule was going to be.
The Bible college usually had pastors and missionaries teach the classes.I had a missionary volunteer with us in housekeeping.
The Historical Details of Haggai:
The Historical Details of Haggai:
1 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
Haggai
This book takes place after the 70 year exile in Babylon.
The Babylonians were defeated by the Persians and King Darius gave the decree for the Jews to go back to their land and rebuild their temple.
This is a unique time in the history of God’s covenant people.
They are about to enter the 400 year period that is known as the ‘inter-testamental period.
This is a time that there were no more prophets that God sent to His people.Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were the last prophets from God to give revelation
Zerubabbel is a descendent of king David, and therefore an ancestor of Jesus.
The Attitude and Claim of God’s People:
The Attitude and Claim of God’s People:
2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”
haggai 1:
God reveals the attitude of His people collectively.
God reveals the attitude of His people collectively.
1. God reveals the attitude of His people collectively.
God knows what is really going on in our hearts.
He knows what we are really thinking.
They have decided God’s will, not Him.
They were back to rebuild the temple, but they wouldn’t yet. They had let other things take priority in their lives, not God’s will.God uses the phrase “this people” rather than “My people.”This speaks loudly as God is trying to rebuke them.
Despite, how much we go to church.
They were back to rebuild the temple, but they wouldn’t yet. They had let other things take priority in their lives, not God’s will.God uses the phrase “this people” rather than “My people.”This speaks loudly as God is trying to rebuke them.
Despite what mask we try to wear.
God’s Message to His People:
God’s Message to His People:
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”
The people had given up on building the temple of the Lord.
He is always trying to speak to us.
He always has a message.
The term paneled houses may only mean that they had roofs over their heads, though the word can also refer to luxurious paneling which may have adorned the houses of the leaders and the more well-to-do people.They started focusing and building their own personal priorities, other than that of the LORD.We would never do such a thing right? Of course we do.
The term paneled houses refers to:
The term paneled houses refers to:
The term paneled houses may only mean that they had roofs over their heads, though the word can also refer to luxurious paneling which may have adorned the houses of the leaders and the more well-to-do people.They started focusing and building their own personal priorities, other than that of the LORD.We would never do such a thing right? Of course we do.
luxurious paneling which may have adorned the houses of the leaders and the more well-to-do people.
I am not sure if you caught that?
I am not sure if you caught that?
They started focusing and building their own personal priorities, other than that of the LORD.
We would never do such a thing right?
Of course we do.
I am just being sarcastic.
God has been trying to get their attention:
God has been trying to get their attention:
5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6 “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
haggai 1:
He asks them to consider their ways:
The LORD exhorted the people to reflect on their conduct in view of their present poverty.
He told them to: consider their ways.
Another way to think of this is to give careful thought to.God is very big on us interpreting our life circumstances in view of our relationship with Him.
God often is crying out to us, trying to get our attention.
They were being told to consider the cost in their lives.
God often is crying out to us, trying to get our attention.
They were being told to consider the cost in their lives.
Their self-centeredness had not produced economic stability.
Their abundant plantings had resulted in only meager harvests (cf. 1:10–11; 2:15–17, 19). The simplest necessities of life—food, drinks, clothes.
They were exerting so much energy into their own status, but it wasn’t blessed.Imagine planting 100 seeds, but only reaping 20...
Imagine, making money, and putting it into your purse/pocket/wallet and it fall out in a hole.
This is basically what would happen.I wonder if it all began to make sense.
I wonder if Haggai got their attention.
I wonder if Haggai got their attention.
They had been living this way for a while.
They were probably frustrated, and grumbling.
They were probably frustrated, and grumbling.
That is what these circumstances typically bring out of us .
That is what these circumstances typically bring out of us .
Putting God First Requires Action & Life Change:
Putting God First Requires Action & Life Change:
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. 9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
haggai 1:7-11
God tells His people to start building His things.
God tells His people to start building His things.
Then everything else will fall in place.
They just needed to go up and start getting the supplies.
He didn’t care if they had the expertise.
They just had to start.
Then He would allow the other things they needed to be
Building a temple means building the things of the Lord.
Building a temple means building the things of the Lord.
Our relationship with Him.
The basics:
Devotions.
Prayer.
Church.
Serving in ministry.
We are facing more people who do not have time to build the things of God in their lives.
God should be the priority in our lives more than the God.
So often we want to focus on building our own lives rather that the things of the Lord
So often we want to focus on building our own lives rather that the things of the Lord
This is all to
Our age-group is bombarded with pressure to have that status we should be at.
Our age-group is bombarded with pressure to have that status we should be at.
Do you have the bachelor’s degree.
That career.
That house,
That financial status.
Those skills.
The world is telling us to build our own houses first.
The world is telling us to build our own houses first.
Make sure your life is luxurious.
Make sure you are having fun.
Make sure you put yourself first.
Everything else comes first.
I believe that the children of Israel actually have a legitimate reason that they weren’t building the temple of the Lord…God to .
I believe that the children of Israel actually have a legitimate reason that they weren’t building the temple of the Lord…God to .
Here you find that they went to build the temple, and the Samaritans tried to help.
They said no, and so the Samaritans started frustrating their plans and hindering their efforts.
They did so to the point that God’s people gave up.
Did you hear that? Something got in their way…But to God that is not an excuse.
Did you hear that? Something got in their way…But to God that is not an excuse.
We have so many things that get in the way of our walk with God.
Life is so hard sometimes.
My work schedule changed.
I am taking more classes.
I have to work 2 jobs right now.
We are never going to have time for God, We need to make time for Him.
We are never going to have time for God, We need to make time for Him.
I am a pastor, and this applies to me as well.
I am studying the word a lot.
But I am also busy planning events, and focused on other people.
I need to make sure I am walking with the Lord for myself.
The people not having a temple means that they did not have a place of true worship.
The people not having a temple means that they did not have a place of true worship.
They went 16 years without a center of worship.
That is a long time.
That is over half of our lives.
We are seeing this attitude become very prevalent in our generation and age group
We are seeing this attitude become very prevalent in our generation and age group
1. There is this idea that we do not need church today.That it is not a necessity. I can worship God wherever, and do not need to go there.Church attendance isn’t a factor of me going to heaven.God wants us part of His body.
There is this idea that we do not need church today.
There is this idea that we do not need church today.That it is not a necessity. I can worship God wherever, and do not need to go there.Church attendance isn’t a factor of me going to heaven.God wants us part of His body.
That church is not a necessity.
Church is optional.
I can worship God wherever:
On the beach.
In the Mountains.
By the river.
Just as long as it is away from people.
Church attendance isn’t a factor of me going to heaven.
Church attendance isn’t a factor of me going to heaven.
It doesn’t make us holier.
It doesn’t mean you are going to hell if you have to miss for a week or a season.
God finds this important for us to have a relationship with Him.
God finds this important for us to have a relationship with Him.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ” 8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
hebrews 10
God wants us to be a part of His body.
God wants us to be a part of His community.He wants us to have fellowship, and relationships.Not cut off.This is a problem that is happening to the church more and more today.We are becoming so disconnected, and so isolated. This is a huge problem.Let me tell you the reason that I think they were self justified.Why they thought they were ok, and the same reason I think we would think the same thing.In order to fully understand this book, you have to go back to -the beginning of chapter 5.
He wants us to have fellowship, and relationships.
Not cut off.This is a problem that is happening to the church more and more today.
We are becoming so disconnected, and so isolated.
This is a huge problem.
NKJV1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel, 2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel said to them, “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” 4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, 5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
There we learn that the
The People Are Obedient:
The People Are Obedient:
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 presence of the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.” 14 So 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 sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.
I wanted to get my bachelor’s degree.
Applications:
I am going through a season like this right now.
I I feel called to be a pastor.
I am a pastor.