Walking In The Blessings of God
The Book of Haggai: Renew the Vision • Sermon • Submitted
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· 1,113 viewsOur hearts must be completely committed to serving God, if we want him to respond with favor.
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Introduction
Introduction
Story was told of a young father He was recently eating peach cobbler and his baby boy kept staring at him and the cobbler as if to suggest he wanted some.
It is the amazing, undeserved benefit of being His child, yet many believers never tap into its fullness. Why? One reason is that we simply misunderstand His favor.
Biblically, favor can be defined as “the friendly disposition from which kindly acts proceed to assist, to provide with special advantages, to receive preferential treatment.”
That is God’s heart toward us. He wants to bless, help and promote us.
He wants to treat us “special.” In (TLB), we are asked the hypothetical question, “Since He did not spare even His own Son for us but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also surely give us everything else?” God’s answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Examples of Favor
It has been said that one day of God’s favor is better than a thousand days of labor, and this has been proven throughout the Bible:
Ruth asked for and found FAVOR with Boaz (), and became the great grandmother of King David.
David found FAVOR with Saul () and with God (). Despite his failings, God refers to David as “a man after My own heart” ().
When his wife wasn’t looking, he put a little cobbler on his finger and gave it to his son. He could tell from the way he responded that he liked the way the peach cobbler tasted.
Esther found so much FAVOR () that the King offered her up to half his kingdom.
Mary found FAVOR with God () and became the mother of Jesus.
That then motivated him to lift his little hand and start reaching for more, so he gave him a little more. Because he liked the second dose, he lifted his little hand and reached for more.
Jesus disciples’ had FAVOR with both God and men (), and the church grew.
A pattern developed. The more he gave him, the more he reached for more.
What the father didn’t know is that his mother had been watching them the whole time.
Because he kept reaching, the mother told him he shouldn’t have given him a taste, because now he wants the whole thing.
I don’t know about you, but like this mans son, I’ve gotten a taste of God’s blessings.
I don’t want to settle for a little, I want more, and more and more.
God never intended His blessings to be found by just a handful of people. Every believer – you and me included – can walk in his blessings and experience things that could not be accomplished without Him.
I know you say:
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
It’s a blessing for everyone to wake up this morning...
But I'm talking about God’s Choice Blessings.
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich,
And he addeth no sorrow with it.
This morning we see Haggai follows up about two months later with a Call to Covenant Faithfulness.
This morning we see Haggai follows up about two months later with a Call to Covenant Faithfulness.
Haggai uses priestly regulation and agricultural imagery to communicate the point that the peoples failure to complete the temple was a sin that caused a general state of uncleanness. That unclean state affected everything because God was not blessing their efforts. Their earlier sacrifices were not accepted because of uncleaness.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said,
So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the Lord;
And so is every work of their hands;
And that which they offer there is unclean.
Haggai
They also suffered from crop failures and natural disasters as a result
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail
In all the labours of your hands;
Yet ye turned not to me, saith the Lord.
Haggai lets them know If You Want to Walk in The Blessings of God...
He engages the priest in a conversation about ritual purity (Leviticus).
Firstly, Let’s Deal With The Root Problem (Uncleanness)
Firstly, Let’s Deal With The Root Problem (Uncleanness)
He engages the priest in a conversation about ritual purity (Leviticus).
Haggai ask them in vs. 12-13 if someone goes and touches a dead body and becomes ritually impure or marked by death and then they go and touch some food, is that food impure as well?
The Priest knowing Leviticus answer yes…it’s impure.
Haggai turns this into a parable ...
This is how it is with the people of Israel and what they are putting their hands to in rebuilding the temple.
If the current generation doesn't humble themselves, if they don't turn from injustice and apathy. Haggai says whatever they build with their hands including this new temple will be impure to.
Haggai challenge is that its only by true repentance and covenant faithfulness that their building efforts would result in God bringing His Kingdom and Blessing.
It was Jesus who after his Baptism and Temptation for 40 Days John was put into prison and Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1
Just like the Prophet Haggai is calling for his generation to repent. Jesus is still calling for all men and women to repent.
Haggai lets them know If You Want to Walk in The Blessings of God...
Secondly, A Choice Has to Be Made
Secondly, A Choice Has to Be Made
So in a sense Israel Future lay in their hands.
It is their humility stirred by repentance that has led God to change his heart toward them (2:15–19).
19 Is the seed yet in the barn?
Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth:
From this day will I bless you.
So in a sense Israel Future lay in their hands.
So in a sense Israel Future lay in their hands.
God is waiting for His people to be faithful.
The choice that Haggai is laying before the Exiled Generation is very similar to the challenge Moses gave to the Wilderness Generation before entering the land.
Now that God’s people have repented, they have great confidence in God’s blessings.
It is their humility stirred by repentance that has led God to change his heart toward them (2:15–19).
19 Is the seed yet in the barn?
Yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth:
From this day will I bless you.
Their obedience will lead to blessing and success while faithlessness will lead to ruin.
Sometimes when we return to God through repentance, we have to make some choices that will seem extreme to others. However, if we don’t make them we might end up right back where we were—or worse.
Their obedience will lead to blessing and success while faithlessness will lead to ruin.
Jesus in His Sermon on The Mount shared with us the Blessings of obedience and there reward.
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Haggai lets them know If You Want to Walk in The Blessings of God...
The book concludes with a summary of the Future Hope of God’s Kingdom.
Lastly, We Have to Walk in a Renewed Faith of Our Future Hope
Lastly, We Have to Walk in a Renewed Faith of Our Future Hope
The book concludes with a summary of the Future Hope of God’s Kingdom.
He is going to make the New Jerusalem the center of his glorious Kingdom from their he will confront and defeat evil from among the nations.
He reminds them of the defeat of Pharaohs Army in the Exodus story.
God will fulfill here his promise to David that he will establish the king from his line.
23 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts,
Will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord,
And will make thee as a signet:
For I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts.
Haggai
A Signet Ring - A stamp seal a symbol of Gods Promise of the Soon and Coming King.
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
So the question is will Haggai generation be faithful to God will they experience the fulfillment of all these promises?
Matthew 1
Matthew 1:
And He is the Savior of the World - He Suffered, Died and He Rose
Is Zerrubabel the Messianic King? you will have to keep reading through Zachariah and Malachi to find out.
He Suffered, Died and He Rose
And He is Lord - Is He Lord of your Life.
He Rose
He is the soon and coming King -
Our Choices really matter
The Obedience of God People is part of how God works out His purposes in the world.
This should motivate humility and action in God’s People