Love God - Haggai 2

James Watson

Change in the Church • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

Haggai 2

Worship

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Introduction: Last week Pastor Daniel set the stage for 2020, by talking about priorities. And when it comes to North Hills, we have tried to be be very simple about what our priorities are.

We want to Love God, Serve Others, and Change the World!

But even among these 3 priorities, there doubt that the way that we love God is the most important thing about what we do.

Now if we were to reword this

Loving God is really about worshipping God. You see worship is a lot like loving someone. You can watch any movie and know exactly what they think love is. Notice they never show you what happens after the wedding.

Love is a choice even when you don’t feel like it. The same is true of worship. There are times when you just feel like worshipping. You wake up on Sunday morning and can’t wait to get here. Other times, you feel a dragging sense that God is distant. Why should I worship God today when he hasn’t seemed to care about me in the past few weeks. Now this assumes that God has been distant which he hasn’t…what do you do? Choose to worship anyway. Choose to sing loudly. In the car, in the shower, and in this place not caring who is next to you.

Love God is a choice. Worship is a choice.

And we come together on Sunday morning we choose to love God through our time of worship.

This week we look at how it’s not just about that you worship God, but how you worship God also matters a lot!

Turn with me in your Bible’s to Haggai 2.

Transition to the text: Last week, Pastor Daniel showed up in how often people don’t make worship a priority at all. We looked at how the people of Israel had built beautiful houses for themselves while the Temple of God lay in ruins. And Haggai let a fire under them so that they would finish the work.

This week we look at how it’s not just about that you worship God, but how you worship God also matters a lot!

Read:

Haggai 2 ESV

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 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.’ ” 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, 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.” 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.”

Transition to Big Idea: Since it’s a longer passage, we’ll break it up into smaller chunks. But I want to give you the Big idea so that as we are going you know what it’s all about.

Big Idea: True worship Leads to God’s blessing.

The reverse of that is if you don’t worship God correctly, you can no expectation of his blessing. One quick thing. For some reason we often think about blessing in terms of money and possessions. This is huge mistake. As the great sage, once said, mo money mo problems. The blessings we are talking about are the fruits of the spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galations 5:22-23

Let’s read .

Haggai 2:1–9 ESV

Haggai 1

One thing that gets in the way of our worship is outward appearances. Of ourselves and of our place of worship. Even empty seats.

Main Point #1 - God cares about the heart of the worshipper. (1-9)

God cares about your heart.

Explanation: After over 10 years of waiting, the temple was finally rebuilt, but it looks nothing like the one some of them remembered. This gets in the way of their worship. Perhaps they feel they let God down. Perhaps they are stuck in the past. But Haggai wants to remind them that the place of worship in not important compared to the person of worship. This meager temple will be filled with the glory of God, because God has chosen to. This idea of shaking the nations speaks to the idea that God will provide all of the means to make sure the temple is taken care of. But more than that the presence and glory of the Lord (in a little while) will far exceed that of the former temple that Solomon built.

So we have a few encouragements:

1) Be strong for I am with you.

2) I am the same God who dwelt in the temple of Solomon.

3)My spirit remains in your midst. (Now this is especially signifiant when we read what happens in the next section…this people is defiled by the world.)

4) You are invited you to be a part of His family in love.

5) Greater things are still to come!

Now God does not give all of the information all at once, but God is pretty clear throughout all of scripture that He is in control. They may not see all of God’s plan, but He does. These people could not have envisioned the splendor of the temple that was to be built under the reign of Herod. They could not comprehend the glory that would fill the temple when Jesus (God with us) would walk in it’s midst. They were looking at small beginnings. But all great buildings begin with a single stone.

A big part of love and worship is trust. Do you trust God?

It didn’t matter what the place looked like. What mattered was if their heart was wholly devoted to the one who promised to be with them and to bless them. God blesses the heart of a true worshipper.

Illustration: Some of our core values and marks acknowledge this:

We want to experience the prescence of God.

We want to have intimate convserations with God.

We want a heart for God and a mind for His truth.

Even in our church, our building is a not a core value. What matters is Who we worship, Why we worship, and How we worship!

Application: For us today, we often look at the outward trappings of our church buildings. Does it look beautiful. Does it even look like a church? But across Europe hundreds of cathedrals sit empty on Sunday mornings, monuments to past their cared more about where they worshipped than the hearts of those who worshipped.

For the Jewish people, the temptation was to feel like their temple wasn’t worthy of the One Great God of the Universe, but God was going to do something amazing. Jesus in a few hundred years would come to the earth and through His death, burial and resurrection would cleanse His people from their sin and renew their hearts so that they might as individuals become temples of the Holy Spirit.

Now the glory of God shines not in a place but in a people. And we are witnesses of that Glory when we gather together either in this place, or in our Life Groups or in our families. Or even across the world in the Philippines and China. God looks not at the appearance but at the heart.

John 4:21–24 ESV

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Something that I think is often overlooked is that these people weren’t building this temple for themselves. They were building it for the generations that would follow. And even for us, most of us did not build this place. We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, and our job is to steward this gift as we pass it on to the next generation. But that only happens when we keep our priorities in order. First things first: It is God we worship. This building is only a tool. And God forbid, if it burned to the ground, we’ll set up chairs in the ashes. It’s about our hearts.

Let’s Read .

Haggai 2:10–19 ESV

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, 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.”

Main Point #2 - Let God teach us how to worship.

Explanation: The people of Israel had experienced great struggles. And this passage and all of scripture was very clear that the primary reason why God brought His divine punishment upon them was because they failed to worship Him properly. Because as important as it is that we worship God, it is also important how we worship God. Many of them assumed that worship was only on Saturday and the rest of the year didn’t matter. But God wants to remind them that they bring Sunday-Friday into worship with them. Loving God is more than a once a week thing. For them, Saturday doubles as a day of rest and a springboard for the rest of the week. And then we need to live our daily lives in such as a way that our worship is not defiled by our lives. Essentially, don’t bring the world into the church. We cannot worship God however we want. The Bible gives us a model for what worship should look like:

Prayer

Psalms, hymns and Spiritual songs.

Reading and preaching the Scriptures.

Repentance, Adoration, Supplication

Regular observance of the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper).

Paul tells us to take an offering for the work of the Lord.

And more prayer.

In the time of Haggai, the people found themselves on the other side of God’s judgement which was brought about by impure worship.

One of the things that I’m always amazed by in the Old Testament is the rampant idolatry. All the way back to the beginning when God gave moses the Law. He was gone for a few weeks, so they made a golden calf. Later they would abandon Yahweh for Baal, Asherah, Moloch. Later their came a king who split off from Jerusalem to form the northern kingdom of Israel. And he didn’t want his subjects going to Jersualem to worship at the temple so he created 2 Golden Calfs and put them on 2 hill tops centrally located in the kingdom. Very convenient for those not wishing to make the yearly trek to Jerusalem. And what did He say?

1 Kings 12:28 ESV

28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

Jeroboam wasn’t claiming these were new God, but a new way to worship their old God who had been with them since Egypt. Problem was, God said “don’t make any images of Me.” That’s the 2nd commandment.

And you might even think that a single temple for the nation in the days before live streaming is not prudent. But God wanted their worship to be intentional.

You can’t worship however you want. God was pretty clear.

In the time of Haggai, they had a problem with sin and defilement because they continued to not obey God in the way he wanted to be worshipped. These 2 questions that were asked of the priests show that you can’t be Holy by association. Just because you come to church doesn’t make you Holy. Holy is the life you live outside of this place. On the other hand, you can bring your defilements in and pollute the whole place.

So if the people aren’t prospering, it’s not God’s fault, but is a heart issue.

Throughout this letter, the reader/hearer is invited to consider their ways. Consider your worship? If you are lacking in your worship, you shouldn’t expect God’s blessing on this place…or in your life.

Now, again, I’m not talking about material blessings. But the blessings that come with true worship is harvest. Because the Old Covenant was closely tied to the provisions of the land. But in the New Testament, harvest and blessing come with a new focus. The bearing of fruit and the harvest of people.

Jesus talks a lot about the harvest in the Gospels. Perhaps the agricultural references are lost on us who go to an office. However, Jesus and later Paul talk about the a great harvest of people that will come to know Jesus through the work of the church. But God only adds people, when the church is healthy.

Illustration: There are about 3700 churches that will close their doors this year. Some often ask why would God not bless these churches? Well the truth is it almost always comes down to a failure to worship God and obey him. Things are not all that different today for the people of God. A failure to keep gossip out of the church. The showing of favortism. A failure to evangelize. A failure to obey through sound preaching of the Gospel. A failure to follow His instructions.

God will bless churches that desire and worship Him above all else.

Does that mean size? Not necessarily. But if a church hasn’t baptized a new believer in 5 years which is many churches? We should probably start by looking at the pulpit and then look at how people are responding. If we’re not obedient to His Word, then God will not bless us.

Gospel Application: Proper worship involves repentance and obedience. When we realize that we are in error, we ought to repent. What we hear in God’s Word, we ought to respond in obedience. (Sin gets in the way of worship). Now it is true that Jesus did change things. Where we worship has changed. How we worship has changed. But Who we worship has never changed. We just know more now than they did back then.

Hebrews 1:1 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Haggai’s prophecy looks forward to Jesus. And today as we read this we read it as fulfilled and we rejoice in God’s unfailing love on those who are called by His name.

Let’s Read .

Haggai 2:20–23 ESV

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.”

Main Point #3 - True Worship Always Points to Jesus

Explanation: One of the most amazing things about God is that we worship a promise keeper. When our God says he’s going to do something, he does it.

The final part of Haggai’s prophecy involves Zerubbabel. Up until this point, Haggai has talked about the priority of proper worship. But not Haggai is singled out as God’s chosen signet. And again Haggai is looking forward as we look back.

Main Point #4 -

Zerubbabel’s grandfather was a evil King named Jeconiah that God promised would never have a son sit on the throne of David. Yet 2 generations later, God uses Haggai to restore the Kingly line of David through Zerubbabel. Why? Because Zerubbabel made worship a priority again the land of Judah. And again it wasn’t about a beautiful temple or vibrant worship. It was about the heart of a leader leading his followers to worship God. And in several hundred years later, Zerubabbel’s Great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandson would be a man named Joseph, the husband of Mark, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Christ.

And that ties back into:

Haggai 2:9 ESV

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 glory in the Temple was never greater than it was when Jesus was standing in it. He was God in the flesh. For the Jewish people, greater things were yet to come. But when Jesus came would they embrace Him or would they be so caught up in the past that they would miss Him?

They didn’t know it yet, but everything they did in the temple pointed to Jesus. Not the least of which was the sacrificing of bulls and goats.

Jesus would willing to become the perfect sacrificial substitute for our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 cor 5:21

Which gets to the heart of our love for God. Why should we love God? Why is He worthy of our love?

Because He first loved us and demonstrated that love by sending His son Jesus to die on the cross.

And the very first response to that truth is to repent of our sins and turn to him for forgiveness.

Repentance is not just about saying your sorry. It’s about acknowledging that you can do nothing a part from God.

So it begs the question, how will you demonstrate your love for God this week?

Response: One way this week I will put first things first in loving God is...

Conclusion: I love the joy of children, sitting around dreaming about who they will be when the grow up. Doctors, lawyers, even garbage men, because to a 5 year old that is the coolest job in the world!!!!

And when you think about what it takes to make your dreams come true. How often on top of everything else do you have to battle the naysayers and the doubters? But when you get to where you are going, it is a beautiful accomplishment.

The Jewish people faced unspeakable opposition to fulfil the dream of worshipping God. And even when that temple was finally built their was a sense of joy and accomplishment. But it pales in comparison to what was yet to come!!!

And the same is true for us. Even our churches and Bibles and worship songs pale in comparison to what is yet to come in heaven.

It’s amazing to me that God doesn’t always tell us everything all at once. He leave us in suspense with the hope that we are dreaming and hoping about what we will become. Life wont’ always be easy, in fact we are promised that it won’t be. But we are given a vision of eternal worship.

Revelation 5:9-

Revelation 5:9–14 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

May we long for the perfect and pure worship of heaven. But while we’re here, let’s turn our hearts and minds to Jesus as best we can. We bring ourselves, and let God take care of the rest.

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