God's Plan for His Work
God’s Plan for His Work
Haggai 1:1 – 2:23
FPBC 4 December 2005 [PM]
Introduction:
Message One: “Now is the time!” 1:1 – 15
A reprimand for their indifference
· Had put off building temple
o Convinced it “wasn’t God’s will at this time”
· Took time to embellish their own homes
o May have even used the materials set aside for the temple to panel their own homes! Ezra 3:7
· Much planted, little harvested
· Nothing lasted as long as anticipated
The remedy for indifference
· Consider your ways!
o Put your mind to this problem and see what the solution must be.
o Haggai compelled hearers to decide for God’s will or against it.
· Go to the mountain
o Get wood, since the lumber was already used
· Re-build God’s house
o God wanted obedience, not a building!
· Do not worry about the crops
o Their lack was due to God’s judgment
o The drought in the land paralleled the drought in the people’s labor in rebuilding the temple.
The response from the indifferent
· Obedience!
o Haggai reassures the people God is with them.
o Began building 23 days later (had to organize, gather materials, etc.)
Message Two: “Now is not the time!” 2:1 – 9
Re-energizing for present task
· Excitement had worn off
o 26 days after building began;
o 49 days since message #1
· Some were already complaining
o This temple looked nothing like the old one
· Remedy:
o Be strong!
o God was still remaining with them
Re-focusing for future triumph
· The glory was yet to come
o Far more than Solomon’s temple, due to the presence of the Desire of Nations
§ Desire of Nations = Jerusalem?
§ Desire of Nations = Silver & Gold?
§ Desire of Nations = Messiah?
· This is my view, since it involves all other aspects!
· When Messiah enters Kingdom, He will be the focus of attention, based in Jerusalem, and given the riches He deserves!
· “A little while”
o Not necessarily shortly, but eminent Heb 12:26
§ While primary prophecy concerns millennial Kingdom, Jesus did minister in Herod’s temple – a complete refurbishing of Zerubbabel’s temple!
Message Three: “It’s almost time!” 2:10 – 19
One rotten apple . . .
· Haggai asks questions about purity
o Unclean always contaminates purity.
o Purity never rubs off on contaminated objects.
· This parallels the people’s activity
o Trying to do “good” with wrong attitudes just made their actions wrong!
o Anyone unclean in God’s sight defiles all they do, however good and noble it may be.
“Past performance is not indicative of future results”
· God still hadn’t blessed their crops after 3 months of their labor
o The seed was still in the barn!
o They hadn’t allowed God time to bless them
· God was going to bless them!
o A promise He would keep!
Message Four: “What a time!” 2:20 – 23
Whole lot of shaking going on!
· Gentile nations overthrown
o The end of the “time of the Gentiles” which began at the Babylonian captivity.
o Will continue until the beginning of the millennium.
· Major disturbances
o Cosmic
o Seismic
o Political
o Military
Stability promised
· Zerrubbabel given a prominent position – in the lineage of Messiah
o Royal line not through Jehoiachin Jer 22:24
· Zerrubbabel would be a living reminder of God’s kept promises.
Conclusion