It's Time

INTRO: It seems that we as a people have very short memories. When troubles, issues of life are upon us we remember God. Every believer has been brought through something, there has been a time when we have called out to the Lord, save me, delivery me, heal me, help my child, there has been someplace in our lives where we can point back to and say, “If it had not been for the Lord, who was on my side”.

The people of Israel had cried out to the lord to return from exile. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. So Haggai and Zechariah were sent by God to assist in the rebuilding of the temple. This work was begun, according to Haggai 1:15, on the 24th day of the sixth month of the second year of the reign of Darius, which in our dating is September 21, 520 BC. From the time of their return, to when they actually started the rebuilding of the temple was about 18 years. This delay is what brings forth the message of Haggai.

The Lord was displeased with them because after all he had done for them returning them from exile, just like the believer being returned to our rightful place with the Lord, through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior

They put their own desires ahead of Gods requirements

PRAYER

The Lord speaks “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”2

So that Lord is simply saying when is my time, if not now when? Some in the house of the Lord, feel as if they have given so much already, understand that this is not new.

The people in the prophet Micah’s day also complained that God was never satisfied. They snidely asked, “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?” (Micah 6:7). It was their way of asking, “What does God want from us, anyway?” Some people today feel like all their striving to please God goes for nothing, and they, too, ask, “What does God want from me?”

I come by to encourage you today: What I want you to see here is not just the physical building of the temple , but rather yours, our spiritual temple. The Lords desire is to one day say unto you and me,

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ Matt 25:21

The only only question is how do we get there?

Selfishness Disobedience

If you look at the people Haggai was speaking too, they were living in selfishness disobedience. For the Lord says to them...

“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Haggai 1:4

Many of the Israelite homes had been decorated with ornate paneling, the Hebrew word used here is the same word used in 1Kings 6:9, to describe the opulent interior of Solomon’s temple.

In other words the people were more concerned about their own house, their own well being instead of the business of the Father. Let us in this new year take the focus off ourselves, and put our focus, our desires on the building of the temple, not in the flesh but in the spirit! temple of God, as much as they were concerned about their own house.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matt 6:33

I don’t know about you, but my desire is to be about the Father’s business like never before. God was showing them how all their efforts to improve their lives without obedience to Him was futile. The Lord showed them the foolishness of their efforts:

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

I come by to encourage you to get about the building of the Lords temple in your life. The Lord says consider your ways?

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. Matt 6:8

How do we get to that place where our temple is pleasing to the Lord, Obedience! The Lord gives them the solution to their problems, their issues of life.

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. Haggai 1:8

I'm not talking about some list of do's and don'ts, that is not what Christian salvation, Christian temple building is about. Romans 3:20 reads, "no one will be declared righteous in his God's sight by observing the law."

So, what must I do?” Restoring the Temple - Usher in God's Presence Our hearts should house God. Have we been letting God enter in freely? Are we locked up in bitterness or anger or envy or sorrow or greed? Let’s get serious about our walk with the Lord. Let’s make a covenant, as Hezekiah did (verse 10) that we will clear the path for the Lord of Hosts to enter in and sup with us and show us what to do for His sake.

Purifying the Temple – Remove Your Idols I bet if I asked you right now, you could tell me that you have a junk room, space somewhere you store stuff that you might not want people to see. It’s where you hide things. I'm reminded of Hezekiah, the Temple in the nation of Judah had become a junk room, an unused storage room filled with ungodly things.

Apostle Paul, reminds the believer, I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (Rom. 7:15). The Apostle Paul: but thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, the One who can save me from my evil ways (Rom. 7: 25).

Rededicating Yourself to God – Make It Holy and Make it Public The morning after Hezekiah got the word that the job was done, he set out to visit the Temple of the Lord. Hezekiah’s quick response was very important. A spiritual house that has been swept clean of defilement will not stay clean without a dedication to God.

"When an evil* spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, `I will return to the person I came from.' So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation."(Matt 12:43-45)

As we allow the Holy Spirit to mode, lead and guide us we become new creatures in Christ, new thinking,

be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Ro 12:2

With renewed minds we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philp 3:14

Obedience and reverence/fear of the Lord

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. Haggai 1:12

CONCLUSION:

I’m with You! The Lord stirred up their spirits

Haggai 1:13 NKJV

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.”

When the Lord is with you:

no weapon formed against you shall prosper

you and the Lord are the majority

You can declare: If God is for us, who can be against us

The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.