Apathy or Activity?

Nate Beaman

Haggai • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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Spiritual Activity is both expected and sustained by God.

Notes

Transcript

Handout

INTRO:

ILLUS: Broken Wrist = embarrassingly weak. // Apathy

Likewise - There are times when all believers are less active spiritually and apathy begins to set in. In my case, it was only one area of my body that was apathetic but if I had left it like that, there would have continued to be negative consequences!

Is there any area of my walk with God, my faith, that is apathetic? Am I not growing? Lack of activity?

CONSIDER THIS STATEMENT AS WE EVALUATE THIS PASSAGE:

MAIN POINT: Spiritual Activity is both expected and sustained by God

“Spiritual Activity” defined:

To be “Spiritually Active” is to be consciously seeking and living out the will of God by hearing and obeying the word of God in the power of God.

To be “Spiritually In-active” would be to be seeking our will over God’s. (THIS IS OUR DEFAULT SETTING)

Haggai’s simple message from God… “Consider your ways”

Historical Context of Haggai:

Haggai 1:1 ESV

1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest:

2nd year of Darius

TIMELINE: Nebechundezer - 4 kings - Cyrus (1st return w/ Zerub 538 BC) - Cambyses - Darius (522)

We’re in the 2nd year of Darius - 520 // 6th month, 1st day = Aug 29, 520 BC

Remnant of jews have returned to Jerusalem. ( Under Cyrus I )

Unusual specificity as to dates / timeline

Connected to Ezra 3-5

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ezra 3 tells the story of how the people had already begun work on rebuilding the Temple. Alter built and foundations laid.

Haggai prophecies about 18 years later.

Main Characters:

God

Haggai -

Prophet to remnant of Jews that have returned to Jerusalem

Contemporary of Zecharaiah (Ezra 5)

Zerubbabel -

Governor // Son of Shealtiel the son of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) the Last king of Judah.

Zerubbabel was a Davidic “King” and in the line of the messiah (Matthew 1:12)

Joshua -

High Priest -

Son of Jehozadak who was the High Priest in the first temple when taken into exile.

The People

Remnant

Most have lived in Babylon the majority of their lives

Probably excited to be part of a group that’s “gonna get it right this time”.

Question 1: What causes spiritual activity to stop?

Haggai 1:2–11 ESV

2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.” 3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? 5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. 11 And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth, on man and beast, and on all their labors.”

What caused the people to stop working on the Temple?

WE’RE GOING TO WORK FROM THE EXTERNAL TO THE INTERNAL.

- Opposition

TURN TO EZRA 4

Ezra 4:1–3 ESV

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the Lord, the God of Israel, 2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria who brought us here.” 3 But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel said to them, “You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”

In this text we’re simply introduced to the opposition - Z, J, and the R are committed. But that doesn’t last long.

We will see that a letter is written to the King.

ILLUS: TATTLE TALES...

NOTE: Ezra 4:6-23 is a parenthetical note that refers to another example of the same kind of opposition experienced 100 years later. (Nehemiah’s time)

Ezra 4:24 ESV

24 Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Ezra tends to focus on the opposition. Indeed, for many many years the Jews in Jerusalem dealt with local resistance. Haggai however doesn’t mention it and God holds them accountable all the same.

CONSIDER OTHERS WHO ENDURED OPPOSITION BUT REMAINED FAITHFUL - DANIEL, DAVID, JOSEPH, NOAH, - - - - JESUS!

It’s understandable that Opposition can limit and interfere with Spiritual activity but to let opposition cause us to quit or give up doing God’s will is contrary to Jesus’ encouragement in John 16:33.

John 16:33 ESV

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Take heart… That leads us to our next reason why the work may have stopped...

- Discouragement

Staying in Ezra still… We see that even when they were seeking the will of God there were seeds of discouragement being sown.

Those who could remember the old Temple were seriously disappointed with the new. (MORE ON THIS NEXT WEEK)

Discouragement from remembering past failures.

They finish the foundations of the temple … But not everyone was happy.

Ezra 3:11–13 ESV

11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

ILLUS: Having to Re-do a 1000 word post for class because I hit the back button… The second run was ok… just wasn’t the same.

Discouragement from others who want to see you fail. The opposition was effective!

Ezra 4:4–5 ESV

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Since you’ve trusted Christ, what kind of discouragements have had a negative impact on your spiritual activity?

(REMINDER: Seeking / Living out the Will of God through his Word and Power.)

- Faithlessness & Indifference

TURN BACK TO HAGGAI 1

We now get to the main issue that Haggai is going after - Ezra helpfully points out the outward pressure and effect that it had but Haggai is going after a deeper issue. One that resided in their hearts.

READ

Haggai 1:2–6 ESV

They were procrastinating (UNFAITHFULNESS) .... Why?

I think that scripture is indicating that they were making excuses - Opposition, Poor economy, bad crops, etc.

NOTE: “THESE PEOPLE” - NOT “MY PEOPLE” - There was a gap in the relationship that needed to be repaired. They were not living faithfully

NOTE THE ARROGANCE! - “It’s not time yet” - As if they knew the will of God.

VERSE 4 - Paneled = Roofed / Finished (Compare to God’s unfinished house)

The verbs in VERSE 6 carry the idea of a constant / continual action - They were “in a rut” of spiritual faithlessness and were not able to draw the connection that their poor economic situation was God’s discipline in their lives.

After years of excuse making, they had grown comfortable while ignoring the work of the Lord

EXCUSES OFTEN COVER LAZINESS....

ARE YOU ACTIVE BUT NOT FAITHFUL? - The remnant was active about their own needs, but indifferent to what God wanted… Just not with what God wanted them to do.

ILLUS: When something fades into the background - “Oh yeah, I need to deal with that thing”… Time goes by… Thing is still there… You begin to not even see it anymore!

Is there any area of obedience that you’ve made excuses about for so long that you’ve become indifferent to it?

The fault for not obeying God lies with US - It is not because of a lack on God’s part. DO NOT BLAME GOD FOR YOUR APATHY.

The people’s faithless indifference is highlighted next by another reality that causes us to become spiritually apathetic.

Really, all spiritual apathy boils down to this… Selfishness.

- Selfishness -

Haggai 1:9 ESV

9 You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the Lord of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

“Looked for Much” - Turned away toward something else - Nothing satisfied

TOO BUSY SEEKING THEIR OWN DESIRES. FOOD, SHELTER, PROTECTION

The other prophet during this time highlighted the problem even more clearly...

Zechariah 7:6 ESV

6 And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?

The people’s efforts were made ineffective by God to point them back to Himself. But there was a period of time where they didn’t get it.

APP: Sometimes, it simply comes down to the fact that I want what I want more than I want what God wants.

How do we summarize the problem Haggai was seeing and God was speaking to?

These people had a different problem than the problems that lead to exile.

This wasn’t apostacy.

- This was a problem of priorities.

Wrong priorities lead to Apathy!

SUMMARY:

LOOK AT VERSES 5 & 7

“Consider your ways” X2

Haggai 1:5 ESV

5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Haggai 1:7 ESV

7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Two Hebrew words make up “CONSIDER”

“Seen-yod-mem” meaning “carefully arrange”

“Le-vav” meaning “heart or conscience”

Spiritual Inactivity - or apathy - is a matter of the HEART!!

CONSIDER YOUR WAYS - does not mean stop doing that and start doing this as much as it means… Change your heart priorities!!

This issue was less about what they were doing and more about what was most important.

Look at V. 8

Haggai 1:8 ESV

8 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.

The Temple represented the presence of God. It was the “Come and See” location. God’s people are to put Him first - Matt 6:33

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

They had focused on...

Their comfort

Their provision

Their protection

Their reputation

They needed to…

Glorify God!

As the nations looked on (remember there were many “neighbors”) they would draw the conclusion that the God of Israel didn’t mean much to them. The people were seeking their own glory, not Gods.

NT Connection:

Build the Temple - The place where God dwelled among His people / the “Come and see” location to the world - Where is that now? It’s IN US - How are you building US? Personally - Corporately (The Church)

Our priorities indicate to those around us our view of God. Full stop.

Consider Your ways...

TRANSITION:

So, The problem is clear. This was a heart problem. The people, regardless of the reason why, had placed God on the back burner. They had grown comfortable in their faithlessness. God’s faithfulness in bringing them back to the land is contrasted by their indifference. Less than a generation from the exile and they’re becoming apathetic because they had stopped being spiritually active. They had stopped seeking God! Their priorities were out of alignment with God’s.

THIS LEADS US TO OUR NEXT QUESTION...

Question 2: How can we start growing again if we have stopped?

READ

Haggai 1:12–15 ESV

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 Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.” 14 And 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 month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

What happened next? By the grace of God, we have a positive ending to this encounter! I think too, we can learn from the response of the People and the corresponding response of God.

What did the people do?

Haggai 1:12 ESV

They obeyed God

What prompted this obedience - Hearing the Word of God. -

The Hebrew word translated as “OBEY” here MEANS “to hear & respond accordingly”

God spoke through Haggai and the word effected them. From the top down…

They feared God

When we fear or Reverence God - we are seeking His plan… not our own. We recognize HIS authority over our lives.

YOU MIGHT BE THINKING… Doesn’t Reverence come before Obedience?

Chicken or Egg? Obedience or Reverence?

Don’t wait to obey when God says to get to work. That’s really the first step of honoring God!

They got to work

Look at verse 14

Haggai 1:14–15 ESV

14 And 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 month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Our response to the Word of God today, and any time we hear it is simply to Obey it in reverence for who God is.

God is a sovereign, righteous, judge, who knows all, and does all for His glory and for the good of those who are called by him to be His people. Why do we acknowledge that and still go our own way? Sin.

Romans 7:24–25 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

The people did the right thing… They humbly submitted to God’s will.

But God didn’t leave the room after “getting his people on track again”. No… God acted too! This is where it gets REALLY cool.

What did God do?

Haggai 1:13 ESV

13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”

He reminded them He was with them - Encouragement

Why would “I am with you” Be encouraging to these people?

Luke Skywalker - episode 4 - When Obi-wan “comes back” to encourage him.

A Child’s ability to walk through darkness when holding their parent’s hand.

Let’s give these people some understanding

Small in number

Weak defensively and offensively

still “under” another King

Opposition all around

To know that the God of their fathers had not written them off after their unfaithfulness would have been SUPER encouraging.

APP:

If you’re seeking the will of God, KNOW that God is with you.

When you feel weak - God is with you

In the midst of opposition to your obedience - God is with you!

REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS!!

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God bolster’s their resolve and meets them in their weakness! But that’s not all..

Haggai 1:14–15 ESV

He stirred up their spirits - Empowerment

What was the result of this “stirring”?

I don”t think it was the same as “indwelling” of THE Spirit as we see in those who built the Tabernacle etc.

This seems to be God helping the people stay motivated to do His will.

The answer to our second question?

Submit and Rely - THIS IS CALL OF THE GOSPEL!!

Submit to God’s authority over your life - Believe that Jesus died in your place, was raised from the dead, and that following Him (obeying//submitting) will be far more fulfilling than chasing after your own desires.

Rely on His Spirit to remain faithful - God is with you, Stay faithful.

When that seems hard… Hard to believe that God’s way is best. When you feel weak… Consider the words of Paul.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

REVIEW:

APPLICATION:

Up until now I have not spoken directly to any example of how we often get our priorities out of line. Do some considering with me.

Are you Spiritually Active at all? You can’t be if you’re not a spiritual creation - Believe the Gospel - Submit & Rely - Repent & Believe

What are your priorities? Consider your ways - Any apathy?

How are you building THE church? How are you doing that in THIS church? Have the cares of this life (which may not be sinful by themselves) caused you to be too busy to do the “One-Anothers” of the NT?

Who are you serving?

Who are you discipling?

Who are you spurring on to Love and Good Deeds?

Who are you admonishing and exhorting to live for God?

Have you forgotten that God says… “I am with you”?

Are you seeking to do all of this in your own strength? Rely on the Spirit’s enabling power… but don’t sit back and wait for it!

Let’s GET TO WORK - There’s much to do!

Pray

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