005 The Anatomy of Repentance
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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.
1. Repentance requires us to Hear the Word of the Lord.
1. Repentance requires us to Hear the Word of the Lord.
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.
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
Just as God’s revelation to the Jews
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
God intended that common man could understand what He was saying.
The New Testament was given to us in Koine or common Greek not classical Greek.
God wanted His revelation to be clear!
So clear that before He gave us the Bible, He gave us His Son!
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God revealed Himself to us clearly through His Son!
Get to know Jesus!
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
(1) A. God’s revelation to us is clear.
Jesus revealed God to us.
The WORD of life.
He was God’s Word in the flesh.
The Word of the Lord came to the Jews.
We too have the Word of the Lord.
Who God is and what He expects of us is clear.
(1) B. We must make time to listen.
(1) B. We must make time to listen.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
(1) B. We must make time to listen.
(1) B. We must make time to listen.
Sometimes we need to slow down and listen.
Story of men lost in a cave that waited at each intersection.
We need to have a desire to listen.
Listening is where repentance starts.
We will not repent if do not hear the Word of God.
The problem is we don’t want to hear it.
We stop going to church at least as often.
We stop digging in and studying the Word.
We stop actually listening to the sermons.
We remove ourselves from the Word because we don’t want to hear it.
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
2. Repentance requires us to Obey the Word of the Lord.
2. Repentance requires us to Obey the Word of the Lord.
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.
2. Repentance requires us to Obey the Word of the Lord.
2. Repentance requires us to Obey the Word of the Lord.
Notice the little word “then” in this verse.
The people gained a Holy discontentment and were given clear instruction to move out of their indifference.
THEN - Obedience.
Not just some, but ALL THE REMNANT
(2) A. Revelation demands a response because of its author.
(2) A. Revelation demands a response because of its author.
All scripture was breathed out by God.
You hold in your hand the revelation of God.
Not just a book.
Not a bunch of stories.
Actual historical events written down by chosen men who were led by the Holy Spirit to reveal to us who God is and what He expects of us.
The Word of the Lord demands a response from the hearer.
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Don’t just listen.
James quickly moves to the next step following the pattern of Haggai.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Catch this detail - James doesn’t say do the Word.
This is not a one time thing.
We are to be “doers” of the Word.
Systematically and continually responding to the revealed Word of God.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Once again we can’t miss the details.
James has a powerful message here.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
(2) A. Revelation demands a response because of its author.
(2) A. Revelation demands a response because of its author.
A hearer and not a doer is like a man that looks intently into a mirror.
Not one who is passing by and takes a quick look.
But studies himself.
James is not speaking to those who carelessly listen to the Word.
James is talking to those who intently listen.
We hear it. We study it. We are convicted by it.
Yet we turn away and allow our focus to go other places.
We get distracted.
We make excuses.
Revelation demands a response.
We would have thought it crazy if Joshua and Zerubbabel thought about what Haggai said then when on with their lives.
When we see sin in our lives we need to do something about it.
Haggai gives us an example of immediate and decisive obedience.
(2) B. Revelation demands a response though it is communicated to us through human messengers.
(2) B. Revelation demands a response though it is communicated to us through human messengers.
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:
The revelation came to the people by the hand of...
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.
They obeyed the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai as the Lord their God had sent him.
The Bible is breathed out by God, but God chose to use preachers to help deliver it to you.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
(2) B. Revelation demands a response though it is communicated to us through human messengers.
(2) B. Revelation demands a response though it is communicated to us through human messengers.
My role is to preach the Word.
In season or out of season - when it easy or hard.
When the people are willing to listen and when they are not.
God chose to teach and expound His Word through preaching.
We have a pattern of expository preaching.
The word “exposition” is related to the word “expose”.
My goal is to expose the meaning of the text to you.
So I am the vessel that God’s Word comes through, but it is till God’s Word.
Thus… it still demands a response.
3. Repentance is a result of our Fear of God.
3. Repentance is a result of our Fear of God.
A true sense of awe for God came over them.
They were seeing God for who He is!
There was a fear and reverence for God.
True change only comes when we have a small view of self and a great view of God.
We talk about “fear” meaning awe or reverence but that reverence should give us pause when we think about God.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
“A Holy fear of God will have a great influence upon our obedience to Him… if we fear Him not, we shall serve Him not.” - Matthew Henry
3. Repentance is a result of our Fear of God.
3. Repentance is a result of our Fear of God.
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
13 Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord’s message, “I am with you, declares the Lord.”
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
“I am with you”
Immediate repentance and obedience bring immediate forgiveness.
God turns from calling them “these people”
To I am with you.
Hebrew: “I with you.”
Go was and would be with them!
God’s presence is the greatest blessing we could ask for!
This was a sure guarantee of their success.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Nothing more inspirits men and rouses them from torpor, than, when relying on the promises of divine aid, they have a sure hope of a successful issue [CALVIN].
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
The people were given clear instruction.
Obedience promised the presence of God and fellowship with Him.
Obedience was guaranteed success because God was going with them God was protecting them. God was doing the work.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
4. Repentance restores our fellowship with God.
Jesus claims authority.
Haggai claimed authority “The Word of the Lord.”
Haggai was given authority for this one task.
Jesus has been given all authority by the Father.
With that authority - go obey.
I with you.
I am currently with you and I will be with you.
More than comfort we need the king
More than gifts, we need the giver
More than blessings we need Your presence
God is calling us to repentance.
What is it for you?
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.
God cut a tree.
What tree do you need to cut this morning?
Where do you need to start?
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.