Where Hands and Hearts Collide: Haggai

I. God’s Wake Up Call: 1

A. Israel had returned from captivity in Babylon 16 years prior to this message. They had laid the foundation of the Temple 16 years ago, but left the work, saying that it wasn’t the right time.

B. Yahweh speaks to Haggai the prophet. The message is clear, get to work on my house, I’m mad with you.

C. Israel had been blessed, but had now made idols out of the gifts the Giver gave them!

D. Don’t we do the same thing?

E. Yahweh would take away those gifts, if they didn’t wake up, and do something about it!

F. The leaders, and the people repented, and got to work.

II. God’s Shake Up Call: 2:1-19

A. Some people were complaining about how it (the temple) wasn’t as good as it used to be.

B. Yahweh’s response is that His Spirit was abiding in their midst. Don’t worry, if things ain’t like they use to be, He’s with you! Different ain’t always bad…it’s just different. Give it a chance!

C. Yahweh was going to shake things up in the world around them. He is doing that today! And the church is too busy arguing politics and conspiracy theories, to tell/show people that Jesus loves them, and died for them. We’re too busy living in the past. The church is suppose to be a hospital for souls, not a mortuary for memories.

D. They were being obedient outwardly, but not inwardly. So their obedience was worse than out right disobedience. They were just going through the motions. “Any kind of love without passion, ain’t no kind of lovin at all”- Don Henley

E. It was time for their hearts to catch up with their hands.

III. God’s Make Up Call vs. 20-23

A. Yahweh was allowing them to make up for the time they had lost!

B. Zerubbabel would be used for a signet ring. Meaning through His line, Jesus would be born. What we do now, loving obedience, would carry on for generations. Will we wake up, shape up, and make up?