011 God's Call to Full Obedience (part 3)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet,
11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law:
12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”
14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.
15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord,
16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty.
17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord.
18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider:
19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
(1) B. When obedience is our priority, we will gain true blessing from Him.
(1) B. When obedience is our priority, we will gain true blessing from Him.
God’s blessing is the most important thing we can have while we work.
God’s blessing is the most important thing we can have while we work.
God has already given us all the blessings we need.
God has already given us all the blessings we need.
The scope of our blessings is all encompassing.
The scope of our blessings is all encompassing.
The nature of our blessings is spiritual.
The nature of our blessings is spiritual.
The place of our blessings is heavenly.
God’s blessing is not always seen immediately.
God’s blessing is not always seen immediately.
The seeds were planted. They were waiting on the harvest.
These are days of trusting God’s promise even though you cannot see it yet.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
We don’t like to wait for anything. Especially God’s blessing.
We are finding that there are certain areas that is seems like we miss it a lot when it comes to seeing things through a biblical perspective.
Waiting is one of the biggest ones.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Don’t forget, the Jews waited 400 years to hear from God.
We always need to remember God’s TIMING.
At the exact right time the Messiah came.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
God’s blessing is not always seen immediately.
God’s blessing is not always seen immediately.
Waiting...
Wondering where your answers are.
Watching the wicked prosper.
We must have complete faith in God’s promises.
30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.
God’s blessing does not mean we have no problems, but that He will work them for our good and His glory.
God’s blessing does not mean we have no problems, but that He will work them for our good and His glory.
The Jews were still under foreign rule.
Enemies were still on their borders.
They were still just a small remnant with a huge job.
The greatest blessings we receive are not earthly blessings.
The best blessings are those that are waiting for us in glory.
The ones we will never see on earth, but are eternal.
The bible tells us that to receive those blessings, we need to walk through struggles here.
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
God’s blessing does not mean we have no problems, but that He will work them for our good and His glory.
God’s blessing does not mean we have no problems, but that He will work them for our good and His glory.
THEME: Obedience brings blessing!
2. God’s expectation is not simply outward obedience, but full obedience.
2. God’s expectation is not simply outward obedience, but full obedience.
Obedience in the heart.
Not just outward obedience, but holiness!
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet,
11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law:
12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.”
14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.
God asks the priests two questions.
God asks the priests two questions.
1. If a person carries holy meat in his clothes, and touches bread, stew or any kind of food, does it become holy? NO
1. If a person carries holy meat in his clothes, and touches bread, stew or any kind of food, does it become holy? NO
2. If an unclean person touches bread or stew or any other food, does that food become defiled? YES
2. If an unclean person touches bread or stew or any other food, does that food become defiled? YES
(2) A. Holiness is not contagious, but sinfulness is.
(2) A. Holiness is not contagious, but sinfulness is.
If you have a gallon of sour milk, you wouldn’t pour some good milk in it and expect it to be fine. However, if you pour only a little sour milk into a gallon of good milk you will ruin the entire gallon.
Health is not contagious but sickness is.
It is easier to get sick than stay healthy, especially when you are around sick people.
We don’t pick up holiness from being around holy people.
We can pick up their habits, but we have to intentionally put them into practice.
We are not accidently holy.
It takes purpose to live with holiness.
Especially since holiness is not simply outward action, but our heart.
However, because of our sin nature, we can become sinful when we spend a lot of time with sinful people.
Yet, living in a bubble is sinful as well.
We need to exercise a great amount caution when we are in the world.
Here is another way to think about what Haggai is saying.
Good actions don’t make bad things good.
If you get pulled over for driving 50 in a 30 you can’t say that you were driving 30 in a 50 a few miles back so it all even out.
Doing the right thing the wrong way is still wrong!
God wants us to do the right thing the right way.
All the way back here in the Old Testament we are being taught that good does not balance out bad.
We need to intentionally cultivate Holiness and Godliness in our lives.
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
The idea of training is a persevering, painstaking, diligent effort.
“There is a price to godliness, and godliness is never on sale. It never comes cheaply or easily.” - Jerry Bridges
(2) A. Holiness is not contagious, but sinfulness is.
(2) A. Holiness is not contagious, but sinfulness is.
It is our responsibility to painstakingly give diligent effort to pursue holiness.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
The Jews were building the temple. Is there any more important work?
Yet God says He will not bless if they are not holy.
14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
They had an amazing opportunity to worship the Lord through the work of building temple, but their hearts weren’t right.
Because their hearts were unclean, their work was unclean.
Today the greatest work is building the church - building lives for Christ!
It is possible to do the greatest work we have the wrong way.
We could do it to look good for others.
We could do it to check something off our list.
We could do it our of a feeling of guilt.
We could be doing it without actually engaging with the people in are attempting to reach.
What if we are doing those things right but we are not doing other things right.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
(2) B. God will not bless our work unless we are Holy.
(2) C. Full obedience is outward action with inward motives.
(2) C. Full obedience is outward action with inward motives.
Doing the right thing the right way.
We often look at what we are doing and think we are pleasing God. However, we need to look at how we are doing it.
It wasn’t enough for the Jews to build the temple. They were to build with a heart that is pleasing to God.
This is a daily battle for us.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
(2) C. Full obedience is outward action with inward motives.
(2) C. Full obedience is outward action with inward motives.
Concluding questions:
Do I frequently spend time in prayer asking for God’s blessing and seeking His will?
Do I immediately confess sin and quickly turn from it?
Am I more worried about God’s glory than my own?