Haggai (3) The Word of the Lord

Introduction: Today, from Haggai chapter 1 we are going to consider the authoritative impact of the Word of the Lord. As we begin thinking in this direction listen to the declarations about God’s word as I read several passages that emphasize the impact of the “Word of the Lord.”

2 Samuel 22:31 ESV

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.

Psalm 12:6 ESV

The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.

Psalm 33:6 ESV

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

1 Peter 1:22–25 ESV

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Transition: Today, I plan to direct your attention to three key observations about the word of the Lord from Haggai 1:1-2 That God’s word always comes at the right time, through the right person, and to the right people.

The word of the Lord came at the right time...

The word of the Lord came at a very particular time. The book of Haggai is divided with these statements about time.

In contrast to the time that the word of the Lord came....“These people”

The first indictment that the Lord makes against these people is they are saying the time has not yet come.

Ever heard the saying, “timing is everything”? Well, when the word of the Lord is spoken, its is always time to obey. Because God’s word is eternal. Neither God, nor His word, are limited by time and space. But they always arrive at just the right time and exactly in the right place.

4. Application: Where might this truth land on our listing ears?

a. If your not a Christian perhaps you have been counting the cost of following Jesus. You recognize the holiness of God and the need to trust in Christ alone as the payment for your sin against God. But yet, you remain unconverted. Perhaps you think, the time is not yet? I’d remind you that today is the day of salvation and invite you to even now turn from your sin and trust in Christ. If you are being awakened to the reality of God’s holy righteousness, and your own sinful unrighteousness. If your eyes are being opened to the love of God in Christ's death burial and resurrection in your place as a payment for your sin. Then the time in now… to receive the gift of faith today and turn form your sin.

b. If you are a christian, perhaps you are neglecting the advancement of God’s kingdom by appealing to any assortment of excuses. I’ll start praying better some day, I’ll get plugged into the church someday, as soon as I finish this season of work I’ll jump in. You may think there is wisdom in this kind of indifference, but as long as God’s word is clear about the mission mandate of a follower of Christ… and the word is very clear… then we never have the privilege of saying not yet. Not even when, like the people in Haggai's day, distress and opposition are against you advancing the glory of God. You see, to neglect obeying the clear word of the Lord is to reveal a devotion to self glory rather than God’s glory. Even when we think we have justified reason to do so, we are guilty of idolatry when we do not obey the word of the Lord.

5. Illustration: Thinking about the word of the Lord coming at the right time… made me remember that Reese received a wrist watch for his birthday, and since then has asked me multiple times if I know what time it is. Church, do you know What time is it? It has always been and will always be time to obey the word of the Lord.

Transition: So first we see that the word of the Lord came at the right time. Then we see the word of the Lord came through the right person… Notice in the text that the word of the Lord came, “by the hand of Haggai the prophet.”

The Word of the Lord came through the right person...

A question that we will often hear in our culture is, “How can we be certain that the words we hear are true and right?” or “How do you know for sure that the Bible is the text that should be the authority for your life?”

This is a good question because it really does get at the heart of Christianity. One of the solid answers to this question is given through the teaching of the origin of the Bible. Notice here, the text says, the word “of” the Lord… came by the hand of Haggi the prophet. What we discover happening is the verbal inspiration of God’s word. One of the best passages in the bible to understand the teaching of how we got the Bible is by one of Jesus’ apostles in…

II Peter 1:16-21

2 Peter 1:16–21 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 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.

We believe… Read our membership commitment statement of faith.

Implications: Because the Bible contains the very words of God, we have the text of authority, objectivity, sufficiency, clarity, etc..

Application: Consider the reality of this truth in the area of something like parenting. We have God’s standard on the matter. In Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us we are able to obey His word. And to His glory and our good we will see the outcome of our faith working in the lives of our children. This is why the attitude, “I’ll get on that someday will never prove.”

The heart of the problem is not that we don’t have objective truth on every facet of our lives. No, we do because God has breathed His word through the right people to be reordered for us in His book and His word is sufficient for every aspect of our lives. The problem is that we do not live in submission to His word. Let me ask you plainly today…

Are you living in submission to God’s word, the Bible?

Transition: The word of the Lord came at the right time through the right person and finally… to the right people. Notice in Haggai 1:1c

The Word of the Lord came to the right people…

1. Zerubbabel: “descendant of babel, born in Babylon” - The religious leader

Grandfather- Jehoiachin- meaning “the Lord establishes” (2 Kings 24:8-17)

Significance- Zerubbabel is not following in grandfathers “evil”.

Father- Shealtiel- meaning “I have asked of God”.

Significance- Will be included in Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:12-13)

2. Jeshua: “the Lord is salvation” - The civic leader

Father- Jehozadak- meaning “the Lord deals righteously” (1 Chron 6:14-15)

Jeshua is returning where his father was exiled.

3. Application: This reveals the blessing that leadership is to God’s people. These two men submitted to God’s word and helped to lead the rebuilding of the temple. Later they were helped by Ezra and Nehemiah. They were certainly encouraged by the prophetic ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, but they responded from the position of leadership that they had ben placed in by submitting to the word of the Lord. Let me offer some pastoral counsel at this point. Two weeks ago the members of Hillcrest approved the organization of a temporary leadership team. We agreed to pray about those among the body who might be qualified to serve on this team. Then ya’ll are going to give me any recommendations so that I can formulate a list of potential candidates that we can all approve sometime later in July. Prayerfully consider those men who are living in submission to God’s word. I do not mean those who have never made a mistake, or haven't needed correction. No, rather, who among us have shown the characteristics of when God’s word lands on their conscience they respond in humble obedience? You pray about those and let me know when you have some recommendations because it will be this kind of man who like Zerubbabel and Jeshua will help lead God’s people into obedience.

4. Story: Once upon a time…

Closing: However, also be encouraged Christian. At this time… They were under the kingship of Darius. Even though they were back in the land and building the temple, they were under the thumb of a pagan king. In the same way that the word of the Lord came at just the right time in 520BC so too God is delivering His word in 2022. He knows the exact situations and circumstances surrounding His church. He is actively advancing His kingdom and bringing about His glory thorough the obedience of His people. He recognizes that we, just like His people in Haggai's day, are living in a culture under the influence of evil. Even as they were pilgrims hoping for a Redeemer we are those who have trusted in that Redeem and hope for His glorious return to take us from this temporary dwelling place to our eternal home with Him in glory.