Eternal Perspective Series

Introduction

2nd part of a two week series on Haggai.

Haggai- book w/end time message, but it contains eternal truths we can apply to our lives today.

Last week- looked at- importance of making Eternal Investments-how can we invest in God’s Kingdom

Today talk about- importance of having an Eternal Perspective-to properly respond to God in our day.

If our goal as a Christian is to be saved/go to heaven- we are living far below God’s purpose for our lives

God saved us to build something eternal- here/now.

Historical Setting

Judah had been conquered,

Jerusalem burned,

Solomon’s temple had been destroyed, and

the people were carried away into captivity.

After being captive- 70 year- amazing thing happens.

Ezra 1:1-3

God put favor in- king’s heart- for God’s people.

If God can move a king-can move president/governor.

What moves the heart of God- PRAYER!

Who is called to pray- the CHURCH!

Ezra 1:4-6

Everyone has a role- all called to support God’s work.

Offering

Good place to pause and take up our weekly offering.

Sent letter- God has richly blessed us this year.

However, our offerings have taken a down turn, perhaps due to- combination- economy/summer.

We have exhausted our reserves- proposed a plan to FOC- to cut most of our discretionary spending.

The only thing left to touch is salaries and what we give as a church to local ministries/missionaries.

Pastors- more willing to cut salaries than cut giving.

2 Cor 9:6-7, 10-11 Principle- sowing/reaping

Joe MacDonald- missionary we have helped some …

Sent a small check to COTR because we have been a blessing to him/he wanted to bless us.

I wrote the letter for three purposes …

1. Information

so family/friends-understand-financial situation

2. Ask for prayer

wisdom to know what to cut/what to pursue

not a time to retreat-push ahead w/wisdom/faith

3. Appeal for you to ask God how you can help

how can you help-build God’s Kingdom-COTR

I see three types of givers at COTRM, those who …

1. are giving all they can- give faithfully/sacrificially

2. have discretionary spending/giving- could redirect

3. have not yet taken the challenge to give Biblically

God says everything we have is His- stewards

Praying w/city pastors-Pastor David Lindsay- picture-

I see a big rock impeding your ministry and God is calling you to speak to the Rock and it will move- I felt the rock was our finances.

Anna Fetterman- encouraging testimony.

Prayer- speak to the rock!

Take up the offering- PLAY VIDEO.

The Story

Under Cyrus 50,000 Jews returned to Israel.

Built an altar- began to rebuild- foundation- temple.

They encountered resistance from their enemies, got busy w/their lives- stopped work for 15 years.

The enemy hinders us today from doing God’s will.

Hag 2:1-3

Some older men remembered Solomon’s temple.

Foundation- new temple- paled to Solomon’s temple.

Ez 3:10-13

It is easy to look at the miracles Jesus performed and the miracles we read about in the book of Acts,

and be discouraged with what we see today.

Ecc 7:10 Don’t long for "the good old days," for you don’t know whether they were any better than these! TLB

Instead we need to thank God for what He is doing today, in our generation, in our time.

The people were instructed to worship God and all they had was a foundation- hardly a temple.

1 Chr 16:29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him; Worship the Lord in holy array. NASU

Ascribe- to give to God what He is due.

Look at God’s response to the people’s complaints …

Hag 2:4

God says three things …

1. Take courage (be strong)

What is happening today might pale compared to what we read in the NT,

but God’s answer is … take courage!

He says it three times – to the civil leaders, the spiritual leaders, and to the people.

2 Tim 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. NASU

We need to walk boldly in the grace God has given us for this day in which we live.

2. Work

Regardless of what you see or how you evaluate the situation spiritually-continue to build My Kingdom

2Th 3:13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. NKJV

In the end, it is God who determines how and when He is going to show Himself mighty.

3. I am with you.

What greater motivation can there be?

Temple was the place of God’s visible glory/presence.

God’s glory/presence had left the temple long before it was destroyed- people had become disobedient.

So what the older men were mourning over was an outward glory that was little more than ceremony.

It is better to have- small temple w/presence of God than an elaborate temple w/o God’s presence.