Opening illustration: Pressures, demands, expectations and tasks push in from all sides and assault our schedules. Do this! Be there! Finish that! Call them! It seems as though everyone wants something from us ~ family, friends, employer, school, church, clubs etc. Soon there is little left to give, as we run out of energy and time. We find ourselves rushing through life, attending to the necessary, the immediate and the urgent. The important is all too often left in the dust. Our problem is not the volume of demands or lack of scheduling skills, but values – what is truly important to us.
Our values and priorities are reflected in how we use our resources – time, money, strength and talent. Often our actions belie our words. We say God is number one, but then we relegate Him to a lesser number on our “to do” list.
Twenty-five centuries ago, a voice was heard, calling men and women to the right priorities. Haggai knew what was important and what had to be done and he challenged God’s people to respond.
Today in the ‘Body of Christ’ we face the same dilemma and there needs to be that one man who will wake-up, call and challenge the church to slumber no more, follow in Godly footsteps and do the will of our Lord.
Let us catch up with the story in the book of Haggai and stop doing the same mistakes Israel did but learn a lesson to follow God’s instructions very closely and keep Him always as number 1 in our lives.
Introduction: In 586 BC the armies of Babylon had destroyed the temple in Jerusalem – God’s house, the symbol of His presence with them. In 538 BC, King Cyrus decreed that Jews could return to their beloved city and rebuild the temple. So they traveled to Jerusalem and began the work. They started well by building altars, offering regular sacrifices and laying the temple foundation. But then they forgot their purpose and lost their priorities, as opposition and apathy brought the work to a standstill (Ezra 4: 4, 5). They put away working on the temple for 16 years because their enemies mocked their efforts. Then Haggai spoke, calling them back to God’s values. "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" (1: 4). The people were more concerned with their own needs than with doing God’s will and as a result they suffered. Then Haggai called them to action: 7 Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! 8 "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD. (1: 7, 8). And God’s message through His servant Haggai became the catalyst for finishing the work. Through the ministry of Haggai and Zechariah, the temple was completed within 5 years (520 – 516 BC).
Even though the book of Haggai is small; it is filled with challenge and promise, reminding us of God’s claim on our lives and our priorities. As we read Haggai, imagine him walking the streets and alleys of Jerusalem, urging the people to get back to doing God’s work. And listen to Haggai speaking to you, urging you to reorder your priorities in accordance with God’s will. What has God told you to do? Put all aside and just obey Him.
What problems did Haggai face with the Israelites?
(a) Disinterest (1: 5, 6): The people built their houses and ignored the Lord’s temple. Thus they were fruitless. God will bless the results when He is glorified and given the first place in your lives.
(b) Discouragement (2: 4, 9): The older generation had seen Solomon’s temple thus were not interested in this one.
• Haggai’s message (2: 4) ’Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ’and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ’and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts.’
• God’s assurance (2: 9) ’The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ’And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.’
© Dissatisfaction (2: 19): When the people started working, they wanted an immediate reversal of all their years of inactivity (2: 10 – 23).
Application: Do not expect the work of three months to undo the neglect of 16 years.
God’s Word to the people ~ 2: 19 ’Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’
God’s blessing cannot be earned – it’s a gift.
What is it time for in the ‘Body of Christ?’ [Haggai 1: 4]
It is time for things to happen in the ‘Body of Christ.’
1. Time for UNITY (Psalm 133: 1): Connecting people today.
[“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”]
Synergism ~ 1+1 = 2 that’s not how God works, for Him 1+1 = 1000s
(a) Horse-pull in Canada: 1st horse pulls = 9,000 lbs; 2nd horse pulls = 8,000 lbs
Together they are supposed to pull 17,000 lbs.
But when they were brought together, they pulled 30,000 lbs.
(b) Three trees in the forest: They require water, sunlight and nutrients for survival. They need the fungus to reduce the competition. In the last days we would get to see all the denominations coming together. God the Father, His Son ~ Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit started this thing in unity. In Genesis 1: 26 it say “Let US make man in our image.” This is an image of unity not separation.
2. Time for the Holy Spirit ~ FIRE (Luke 3: 16):
[“John answered, saying to all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”]
In the ‘Body of Christ’ it is not my thing, my church, my cliché or my denomination etc.
We see in Haggai, God touching the heart of a heathen king to allow the Israelites to return to Jerusalem to rebuild their temple.
Political situation in India ~ prohibits conversion to Christianity, baptisms etc.
Standard of judgment starts in the house of the Lord.
Terry Ten boon said, “All scripture is commandment. It is not suggestion.” That is where we have the problem. We don’t like anyone or thing telling us what is right and what is wrong and what to do.
It is now time for God’s breath to blow. In Acts 2 we see God doing a mouth to mouth with the 120 believers in the upper room. It is going to cost you to have the presence of God in your life. The anointing of the Holy Spirit is not just fun or something to be casual about. It gets real serious when the FIRE falls upon you. You cannot live like the world and have the same standards. Because it will cost you, your anointing if you do.
The same problems we have in our churches today. People are only concerned about their own selfish desires ~ this is what hinders a revival. It is high time for FIRE so that the ‘REVIVAL’ can break loose.
3. Time for REPENTANCE (2 Peter 3: 9):
[“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”]
Illustration: In order to avail olive oil, one needs to crush many to extract a little.
It is a time to have a contrite and broken spirit to come before God so that He can do His work through you. It is not to shut yourself from the world but to open yourselves to the Holy Spirit and His work.
4. Time for HOLY ZEAL (passion) ~ Revelation 3: 16:
[“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”]
It is not time to be lukewarm or casual about God or His Word.
God has called us into purity, unity, fearlessness and to be risk-takers … in order to advance His Kingdom. Do you want the Holy Zeal to consume you? Time for more prayer meetings, time for worship. Time to give more of yourself to the Holy Spirit than the flesh. Time to lift up our hands and say, ‘Lord I love you, take me all …’ Time for …
Conclusion:
Do you have disinterest in matters that are important to God?
Are you discouraged with everything that is going on around you?
Are you dissatisfied with life as a whole?
It is time for you to ~
• Build the unity in the Body of Christ
• Desire God’s Fire
• Repent before God
• Desire a Holy Zeal (passion for God)
