What Is It That You Really Want? (Haggai 1:3-9, 12)

Sermon: What Is It That You Really Want?

Scripture: Haggai 1:3-9, 12

Date: January 6, 2019

 

Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"  Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!  You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes."  Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!  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.  "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away.  Why?" says the Lord of hosts.  "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house." ... Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.  (Haggai 1:3-9, 12)

The book of Haggai, second shortest in the Old Testament, has a powerful message.  It tells us to put first things first in our lives.

They got used to life without a temple.

Rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem was high on God's priority list.

"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"  (Haggai 1:4)

They had gotten comfortable in taking care of themselves and neglecting God.

Let's look at three words that will help us to really put God first and not just talk about it, three words to help us break out of our spiritual apathy:

1. Consider
   • "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?"  Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!"  (Haggai 1:4-5)
   • We all know this, but we all are prone to put ourselves, our prosperity, our feelings, our happiness above God's purposes.
   • Church and the Lord's work can easily drift into the background.
   • Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: "This people says, 'The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.'" (Haggai 1:2)
   • It's not the right time.
   • There is never a perfect time to start putting Jesus first.
   • Or, maybe it's always the right time to start putting Jesus first.
     1. How are you spending your time?
     2. How are you spending your money, which is really God's money?
     3. What are your goals?
     4. What do you think about the most?
     5. Who are your heroes or models?
     6. Who are your friends?
     7. How do you spend your leisure time?
   • "You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes."  Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways!  God up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the Lord.  (Haggai 1:6-8)
   • Life is not going to be as fulfilling as it should be without God as supreme.
   • It means that your main goal is to know Christ at home, in your heart, by faith, and to do all that you can to help others do the same.
   • How can we do this?
     1. Have intention about this day.
     2. Review your day.
     3. Say "I won't," not "I can't."
2. Conflict
   • What will your opposition look like?
     1. Procrastination
     2. Feelings
     3. Comparison
     4. People
3. Confidence
   • Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.  (Haggai 1:12)
   • The ministry of Haggai and Zechariah would be successful.  The people obeyed and finished a new temple around 515 BC.