The Blessing of Obedience | FIRST FRUITS
First Fruits • Sermon • Submitted
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· 196 viewsWhen we choose to put other things in front of God’s agenda, we can end up having unexpected results, such as unfulfilled lives and lack where we should have plenty. God wants us to put His agenda first and experience the blessing that comes with being within His will.
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Introduction
Introduction
Church Online
Wk 1 - First Things First
God is not nearly as interested in your health, your wealth, or your happiness, as He is about your Christlikeness.
This goes against so much of “Self-Help” Christian theology we’ve been preached.
MANTRA: It’s not about how bad you are, but how good He is.
ILLUS: Vending Machine - Have you ever stood in front of a vending machine, hungry and anticipating biting into the treat you have set your heart upon? And then you insert your money, push the appropriate button ... and nothing happens. The machine is out of order!
Have you ever stood in front of a vending machine, hungry and anticipating biting into the treat you have set your heart upon? And then you insert your money, push the appropriate button ... and nothing happens. The machine is out of order!
Have you ever stood in front of a vending machine, hungry and anticipating biting into the treat you have set your heart upon? And then you insert your money, push the appropriate button ... and nothing happens. The machine is out of order!
2. In , the prophet is sent to deliver a message from God to the Jews, informing them that they were out of order.
On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’ ” Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
hag1.1-
informing them that they were out of order. The Jews returned from Babylonian exile in 538 BC and began to rebuild the temple in 536. But after nearly seventeen years, they had become preoccupied with their own lives and had put aside the rebuilding of the temple. Further details about why are outlined in . Apparently, they succumbed to the influence of the people around them who convinced them they were wasting their time building the temple (v. 4), they fought against political discouragement (vv. 6–23), and eventually they stopped working on the temple (v. 24) to focus on themselves.
Background:
The Jews returned from Babylonian exile in 538 BC and began to rebuild the temple in 536.
The Jews returned from Babylonian exile in 538 BC and began to rebuild the temple in 536.
But after nearly seventeen years, they had become preoccupied with their own lives and had put aside the rebuilding of the temple.
NLT = “Luxurious”
Hebrew = “Paneled”
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
Many of the Israelites’ homes had been decorated with ornate paneling. The Hebrew word used here is the same word used in 1 Kgs 6:9 to describe the opulent interior of Solomon’s temple.
Crown molding, wainscotting, backsplashes, high ceilings, granite countertops...
None of these are bad things, except that the people had neglected God’s house.
But the people
Their priorities were misplaced. The nation had focused on decorating their homes instead of rebuilding the temple.
The Book of Ezra provides a little more insight into the circumstances surrounding the citizens of Jerusalem.
Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.
As you continue reading, they apparently succumbed to the influence of the people around them who convinced them they were wasting their time building the temple (v. 4), they fought against political discouragement (vv. 6–23), and eventually they stopped working on the temple (v. 24).
Then, with no mission, their focus turned to themselves.
All of our trap
So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped, and it remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.
The work to which they had been called has ceased. No progress for 16+ years.
They had become preoccupied with their own lives and had put aside the rebuilding of the temple.
NLT = “Luxurious houses”
Hebrew = “Paneled” - Loses significance
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
Many of the Israelites’ homes had been decorated with ornate paneling. The Hebrew word used here is the same word used in 1 Kgs 6:9 to describe the opulent interior of Solomon’s temple.
Crown molding, wainscotting, backsplashes, high ceilings, wood beams, granite countertops...
None of these are bad things, except that the people pursued them while they had neglected God’s house.
“The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.”
When I make more money...
When we pay off our debt...
etc.
etc.
I love how the CSB translates v4 (more literal / more spunky): “Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?”
Their priorities were misplaced. The nation had focused on decorating and building elaborate homes instead of rebuilding the temple.
This was a 16 year delay where no progress is made.
Basement renovations...
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
hag1.
The contrasts of planting much but producing little harvest and eating but not being filled speak to a state of not being satisfied and not having enough financially.
3. The Lord showed them that by focusing in on their paneled houses (redecorated homes with extra-amenities), there were consequences they did not realize were connected — isolated events
homes with amenities), there were consequences they did not realize were connected. , shows the financial stress they were in. The contrasts of planting much but producing little harvest and eating but not being filled speak to a state of not being satisfied and not having enough financially. They were experiencing depletion of money (v. 6), unexpected expenses (v. 9), and even a shortage in crops (v. 10).
Look—You need to open your eyes!
The contrasts of planting much but producing little harvest and eating but not being filled, speak to a state of not being satisfied and not having enough financially.
ILLUS: Have a person up front with a nice purse or bag that already has holes in the bottom. Give the person dollar bills or coins and instruct them to put it into the bag. The money should fall out, giving a visual of how we can make money yet lose it so quickly.
By not putting God first, we are putting our resources into bags with holes. It comes in but leaves before we know it.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
Second time the Lord has said this...
Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
bottom. Give the person dollar bills or coins and instruct them to put it into the bag. The money should fall out, giving a visual of how we can make money yet lose it so quickly. By not putting God first, we are putting our resources into bags with holes. It comes in but leaves before we know it.
hag1.7-
, shows the financial stress they were in.
They were experiencing depletion of money (v. 6), unexpected expenses (v. 9), and even a shortage in crops (v. 10).
5. Verses 9 and 11 offer a striking admission. God takes responsibility for the financial strain the people are facing. He says when they brought money home, he blew it away (v. 9), and he states that he called for a drought on the land (v. 11).
ILLUS: Money Grab Game
“To ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
You don’t want the King of the universe working against you—that’s a battle you’ll never win
God is not as interested in your health, your wealth, or you happiness, as He is about your Christlikeness.
If you truly love something, the best thing you can do is to give it to God.
Tim’s sermon
“The more you love something more than God, the less important it becomes to God.”
“If you want what you love to be important to God, you have to love Him first.”
“As you love Him more, what you love becomes less important to you, but more important to Him.”
Abraham/Isaac
“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
gen22.
The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
gen22.3
When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.
This is insane
gen22.3
At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”
This is insane
gen22.11
This is insane
Then the angel of the Lord called again to Abraham from heaven. “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
gen22.15-
What we give to God, He blesses. What we put over Him, He takes away.
The prophet Malachi echos this idea and provides a striking contrast to God’s words through Haggai.
“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
mal3.6-
What decree is God referring to?
mal3.6-
What decree is God referring to?
One Year Bible — Just finished reading this
“If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.
lev26.
financial strain the people are facing. He says when they brought money home, he blew it away (v. 9), and he states that he called for a drought on the land (v. 11). In contrast, is often used as an encouragement to tithe. Notice the promise in v. 11: “‘I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
In contrast, is often used as an encouragement to tithe. Notice the promise in v. 11: “‘I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
Is this not the exact opposite of the state of the nation described in Haggai?
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
mal3.8-
We’ve been taught this a proportional blessing. The more we give, the more God gives.
That’s true. God will never be out-given. Pressed down, shaken together, running over.
But, this promise can’t be removed from the context of covenant.
God is telling the nation, your faithfulness unlocks my blessing.
The abundance, the lack of want, the provision, was already promised. This is what the nation should have been experiencing all along. They simply needed to obey.
Notice the promise in Malachi (v11): “‘I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,’ says the LORD Almighty.”
As we return to Haggai, we find a nation who plants, but harvest little. Who eats, but isn’t satisfied. Who drinks, but remains thirsty. Who dresses in layers, but cannot keep warm. Who earns a wage, but has nothing to show for it.
Tim’s dad - Read Scripture backwards:
“If you fail to follow my decrees and neglect my commands, I will not send you the seasonal rains. The land will not yield its crops, and the trees of the field will not produce their fruit. Your seasons of harvest will be short and lacking. You will never be full, and you’ll live in fear in a land that does not belong to you.”
This sounds more like the situation Haggai’s audience found themselves in.
6. Have you ever found yourself living paycheck to paycheck, or working overtime and still not having enough to pay bills?
working overtime and still not having enough to pay bills? Often this is just due to the realities of living in a broken world, but sometimes this occurs when people are not good stewards of their resources and are guilty of making the wrong choices. This Scripture also shows God sometimes gets involved with our financial state and blows our money away in order to get our attention.
Often this is just due to the realities of living in a broken world, but sometimes this occurs when we fail to be faithful stewards of our resources and are guilty of making the wrong choices.
Some of you are making more money than you’ve ever made, and what do you have to show for it?
This Scripture also indicates that God sometimes gets involved with our financial state and blows our money away in order to get our attention. Yikes!
ILLUS: Have a person up front carrying loose dollar bills in their hand (hands outstretched, open palmed) as you narrate how they just got paid from a long week at work. Use a fan or physically blow on the money to illustrate God “blowing” their money away.
outstretched, open palmed) as you narrate how they just got paid from a long week at work. Use a fan or physically blow on the money to illustrate God “blowing” their money away.
8. Why would God cause or allow these circumstances?
In verse 8, He tells the people to build the temple that He “may take pleasure in it and be honored.”
people to build the temple that he “may take pleasure in it and be honored.” The resources of the people went to personal projects for seventeen years. He wanted to redirect their attention back to building his house. But this was more than a building project; it was God helping the people to put him first.
The resources of the people went to personal projects for seventeen years.
He wanted to redirect their attention back to building his house.
But this was more than a building project; it was God helping the people to put Him first.
If you picture God up in heaven belting out the chorus of the spoiled rotten girl from Willy Wonka—I WANT IT ALL!—you’ve got the wrong idea.
This is about God’s honor.
Pastor Tim taught us last week that God will not share His glory with another. And He won’t play second fiddle to anyone/anything when it pertains to His honor.
God’s message to the nation was: Return to me. Put me first again. Remain faithful to me. And I will return to you.
When God is not first He will cause the very things we love and strive for to turn against us. They will no longer bring us happiness or satisfaction. We’ll toil with no results. We’ll accumulate with nothing to show. And our joy will be in things that wear down, run out, and fade away.
Yet, when God if first and He is honored, He unlocks the fullness of joy in our life. We find true satisfaction in Him and what He provides.
Haggai tells us the response of the nation when the heard the Word of the Lord:
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!” So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
hag1.12-
9. Though His people had put things out of order, God still gives an encouraging reassurance in v. 13, telling them, “I am with you.”
Even when we are off track, God is still with us and always helping us to get in alignment with His will.
This is my prayer for you today — That the Lord would spark your enthusiasm for obedience.
Radical Obedience ≠ Nonchalant Giving, where God gets the left overs.
“God, you’ve got my attention...”
Listen to God’s promise to the nation:
“Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn. You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.”
hag2.18-
What a promise!
“While the seed is still in the barn.”
Money in the bank. Haven’t worked an hour, etc.
It’s not about how much. It’s about obedience
Obedience > Sacrifice
What faith God has in His people!
God is going to bless you today, because of your decision to be obedient to Him.
I’m not promising you a new car or a raise. Quit relegating God’s blessings to such small thinking.
Your obedience unlocks God’s faithfulness and blessing in your life.
reassurance in v. 13, telling them, “I am with you.” Even when we are off track, God is still with us and always helping us to get in alignment with his will.
When we choose to put other things in front of God’s agenda, we can end up having unexpected results, such as unfulfilled lives and lack where we should have plenty. God wants us to put His agenda first and experience the blessing that comes with being within His will.
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SCRATCH SHEET
This is about God’s honor
Today, because of what Christ has done, we are the temple of God. We are the place where God’s Spirit dwells. And yet, so many of us lie in ruin.