Don't Quit: The Best is Yet to Come
Haggai: A Minor Prophet with a Major Message • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 1,844 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
The end of chapter 1 the people began to work on the temple again. Within about 3 weeks, the job site was cleared and the foundation was laid.
The end of chapter 1 the people began to work on the temple again. Within about 3 weeks, the job site was cleared and the foundation was laid.
The second message about a month later
Apparently the work had lagged a little
1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?
1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not. 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
1. God Knows That We Can Easily Become Discouraged
1. God Knows That We Can Easily Become Discouraged
Discouragement is to lose courage or hope; it is to become overwhelmed or lose heart.
When we are discouraged it’s easy to want to quit–to stop doing the very things God told us to do.
Discouragement says, “What’s the use of trying anymore? Isn’t it time to just give up and make the best of it?”
The nation of Israel faced that kind of discouragement.
Background
Background
The timing of this word from the Lord is significant, the twenty-first day of the seventh month. The nation had just finished the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a time to remember how God brought Israel out of the bondage of Egypt; this was like a week long celebration of Independence Day with all the fireworks. The day prior to Haggai’s message was the Day of Atonement when sacrifices had been offered to God for the nation of Israel; the sin of the people had been forgiven.
These should have been days in which the people were encouraged. God had done great things for them in the past, and now they had been released from exile in Babylon. Israel had returned to their homeland; Jerusalem and the temple were being rebuilt.
But instead of being encouraged, God saw that the people were becoming discourage; some were ready to quit.
Bad news was making its way around the city during this time of celebration. Among the people were a few who could remember Solomon’s Temple; when they talked about how great the temple had been, it made the building of the new temple look like a small thing. Under King Solomon the nation of Israel was at its apex of power and riches. Solomon’s Temple was a masterpiece.
How could the new temple the people were now rebuilding even begin to compare with Solomon’s?
God asks the people, “Is there any of you who can still remember how splendid the Temple used to be?” Few could really remember the good old days, but everyone imagined how great it must have been and how pitiful their efforts seemed in comparison.
What was it that caused the people to become discouraged? What made them want to quit?
The people had the WRONG PERSPECTIVE; in other words, they were focusing on the wrong things.
10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.
10 Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
A WRONG PERSPECTIVE FOCUSES ON THE PAST WITH NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. A wrong perspective seeks to resurrect the good old days instead of looking ahead for even greater days.
The church of Jesus Christ is not called to move backward or retreat; we’re to move forward with the power of the Holy Spirit!
What discourages you?
What discourages you?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the Lord. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.
2. God’s Antidote for Discouragement is Encouragement
2. God’s Antidote for Discouragement is Encouragement
If discouragement is the loss of courage and hope, to lose all strength, then what we need is a dose of ENCOURAGEMENT
ENCOURAGEMENT CAN ONLY COME FROM SOMEONE WHO POSSESSES STRENGTH, OR HOPE. Look what God tells the nation of Israel:
Three times the Lord tells his people, “Be strong!”
How can discouraged people be strong; can they strengthen themselves and pull themselves up by their own bootstraps? No! The people can only be strong because THE LORD IS WITH THEM; HIS SPIRIT ENCOURAGES THEM WITH STRENGTH AND HOPE.
Doing God’s work cannot be done using human energy; God’s work can only be done through the power of the Spirit. The prophet Zechariah had the same message for the same group of people:
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ ” 8 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.
God is telling Zerubbabel and the people of Israel that the work He called them to do will not be completed by human energy. God will give them the strength and power to do the work through His Spirit. God provides the antidote for discouragement; no one else can.
3. Don’t Quite, The Best is Yet To Come
3. Don’t Quite, The Best is Yet To Come
God spoke to His people to bring them the courage they needed in order to complete God’s work. He came to change their perspective opening their eyes to the reality of His glory which was to come. The best is yet to come!
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”
What was God telling His people? The best is yet to come! Because the perspective of the people was wrong, they believed that nothing would ever compare to the glory of Solomon’s Temple
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts.
What the word of the Lord was saying is that the new temple may not be as elaborate in appearance as Solomon’s temple but the Glory of His presence will be even better!
The reality is that God doesn’t need our money, but He has given us this glorious invitation to participate in an investment that will last for all eternity!
mattew 6.20
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
Haggai 3. Why the Rebuilt Temple Will Be More Glorious than the Temple of Solomon (6–9)
The lesson is plain. Knowing God provides should make us more generous, instead of less generous (“I don’t have to give to their need, because God will provide for them some other way”).
Funny illustration - The pastor who announced to his congregation that God provided all the money for the next building project! (The problem is that its still in your pockets)
Don’t look back; the best is yet to come! Zechariah told the people the same thing:
10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
“The best days for our church are ahead of us!”
“The best days for our church are ahead of us!”
9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—
God can do nothing through us when we quit, but NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN WE YIELD TO HIS SPIRIT!
God can do nothing through us when we quit, but NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN WE YIELD TO HIS SPIRIT!
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Practical Ways to apply God’s Word today:
Practical Ways to apply God’s Word today:
So how do we keep from becoming discouraged? How do we keep on pressing on and not quit?
1. Expect the enemy to try to discourage you. Don’t give Satan a place in your mind. After a spiritual victory, or when you have made a commitment to do God’s work the enemy will attack. Be on guard against negative or pessimistic thoughts.
2. Examine our perspective; we need to get our vision checked. Are we looking forward with hope, or are we living in the “good old days”? No matter how old you may be God can show you His plan–even old men can dream Holy Spirit inspired dreams.
3. Judge what we say and what we listen to. Are we quick to find fault, or to say we’ve tried that before? Do we blame or criticize others for our past failure? Would we rather listen to stories about the “good old days” or agree with criticism than to hear about a dream or a call to action? Are our ears more “in tune” with what the world would say than what God says?
3. Listen for God’s word of encouragement. Take time in prayer and listen for the voice of His Spirit. Write down what you hear and look for scripture that agrees with what you’ve heard. Don’t ignore thoughts that could bring you or others hope and strength; it’s not just wishful thinking–it’s God’s Spirit!
4. Look for God’s vision and capture His perspective. Ask God to show you what He sees; believe that God will make His plan known to you. Again take time to listen to what God says to you by His Spirit; write it down as a goal.
5. Receive the strength of His Spirit to move forward. Don’t be afraid to tell God that you are weak (He already knows that anyway); ask Him to fill you with His power to do what He wants you to do.
6. Exercise your faith and just do it; move forward with God! Get out of your comfort zone and let God do something great through you that you cannot do on your own. Believe that when you step out on the water it will hold you up because God will not let you drown!
7. Believe that the best is yet to come. Hold on to your dream with a bull-dog tenacity and perseverance that refuses to let go. Write the what God shows you down and go for it! () Don’t let anything rob you of a God-given dream.
2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.