Sermon Tone Analysis

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. 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

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.

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?

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:

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

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!

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

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

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:

“The best days for our church are ahead of us!”

God can do nothing through us when we quit, but NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN WE YIELD TO HIS SPIRIT!

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.