Haggai 1_1-15 What is Taking So Long

What is Taking So Long?

Haggai 1:1-15

Secular:

On hold….

Government agency….

Technical Support….

Biblical:

August to December 520 BC

18 Years since Babylonian Captivity (freed by decree of Cyrus)… the work on the temple was “stalled” to say the least!

NIV Haggai 1:1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'" 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands." 12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. 13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD.

14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

Personal:

Stand in the way of our own growth…
Put off exercise… our own good
Put off going to the doctor…. Our own good
Put off investing in relationship… Our own good
Put off Devotions…

Prayer
Living Sacrificially

Putting others first
Putting God first

ULTIMATELY SERVES OUR OWN GOOD…
OBEDIENCE / SELF-SACRIFICE / RELATIONSHIP to GOD

Bridge:

Ø Far too often we are short-sighted…

Ø We need to develop some “God – inspired” perspective

Ø Turn away from Personal agenda / Procrastinating agenda

Ø Embrace (Adopt) a Proper Agenda!!

Body:

1) Personal Agenda

NIV Haggai 1:1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'" 3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

Zephaniah, Nahum & Habakkuk were pre-captivity prophets… 70 years between 606-536 BC
Return in 536…
Haggai and Zechariah raised up 16 years later… 520 BC… What NO Temple!!
Theme of the Book is to develop a God first attitude…
In this case it is very… very practical… build the temple!!
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.'"
How is it that the Lord’s house is not yet built??

What are your priorities?
What is it that matters in your life?

Answer: "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?" NO

Panelled house… not just basic shelter!
Self-centred…
Do you forget the punishment for disobedience already!
You need a God first attitude!!

2) Procrastinators Agenda

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

It is an issue of blessing!
Give careful thought… why…

You plant a lot and reap a little (N.A. Church)
You eat… but never have enough
You drink and never have your fill

One more thing… and I’ll be happy….
One more toy
One more dollar
One more year…

You put on clothes… but are not warm

Doesn’t achieve what you think…

You earn wages… yet loose it…

Not exponential benefit….

Do it your strength… reap your own reward

It is like burying your coins… you just dig them up
Invest them with God… right attitude… noble reason…

Do it for your own benefit and the reward is equal to the nobility of your intent or motive

Seek things personally limited reward or blessing!

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways.
Do it for the benefit of others, do it for the honour and praise and glory of God… HAVE A GOD FIRST ATTITUDE!!

Blessings are exponential

Sometimes materially
Always spiritually
Enhanced relationship

.

3) A Proper Agenda

8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured," says the LORD.

9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.

11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD.

14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God,

15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

Proper Agenda – getting things in the right order
Go do the work of the Lord… priority!!
so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured
God first –

You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.
10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labour of your hands.

But when we get it straight –

"I am with you," declares the LORD.
… They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God,

God wants to obey… have a God first attitude…
Then he will richly bless us and our ministry

Conclusion:

Personal Agenda: Me First… doesn’t jive with God’s will

Procrastinating Agenda: You later… does not show the priority of our relationship with God… self-elevating!! Strips God of his deity and due respect, honour and glory!!

Proper Agenda: Shows submission to God and his mission. Shows due reverence, honour and glory. It is about a God first existence!!