Sermon Tone Analysis

*Maintaining Your 20~/20: Haggai 1:1-15*

 

*/Introduction/*

 

1.

A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day.

That night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under an eight-point buck.

"Where's Harry?" he was asked.

"Harry had a stroke of some kind.

He's a couple of miles back up the trail."

"You left Harry laying there, and carried the deer back?"

"Well," said the hunter, "I figured no one was going to steal Harry."

We live in a time not much different than any other time in history.

Human nature is as self seeking as it has always been.

The possible difference with today is that in a time of general relativism where each person is being taught that they should do what is best for themselves we are being encouraged to place our attention on what pleases us and not what pleases God.

We live in a society that seeks fancy cars, big houses, early retirement, the latest gadget, the new fashion trend, the position of high status, low responsibility and personal gratification.

It is in the midst of this disillusioned, self-seeking, depraved and myopic world that God wishes to provide purpose, restore a heart for the good of others, bring purity and repair our vision.

He desires to not only help us to return our clarity but to maintain our 20~/20 vision as he has intended for our well being.

2.

Haggai 1:1-15 describes the people’s lack of focus and how it affected the building of the temple and ultimately their relationship with God.

In order to get a better handle on what we will be studying today, we need to understand some of the history to this point

 

            -Roller coaster of rebellion and reconciliation

            -Exiled to Babylon and the temple was destroyed

            -King Cyrus called for the rebuilding of the temple in 538 b.c.

            -18 years later they had only completed the foundation

            -In 520 b.c., 18 years later, King Darius encourages construction to continue

-At this point in Haggai, God intervenes through Haggai to get the people to resume construction

 

3.

But how does this relate to any of us?

The message continues for us from the words of Haggai as we will see today and is a recurring problem for all people.

In Matt 6:19-21 we find Jesus admonishing the people for this on going condition.

He says, “Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Our lack of focus, poor judgement, sinful nature or fuzzy vision is a continuing problem that all of us will or have faced at one time or another.

In Haggai 1:1-15 we find the solution for maintaining our 20~/20 vision fixed on God.

 

 

*/Body/*

 

1.

God identifies the problem (v.1-4)

 

            -The people are making excuses for not rebuilding the temple.

-Can’t make a living and build at the same time–Darius provided food

                        -Costs too much money–Darius was paying for it.

-God didn’t order it, King Cyrus did–He did it under God’s direction

                        -Another king had ordered that it be stopped–he no longer was in power.

-God reveals his concern

-They had not only built a place for themselves, but had taken the time to make it a luxurious place to be.

                        - They were more occupied with their own lives than with God.

Where would we be if someone didn’t take the time to focus and concentrate on a task set before them?

Would you trust the surgeon’s hands?

Would you be as eager to fly to that tropical destination?

Would you be willing to trust the roller coaster on your vacation to Disney World?

God gave the people a point of focus that they were to complete and at this point they had failed.

They had rationalized a set of excuses and had instead placed their needs above God.

The bigger question today is, “What does this mean for you and me?”

 

 

2.

God confirms their dissatisfaction.

(v.5-7) (Ill.-When

Nothing Goes right.)

A young man was learning to be a paratrooper.

Before his first jump, he was given these instructions:

1. Jump when you are told.

2. Count to ten and pull the ripcord.

3.

In the unlikely event your parachute doesn’t open, pull the emergency ripcord.

4. When you get down, a truck will be there to take you back to the airport.

The young man memorized these instructions and climbed aboard the plane.

The plane climbed to ten thousand feet and the paratroopers began to jump.

When the young man was told to jump, he jumped.

He then counted to ten and pulled the ripcord.

Nothing happened.

His chute failed to open.

So he pulled the emergency ripcord.

Still, nothing happened.

No parachute.

“Oh great,” said the young man.

“And I suppose the truck won’t be there when I get down either!”

 

            -They have planted crops and received small harvests.

-They have plenty of food but it never satisfies.

-They have plenty to drink, but it never quenches their thirst.

-They are well clothed, but never enough to keep them warm.

-They have money but it all disappears before they can account for it.

Have you ever been at that place where nothing seems to be going right?

No matter what you do, you can’t seem to put your finger on the cause.

Sometimes it isn’t that you are really lacking anything either.

It is more of the nagging feeling that life has more to offer and you’re not getting any part of it.

It’s not that you were particularly foolish, just a knowledge that things were not right.

Israel felt that way and God confirmed it for them.

He wanted them to start thinking how their lack of focus was affecting their everyday lives.

The big question remains, “What does this mean for you and me?”

 

3.

God provides the solution (v.8) (Ill.-Life’s

Deeper Meaning)

 

An engineer, a psychologist and a theologian were hunting in the wilds of northern Canada.

They came across an isolated cabin far removed from any town.

The hunters knocked on the door but no one answered their knocks, but discovering the cabin was unlocked they entered.

It was a simple place-two rooms with a minimum of furniture and household objects.

Nothing was surprising about the cabin except the stove.

It was a large pot-belied stove made out of cast iron.

What was unusual was its location; it was suspended in midair by wires attached to the ceiling beams.

“Fascinating,” said the psychologist.

“It is obvious that this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity, has elevated his stove so he can curl up under it and vicariously experience a return to the womb.”

“Nonsense!”

replied the engineer.

“The man is practicing the laws of thermodynamics.

By elevating his stove, he as discovered a way to distribute heat more evenly throughout the cabin.”

“With all due respect,” interrupted the theologian, “I’m sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling has religious meaning.”

The three debated the point for several minutes without resolving the issue.

When the trapper finally returned, they immediately asked him why he had hung his heavy potbellied stove by wires from the ceiling.

His answer was simple:  “Had plenty of wire, not much stove pipe!”