1. Who’s task are YOU doing? Haggai and his messages

2. Who was Haggai?? Who was Haggai?? Haggai means “festive”. Haggai means “festive”. Anyone know what their names mean? Anyone know what their names mean? He started prophesizing at the age of 75!! He started prophesizing at the age of 75!!

3. Coming home… In 538 BC, Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to go back to their land and rebuild their temple. In 538 BC, Cyrus of Persia allowed the Jews to go back to their land and rebuild their temple. Close your eyes and imagine… Close your eyes and imagine…

4. Problems begin! There is a serious problem: There is a serious problem: The land is destroyed, crops have failed, its hard work, and the area is hard to live in. The land is destroyed, crops have failed, its hard work, and the area is hard to live in. How would you feel under these circumstances? How would you feel under these circumstances? Would you give up though? If someone allowed you to go back and help fix your church up after a hugee hurricane, would you go or stay behind? Would you give up though? If someone allowed you to go back and help fix your church up after a hugee hurricane, would you go or stay behind?

5. Work Begins!! Work Begins!! Did the Jews stay behind? Did the Jews stay behind? NO!!! They went and in 536 BC, they started building the temple again!!! NO!!! They went and in 536 BC, they started building the temple again!!! The people soon became preoccupied with building their OWN homes that they completely forgot about God’s home! The people soon became preoccupied with building their OWN homes that they completely forgot about God’s home! God had to get His people to get back to building His temple!!! God had to get His people to get back to building His temple!!!

6. Haggai and Zachariah to the rescue!!! That’s when God called on Haggai and Zachariah to encourage His people to complete the task at hand. That’s when God called on Haggai and Zachariah to encourage His people to complete the task at hand. Haggai had 4 messages that he wanted the people to understand. He wanted them to know that the sanctuary of the temple was more important than the beauty of their homes. Haggai had 4 messages that he wanted the people to understand. He wanted them to know that the sanctuary of the temple was more important than the beauty of their homes.

7. Message#1: The completion of the latter temple (1:1-15) The people came back to their land and began rebuilding the temple. Work soon stopped and people found excuses to ignore its building and work on their own rich dwellings. They kept saying its not time for the temple to be built. The people came back to their land and began rebuilding the temple. Work soon stopped and people found excuses to ignore its building and work on their own rich dwellings. They kept saying its not time for the temple to be built. How many of you procrastinate? (put work off till the last minute) How many of you procrastinate? (put work off till the last minute) How stressed are you when you do? How stressed are you when you do? Through Haggai and other prophets, the people went back to the work at hand. Through Haggai and other prophets, the people went back to the work at hand.

8. Message#2:The glory of the latter temple (2:1-9) You ever do a project a second time and think that the first time was better? You ever do a project a second time and think that the first time was better? Same with the people of God, they became discouraged again because this temple wasn’t going to be as great as Solomon’s temple was long ago. Same with the people of God, they became discouraged again because this temple wasn’t going to be as great as Solomon’s temple was long ago. BUT! Haggai reminded them of God’s promises in the past and His plans for them in future. He told them that this temple would be far greater than the former one. BUT! Haggai reminded them of God’s promises in the past and His plans for them in future. He told them that this temple would be far greater than the former one.

9. Solomon’s Temple

10. Message#3: The present blessings of obedience (2:10-19) Haggai says that ignoring God’s command and not building the temple is like contamination of sin in our hearts that blocks the blessings of God. The MOMENT they listened and obeyed God, they were blessed from that MOMENT forward. Haggai says that ignoring God’s command and not building the temple is like contamination of sin in our hearts that blocks the blessings of God. The MOMENT they listened and obeyed God, they were blessed from that MOMENT forward. How can YOU obey God’s commandments? How can YOU obey God’s commandments?

11. Message#4: The future blessings of promise (2:20-23) Haggai gave a message to Zerubbabel (governor and authority figure that allowed the Jews to come back and build their temple) God said He will be the ultimate judge and He will be the ultimate leader. Haggai gave a message to Zerubbabel (governor and authority figure that allowed the Jews to come back and build their temple) God said He will be the ultimate judge and He will be the ultimate leader. All the things God says He will do, HE WILL DO!! Count on it!! All the things God says He will do, HE WILL DO!! Count on it!!

12. Prioritize your life to fit God’s schedule God’s message is simple… God’s message is simple… His people must reorder their priorities and complete the temple before any kind of blessings can come their way. His people must reorder their priorities and complete the temple before any kind of blessings can come their way. When people put themselves before God, their tasks become difficult When people put themselves before God, their tasks become difficult When you start studying or working before you pray, do you feel that sometimes its harder to do the thing you set out to do? When you start studying or working before you pray, do you feel that sometimes its harder to do the thing you set out to do?

13. PUT GOD FIRST “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” -Matt 6:33 -Matt 6:33