Scripture Reading Haggai 1:2-6 “Ye have sown much and bring in little; ye eat, and ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes”

Events of Haggai’s Day The nation had returned from captivity –Israel’s captivity by Assyria BC –Judah’s captivity by Babylon 606 BC –Return from captivity 536 BC –Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Isaiah, Jeremiah prophesied before captivity –Daniel, Ezekiel prophesied during captivity Haggai & Zechariah prophesy afterwards Haggai began c. 520 BC

Theme: “Build the Temple” Within the ruins of the city Where mosque now stands

Wailing Wall in Herod’s Time

History of Second Temple Foundation laid shortly after 536 BC –Opposition by non-Jews halted construction for 16 years Ezra 3:8-13 –God raised up Ezra and Zechariah to encourage the people Ezra 5:1-2; 6:14 Four separate proclamations by Haggai Our consideration is the first “Why are we not prospering?” 1:2-11

“Bags with holes” As we would say, “My pocket has a hole in it” – nothing I do makes any difference! –Sown much – bring in little –Eat – still hungry –Drink – still thirsty –Put on clothes – still cold –Earn wages – lost by holes in bag –Heavens withhold dew –Drought on land and cattle –“The hurrier I go, the behinder I get” $$

This Was Not Accidental They were being punished for putting material things before the spiritual –God’s house lay in ruins –Everyone was concerned about “ceiled” houses –Did God need a house to live in? Was he destitute and needy? 2:8 –No, but they needed a reminder that God was in their midst –Example: Lord’s supper

We Can Suffer Same Fate 1 Cor 3:1-3 The Carnal Mind –Sports, Jobs, Recreation, Family Ties come before God –Hard lesson to bring in land of prosperity –What if your pockets don’t have holes and you are prospering financially? –What if prodigal had remained wealthy? Luke 15 –Do we have to suffer to see this truth?

We Need To See Our True Condition Rev 3:14-18 Spiritual Blindness 1 Cor 4:6-8 Spiritual elite-ism –Danger of not seeing our need of God –Danger of depreciating spiritual life –Worldly satisfaction that does not allow “interference” of religion –What do you have that you did not receive? –Do you feel a sense of need for God in your life?

No True Prosperity Without God You may have wealth, but you will not prosper without God –Luke 12 rich man who left all behind –Luke 16 rich man who woke up in Hades –Lesson of Solomon – “vanity of vanities” –What legacy are you leaving your family? –What influence are you giving your children? –Can you discern “true riches” Lk 8:14; 16:11?