Lessons From The Prophet Haggai 12/28/2014 pm Lessons From The Prophet Haggai Haggai 1:5 Chris Simmons

Background of Haggai Judah taken into Babylonian captivity – 606 BC After 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12) God used Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; Ezra 1:1-5) to allow them to return to the land and rebuild the temple. This work had started shortly after the first exiles returned from Babylon in 538 BC (led by Zerubbabel). The building activity was soon abandoned because of discouragement and oppression (Ezra chapter 4).

12/28/2014 pm Background of Haggai 520 BC, Haggai and his fellow prophet, Zechariah, were given the responsibility to help the people to resume the task. Conditions weren’t good. (1:6) What was their message? From Haggai 1:5, 7… “Consider your ways!” What is there for us to learn today? The Temple was completed five years later, about 515 B.C. Chris Simmons

Consider Your Priorities - 1:1-15 12/28/2014 pm Consider Your Priorities - 1:1-15 Is it time? (1:2, 4) A lack of time for God is considered to be “displeasing” (1:8) and “irreverent” (1:12) How do we use our time? Perhaps the clearest and most honest means of reflecting our priorities. Matthew 6:33 How about our energy? Chris Simmons

Consider Your Priorities - 1:1-15 They needed “stirred up” (1:14) which comes from God’s message. 2 Peter 1:12-13; 3:1 Our challenge to build the Lord’s house – not physical but spiritual. (1 Corinthians 3:6-17; Ephesians 2:19-22; 4:15-16). Our responsibility is to seek and teach the lost, to worship and to serve – and to not allow our personal gratification and pleasures to take first place. Sinful or not! Luke 14:16ff; Hebrews 12:1

The best is yet to come – 2:1-9 12/28/2014 pm The best is yet to come – 2:1-9 Times were hard – (1:9-11) Memories of what used to be – (2:3-4) Ezra 3:12 Get to work and God will bless – (2:7-9) Start where you are – Acts 8:35 Use what you have – Luke 21:2 Do what you can – Mark 14:8 Ezra 3:10-13 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel. 11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard far away. Chris Simmons

The best is yet to come – 2:1-9 12/28/2014 pm The best is yet to come – 2:1-9 “The best”? It’s not now, it wasn’t yesterday or any time before. “The glory of this house will be greater than the former” – verse 9 God says, don’t focus on right now! Focus on what will be for the best is yet to come. Where’s our focus? Now or later? 2 Corinthians 4:16ff; Romans 8:18-25 Ecclesiastes 7:8-10 – the end is better than the beginning. Are we convinced that the best is yet to come? Focus: Colossians 3:1-2; Hebrews 11:24-26; 12:1-2 Chris Simmons

From this day onward – 2:15, 18 We can’t change or undo the past but we can alter our future. The Jews couldn’t undo their past ways but from this day onward they could put God first. We can press forward with resolve to keep our priorities straight.

12/28/2014 pm From this day onward – 2:15, 18 Philippians 3:7-16 – forgetting what lies behind, pressing forward to what lies ahead. To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, from this day onward, “Sin no more” – John 8:11; 5:14. From this day onward, there is to be a change, a new walk. 1 Peter 4:1-4; Ephesians 4:17ff; Colossians 3:1-11. Chris Simmons

God Rules – 2:20-23 God reminds us all that He will always rule in the realm of mankind. He alone can overthrow thrones or kingdoms; render the power of nations powerless. The lesson Nebuchadnezzar had to learn. Daniel 4:17, 25, 32

God Rules – 2:20-23 Does he rule in my life? Is Jesus my Lord? Matthew 7:21-23 Am I His disciple? Matthew 10:24-25 Have we taken the yoke of Jesus upon us? Matthew 11:28 Have we decided to follow Him? John 21