GOD IS GLORIFIED IN OUR CHURCH LIFE WHEN WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES Haggai 1-2

Ezra 1:2-3 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 4:4 Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, Ezra 4:24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

I.Our Misses & Messes In An Immature Ministry (1:1 – 2:3)

A.The Attitude Of Procrastination Dulls Us From The Urgency Of Ministry Haggai 1:1-2 … the word of the Lord came by Haggai … saying, “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “ The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”

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B.The Focus On Form Deters Us From The Priorities Of Ministry Haggai 1:3-4 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?”

C.The Busyness Of Activity Distracts Us From The Fruit Of God’s Blessing Haggai 1:5-6 “ Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”

Haggai 1:9-11 9“ You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”

D.The Pressure Of Success Deceives Us From The Fundamentals Of Ministry Haggai 1:7-8 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

E.The Drive Of People- Pleasing Defers Us From Pleasing God Haggai 1:8b … that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord.

F.The Intimidation Of Obstacles Dims Us From Obeying God’s Commands Haggai 1:12-15 the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God … And the people feared the Lord. … the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” …So the Lord stirred up the spirit … the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God …

G.The Voices Of Comparison Discourages Us From God’s Glory Haggai 2:1-3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?

Ezra 3:10-11 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, … to praise the Lord, … And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

Ezra 3:12-13 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.

II.God’s Presence & Promise In A Maturing Ministry (2:4-9)

A.God ’ s Presence Prevails Over People ’ s Expectations Haggai 2:4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts.

B.God’s Promises Supercede Paralyzing Fear Haggai 2:5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’

Exodus 29:45-46 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord their God. Exodus 33:14 And He said, “ My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

C.God’s Pronouncement Of What Is Glorious Trumps What The World Believes Is Glorious Haggai 2:6-9 I will fill this temple with glory,’ …‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’

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