05.20.2012 Haggai p1, Steps to Paths of Change

That is the history of Haggai – it is the second shortest book in the Old Testament. There are really a couple of important points to be made in the book. Haggai played a significant role.
Haggai has a word from God for the people at a specific moment in history. This is not just a teaching – this is unique. God often speaks in times of crisis – in the very moment of need.
We often hear God best in times of crisis, at the very moment of need. I think we are especially tuned into God at those times. God is always trying to communicate with us – but there are times of crisis where we are willing to open our ears – to listen to what God has to say.
Hagg 1:1 In the second year of Darius the king, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'This people says, "The time has not come, [even] the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt. "'"
It is said that Solomon built the temple, but David had provided for it.
In Israel – everything revolved around the temple – the place where God made His presence known to the people –t he place of His dwelling. For His relationship to the people of Israel, they related through the temple. Because it is where God lived – it is the place where He received honor and glory – and third, it is where He made Himself known to the world. As we go through Haggai – we will focus on the temple. And these things are transferable to our lives –
It is first a symbol to our relationship with God. We can view temple stories as such – symbols of our worship. It can also be viewed as our devotion and obedience to God. Are we faithful and obedient to Him? Are we becoming like Him?
Third, it is the place of our service to God – our mission – doing and being engaged in His work.
Our Worship
Our Christ like Obedience
Our Mission
Are we, in any way, like Israel in these three areas.
The temple is not just a building – but it is about building the kingdom in and through us both individually and as a community.
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, 4 "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [lies] desolate?"
God has Haggai quote the people – the time has not yet come – this is what they were saying – to rebuild the house of God. They have made an excuse in their relationship with God. They have found a reason to not be about what God has made them to be about. And God comes in and corrects us. There are times in our lives when God just needs to correct us and we need to be open to His correction.
Does anyone like reproof? Do you know how awful that can be? Like at work when a boss needs to make a correction.
Reproofs for discipline are a way of life. Correction is for life. Without it, we don’t know how to live. We won’t experience things as God wants us to experience. God wants them to experience the very best life for them. God wants god for them and for us.
Jer. 29:11 – God knows His plans
John 10:10 – I came that you might have life…
God is for our good – but sometimes – in order to achieve that good, He must correct us, and we must be able to receive that correction.
Why did they make these excuses? They may have had pressure from their enemies. We can’t build – because every time we start, the armies come at us and we can’t make progress. They were also in extreme economic crisis. They looked at what was going on and realized ‘we can’t do that.’ A lot of times we are like this – we understand what God wants us to do, but at times it is easy to find excuses not to do it. It starts as a kid – the dog ate the homework. Johnny did it. The sluggard says there is a lion in the street – I cannot go out. We have lots of lions – and the reality is – anything that we will accomplish in building God’s kingdom – there will be obstacles.
“In this world you shall have obstacles – tribulations – very similar”
How to you get to the life God wants for you? There will be obstacles to get through, we live in a world filled with obstacles. There will always be limitations on your resources. It is just a reality. God wants us to figure out how to do it within the limits that have been placed on us. Here our faith comes out and growth takes place. That is where growth comes from. It is through the obstacles that we discover God’s best for our lives.
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet saying, 4 "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [lies] desolate?"
Look – you are not willing to build MY house – you are too limited to do my work and priorities, but you are able to take care of your own. Paneling would have been an extra. They were furnishing their house, but the house of God was in ruins – they had wrong priorities, having forgotten what they were supposed to be about.
5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways! 6 "You have sown much, but harvest little; [you] eat, but [there is] not [enough] to be satisfied; [you] drink, but [there is] not [enough] to become drunk; [you] put on clothing, but no one is warm [enough]; and he who earns, earns wages [to put] into a purse with holes."
Evaluate and examine your current circumstances and situations – evaluate and examine your current choices of your life and lifestyle. Here is where we are living – and here is what we are getting.
They have, but everything falls short. – and for them, there is a reason – choices and decisions they have made – and He tells them to make an honest assessment. They are living with diminishing returns.
I challenge you – when is the last time you examined your life? How often do you evaluate? We are the only ones who can evaluate how we are doing in relations to God and be obedient to our mission?
We either ignore or deny. But you can’t ignore it – and you can’t deny it. Whatever the problem – work, family, marriage, relationship with God – character – at some point you have to deal with it directly – it is time to just confront. God is patient with Israel – but at some point – it is just time. He wants them to experience the best life He has planned for them. As we talk about this – and wrap it up – we’ll talk about how to do this.
I like being encouraged, but sometimes, you just have to be convicted. We can accept that if we can realize that the result is for our good – for our best – and will satisfy – so that when we put the money in bags, it doesn’t just fall through.
Honest evaluation allows us to recognize the need and then allows us to react in light of the need.
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Consider your ways! 8 "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the Lord.
He gives them three action step – Go up to the hills – bring wood – build the house.
Honest evaluation will result in specific achievable plans and steps. We evaluate and come up with real solutions. But we need to come up with real steps that make a difference – and then take those steps and stay on the path of change.
Steps need to be specific and achievable. They could do this – evaluate – go up, bring wood, build the house. When God brings a correction – he never does it without giving a way of making the change. There is a way to make the progress – for things to be different – and God is wanting this for you. God is able to help you attain this – to get to that point in relationships – in character, in work for Him – He is waiting to make these things happen in our lives. It starts by receiving correction and doing the evaluation. And then taking those steps. God cooperates with us so that we can work out our salvation with action.
Our small group – we are going through a John Ortberg study – The Life You’ve always Wanted – a study on spiritual disciples. And what he has done – taken things that seem ominous – and puts them in a package we can handle. This week is prayer – It seems ominous. Here is the big commitment step – commit to praying 5 minutes a day every day at the same time – it gives you a specific attainable goal that moves you in the right direction. You can do that.
And then he talks about how your mind can wander – and then to start praying for that. Sometimes prayer needs to be about communication – sometimes God just wants you to tell Him what is going on. If it is keeping you from your work – pray about it.
If it is relational conflict – pray about that.
9 "[You] look for much, but behold, [it comes] to little; when you bring [it] home, I blow it [away.] Why?" declares the Lord of hosts, "Because of My house which [lies] desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.
He is saying – we need to think of priorities – you are getting what you get because God is opposing them. Sometimes God will oppose us. James says God opposes the proud. Why? Because He has their good in mind – He knows the way they are living is going to harm them. When kids go for electric sockets – you have to oppose them – for their own good and protection.
You don’t let them stick their hand on the stove or run in the street. And that is how God is with us.
Israel hears the word of God – and they obey.
Here is the take-home – take ten-15 minutes in the next few days to do an evaluation. Consider your ways – are there areas of your life where you are living in luxury and God’s house is desolate? God was not against them building their own homes – but they had neglected His work.
15 minutes – really examine your life –
What is working?
What is not working?
Spiritual life/Relationship with God/Worship
Then just choose one – what is working or not – and don’t go through all 5 of the things that come to mind – start with the things that are working.
And then do the John Ortberg thing – develop a habit.
Second to evaluate – your Christlike obedience. Are you more patient and humble? Find one area of character that needs to change – and one step to change it.
Finally – your service for God – what is working in your mission and service to God – where is it good? What is not working – and again – one area – one way- specific, attainable goal.
Finally – share it with someone who can hold you accountable.
Let’s pray – Lord, help us, like Haggai – to consider our ways. A word from God for a people at a specific point in history – as we examine and evaluate our lives – might we hear a word from You at this moment in our history – and then to be able to implement a plan to begin taking steps to rebuild what you want us to rebuild.