Consider Your Ways
Haggai was given four messages from the Lord for the people who returned from captivity in Babylon. But before we talk about the messages that he delivered, we must first understand the situation at hand.
Background:
To get the setup to the book of Haggai, you must go back to the book of Ezra chapter one. The Bible says that King Cyrus, fulfilling the word of the Lord sent out a proclamation throughout his kingdom. This proclamation was to send all of the people back to re-build the temple of God in Jerusalem. The former temple was destroyed with the people there were overthrown and taken into captivity.
These people had been in captivity for 70 years and now God is using a government official to fulfill His will in re-building the temple.
Read Ezra 1:4 – The king also encouraged the people, not only to go, but to support the ministry.
The Bible tells us in Ezra 2:64 that 42,360 people returned under the king’s opportunity to do God’s work. The people were excited about this opportunity and how God was going to use them to re-build what had been destroyed by man. But know that were God is at work – so is the enemy.
Ezra 4: We read of some crafty people who wanted nothing to do but hinder the work of God’s people. The Bible tells us that they joined up forces with those returning to Jerusalem and offered to help them with the construction.
*Not everyone who offers help to you has you in mind
*Not everyone who attends church on Sunday wants to see this church succeed
So these adversaries start talking. And when your adversaries begin talking you know something is about to happen. So they convince the newly appointed king who then stops the work. In his words, “until a decree is signed by me”
16 years have now gone by and the temple is still not completed. A new king was in power by the name of Darius. King Darius received a letter about the whole ordeal and he ordered a search to be done to see who ordered that this temple be rebuilt. During the search, King Darius finds that original order from King Cyrus.
Watch this: Not only did he find the order to rebuild but he also found (Ezra 6:8) where the total cost of the temple’s construction was to be paid out of the king’s tax treasury. God is so Good!
But the temple was incomplete for 16 years. That is when God raised up Haggai to share a word from the Lord. His message? “Consider your Ways”
Keep in mind (1st Samuel 3:1, “the word from the Lord was rare in those days, visions were infrequent”)
So the people knew that Haggai had something special to share with them.
During a four month period, Haggai shared four different messages concerning the temple and those who were building it.
I want us to take his first message and see what we can learn from Haggai’s message of: “Consider your Ways”
Things to watch for:
Self Examination
God will get the attention of His people
The importance of authentic worship
Notice:
1. The Purpose of the Message:
Simply: The people stopped working
For 16 years, these people allowed the house of God to lay unfinished while they stayed in their own houses. Haggai was teaching them the importance of authentic worship.
Matt. 6:33 – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you”
In everything we do, God must be at the forefront. He comes before:
· Your wife/husband
· Your kids
· Your job
· Your hobbies
· Your church
God has to be at all times – Number 1 in your life.
Haggai’s book gives us a perfect example of how people are living today. More concerned about their own household and less concerned about God’s house.
This church building should have the finest appearance.
This church building should be the cleanest
This church building should receive the up most respect
It is the house of God and it should be treated that way
A holy place
A peaceful place
An honored place
A place of worship not a place to socialize
A place to honor our God
This was the purpose of Haggai’s message: not working!
2. The Position of the People:
Haggai 1: “The time has not yet come..”
They were saying:
We have not fully recovered
Our losses have not been totally repaired
It is too great of an undertaking
Too much for us to do
They didn’t say they wouldn’t build it – JUST NOT YET!
The words that hinder the cause of Christ every day – JUST NOT YET!
I will give my life to Christ one day (JNY)
I will become a dedicated member (JNY)
I will do something for God one day (JNY)
I’ll repent and turn from my sins (JNY)
The people in Jerusalem were saying, maybe one day we will get around to it but – the time is not today.
2nd Corinthians 6:2 says, “Today is the day of salvation”
Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth”
James 4:14 – “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away”
You have got to get yourself in order before God can use you to get the rest of your family in order.
Not Yet – could soon turn into Too Late!
Don’t hesitate! Don’t delay! God is calling on you today.
To be saved To join this church To get to work!!!
3. The Punishment for Neglect :
“You have sown much but harvest (bring in) 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 wearing enough”
“He who earns wages, puts it into a purse with holes”
You wander why you just never have enough –
You wander why there is too much month at the end of the money –
v.9 – “you bring it in and I blow it away” WHY?
“Because of My house which lies desolate while each of you runs to his own house”
They were neglecting the building of God’s house and put it off so they could have the time and money for their own secular affairs. They wanted to be excused from such an expensive work under the pretense that they must provide for their families.
I have bills to pay
I don’t have enough gas to get to church
My kids need new clothes
So the poverty they thought to prevent by not building the temple was brought upon them for not building it.
(Tithe) I can’t afford to give because…
God’s formula: You can make it better on 90% after giving your tithe to God than 100% out of His will.
Bottom line: In everything you do, God must come first!
Finances
Business
Family
Church
Life
Christ must be supreme!!!!
Luke 12:33,34 – “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves pursed which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, nor moth destroys. (v.34) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
4. The Place to Begin:
When the temple was to be replaced, notice the first thing they worked on: The Foundation!
Ezra 3:10, 11 – When the builders had laid the foundation of the temple – The people sang and begin praising the Lord and giving thanks! They understood that the foundation was the most important part of the construction process was completed. How important it is in our own lives to have a firm foundation.
Luke 6:48 – (The wise man song)
1st Corinthians 3:11 – “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Thank God for the people who laid a solid foundation to allow these people who were returning from captivity the opportunity to build upon the foundation of the original temple?
Thank God for people like Ms. Shipps who started a Sunday school meeting in her home back in 1910. Her dedication to God and that of others is what started the ministry of Shipps Baptist Church. They laid a strong foundation that was built on: Jesus Christ and nothing else.
Song: On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
The Foundation has to be built on Jesus Christ! And Him alone!
Warning: 1st Corinthians 3:10 give us today a warning about our building process. The Bible says to let each man be careful how he builds upon (the foundation).
Be careful that you build as God has directed.
Don’t waste time
Don’t waste material
Don’t waste your energy on anything that is not of God and not found in this book.
5. The Promise for Safety:
Haggai spoke to wrap up the first message of four that he preached to his own people and what a way to end the message.
(v.13) “I am with you” declares the Lord.
I will forget your neglects
I will remove the judgments
I will appear to you
I will protect you from the enemy
I am on your side.
The Lord says I am here, just get to work on my house and let me take care of you.
You’ve heard:
The Purpose for the message
The Position of the People
The Punishment for Neglect
The Place to Begin
And about God’s Promise for Safety…
There is only one thing left to say. In the words of Haggai, “Consider Your Ways”
