Rev. David Holwick J
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 10, 1991
Haggai 1:5-10
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I. Background of prophet Haggai.
A. Precise dating of his prophecies.
1) 29 Aug to 18 Dec, 520 BC.
2) Short ministry with a single focus: God's work.
B. Jews were chastened by Exile in Babylon.
1) Religion cleaned up.
a) Haggai doesn't condemn idols or false religion.
2) Morality cleaned up.
a) No gross sins condemned by Haggai.
C. But Jews were also worn out.
1) Most had become complacent in Babylon.
a) Out of 24 orders of priests, only 4 sent members back
to Jerusalem. (Ezra 2:36-39)
2) Those in Jerusalem were tired of opposition.
a) Ezra's command to build Temple had stagnated for 18 years.
3) "The time is not right!" 1:4
a) It never is for God's work, from our perspective.
b) It always is, from God's perspective.
II. Prophet Haggai preached about spiritual priorities.
A. What hinders God's work?
1) Disobedience gets most blame.
2) Wrong priorities is really main problem.
a) Giving God second place more devastating than 100 sins.
B. Haggai challenges them to consider reason for difficulties. 1:5-6
1) Tough times for us may not be coincidences.
III. God's commands for priorities.
A. Put God's work first. "Build the house." 1:8
1) Neglect of the Temple.
a) Half-hearted attempt to rebuild.
1> Initial decree of Cyrus to rebuild. Ezra 6:3b-5
2> Altar built, and sacrifices. Ezra 3:2
3> Foundations laid. Ezra 5:16
A> 18 years of laxness follow.
b) Their own homes got more attention. 1:4
1> Not a matter of poor resources, but priorities.
2> They were apathetic and self-centered.
3> Reason economy was a shambles.
2) How much time do we devote to God?
a) Time is like money - it shows where our heart is.
B. Believe that God's work is greater.
1) Don't judge by appearances.
a) Jews responded to Haggai with an initial burst of energy.
1> After one month, discouragement set in.
2> New Temple didn't measure up. Hag 2:3
A> Old priests wept aloud. Ezra 3:12
B> "Don't despise day of small things" Zech 4:10
b) Don't judge God's work in human terms.
1> Cults are low on consistency, high on appearance.
2> History of our own church.
A> Great burst of energy in 1916 with new church.
1: Enthusiasm quickly died out.
B> Another burst in 1960's.
1: Back to doldrums today.
C> Don't be discouraged - God is still at work.
1: We look at appearances, not beneath surface
at spiritual realities.
3> Believe that God's work is greater than it looks.
A> Jesus taught in this temple 500 years later. 2:9
C. Don't expect easy, immediate results.
1) After 3 months of rebuilding, why no blessing?
2) Yet blessings will follow obedience. 2:10-19
a) Not crass commercialism.
b) God is looking for loyalty.
D. Remember, the most important thing is to belong to God. 2:4-5
1) We have his covenant. (New life through Jesus)
2) We have his Spirit.
3) We must hear his command - be strong and work! 2:5
IV. Application to Ledgewood Baptist.
A. Our church is made of essentially decent people.
1) We believe in God, we watch our lifestyle, we do some work.
2) But do we believe, watch, do enough?
B. Complacency is sapping our strength.
1) Chronic lack of finances. (find out how long in red)
a) Trustees' response: cut expenditures.
1> No emphasis on people giving more.
A> Why? It doesn't happen.
2> Probably less than 10% of this church gives even
half a tithe.
b) Dominican trip - will it strap our church?
1> Most here will give less to trip than one visit to
MacDonald's.
2> Nationally - more spent on dog food & potato chips
than world evangelization.
c) Every day we show where our hearts are.
2) Ho-hum attitude to salvation.
a) Are we even converting our kids?
b) What about anyone else?
C. How much work are we doing for God?
1) Analyze how your personal life is going:
a) Not enough money?
b) Not enough time?
c) Your spiritual priorities may be reason!
2) God's house still has to be built.
a) Think beyond building.
b) Programs must be supported.
c) People must be challenged, encouraged in Lord.
V. Our work is done to honor Jesus.
A. Do you know him as Lord and Savior?
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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