Rebuilding of the Temple in Haggai

Consider Your Ways Haggai 1:5, 7

Haggai 1:1-7 1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built. 3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 2

Haggai prophesied during the reign of King Darius This King was known as Darius the Median - Daniel 5:31 Also known as Darius King of Persia - Ezra 4:24 He was head of the Medes and Persians when they overthrew Babylon - Daniel 5:28; 30-31 Haggai prophesied about the need to rebuild the temple Jerusalem and the temple had been destroyed by the Babylonians - 2 Kings 25:8-9 Introduction 8/16/2020

Later, King Cyrus of Persia was called by God to allow the rebuilding of the temple - Ezra 1:1-2 This effort to rebuild the temple was stopped because of the threat of force and power by the adversaries of God s people - Ezra 4:1-7; 23-24 The work did not continue until the reign of Darius King of Persia - Haggai 1:1-2; Ezra 4:24 Haggai s instructions to continue the rebuilding of the temple, also included the admonition to consider your ways - Haggai 1:5, 7 Introduction 4

What about our ways do we need to consider? 5

Excuse Making Consider Your The people were saying the time has not come for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt - Haggai 1:2 God wanted his house rebuilt - not excuses! He said, consider your ways - Haggai 1:5, 7 They lacked the desire to do what God wanted done Maybe because of the failed attempt - Ezra 4:1-7; 23-24 God had determined it was time to rebuild - Ezra 1:1-2 But the people made excuse! 6

Excuse Making Consider Your God s people today are often heard making excuses for failure to do their spiritual works I cannot study because I don t have time - 2 Timothy 2:15 I can t afford to give to the Lord - 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8:1-2 I cannot worship because I am too busy! - Hebrews 10:25 Paul hurried to go to Jerusalem for Pentecost but stopped at Troas to worship - Acts 20:16, 6-7 We must be determined to do what we can do - not make excuses! - Psalm 1:1-2; 119:147-148 7

Priorities Consider Your The people were saying it is not time rebuild the temple - Haggai 1:2 God asked, Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins? - vs. 4 They lived in comfort and luxury, yet the temple lay wasted God asked this question to make them consider their misplaced priorities and unconcern for the temple Not a sin to enjoy certain life s comforts, but God s work must be put first! - Ecclesiastes 5:18-19; 12:13-14 God arranged for them to return to the land a rebuild His house Ezra 1:1-2 8

Priorities Consider Your God s people today are to seek ye first the kingdom of God - Matthew 6:33 Having proper priories requires work - Haggai 1:8 Loving God requires us to do His will - Luke 6:46 Matthew 7:21, 24-27; John 14:15; 1 John 2:5 We must not be hearers only - but doers - James 1:22-25 What do you put before first ? Is it, Self, Family, Friends, Job, Possessions, Pleasure? 9

Dependence Upon God Consider Your God s people dwelled in paneled houses - Hag. 1:4 But were not as richly blessed as they might have been Haggai 1:6; cf. vss. 9-11 In the OT physical blessings were often connected to faithful obedience - Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Obedience does not guarantee physical blessings today Be content with blessings God provides - 1 Timothy 6:7-9 The NT warns of the doctrine that gain is godliness 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Galatians 1:6-9 10

Dependence Upon God Consider Your Only the gospel of Christ saves - not the gospel of health and wealth as some falsely claim Some Christians may be wealthy, most won t be We must be rich in good works - 1 Timothy 6:17-18 The lesson to learn from Haggai is to remember that all blessings (spiritual & physical) come from God - James 1:17 The riches of God s grace should motivate us to serve Him faithfully - Ephesians 1:7; Romans 2:4 11

Obedience to the Word of God Consider Your Upon receiving the command to resume the work on the temple, Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest and the remnant obeyed the Lord - Haggai 1:12 They reverenced the Lord by obeying Him The Lord told them, I am with you - Haggai 1:13 They ceased making excuses, got their priorities in the right order, depended on God, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of host, their God Haggai 1:14 12

Obedience to the Word of God Consider Your We must remember that obeying God matters Matthew 12:30; Hebrews 5:9 They wholeheartedly obeyed God s command Haggai 1:14 Likewise, we must obey God for Him to be with us Haggai 1:13 - God said, I am with you in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him - Acts 10:35 13

Excuse Making Priorities Dependence Upon God Obedience to the Word of God Consider Your Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man Ecclesiastes 12:13 REVIEW & CONCLUSION 14

Alien sinners must Hear the Gospel Romans 10:17 Believe the Gospel John 8:24 Repent of Your Sins Acts 17:30 Confess Your Faith in Christ Before Men Matthew 10:32 Be Baptized in Water to Wash Away Thy Sins Acts 2:38 Erring children of God must Repent & Pray for Forgiveness Acts 8:21-23 Christians must live faithful unto death Revelation 2:10 what shall we do? Acts 2:37 15