Haggai’s first message, we learn from Haggai not to underestimate what God can do through one man.- His short and simple ministry turned the whole nation back to worshipping God.
– His first message was clear – you will never find fulfillment and satisfaction in life apart from God.- We are blessed when we seek Him and He is our top priority. -There is a correlation between the blessings in life and the worship of God. 6,9-11
We also learn that when God speaks, He is addressing a need He sees in us.
Haggai’s second message is an encouragement to us – be strong and work for I Am with you.
– Look at the need of the hour and put your heart into the work God has called us to do.
If God has called us to it, He is with us in it..“How could we ever belittle a work when God says He is with us in it? When God is working at your side, nothing is trivial.” This needs to be the anchor for your ministry
– Many in the past have done their part. We are called to do our part today, in this generation. Our concern should not be about the past (how glorious it was) or the future (how daunting the task).
– Our concern should be NOW – what does God want to see done now – in our time, in our church, in the ministry, and then put our whole heart and soul into it.
Fill with Glory-More glorious than the first-Peace—Be Strong and Work-The Best is Yet to Come…Luke 4:14-21 vail
So far today, God, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped, haven’t lost my temper, haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, over-indulgent, coveted or taken your name in vain. I’m very thankful for that; but, in a few minutes, God, I’m going to get out of bed and from then on, I’m going to need your presence. Amen. How true this is. The Christian life wouldn’t be very hard if we could stay in bed all day. It’s all the things that happen after we get up that gives us problems.
We are looking at Haggai’s 3rd message tonight, Both the 3rd and 4th messages were given on the same day. Haggai 2:10-19
Two questions the Lord wants Haggai to ask the priests.
Haggai 2:12 If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?” (Holy)
In burnt or sin offerings, the meat offered to God as a sacrifice is carried in the fold of the priest’s garment. The meat is consecrated, and so is the garment. If the garment touches other items, it does not make them holy.
Haggai 2:13 “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body, touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” (Unclean)
In the case of contact with a dead body, anything that comes into contact with it is defiled. Haggai 2:14 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled. These questions are object lessons.
The first one – holiness is not transferable.
– In other words, touching things that are holy or being near to holiness does not make you holy. Building the Temple, serving God, does not make you holy.
But on the other hand, uncleanness can be transferable. It can be passed along.
Throwing a clean shirt into the dirty laundry bag will not make the rest of the shirts clean. But throwing a muddy shirt in with the clean ones. Dirty them.
If you are healthy and strong, you can’t impart it to sick people around you. If you are sick, you can pass on the virus/sickness to those you come into contact with.
The issue now is not about whether they are doing the right things. They are.
– They are working on the Temple. They are serving the Lord.
Haggai 2:19 “From this day on I will bless you.”
– God is now addressing what is inward – the issue of sin in their lives.
– God is asking, “Can any of you, by virtue of working on my Temple, or doing the Lord’s work, become clean? Does working for Me make you holy?” Answer: NO.
Doing Christian things will not make us righteous.
– Nothing outward can cleanse what is ‘defiled’ inside of us. Nothing religious you do will change you. We need God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Righteousness
– Trying to do right so that you’ll be right, will never work. You’ll never be right by doing right.
And the second question is, “When the unclean serve Me in My house, will not the defiled desecrate my holy Temple?” Answer: YES.
Remember this parable Jesus taught us in Luke 18:10-14“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Two people can come into the Temple doing exactly the same thing but with completely different hearts. And that’s the message God is giving to the people here.
God is stirring in them an appetite for Him – they need to turn to Him, seek His forgiveness, and simply receive His mercy and grace.
Life is more than doing the right things, but being right with God. And God wants to forgive them, and grant them mercy and grace if they would only turn to Him.
Haggai 2:17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew, and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord.
– The many signs that God has been showing through their daily experience. His goal was to get them to return to Him.
– Just turn to me, and acknowledge your need of my grace and mercy! Receive
Let’s not repeat the same mistake.
– Nothing you do can bless your life; it’s the Lord who blesses you.
– We need to come to God, confess our sin and appropriate His grace. Cry out to Him like the tax collector: “Lord, have mercy on me. Help me!”
1 John 1:9-10 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We experience the joy of forgiveness, and the freedom from guilt when we confess to God. – There is great power in confession. It’s like a key that unlocks the door of our hearts to our God.
Whenever we make a mistake, don’t allow it to fester. The issue has already been settled by Jesus on the cross. Come to God and appropriate His grace.
Don’t try to make things right by your own efforts. Confess and allow Him to do His work with your heart.
– Don’t hide. 1 John 1:10 “ If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.” We are locking Him out – the very power, the grace that we need most.
Joel 2:12-14 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Our relationship with God is everything. God’s intention is that we experience His mercy and grace, every day of our life.
“Is it hard to be a Christian? No, it’s not hard. It’s impossible if we do it in our own power and strength. If we try to do it our way.”
We were never meant to live it in our own strength. Allow Jesus to live in and through us. Believe that He is enough, that His righteousness is credited to you, and His grace is more than sufficient for you.
Doing spiritual work will not change you. Holiness is not transferable but defilement is. Serving the Lord while in sin desecrates His work. Turn to Him, confess and receive the forgiveness of sin and His righteousness.
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