GOD IS CALLING US BACK TO TURN OUR EYES BACK TO HIM
The prophet Haggai recorded his four messages to the Jewish peopleof Jerusalem in 520 BC, eighteen years after their return from exile in Babylon (538 BC).Haggai 2:3 indicates that the prophet had seen Jerusalem before the destruction of the temple and the exile in 586 BC, meaning he was more than seventy years old by thetime he delivered his prophecies. He was looking back on the glories of his nation, a prophet imbued with a passionate desire to see his people rise up from the ashes of exile and reclaim their rightful place as God's light to the nations.
Haggai's prophecy came at a time when the people of Judah were extremely vulnerable. They had been humbled by their exile to Babylon, hopeful in their return to their Promised Land, and then so discouraged by opposition in their rebuilding of the temple that they had quit (Ezra 4:24). Now, sixteen years later, with Haggai blaming their lack of food, clothing, and shelter on their failure to rebuild the temple, the Jews were receptive to his message of rebuilding the Lord's house. Haggai explicitly dated his prophecies, down to the day. He gave four separate messages, the first on August 29, 520 BC (Haggai 1:1); the second on October 17, 520 BC (2:1); and the final two on December 18, 520 BC (2:10, 20). These messages encouraged the people of Judah to finish building the temple and to have hope in God for the promise of blessings in the future.
After thousands of years, the book of Haggai remains largely unique among the books of Old Testament prophets for one key reason: the people of Judah listened! Haggai's message to rebuild the temple was passionate, simple, and straightforward (Haggai 1:8). No one could mistake whether or not his direction had been followed—the results would be evident for all the people to see. Through the physical act of rebuilding the temple, the people began to indicate a shift in their spiritual lives: from devotion to self toward devotion to God.
GREAT SECRET HERE
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The Jews who emigrated from Babylon to their original homeland of Judah faced intense opposition, both external and internal.Ezra 4:1–5records the external resistance to the project of rebuilding the temple. The enemies of Judah first attempted toinfiltrate the ranks of the builders, and when that didn't work, they resorted to scare tactics. Haggai, onthe other hand, focused on the internal opposition they faced, namely from their own sin. The Jews had thoughtlessly placed their own interests before the Lord's interests, looking after their own safety and security without giving consideration to the status of the Lord's house.
Haggai's encouragement to rebuild the temple in the face of the Jews' neglect brings to mind the apostle Paul's exhortation to Christians to build our lives on the foundation ofJesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10–17).
Are you building a life that reflects your status as a temple of the Holy Spirit, leaving a legacy that will stand the test of time?
Find encouragement for that construction project in the four passionate sermons from this Old Testament prophet.
ADDITIONAL
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HONOUR GOD WITH OUR SUBSTANCES..
Hagai 1:2 "Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built." ' " Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,.. "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?
Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!
"You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes."
Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways!
"Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the LORD.
"You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the LORD of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
"Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.
"For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands."
Hagai 1:12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD.
Hagai 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,
KJV
TODAYS CHURCH
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I remember last Sunday and today just after prayer service, there was a question that was itching me deep in my heart.
I was, "why is it that so many christians live in poverty or they've been robed off prosperity?"
And why religious people prosper more than us?
My bible teacher Pastor Dan gave me a hint that,,, many christians dont honour God with their tithes and offerings.
Like in our church we've been struggling months for window and musical instruments project yet people in their homes are well decorated with expensive furniture and systems, some even have plots and land but yet , they fail to honour the temple of God.
Haggais message to the church is people should obey the voice of God and honour Him with his substances and honour the house of God.
Hagai 2:8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts.
Hear what the Lord says above,,know that whatever you give will never get out of pocket,, but the problem is that, people think that when they give they waste or they enrich the pastors.
The Lord says "The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."
If your hear the Lord and obey His voice and respect and honour His house, then His glory shall shine upon you and He will give you peace.
What a blessed portion of scripture.
{Front part adapted from, http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/haggai.html}
Is Your Salvation Secure?
http://www.gty.org/resources/positions/P07/is-your-salvation-secure
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