Haggai 1:

 1 On the first day of the sixth month of the second year in the reign of King Darius of Persia, God’s Message was delivered by the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak:

² A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: “The people procrastinate. They say this isn’t the right time to rebuild my Temple, the Temple of God.”

^3-4 Shortly after that, God said more and Haggai spoke it: “How is it that it’s the ‘right time’ for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God’s Temple, is in ruins?”

^5-6 And then a little later, God-of-the-Angel-Armies spoke out again:

⁷ That’s why God-of-the-Angel-Armies said:

^8-9 Then God said:

^9-11 “And why?” (This is a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, remember.) “Because while you’ve run around, caught up with taking care of your own houses, my Home is in ruins. That’s why. Because of your stinginess. And so I’ve given you a dry summer and a skimpy crop. I’ve matched your tight-fisted stinginess by decreeing a season of drought, drying up fields and hills, withering gardens and orchards, stunting vegetables and fruit. Nothing—not man or woman, not animal or crop—is going to thrive.”

¹² Then the governor, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak, and all the people with them listened, really listened, to the voice of their God. When God sent the prophet Haggai to them, they paid attention to him. In listening to Haggai, they honored God.

¹³ Then Haggai, God’s messenger, preached God’s Message to the people: “I am with you!” God’s Word.

^14-15 This is how God got Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people moving—got them working on the Temple of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. This happened on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

Haggai 2

2 ^1-3 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of God came through the prophet Haggai: “Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: ‘Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?

^4-5 “‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—God is speaking.

“‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’

“‘Get to work, all you people!’—God is speaking.

“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.’

^6-7 “This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: ‘Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

⁹ “‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”

^10-12 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (again, this was in the second year of Darius), God’s Message came to Haggai: “God-of-the-Angel-Armies speaks: Consult the priests for a ruling. If someone carries a piece of sacred meat in his pocket, meat that is set apart for sacrifice on the altar, and the pocket touches a loaf of bread, a dish of stew, a bottle of wine or oil, or any other food, will these foods be made holy by such contact?”

The priests said, “No.”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “How about someone who is contaminated by touching a corpse—if that person touches one of these foods, will it be contaminated?”

The priests said, “Yes, it will be contaminated.”

¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So, this people is contaminated. Their nation is contaminated. Everything they do is contaminated. Whatever they do for me is contaminated.’ God says so.

^15-17 “‘Think back. Before you set out to lay the first foundation stones for the rebuilding of my Temple, how did it go with you? Isn’t it true that your foot-dragging, halfhearted efforts at rebuilding the Temple of God were reflected in a sluggish, halfway return on your crops—half the grain you were used to getting, half the wine? I hit you with drought and blight and hail. Everything you were doing got hit. But it didn’t seem to faze you. You continued to ignore me.’ God’s Decree.

^18-19 “‘Now think ahead from this same date—this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Think ahead from when the Temple rebuilding was launched. Has anything in your fields—vine, fig tree, pomegranate, olive tree—failed to flourish? From now on you can count on a blessing.’”

^20-21 God’s Message came a second time to Haggai on that most memorable day, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month: “Speak to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah:

^21-23 “‘I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom—overthrow governments, destroy foreign powers, dismantle the world of weapons and armaments, throw armies into confusion, so that they end up killing one another. And on that day’”—this is God’s Message—“‘I will take you, O Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, as my personal servant and I will set you as a signet ring, the sign of my sovereign presence and authority. I’ve looked over the field and chosen you for this work.’” The Message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Will the People of God Reconsider our priorities?

Can we take courage and act in boldness according to God's

promises, of His blessings if we will choose to put Him first.

I have brought you this message today because I am concerned about the state of God's children as a whole.

God's people must reconsider materialistic priorities in light

of God's call for us to stand boldly upon His Word.

I'm afraid we have become passive in a time when God is

calling for a people to boldly rebuild His church of today.

As we can see if you take the time to study theological setting of the Prophet Haggai, you will find that Haggai brought a prophetic word in a time when God's people had reversed their priorities and lowered their standards and dedication to God and intermingled with idol worshippers.  They had compramised  for financial gain and to avoid conflict in the land with those who were idol worshippers.

God was calling them to renew their committment to Him.

He was calling them to stand in boldness, and sacrifice

to put Him first in their lives. And to stand against the sin and worship of other Gods and Idols  that were prevelant in their day.

The book of Haggai draws attention to common problem most

of us still face today.  We can Identify with this setting if we examine our own priorities to see if we are more interested in our own pleasures and living life, than seeking to do the work of God.

OUCH!!! Yes that's really a toe stomper, and hits us hard.

We don't mind doing the things that keeps us in our comfort zone, but when we hit opposition and discouraging circumstances we want to just stop there....But God is seeking

for a people who will take courage in His promises and have faith in His ability to overcome the discouraging situatuions in our life.

We must believe that God is in control of all the nations of the earth, and can remove any political opposition to His work.

We must believe that God is in control of any and all aspects

of our lives.

And We must believe that God will bring His promises to pass in our lives as we choose to put Him first.

There are 3 points of encouragement I want to share with you.

1.  When the people began to re-build God's house, God began to bless them again physically, mentally, and financially.

2.  Their actions of obedience brought back the faith to see the sovereign hand of God at work in their midst where before they were blinded by the troubles that they were faced with all around them.  But their action of faith opened up their spiritual

vision to see God's promises come alive in their life.

3. When we examine our life, intentions and motivations,

and when we choose to re-establish a holy consecration to God, just as God released blessings to them, God will also release untold blessings to us today.

What is the picture in your home today, is it filled more with

video games, T.V., football games ???

How many families pray at every mealtime???

How many times do your children see you pray ???

How many times have you prayed with your children ???

How much of your money have you given to the work of God ???

Do you give sacrificially or do you just give what you have

left over ???

How much of your time have you set aside to just spend time

with God ??? 

How much time do you spend in God's Word ???

And last but not least, How many of you are focused on God's purpose for your life ???

Now, I don't want you to think I am focusing on a bunch of rules and traditions here, because that's not what it's about.

It's about our relationship with our heavenly father, who is desiring to do a great work in His children, but we have prioritized God right out of our lives and I just want to tell you today that going to church on Sunday and giving in your offering, and singing in the chior, does not reflect your priorities,  only your relationship with God does.

Because, we cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God and

be blinded to the situation in our world today.

We as a church and God's people are in trouble if we don't break out of complacency and hear the sound of the alarm of the Holy Spirit cry out.

Examine your priorities!!! Return unto me, saith the Lord,

For I desire to do a turn around first in my people then in my church, and then in the world. 

I believe it's time for us to hit our knees and cry out to God

for re-committment.

I truly believe God is calling us to repent and come out of our passiveness and stand on His Word.

Invest ourselves in the kingdom work of the Lord more than we invest in our own personal pleasures.

Let's learn what sacrifice means again.

For God is calling us to rebuild His Church from the inside -

out....

I hope that you will hear the call of the Spirit as I have today,

and more than that I hope you will join me in making a new

committment to put Him first in your life.

And watch God turn things around in your life, in His church,

and in the world.