Brian Fisher

Grace Bible Church

“The Time has Come”

Haggai 1:1-11

Within two years of returning from exile, the Israelites had constructed the altar and restored sacrifices, but then, because of opposition and complacency, they had failed to make progress in reconstructing the temple. After 16 years (520 B.C.) Haggai brought to them the word of the Lord, attempting to motivate the people to turn from their spiritual apathy and begin again to rebuild God’s place of worship. The Lord reminded them through Haggai that their sense of futility and frustration inevitably proceeded from their commitment to seek first their own comfort rather than the pleasure and glory of the Lord.

Background of Haggai

586 BC Temple destroyed, exile

Decree to rebuild and worship - Ezra 1:1-7 (Cyrus, 538 BC)

Return of exiles; altar rebuilt

Gather supplies - Ezra 3:7

536 BC - Lay foundation; rejoice - Ezra 3:8-13

Discouraged; opposition wore them down - Ezra 4:1-5

Work stops for 16 years; vulnerable to other temptations

August 29, 520 BC Haggai began to preach - Four Sermons

In the first sermon God brings an Indictment against Israel’s priorities (Haggai 1:1-7)

God’s verdict – You don’t share my priorities

Have you ever been anxious to get something done when others are not?

God wants His temple completed. Why? Theological significance of temple.

Not about the building

Tabernacle, then temple where God met with His people

Place and process to draw near in worship

House of prayer for all peoples

While the temple lies in ruins, men and women cannot worship

Direct application for us from NT:

Christ - John 1:14; Mt. 27:51; Heb. 10:20; Col. 1:19-20

Believers are the Temple - 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21-22

Body is temple

Built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit

Where does God meet with His people; in the Spirit; in the community of believers

The temple is incomplete

Temple complete - Rev. 5:9-10; remain to complete the temple

God’s highest priority then and now is completion of the temple

God’s indictment - you don’t share My priorities; Do we?

How does God know they are indifferent?

I. Misplaced priorities are obvious

A. Lack of urgency - 1:2-4; cf. Ps. 103:15,16; James 4:14

time = “an appropriate or suitable moment”

“run” to your own houses; plenty of time to build their own houses

How we use our time reveals what we value

“Time is lent to us to be laid out in God’s service, and we cannot be too diligent in it if we consider that time is precious, short, passing, uncertain, irrevocable when gone and that for which we must be accountable.”

—Abraham Cowley, 17th c. poet

Ps 39:4-5

B. Love of comfort - 1:4

“paneled houses” - Solomon’s temple and palace; 1 K. 6:9; 7:3,7; Jer. 22:14

Paneling was the finishing touch; their houses were completed

Wood for temple used for their own houses; Ezra 3:7; Lebanon

Ps 132:3-5

It is not wrong to enjoy good things, but it is a SIN to pursue them above God’s priorities.

Seek first the kingdom of God

“The things that will destroy America are peace at any price, prosperity at any cost, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life”

—Attributed to Theodore Roosevelt

What are you most passionate about?

Use of time and money are clearest indicators of our priorities.

If our priorities are out of line with God’s there will be serious consequences.

II. Misplaced priorities have consequences

A. Delayed worship

God doesn’t receive what He deserves

“Lord of hosts” (Found 14 times in Haggai) = Lord of armies; Lord Almighty; Lord who rules over all; stronger than and in authority over Persia, adversaries

Haggai 2:21-23

B. Unfulfilling/Dissatisfying pursuits - 1:6

August - time of fall harvest

“Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart rejoiced in all my labor; and this was the reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done, and on the labor in which I had toiled, and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.”

—Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Someone has aptly said, “Living without God’s plan for our life is like sewing with a needle without thread, or writing one’s biography with a pen empty of ink.”

C. Divine opposition - 1:9-11

People: We can’t build now because times are hard

God: Times are hard because you haven’t built

III. Misplaced priorities can be corrected

A. Consider 1:5,7

“set your heart upon your ways”; Take a long hard look

Are you satisfied?

Will you be satisfied when God evaluates your life?

“I wish I had spent more time at the office”; “I wish I had purchased a little bigger house, car, …”; Accumulated a larger retirement nest egg.

B. Obey 1:8

Pursue God’s priorities - pleased, glorified

Do not put off the Lord’s work for a more convenient day

What is the Lord’s work? WORSHIP

God wanted the temple rebuilt because the central activity of the Kingdom is worship.

Evangelism, discipleship, giving, praying

Is the task really urgent?

“We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.”

—John 9:4

Application

Sit down by yourself (or with spouse) to review your checkbook and your calendar.