(Re)-Building Programs 101

Scripture Haggai 1:1; 2:1, 10

C.I.: Rebuilding Your Relationship with God

We're involved in a new series of lessons…. – God's people have returned to the Promised Land after years of captivity.
It is as though they are starting over. – So God directs Haggai to give them 3 sermons on how to rebuild their lives!

I. Three Sermons on Rebuilding, (Book of Haggai)

•  Sermon #1: Make God Your #1 Priority, (1:1-15)

1. ( Hag. 1:2 ), “This people says, ‘The time has not come, even the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt.'”
a. There are a lot of reasons why people put off doing what God says to do…
1) “I've got my education, my career, my marriage, my family, to deal with first! – Then…!”
2) Satan has an effective plan he uses against us today = Keep people busy!!
3) The same was true in Haggai's day, ( vs. 3-5 ), “The the word of the Lord came to Haggai the prophet, saying,
‘Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in paneled houses while this house lies desolate?' – Now therefore, thus says
the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways!'”

b. God does not begrudge someone living in a house. – But these houses were “paneled.”
1) Jesus frequently warned people – about focusing on the wrong priorities...
2) ( Matt. 13:22 ), “And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word,
and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word & it becomes unfruitful.”
3) ( Matt. 16:26 ) , “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul ?”
4) We are so “over-committed” to the trappings of living – we've missed the very point of our lives!

2. God cannot bless the person - who does not seek a right relationship with Him!
a. When our focus is on what we want – and not what He wants – we will never be satisfied with our lives!
1) ( Hag. 1:6-7 ), “You have sown much but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink,
but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns,
earns wages to put into a purse with holes.' – Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Consider your ways!'”

b. So God seeks to rearrange His people's priorities…
1) ( Hag. 1:8-9 ), “‘Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be
glorified,' says the Lord. – ‘You look for much and it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. –
Why?' declares the Lord of hosts, ‘Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own h.”
2) We need to look in the mirror and start over - by choosing to live our lives God's way!
a) ( Matt. 6:33 ), “Seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness – and all these things shall be….” b) ( Col. 3:17 ), “Whatever you do in word or in deed, - do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving….”

c. Finally, God's people “Get it!”
1) ( v. 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 Jehozedak, 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”
2) Rebuilding our relationship with God must begin with us making him #1 in our lives!

B. Sermon #2: Focus on God's Presence, (2:1-9)

1. ( Hag. 2:3 ), “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? – And how do you see it now? – Does it not seem
like nothing in comparison?” Some of the older people were complaining about how things used to bw!!!
a. The people felt that their efforts were totally useless!
1) Making comparisons doesn't take into account the work God is doing behind the scenes, ( Eccl. 7:10 ),
“Do not say, ‘Why is it that the former days were better than these?' – It is not from wisdom that you say this.”
2) God was rebuilding something far greater in their lives, ( Phil. 1:6 ), “I am confident of this very thing, that
He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

b. Yet doing the things God wants us to do requires courage – which is why He promises them His presence!
1) ( Hag. 2:4-5 ), “But now take courage Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of
Jehozedak, the high priest, and all of you people of the land take courage,- and work; for I am with you ,' declares
the Lord of hosts.- ‘As for the promise I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst ;
do not fear!'”
2) Today, we too have such a promise! – ( quote Matt. 28:20; I Jn. 3:24 ), “We knew He abides with us,
because of the Spirit whom He has given us.”
3) Our question: Is our faith in the size of our fears, or in the presence of our God?!


2. God promises in the future - this “nothing in comparison” temple – will be far greater than the previous one!
a. ( Hag. 2:6-9 ), “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the
sea and also the dry land. / And I will fill this house with glory,' declares the Lord of hosts. / The latter glory of this house
will be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace.'”
1) The first time God shook the heavens & earth – was when He brought Judah out of captivity!
2) The Jews were happy to have the temple of God in their midst.
3) But the “latter glory” would be having - THE GOD OF THE TEMPLE IN THEIR MIDST!

b. Today's temple is greater than both; for today God's people are His temple!
1) ( I Cor. 3:16 ), “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
2) ( Acts 2:38 ), “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized … THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
3) So if you want to build/rebuild your relationship with God – FOCUS ON HIS PRESENCE!!!!

C. Sermon #3: Make “Holy” Choices, (2:10-23)

1. Haggai concludes by giving the people something to think about. – He does this by asking two questions…
a. Question #1: ( Hag. 2:11-12 ), “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling: “If a man carries holy meat
in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become
holy?' – And the priests answered and said, ‘No.'”
1) The point: These Jews will not become holy – simply by having the temple in their midst!
2) Today, people do not become holy by being near holy things, (carrying a Bible, coming to church...)!
3) We need to make Holy (God approved) choices, ( I Cor. 6:9-11 ), “Do you not know … were sanctified ,….”

b. Question #2: ( Hag. 2:13 ), “Then Haggai said, ‘If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these, will the latter
become unclean?' – and the priests answered and said, ‘I will become unclean.'”
1) While “holiness” does not come through contact – defilement does!!!
2) If we are to rebuild our relationship with God – it has got to begin with the knowledge – that we must
avoid contact with those people/things – that will contaminate us!!!
3) ( I Jn. 2:15-16 ), “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. – If anyone loves the world….”

CONCLUSIONS:

1. Restoring our relationship with God requires that we concentrate on; what we do, what we love, what we think!!!
2. Building a relationship with God works the same way… ( quote Matthew 28:19-20 )!