August 4, 2019

Haggai 2:10-23

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Haggai 2:10-23
Service Type:

Introduction

  • Coming to an end of the Book of Haggai
  • Recap of previous two sermons
    1. Challenge to the Jewish people to turn back to God
    2. God encourages them to be strong for He is with them
  • This evening – 2:10-23
  • Two oracles through Haggai on the same day - v10, 24
    • It has been 3 months since the people had resolved to start the work of the building the temple
    • They have had enough time to sort the construction
    • Resources have been brought
    • There is to be a re-dedication to the temple
  • Zechariah had already begun his ministry - Zech 1:1-4
    • Zechariah preached this message only one month later
    • The people had some way to go in repentance
    • The people are struggling to acheive a whole-hearted response
    • They were relying on the physical building and neglecting their own spiritual growth
  • Overview:
    • The need for holiness and the problem of sin
    • God's chastisement and the need to respond in repentance
    • God's gracious blessing

The need for holiness and the problem of sin

Holiness

  • Reading 2:11-14
  • Two questions asked of the law - to the priests who would instruct the people
    • Their authority is recognised
    • Their responsibility included teaching God's law and answering questions relating to this
    • The questions were asked before all the people
    • cf 1 Pet 3:15
  • Two facts:
    • There can be no transmission of holiness
    • Uncleanness is contagious
  • The issue is not their ignorance of God's law but their application
    • Ex 19:6
      • They were not a holy nation - not everything they did was acceptable to the Lord
    • Despite God's promise of His presence and help in rebuilding the temple
    • There was no automatic approval
  • Holiness needs to be pursued
    • Unless their hearts were pure before Him, their prayers and sacrifices were not acceptable to Him
      • Prov 28:9
    • Inward purification and holiness is needed
    • As Christians' we are called a holy people, set apart for honourable use
      • We need to pursue holiness
      • There needs to be an ongoing work of sanctifications
      • 1 Pet 1:14-16
    • Going to church does not make you holy
    • We need to be changed by the Holy Spirit
    • Good works is an outward expression of what is going on in our heart/on the inside
    • Matt 5:48

Sin

  • Sin is a problem
    • Sins keep us apart from God
    • Everything the Jews touched became unclean - including their offerings
    • When we were converted we were made a new creation
    • Yet there is still a law of sin at work
    • Sin is contagious - is spoils and destroys
      • James 2:10
    • Because of the sin of one man - the entire human race became affected by it
    • Virtually every page of the Bible speaks about sin
    • Psalm 5:4-5
    • Unless sin is dealt with - it stays and remains

God's chastisement and the need to respond in repentance

Chastisement

  • Reading 2:15
    • The Lord expects a mighty change in their hearts, a complete change of direction
    • We must desire this change
  • Reading 2:16
    • There is a curse and spiritual uncleanness
    • The expected blessings were not present
    • They did not use their resources for the Lord
    • Prov 3:9-10
    • How much crop are we yielding as Christians?
      • Matt 13:8-9
    • Is there a lack of fruit in our lives?
    • Are we being slow in pursuing spiritualness?
  • Reading 2:17
    • The Lord had struck them - His dealings with His people were direct
    • Deut 28:22
    • This was loving fatherly chastisement to call the back to themselves - but the people did not turn back
      • Are we being listening to the Lord?
      • Heb 12:5-6

Repentance

  • The people needed repentance
    • We need this in our lives
    • It is a sign of looking to the Lord
    • Our repentance ought to increase - it is a mark of a maturing Christian
    • To turn to God and despise our sin and uncleanness

God's gracious blessing

  • Reading 2:18
    • It should have brought the people to their senses
      • Consider the parable of the prodigal son
    • The people would know the reality of a renewed relationship with God
      • We can know this too
  • Reading 2:19
    • From this day - God would bless the people
      • How great it would be to see God's blessings on the people
    • God is waiting to pour His blessings upon us
    • We should not be satisfied with what we have know
      • Jesus called us to live life to the fullest
    • Those blessings will be more than we can imagine
    • 2 Cor 4:17
  • Reading 2:20-22
    • God assurances us of His promises
    • God demonstrates His power and authority over heaven and earth
  • Reading 2:23
    • God seals His promise
    • Zerubbabel is like a signet ring
    • 1 Chro 1:17
    • Jesus Christ is our greatest blessing
    • Isa 1:18
    • True holiness is in Christ - let us put on Christ
    • Gal 2:20

Closing Remarks

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