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"CONSIDER"
Haggai 1:1-14 (KJV)
(by Mike Willmouth, preached at Woodhaven Baptist Church on March 24, 1996)

This Sermon was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite.

Background: Some 50,000 people returned to Judah from Babylon. They settled in a tiny portion of the land, Jerusalem. They found their once fertile lands ruined; land that once had grass, and trees, had been stripped; What once had fertile crop lands was now, wilderness; and adding to this there was a series of natural disasters (droughts and storms); and their enemies persecuted them. This was the situation that the prophet Haggai described when he preached his first sermon on August 29, 520 B.C. to the people who had gathered in Jerusalem for a religious festival.

The people had returned to Judah in 538 B.C., some 16 years before Haggai first spoke out. They had come with the specific intention of rebuilding the ruined temple of their God. The people had quickly laid the foundation of the temple, but then the enthusiasm faded. Their efforts shifted to preparing houses to live in, and to clearing fields so crops might grow. For over a decade work on the temple had been abandoned, and even the funds they had brought with them for the building program were spent on a futile effort to make the little community self-sufficient. In essence, the people of Judah had forgotten that it is the call of the believer to put God first. Blessing follows full commitment, blessing cannot be found apart from it. Haggai's call was to re-commitment.

If Haggai could have used a New Testament text for his sermon, it would have been Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

I. Consider your ways (vv.1-5)
1. Haggai points out a particular sin that will keep us from accomplishing God's will and finishing His work.

2. "This people.." (v.2)

- Notice that He doesn't say, "My People," because since they had neglected the service of God.

Illustration: During the first World War, Teddy Roosevelt thundered out against what he called hyphenated Americans, people who had a divided loyalty. He said, "America is not a polyglot boarding house. If you are an American and something else, you are not an American."

Application: By the same token, one could say today that if you are a Christian and something else, you are not a loyal Christian. Vance Havner said, "There isn't any such thing as a 50 percent, 60 percent, or 75 percent loyalty. A husband who is 85 percent loyal to his is not loyal at all." I wonder how many Christians today that God is calling them "This People".

3. "The time is not come..." (v.2).

A. Their excuses
1) He gets right to the point of his message: The people are making excuses and neglecting God's house.

Illustration: I was on the nominating committee in one of our past Churches, and we put out a survey to see what talents (experience) we had in the Church. We received back about 80% of the surveys. The last thing we asked on the survey was, "would you be willing to serve on any of the vacant positions that we have, and you had experience in?" Do you know about 90% of the people answered, "NO!"

Application: There are too many Christian's today that are living on their excuses rather than living on the promises of God.

2) We have Christians today who are not serving in the Lord's house.
A) Some don't even set foot in it, let alone serve in it.
B) Some would rather sleep in
C) Some would rather go fishing
D) Some would rather play golf
E) Some would rather go shopping

Illustration: Since I've been in Mississippi, I've preached in a number of Churches, and the one thing that sticks out the most is the number of people in attendance. It seems the bigger the Church is on the outside, the smaller the congregation is on the inside. They literally have hundreds on people on their membership rolls, and only handfuls in attendance. About a week ago I read in the news paper, a letter to the editor, where a Christian wrote from Kansas saying the Word of God came to him and told him on September 13 1993, God was going to destroy the Mississippi coast because of gambling they have allowed here. Some of us were talking about this a Church and someone said why would God just choose to destroy the coast and not Nevada and some of these other states that have the lottery and other gambling? Then someone else said, "maybe it's because we in are the Bible Belt" And I said, "this in no longer the Bible Belt, but the Church Belt." I have never seen so many Churches in one area with so little cars in their parking lots.

Application: These Churches only serve to remind us that people are the same today as they were during Haggai's day. We are still a people of excuses.

4. "Is it time for you..?" (v.4).

A. God's question points out their selfishness.
B. They had built their own houses, but they said it was not time to build God's house.

Application: This sin is with us today, putting our own desires ahead of the will of the Lord. How easy it is to make excuses for not doing God's work! It is never time to sacrifice to do the Lord's work, but it is always time to do things for ourselves. They needed to have the same heart, and attitude as King David, when he said to Nathan, (2 Samuel 7:2) "...See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains." The Bible tells us that we will all stand before God some day and give an account of what we did or didn't do for the Lord while we were on this earth. Is God asking you today, "Is it time yet?" are you ready to start serving the Lord again?

Transition: If not, you need to...

II. Consider your circumstances (vv.6-7, 9-11)
1. The result of our self-centeredness

A. Poor crops (v.6)
B. Not enough to eat (v.6)
C. Not enough to drink (v.6)
D. Not enough clothes to keep them warm (v.6)
E. Not enough money (v.6)
F. No rain (v.10)
G. Drought (v.10)
H. Both man and animal suffered (v.11)
I. Hebrews 12:7, "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" (KJV)

2. God explains that the reason for this chastening was their selfish neglecting to rebuild the temple (v.9b).

Application: The people knew God's covenant with Israel, He promised to bless them if they obeyed His Word and to discipline them if they disobeyed (Lev.26). Haggai warns us that we really lose out when we put ourselves ahead of God. They did not trust His Word, so they lost the blessing. When we put God first, we have the promise of His care. But when we put self first, we lose His blessing and whatever we spent on ourselves!

"The way of transgressors is hard," You and I need to "Consider our circumstances." There are many of Christian today that are having a hard time of it, because they have not considered their circumstances. There are many of Church today that are closing there doors, because they have not considered their circumstances. Proverbs 13:15, "Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard." (KJV). You and I must realize that sometimes we are the cause of our circumstances.

Transition: You never lose when you put God first in your life. And that's why we need to....

III. Consider God's ways (vv.8, 12-14)
1. Consider His Plan (go up, bring down, and build; v.8)

A. simple and straight forward and easy to understand

Illustration: When people get the big "I" in front of their eyes, it obscures everything else, and they are blind to the things they should see. That which should be very simple becomes a very complex problem. If you just put God in His rightful place, He will straighten out a great many things for you. But first, you must get the big "I" out of the way." (J.Vernon McGee)

Application: You see it's not what "I" want or "YOU" want that's matters, but what "GOD" wants that really matters. We need to get the "I" out of our lives, then the simple things of God will simple again. We are the one's who complicate God's plans. Just like John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

B. God's plan to man is simple:
1) Confess
2) Repent
3) Believe
4) Follow

2. Consider Their response to God (vv. 12, 14)

A. They obeyed; "Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the remnant obeyed." (v.12).
- 1 Samuel 15:22 "And Samuel said, ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (KJV)
B. They feared; "And the people did fear before the Lord." (v.12)
1) They had a new awe and reverence for God as the pondered the significance of their past disobedience and self-centeredness and their new sense of obedience to divine priorities.
2) Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (KJV)
C. They went to work, "And they came and did work in house of the Lord of hosts, their God." (v.14)

3. Consider what God did for them (vv.13-14).

A. He forgave them, "I am with you..."(v.13)
B. He gave them assurance of God's presence to guide and empower them.
- Isaiah 55:7, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (KJV)
C. He revived them, "The Lord stirred up their spirit" (v.14)
1) God enabled them for the task.
A) This is what the Lord takes pleasure in, seeing faith put into action.
B) When we are serving the Lord, people see this, and that's what glorifies God.
2) Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (KJV)

Application: Judah responded to the message, "the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message and feared the Lord." The message was received with real conviction and the leaders became stirred to do God's will. Note that the whole enterprise was a spiritual venture and not merely a work of the flesh. God's people rose up and put the Lord first in their lives. God worked in the hearts of His people and within the month work on the temple resumed. God used the Word to arouse the leaders and the people, and they began to rebuild the temple. Accomplishing God's work takes leaders and workers, both stirred by the Lord and walking in the fear of the Lord.

INVITATION
1. God is asking you this morning to Consider our ways
2. In God's eyes, have you been "A PEOPLE," or "HIS PEOPLE." Consider Your Ways
3. Have you been serving the Lord when He called you? Consider Your Ways
4. Has your life been un-fulfilling? Consider Your Ways
5. Do you fear and obey God? Consider Your Ways
6. Has God "stirred up your Spirit," are you excited about serving Him? Consider Your Ways
7. God's message is simple, will you respond?