June 7, 2010
Haggai: Week 3
Posted by Michael
Listen In…Week 3: Potential Indictment
Learn
Haggai 2: 10-23
10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Haggai: 11 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 12 If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’ "
The priests answered, “No.”
13 Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”
“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”
14 Then Haggai said, " ‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the LORD. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15 " ’Now give careful thought to this from this day on —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD’s temple. 16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,’ declares the LORD. 18 ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
" ‘From this day on I will bless you.’ "
20 The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 " ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty."
Main Idea
Our life is 100% dependent on the grace and goodness of God. He made us, and we are sustained by Him. We may think we are doing a great job if we give God 50% of our lives, but the reality is He deserves it all. Haggai reminds the people of Israel what it was like when God was not their first priority. Their crops came up short, blessings were withheld, and their expectations were not being met. God can, and will, withhold blessings if it helps us reorder our lives around Him. It’s not because He doesn’t love you, but rather it is the loving thing to do when you are not recognizing the centrality of God’s goodness in your life. Haggai then tells the people of Israel to look forward to His blessing. It didn’t matter how far off track they were. Once they decided to put God first and begin construction of the temple, He was pleased with them. Seasons of blessings always follow seasons of faithfulness. When we reorder our lives around God we have the opportunity to realize our potential. If we do not, then having potential ceases to be praise and becomes an indictment.
Know What: Whether you realize it or not, you are fully dependent on the goodness and grace of God.
So What: 95% devotion to God is 5% too short.
Now What: Resolve to devote 100% of your life to God so that you can realize the full potential He has given you.
Discuss:
1. What would devoting your life fully to God look like for you? What are some of the things you might have to give up? Take on?
2. Is it hard for you to believe that God can be pleased with you? Or do you believe He is pleased with you no matter what? What is the healthy balance between the two?
3. Think back to a time when you rebelled against God. How do you view that period of your life? Do you see it as time when you could never meet your own expectations? Or do you romanticize about it as a time when you could do whatever you wanted? What is the danger of the latter?
4. In your moments of clarity, who do you long to be? Are you that person today? What would you consider your next right step in becoming that person?
5. When you fall short of being fully obedient to God, do you feel guilty? Instead of feeling guilty during these times, what would be a more productive and God honoring thing to do?
6. Scripture says that obedience leads to blessings, but we don’t get to choose what those blessings are. Do you find this discouraging? Or do you find this comforting? Why?
7. Is there any area of your life that you are about to quit too soon in? If so, why do you feel as though it would be too hard to continue being faithful?
Pray
This week, pray that you would get a clearer understanding of how dependent on God you really are. Ask Him for wisdom to know which areas of your life you need to be more obedient and faithful in. Don’t feel guilty. Rather, reorder your life around the One who loves you, knowing that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
