We are walking in today: Names Of God--Yahweh Sabaoth, The Lord Of Hosts
Thank you for joining us today for a study of our Lord God's name! We thank you for using Minister Teila, Pastor Wagner, Sandy Bell and Minister Jeanette this morning giving us more about our Lord of Hosts! Praise His holy name! Here are some of the notes from today---
From Pastor Wagner--
AS MINISTER JEANETTE WAS ADVISING US TAKE A SELAH MOMENT. I WAS DOING JUST THAT WHEN SHE CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT GOD WANTED ME TO READ HAGGAI 1:5 ON THIS MORNING. I TOOK A “WISDOM” MOMENT YESTERDAY.
SELAH: WHICH MEANS “TO HANG OR “TO MEASURE OR WEIGH IN THE BALANCES.” REFERRING TO WISDOM, TO “PAUSE AND CALMLY THINK ABOUT THAT”
I HUNG THE BALANCES, I TOOK A WISDOM MOMENT I WEIGHED THIS SCRIPTURE, FAMILY. “GOD HAD ME TO “PAUSE AND CALMLY THINK ABOUT THAT”
HE IS COMING TO US AS LORD ALMIGHTY (EL-SHADDAI), AND LORD OF THE HOST, (YAHWEH SHABAOTH) TODAY, AS A LOVING FATHER AND AS A COMMANDER AND CHIEF.
GOD IS CALLING US TO ALSO BUILD HIS HOUSE HAGGAI 1:5,7 (NIV)
5 NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS. 7 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS.
****SISTER PAT STATED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT, TO ME ON YESTERDAY SHE SAID THAT WE TAKE TOO MUCH GRANTED!!! AND WE HEAR THAT SO MUCH, GOD WANTS US TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OUR WAYS!
IN THE NIV VERSION OF SCRIPTURE, THE BIBLE USES GOD ALMIGHTY OR EL SHADDAI:
EL IS ALMOST ALWAYS QUALIFIED BY ADDITIONAL WORDS THAT FURTHER DEFINE THE MEANING THAT DISTINGUISH HIM FROM FALSE GODS.
*****THE WORD EL COMES FROM A ROOT WORD MEANING “MIGHT, STRENGTH, POWER”.
SHADAD: MEANS TO OVERPOWER OR DESTROY! LETS MAKE NO MISTAKE GOD WILL OVERPOWER AND DESTROY WHAT WE HAVE IF WE DO NOT OBEY. THE WORD SAYS : GOD IS THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY AND FOREVER MORE!
EL SHADDAI – THE ALL SUFFICIENT GOD.
EL SHADDAI IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN REFERENCE TO THE 3 GREAT PATRIARCHS: ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. ACCORDING TO EXODUS 6:2&3 WAS THE PRIMARY NAME BY WHICH GOD WAS KNOWN TO THE FOUNDERS OF ISRAEL.
EXODUS 6: 2,3: GOD ALSO SAID TO MOSES, “I AM THE LORD. 3 I APPEARED TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC AND TO JACOB AS GOD ALMIGHTY,[A] BUT BY MY NAME THE LORD[B] I DID NOT MAKE MYSELF FULLY KNOWN TO THEM.
GOD MEANS BUSINESS, FAMILY SO DEPENDING ON HOW HE COMES EITHER AS A LOVING FATHER FOR EXAMPLE (IN MATTHEW 6:9-13) TEACHING US HOW TO PRAY OR THE LORD COMES TO US ALSO AS A STERN FATHER AS IN HAGGI 1:5. SO OF COURSE HIS DIFFERENT NAMES WILL GIVE US A CLUE AS TO HOW HE IS COMING TO US. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SEASONS IN OUR LIVES, SO AS THE SEASONS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, SO DOES OUR FATHER’S NAME TO FIT THE OCCASION, THE LESSON THAT NEEDS TO BE LEARNED OR MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO SPOKEN.
CONSIDER YOUR WAYS (KJV)
VERSE 1:“NOW THEREFORE, THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS: CONSIDER YOUR WAYS! VERSE 7: THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS: CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!”
IT COMES FROM THE HEBREW EXPRESSION "YAHWEH SABAOTH" LORD OF HOSTS: MEANS LORD OF MANY PEOPLE OR LORD OF AN ARMY.
LORD OF HOSTS: THE IMAGE THIS TITLE BRINGS TO MIND IS OF A MIGHTY MILITARY COMMANDER, ONE WHO CAN AT A MERE WORD SUMMON RANK UPON RANK OF PROTECTIVE POWER. WHEN DAVID APPROACHED GOLIATH, HE RESPONDED TO THE WARRIOR'S TAUNTS, (1 SAM. 17:45). HE CAME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE COMMANDER NOT ONLY OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, BUT OF ALL OF HEAVEN AS WELL.
A TAUNT WILL DIRECT THE TARGET'S ATTENTION FROM WHOEVER IT IS ON ONTO THE CASTER OF TAUNT. A TAUNT IS ONE OF THE SIGNATURE MOVES OF A TANKING WARRIOR. IT MAY BE A LIFE-SAVE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, A TAUNT HAS A RATHER LONG COOL DOWN, SO IT MUST BE USED WITH CARE WITH A GOOD GRASP OF THE OVERALL SITUATION
TANKING WARRIOR- MEANS THE PLAYER IN A PARTY WHO IS INTENDED TO SOAK DAMAGE. A TANKING WARRIOR CARRIES A TYPE OF ITEM, OBJECT OR THING.
HAGGAI CHALLENGES THE RESTORED REMNANT FROM BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY, WHOSE DESIRE WAS TO SEEK THEIR OWN WELFARE “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” IN RELATION TO THE WORK OF THE LORD: IT IS VERY UNWISE TO PLACE YOUR OWN SELF-INTERESTS AHEAD OF GOD. “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” IN VIEW OF THE FUTILITY OF YOUR LABORS: THE CHRISTIAN WHOSE LIFE IS EMPTY, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT MEANING OR PURPOSE, CONSTANTLY STRIVING BUT NEVER ABLE TO "MAKE ENDS MEET" SHOULD EVALUATE THEIR DEGREE OF DEDICATION OF SERVICE AND SUBSTANCE TO GOD. REVIEW THE TEXT IN VERSES 6, AND 7 AND SEE IF ANY OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE EVIDENCED IN YOUR LIFE, AND IT READS, 6 YOU HAVE PLANTED MUCH, BUT HARVESTED LITTLE. YOU EAT, BUT NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. YOU DRINK, BUT NEVER HAVE YOUR FILL. YOU PUT ON CLOTHES, BUT ARE NOT WARM. YOU EARN WAGES, ONLY TO PUT THEM IN A PURSE WITH HOLES IN IT.”
THAN CONSIDER WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO PUT HIM AHEAD OF THEIR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS. SCRIPTURES SAYS: "BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU."--MATTHEW 6:33
“CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!”GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS! IN VIEW OF THE WORK TO BE DONE: CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT! FAMILY, EVERY CHILD OF GOD IS GIVEN A GIFT. "THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF MINISTRIES, BUT THE SAME LORD…BUT ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT WORKS ALL THESE THINGS, DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AS HE WILLS." I CORINTHIANS 12:4-5,11
“CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS! IN VIEW OF BLESSINGS TO BE RECEIVED: VERSE 10 SAYS, IF “THE HEAVENS ABOVE YOU WITHHOLD THE DEW, AND THE EARTH WITHHOLDS ITS FRUIT”, WHEN YOU IGNORE GOD, DOES NOT IT STAND TO REASON THE OPPOSITE WOULD BE TRUE IF YOU HONORED, REVERENCED AND SERVED HIM?
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
HAGGAI HAD AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THE JEWS WHO HAD RECENTLY RETURNED FROM EXILE. THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEIR GOD, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO FOCUS ON THEIR OWN INTERESTS, SO IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO “CONSIDER [THEIR] WAYS” (HAGGAI 1:5, 7). NOTHING WAS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE JEWS THAN TO SHOW THAT THE LORD WAS AT THE CENTER OF THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS, SO HAGGAI DIRECTED THEM TO FINISH REBUILDING GOD’S TEMPLE.
HOW DO I APPLY THIS?
THE JEWS WHO EMIGRATED FROM BABYLON TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMELAND OF JUDAH FACED INTENSE OPPOSITION, BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL. EZRA 4:1–5 RECORDS THE EXTERNAL RESISTANCE TO THE PROJECT OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE. THE ENEMIES OF JUDAH FIRST ATTEMPTED TO INFILTRATE THE RANKS OF THE BUILDERS, AND WHEN THAT DIDN’T WORK, THEY RESORTED TO SCARE TACTICS. HAGGAI, ON THE OTHER HAND, FOCUSED ON THE INTERNAL OPPOSITION THEY FACED, NAMELY FROM THEIR OWN SIN. THE JEWS HAD THOUGHTLESSLY PLACED THEIR OWN INTERESTS BEFORE THE LORD’S INTERESTS, LOOKING AFTER THEIR OWN SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHOUT GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE STATUS OF THE LORD’S HOUSE.
HAGGAI’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE IN THE FACE OF THE JEWS’ NEGLECT BRINGS TO MIND THE APOSTLE PAUL’S EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIANS TO BUILD OUR LIVES ON THE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 3:10–17). ARE YOU BUILDING A LIFE THAT REFLECTS YOUR STATUS AS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LEAVING A LEGACY THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME? FIND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BY PLACING GOD AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES, WE WOULD REALIZE THE FUTURE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAD IN STORE FOR HIS PEOPLE.
HAGGI 1:2-14 2 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “THESE PEOPLE SAY, ‘THE TIME HAS NOT YET COME TO REBUILD THE LORD’S HOUSE.” 3 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME THROUGH THE PROPHET HAGGAI: 4 “IS IT A TIME FOR YOU YOURSELVES TO BE LIVING IN YOUR PANELED HOUSES, WHILE THIS HOUSE REMAINS A RUIN?” 5 NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS. 6 YOU HAVE PLANTED MUCH, BUT HARVESTED LITTLE. YOU EAT, BUT NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. YOU DRINK, BUT NEVER HAVE YOUR FILL. YOU PUT ON CLOTHES, BUT ARE NOT WARM. YOU EARN WAGES, ONLY TO PUT THEM IN A PURSE WITH HOLES IN IT.” 7 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS 8 GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND BRING DOWN TIMBER AND BUILD THE HOUSE, SO THAT I MAY TAKE PLEASURE IN IT AND BE HONORED," SAYS THE LORD. 9 "YOU EXPECTED MUCH, BUT SEE, IT TURNED OUT TO BE LITTLE. WHAT YOU BROUGHT HOME, I BLEW AWAY. WHY?" DECLARES THE LORD ALMIGHTY. "BECAUSE OF MY HOUSE, WHICH REMAINS A RUIN, WHILE EACH OF YOU IS BUSY WITH HIS OWN HOUSE. 10 THEREFORE, BECAUSE OF YOU THE HEAVENS HAVE WITHHELD THEIR DEW AND THE EARTH ITS CROPS. 11 I CALLED FOR A DROUGHT ON THE FIELDS AND THE MOUNTAINS, ON THE GRAIN, THE NEW WINE, THE OIL AND WHATEVER THE GROUND PRODUCES, ON MEN AND CATTLE, AND ON THE LABOR OF YOUR HANDS." 12 THEN ZERUBBABEL SON OF SHEALTIEL, JOSHUA SON OF JEHOZADAK, THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE WHOLE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD THEIR GOD AND THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET HAGGAI, BECAUSE THE LORD THEIR GOD HAD SENT HIM. AND THE PEOPLE FEARED THE LORD. 13 THEN HAGGAI, THE LORD'S MESSENGER, GAVE THIS MESSAGE OF THE LORD TO THE PEOPLE: "I AM WITH YOU," DECLARES THE LORD. 14 SO THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF ZERUBBABEL SON OF SHEALTIEL, GOVERNOR OF JUDAH, AND THE SPIRIT OF JOSHUA SON OF JEHOZADAK, THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE. THEY CAME AND BEGAN TO WORK ON THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, THEIR GOD. THROUGH THE PHYSICAL ACT OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO INDICATE A SHIFT IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES: FROM DEVOTION TO SELF TOWARD DEVOTION TO GOD.
CONCLUSION:
FIVE AM PRAYER: GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE HIS PEOPLE WITH BLESSINGS. NOT ONLY IS HE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO SO; HE WANTS TO, BUT HE ALSO WANTS MAN TO WORSHIP AND OBEY HIM.
AS MINISTER JEANETTE WAS ADVISING US TAKE A SELAH MOMENT. I WAS DOING JUST THAT WHEN SHE CALLED ME AND INFORMED ME THAT GOD WANTED ME TO READ HAGGAI 1:5 ON THIS MORNING. I TOOK A “WISDOM” MOMENT YESTERDAY.
SELAH: WHICH MEANS “TO HANG OR “TO MEASURE OR WEIGH IN THE BALANCES.” REFERRING TO WISDOM, TO “PAUSE AND CALMLY THINK ABOUT THAT”
I HUNG THE BALANCES, I TOOK A WISDOM MOMENT I WEIGHED THIS SCRIPTURE, FAMILY. “GOD HAD ME TO “PAUSE AND CALMLY THINK ABOUT THAT”
HE IS COMING TO US AS LORD ALMIGHTY (EL-SHADDAI), AND LORD OF THE HOST, (YAHWEH SHABAOTH) TODAY, AS A LOVING FATHER AND AS A COMMANDER AND CHIEF.
GOD IS CALLING US TO ALSO BUILD HIS HOUSE HAGGAI 1:5,7 (NIV)
5 NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS. 7 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS.
****SISTER PAT STATED SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT, TO ME ON YESTERDAY SHE SAID THAT WE TAKE TOO MUCH GRANTED!!! AND WE HEAR THAT SO MUCH, GOD WANTS US TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO OUR WAYS!
IN THE NIV VERSION OF SCRIPTURE, THE BIBLE USES GOD ALMIGHTY OR EL SHADDAI:
EL IS ALMOST ALWAYS QUALIFIED BY ADDITIONAL WORDS THAT FURTHER DEFINE THE MEANING THAT DISTINGUISH HIM FROM FALSE GODS.
*****THE WORD EL COMES FROM A ROOT WORD MEANING “MIGHT, STRENGTH, POWER”.
SHADAD: MEANS TO OVERPOWER OR DESTROY! LETS MAKE NO MISTAKE GOD WILL OVERPOWER AND DESTROY WHAT WE HAVE IF WE DO NOT OBEY. THE WORD SAYS : GOD IS THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY AND FOREVER MORE!
EL SHADDAI – THE ALL SUFFICIENT GOD.
EL SHADDAI IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN REFERENCE TO THE 3 GREAT PATRIARCHS: ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. ACCORDING TO EXODUS 6:2&3 WAS THE PRIMARY NAME BY WHICH GOD WAS KNOWN TO THE FOUNDERS OF ISRAEL.
EXODUS 6: 2,3: GOD ALSO SAID TO MOSES, “I AM THE LORD. 3 I APPEARED TO ABRAHAM, TO ISAAC AND TO JACOB AS GOD ALMIGHTY,[A] BUT BY MY NAME THE LORD[B] I DID NOT MAKE MYSELF FULLY KNOWN TO THEM.
GOD MEANS BUSINESS, FAMILY SO DEPENDING ON HOW HE COMES EITHER AS A LOVING FATHER FOR EXAMPLE (IN MATTHEW 6:9-13) TEACHING US HOW TO PRAY OR THE LORD COMES TO US ALSO AS A STERN FATHER AS IN HAGGI 1:5. SO OF COURSE HIS DIFFERENT NAMES WILL GIVE US A CLUE AS TO HOW HE IS COMING TO US. WE HAVE DIFFERENT SEASONS IN OUR LIVES, SO AS THE SEASONS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, SO DOES OUR FATHER’S NAME TO FIT THE OCCASION, THE LESSON THAT NEEDS TO BE LEARNED OR MESSAGE THAT NEEDS TO SPOKEN.
CONSIDER YOUR WAYS (KJV)
VERSE 1:“NOW THEREFORE, THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS: CONSIDER YOUR WAYS! VERSE 7: THUS SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS: CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!”
IT COMES FROM THE HEBREW EXPRESSION "YAHWEH SABAOTH" LORD OF HOSTS: MEANS LORD OF MANY PEOPLE OR LORD OF AN ARMY.
LORD OF HOSTS: THE IMAGE THIS TITLE BRINGS TO MIND IS OF A MIGHTY MILITARY COMMANDER, ONE WHO CAN AT A MERE WORD SUMMON RANK UPON RANK OF PROTECTIVE POWER. WHEN DAVID APPROACHED GOLIATH, HE RESPONDED TO THE WARRIOR'S TAUNTS, (1 SAM. 17:45). HE CAME IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE COMMANDER NOT ONLY OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, BUT OF ALL OF HEAVEN AS WELL.
A TAUNT WILL DIRECT THE TARGET'S ATTENTION FROM WHOEVER IT IS ON ONTO THE CASTER OF TAUNT. A TAUNT IS ONE OF THE SIGNATURE MOVES OF A TANKING WARRIOR. IT MAY BE A LIFE-SAVE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, A TAUNT HAS A RATHER LONG COOL DOWN, SO IT MUST BE USED WITH CARE WITH A GOOD GRASP OF THE OVERALL SITUATION
TANKING WARRIOR- MEANS THE PLAYER IN A PARTY WHO IS INTENDED TO SOAK DAMAGE. A TANKING WARRIOR CARRIES A TYPE OF ITEM, OBJECT OR THING.
HAGGAI CHALLENGES THE RESTORED REMNANT FROM BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY, WHOSE DESIRE WAS TO SEEK THEIR OWN WELFARE “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” IN RELATION TO THE WORK OF THE LORD: IT IS VERY UNWISE TO PLACE YOUR OWN SELF-INTERESTS AHEAD OF GOD. “CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” IN VIEW OF THE FUTILITY OF YOUR LABORS: THE CHRISTIAN WHOSE LIFE IS EMPTY, SEEMINGLY WITHOUT MEANING OR PURPOSE, CONSTANTLY STRIVING BUT NEVER ABLE TO "MAKE ENDS MEET" SHOULD EVALUATE THEIR DEGREE OF DEDICATION OF SERVICE AND SUBSTANCE TO GOD. REVIEW THE TEXT IN VERSES 6, AND 7 AND SEE IF ANY OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS ARE EVIDENCED IN YOUR LIFE, AND IT READS, 6 YOU HAVE PLANTED MUCH, BUT HARVESTED LITTLE. YOU EAT, BUT NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. YOU DRINK, BUT NEVER HAVE YOUR FILL. YOU PUT ON CLOTHES, BUT ARE NOT WARM. YOU EARN WAGES, ONLY TO PUT THEM IN A PURSE WITH HOLES IN IT.”
THAN CONSIDER WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO PUT HIM AHEAD OF THEIR OWN SELFISH INTERESTS. SCRIPTURES SAYS: "BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU."--MATTHEW 6:33
“CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!”GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS! IN VIEW OF THE WORK TO BE DONE: CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A SPECTATOR SPORT! FAMILY, EVERY CHILD OF GOD IS GIVEN A GIFT. "THERE ARE DIVERSITIES OF GIFTS, BUT THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES OF MINISTRIES, BUT THE SAME LORD…BUT ONE AND THE SAME SPIRIT WORKS ALL THESE THINGS, DISTRIBUTING TO EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AS HE WILLS." I CORINTHIANS 12:4-5,11
“CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!” “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS! IN VIEW OF BLESSINGS TO BE RECEIVED: VERSE 10 SAYS, IF “THE HEAVENS ABOVE YOU WITHHOLD THE DEW, AND THE EARTH WITHHOLDS ITS FRUIT”, WHEN YOU IGNORE GOD, DOES NOT IT STAND TO REASON THE OPPOSITE WOULD BE TRUE IF YOU HONORED, REVERENCED AND SERVED HIM?
WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?
HAGGAI HAD AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THE JEWS WHO HAD RECENTLY RETURNED FROM EXILE. THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEIR GOD, CHOOSING INSTEAD TO FOCUS ON THEIR OWN INTERESTS, SO IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO “CONSIDER [THEIR] WAYS” (HAGGAI 1:5, 7). NOTHING WAS MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE JEWS THAN TO SHOW THAT THE LORD WAS AT THE CENTER OF THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS, SO HAGGAI DIRECTED THEM TO FINISH REBUILDING GOD’S TEMPLE.
HOW DO I APPLY THIS?
THE JEWS WHO EMIGRATED FROM BABYLON TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMELAND OF JUDAH FACED INTENSE OPPOSITION, BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL. EZRA 4:1–5 RECORDS THE EXTERNAL RESISTANCE TO THE PROJECT OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE. THE ENEMIES OF JUDAH FIRST ATTEMPTED TO INFILTRATE THE RANKS OF THE BUILDERS, AND WHEN THAT DIDN’T WORK, THEY RESORTED TO SCARE TACTICS. HAGGAI, ON THE OTHER HAND, FOCUSED ON THE INTERNAL OPPOSITION THEY FACED, NAMELY FROM THEIR OWN SIN. THE JEWS HAD THOUGHTLESSLY PLACED THEIR OWN INTERESTS BEFORE THE LORD’S INTERESTS, LOOKING AFTER THEIR OWN SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHOUT GIVING CONSIDERATION TO THE STATUS OF THE LORD’S HOUSE.
HAGGAI’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO REBUILD THE TEMPLE IN THE FACE OF THE JEWS’ NEGLECT BRINGS TO MIND THE APOSTLE PAUL’S EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIANS TO BUILD OUR LIVES ON THE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 3:10–17). ARE YOU BUILDING A LIFE THAT REFLECTS YOUR STATUS AS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, LEAVING A LEGACY THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME? FIND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THAT CONSTRUCTION PROJECT BY PLACING GOD AT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES, WE WOULD REALIZE THE FUTURE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAD IN STORE FOR HIS PEOPLE.
HAGGI 1:2-14 2 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “THESE PEOPLE SAY, ‘THE TIME HAS NOT YET COME TO REBUILD THE LORD’S HOUSE.” 3 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME THROUGH THE PROPHET HAGGAI: 4 “IS IT A TIME FOR YOU YOURSELVES TO BE LIVING IN YOUR PANELED HOUSES, WHILE THIS HOUSE REMAINS A RUIN?” 5 NOW THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS. 6 YOU HAVE PLANTED MUCH, BUT HARVESTED LITTLE. YOU EAT, BUT NEVER HAVE ENOUGH. YOU DRINK, BUT NEVER HAVE YOUR FILL. YOU PUT ON CLOTHES, BUT ARE NOT WARM. YOU EARN WAGES, ONLY TO PUT THEM IN A PURSE WITH HOLES IN IT.” 7 THIS IS WHAT THE LORD ALMIGHTY SAYS: “GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO YOUR WAYS 8 GO UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND BRING DOWN TIMBER AND BUILD THE HOUSE, SO THAT I MAY TAKE PLEASURE IN IT AND BE HONORED," SAYS THE LORD. 9 "YOU EXPECTED MUCH, BUT SEE, IT TURNED OUT TO BE LITTLE. WHAT YOU BROUGHT HOME, I BLEW AWAY. WHY?" DECLARES THE LORD ALMIGHTY. "BECAUSE OF MY HOUSE, WHICH REMAINS A RUIN, WHILE EACH OF YOU IS BUSY WITH HIS OWN HOUSE. 10 THEREFORE, BECAUSE OF YOU THE HEAVENS HAVE WITHHELD THEIR DEW AND THE EARTH ITS CROPS. 11 I CALLED FOR A DROUGHT ON THE FIELDS AND THE MOUNTAINS, ON THE GRAIN, THE NEW WINE, THE OIL AND WHATEVER THE GROUND PRODUCES, ON MEN AND CATTLE, AND ON THE LABOR OF YOUR HANDS." 12 THEN ZERUBBABEL SON OF SHEALTIEL, JOSHUA SON OF JEHOZADAK, THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE WHOLE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE OBEYED THE VOICE OF THE LORD THEIR GOD AND THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET HAGGAI, BECAUSE THE LORD THEIR GOD HAD SENT HIM. AND THE PEOPLE FEARED THE LORD. 13 THEN HAGGAI, THE LORD'S MESSENGER, GAVE THIS MESSAGE OF THE LORD TO THE PEOPLE: "I AM WITH YOU," DECLARES THE LORD. 14 SO THE LORD STIRRED UP THE SPIRIT OF ZERUBBABEL SON OF SHEALTIEL, GOVERNOR OF JUDAH, AND THE SPIRIT OF JOSHUA SON OF JEHOZADAK, THE HIGH PRIEST, AND THE SPIRIT OF THE WHOLE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE. THEY CAME AND BEGAN TO WORK ON THE HOUSE OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, THEIR GOD. THROUGH THE PHYSICAL ACT OF REBUILDING THE TEMPLE, THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO INDICATE A SHIFT IN THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVES: FROM DEVOTION TO SELF TOWARD DEVOTION TO GOD.
CONCLUSION:
FIVE AM PRAYER: GOD IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE HIS PEOPLE WITH BLESSINGS. NOT ONLY IS HE POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO SO; HE WANTS TO, BUT HE ALSO WANTS MAN TO WORSHIP AND OBEY HIM.
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We seal this prayer in the precious blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the only Begotten of the Heavenly Father and by the Holy Spirit: We can stand on 2 Chronicles 20:17, Yahweh Sabaoth is fighting for us, Fiveamprayer!
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