Haggai Week One: The Hard Right

THE TIME IS NOW (week one)

THE HARD RIGHT

· Haggai: OT after Zephaniah, before Zechariah

· Stage of life: You expected more, Different.

· College—I’d know what I wanted to do, Graduated—Job. Married—Better marriage.

· Kids fill void—Now just busy and broke.

· Came to church—Tried God—Expected more.

· Backstory of Haggai

· 4th year of King Solomon’s reign—Magnificent temple—idols

· In 587 BC, King Nebuchadnezzar and his army crushed the Southern kingdom of Judah destroying the temple.

· The Jews were taken into captivity for decades.(50years)

· In 538 BC, about 50,000 people were allowed to travel back to Jerusalem, the capital of Judah, to rebuild.

· Started rebuilding—Foundation/Altar—Samaritans opposed them.

· 14 yrs—project on hold—no progress, no prayers, no effort!

· Focused on own houses

· God raised up Haggai to call the people back to the task.

· Read Haggai 1:2

· These people, Not my people! Do you know what your kids did?

· These people say—time not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house!

· Opposition—Difficult—Must not be from God!

· Closer you get to doing what God wants—more opposition you’ll face.

· Don’t worry when I face opposition—Worry when I don’t!

· In life, it’s always better to CHOOSE THE HARD RIGHT OVER THE EASY WRONG.

· Easy to keep your sin a secret—Hard & Right confess ask for help.

· Easy to keep charging & buying what you want—H/R deny self.

· Easy to hold grudge—H/R forgive as X forgave.

· Easy to follow the crowd—H/R to be different and not conform.

· Easy to get discouraged when people are against you—quit.      H/R to do it anyway.

· Difference in opposition & things getting hard and God closing a door.

· God will always open another door.

· Read Haggai 1:3-6

· Living in paneled houses—High-end living!

· God’s not against you having nice things

· Don’t put nice things ahead of God.

· Give careful thoughts to your ways

· In what area of your life are you not putting God first?

· Comfort over calling, your house over his.

· Having more instead of doing more.

· Consumed with self rather than others

· Making a name over making a difference

· Making a living is about what you get, making a life is about what you give

· Working your tail off—not satisfied.

· Earning money—never have any left.

· Acquired more—Accomplish more—still feel empty!

· As Dr. Phil would say, “how’s that working for you?”

· Read Haggai 1:7-8

· THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING

· GO TO THE MOUNTAIN.

· BRING DOWN THE TIMBER.

· BUILD MY HOUSE.

· God keeping it simple. We make it waaaay to difficult.

· But what about steps 5,6,7? Who cares?

· You have to do what God showed you first before He revels more to you.

· How do you follow God’s will? Step by step!

· Hard right over easy wrong.

· Finances - Get help, Spend less than earn, Pay down debt.

· Take care body - Eat right, Exercise, Get sleep.

· Marriage - Humble yourself, Apologize, Do what you use to

· The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.

· It’s time to choose the hard right over the easy wrong.

· No more excuses.

· What dream have you been putting off?

· What sin has held you captive?

· What calling have you been ignoring?

· The time is now!