Faithfulness Over Comfort: Rebuilding Our Spiritual Lives
Summary
God is faithful, and He calls us to faithfulness, not comfort. In our society, we often get frustrated because we expect life to be easy, much like the home improvement shows on HGTV that make complex projects look simple. This mindset can lead us to procrastinate on important tasks, both in our homes and in our spiritual lives. Today, we explore the book of Haggai, a short yet powerful book in the Old Testament that speaks to our need to prioritize God's presence in our lives.
Haggai was a prophet who spoke to the Israelites after they returned from exile in Babylon. They found Jerusalem in ruins and were tasked with rebuilding the temple, a symbol of God's presence. However, they became distracted by their own lives and neglected this mission. Haggai's message is a call to refocus on God's priorities. The Israelites' procrastination mirrors our own tendency to delay obedience to God, waiting for a "perfect" time that never comes. Delayed obedience is disobedience, and we must recognize that the best time to obey God is now.
The Israelites prioritized their comfort over God's presence, leading to dissatisfaction and emptiness. We often do the same, equating comfort with calling and neglecting our spiritual growth. We must examine our lives and ask if we are truly living according to God's word. As we approach Advent, a season of preparation, we are called to rebuild our spiritual lives, focusing on God's presence and mission.
God's call to rebuild is not just for the Israelites; it's for us today. We must prioritize God's presence, live biblically, and respond in faith and obedience. The time to act is now. As we enter this season, let us commit to living purposefully for God, rebuilding our prayer lives, our commitment to His word, and our relationships with one another.
Key Takeaways:
- Faithfulness Over Comfort: God calls us to faithfulness, not comfort. Our society often makes life look easy, leading us to frustration and procrastination. We must prioritize God's call over our comfort, recognizing that true satisfaction comes from obedience to Him. [37:04]
- Delayed Obedience is Disobedience: The Israelites delayed rebuilding the temple, waiting for a perfect time that never came. We often do the same, putting off God's call in our lives. The perfect time to obey God is now, and delayed obedience is disobedience. [51:17]
- Prioritizing God's Presence: The Israelites prioritized their comfort over God's presence, leading to dissatisfaction. We must examine our lives and ensure we are prioritizing God's presence, living according to His word, and not equating comfort with calling. [57:31]
- Rebuilding Our Spiritual Lives: As we approach Advent, we are called to rebuild our spiritual lives, focusing on God's presence and mission. This involves examining our priorities, repenting where needed, and committing to live purposefully for God. [01:06:05]
- The Time is Now: God's call to rebuild is not just for the Israelites; it's for us today. We must prioritize God's presence, live biblically, and respond in faith and obedience. The time to act is now, and we must not delay. [01:12:41]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [37:04] - Faithfulness Over Comfort
- [39:04] - The Procrastination Trap
- [41:09] - Introduction to Haggai
- [42:16] - Zerubbabel and the Coming King
- [43:11] - The Mission to Rebuild
- [44:14] - Israel's Distraction
- [45:05] - Prioritizing God's Presence
- [46:51] - God's Call to Action
- [51:17] - Delayed Obedience
- [52:00] - The Heisman of Disobedience
- [54:31] - Self-Denial and Surrender
- [55:44] - Examining Our Hearts
- [57:31] - Prioritizing Comfort Over God
- [01:06:05] - Rebuilding Our Spiritual Lives
- [01:12:41] - The Time is Now
- [01:18:15] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Haggai 1:1-11
- Matthew 6:33
- Luke 9:23
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the primary task God assigned to the Israelites upon their return from exile, and how did they respond to it? [43:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the Israelites' attitude towards rebuilding the temple, and what reasons did they give for their delay? [51:17]
3. According to the sermon, what are some consequences the Israelites faced for prioritizing their own comfort over God's presence? [57:31]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between comfort and calling in the life of a believer? [59:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the Israelites' procrastination in rebuilding the temple as a form of disobedience? What parallels are drawn to modern-day believers? [51:17]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that prioritizing comfort over God's presence leads to dissatisfaction and emptiness? How is this relevant to contemporary life? [57:31]
3. How does the sermon use the example of HGTV to illustrate societal expectations of ease and comfort? What spiritual lesson is drawn from this analogy? [37:04]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of immediate obedience to God's call, and how does it relate to the concept of delayed obedience being disobedience? [52:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you have been delaying obedience to God's call? What steps can you take to address this procrastination? [51:17]
2. Consider the concept of comfort versus calling. Are there comforts in your life that you have prioritized over your spiritual growth or God's mission? How can you realign your priorities? [59:45]
3. The sermon mentions the importance of rebuilding our spiritual lives as we approach Advent. What specific actions can you take to prepare your heart and life for this season? [01:06:05]
4. How can you ensure that your daily life reflects a prioritization of God's presence and mission? Identify one practical change you can make this week to live more purposefully for God. [01:05:17]
5. The sermon challenges us to examine our hearts and consider our ways. What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to rebuild or refocus? [01:06:59]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus outside of church activities? What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to seek God's presence? [01:00:32]
7. Reflect on the idea of living biblically and faithfully. What does this look like in your personal and communal life, and how can you encourage others in your small group to do the same? [01:11:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Faithfulness Over Comfort
God calls us to faithfulness, not comfort. In a world where convenience and ease are often prioritized, it is easy to become frustrated when life does not go as smoothly as we expect. This mindset can lead to procrastination in both our personal and spiritual lives. The Israelites, upon returning from exile, faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. However, they became distracted by their own lives and neglected this mission. This mirrors our own tendency to delay obedience to God, waiting for a "perfect" time that never comes. We must recognize that true satisfaction comes from obedience to God, not from seeking comfort. The best time to obey God is now. [37:04]
Haggai 1:4-5 (ESV): "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are choosing comfort over faithfulness to God? How can you take a step towards obedience today?
Day 2: Delayed Obedience is Disobedience
The Israelites delayed rebuilding the temple, waiting for a perfect time that never came. This delay was a form of disobedience, as they prioritized their own comfort and convenience over God's call. We often find ourselves in similar situations, putting off God's call in our lives because we are waiting for the right moment. However, the perfect time to obey God is now. Delayed obedience is disobedience, and we must act in faith and obedience without hesitation. [51:17]
James 4:17 (ESV): "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
Reflection: Is there something God has been prompting you to do that you have been putting off? What steps can you take today to act on His call?
Day 3: Prioritizing God's Presence
The Israelites prioritized their comfort over God's presence, leading to dissatisfaction and emptiness. We often do the same, equating comfort with calling and neglecting our spiritual growth. It is essential to examine our lives and ensure we are prioritizing God's presence, living according to His word, and not equating comfort with calling. By doing so, we can find true fulfillment and purpose in our lives. [57:31]
Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."
Reflection: How can you make God's presence a priority in your daily routine? What changes can you make to ensure you are living according to His word?
Day 4: Rebuilding Our Spiritual Lives
As we approach Advent, a season of preparation, we are called to rebuild our spiritual lives, focusing on God's presence and mission. This involves examining our priorities, repenting where needed, and committing to live purposefully for God. Just as the Israelites were called to rebuild the temple, we are called to rebuild our prayer lives, our commitment to His word, and our relationships with one another. The time to act is now, and we must not delay. [01:06:05]
Nehemiah 2:18 (ESV): "And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, 'Let us rise up and build.' So they strengthened their hands for the good work."
Reflection: What specific areas of your spiritual life need rebuilding? How can you begin this process today, especially as you prepare for the Advent season?
Day 5: The Time is Now
God's call to rebuild is not just for the Israelites; it's for us today. We must prioritize God's presence, live biblically, and respond in faith and obedience. The time to act is now, and we must not delay. By committing to live purposefully for God, we can experience the fullness of His presence and the joy that comes from walking in His ways. [01:12:41]
2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV): "For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Reflection: What is one step you can take today to respond to God's call in your life? How can you ensure that you are living purposefully for Him each day?
Quotes
Thanks so much, Tim, for leading us in worship. God is faithful and He calls His people to faithfulness. Do we understand that? That God is faithful and He calls His people to faithfulness. Not to comfort all the time, but to faithfulness. Sometimes the work is hard. But God is faithful and He's called us to faithfulness. [00:36:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
The word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai. Is it time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses while the house lies in ruins? Now the Lord of armies says this, think carefully about your ways. You've planted much, yet you've harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough to be satisfied. You drink, but never have enough to be satisfied. You never have enough to be happy. [00:46:34] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Delayed obedience is disobedience. And every time we put off what God is calling us to do, what we're really saying, church, listen to this. What we're really saying is this. My plans, my comfort, my priorities are more important than his. See, I think many of us in the church today, we have in our minds that disobedience is the biblical illustration of, of Jonah. [00:52:30] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
You can have the great job, the beautiful home, the full bank account, the family, the things, but without God at the center of it, there will always be a hole in our hearts. We will always be utterly and completely unsatisfied and empty. Even while we perceive we're getting things our way. Even while we think we're getting exactly what we want. [00:58:40] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
The last thing we see in this passage is God calling the people back to consider their ways. It's a calling. It's a call to rebuild. Listen to what I'm going to tell you. What the Bible is utterly clear on is that you can't run too far from God. That if we repent, he is faithful and just to forgive us. He says, seek me and you will find me if you search for me with all your heart. [01:06:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Advent's this time of preparation. It literally means waiting. It's the idea of pausing and sitting still. It sounds crazy because I know that what Christmas means in our culture is a whole lot of running around. But maybe, just maybe, we ought to do it differently. Maybe, just maybe, the thing that we need the most is to sit and hear from the Lord. [01:08:42] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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