Rebuilding Priorities: Aligning with God's Kingdom
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the book of Haggai, exploring the profound message it holds for us today. Haggai was a prophet who ministered to the Jews after their return from Babylonian captivity. They were tasked with rebuilding God's temple, but faced significant external opposition and internal struggles. Despite their freedom, they became preoccupied with their own lives, neglecting the temple's reconstruction. This neglect was not due to a lack of resources but a lack of priority and vision. They were busy building their own comfortable homes while God's house lay in ruins.
We examined how this mirrors our own lives. Often, we get so caught up in our personal pursuits and comforts that we neglect our spiritual responsibilities. We are busy but lack direction, sowing much but reaping little because our efforts are not aligned with God's will. The Jews' struggles and excuses resonate with us today as we often find reasons to delay our service to God, thinking we need to get our own lives in order first.
The sermon emphasized the importance of having a vision and a plan in our spiritual walk. Without it, we are like those who earn wages only to put them in a bag with holes. We need to prioritize building God's kingdom, which includes our personal spiritual growth and our collective efforts as a church. The call to "consider your ways" is a call to self-examination and realignment with God's purposes.
We are reminded that we are the temple of God, and our actions should reflect that. Building God's temple today means living out our faith, serving others, and spreading the gospel. It requires discipline, obedience, and a willingness to put God's kingdom first. The sermon concluded with a powerful reminder that God is with us, stirring our spirits to rekindle our commitment to His work.
### Key Takeaways
1. Prioritize God's Kingdom: Just as the Jews neglected the temple to focus on their own homes, we often prioritize our personal comfort over spiritual responsibilities. We must realign our priorities to put God's kingdom first, understanding that true fulfillment comes from serving Him. [08:51]
2. Vision and Direction: Without a clear vision and direction, our efforts can be futile. Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that "where there is no vision, the people perish." We need to have a spiritual plan and purpose, ensuring our actions are aligned with God's will. [10:12]
3. Overcoming Obstacles: The Jews faced both external opposition and internal struggles. Similarly, we encounter obstacles in our spiritual journey. These should be seen as challenges to overcome, not roadblocks to turn us away from God's path. [13:37]
4. Self-Examination: The repeated call to "consider your ways" is a call to self-examination. We need to carefully think about our actions and priorities, ensuring they reflect our commitment to God. Neglecting this can lead to spiritual stagnation and unfulfilled lives. [19:16]
5. God's Presence and Encouragement: Despite the challenges and rebukes, God reassures us of His presence. He stirs our spirits, encouraging us to continue His work. This divine encouragement is crucial for rekindling our commitment and staying focused on our spiritual goals. [40:15]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:26] - Heart the City Update
[02:36] - Introduction to Haggai
[04:07] - Prayer and Opening Scripture
[05:15] - Historical Context of Haggai
[07:24] - The Jews' Struggles and Excuses
[08:51] - Chasing the Flesh
[10:12] - The Importance of Vision
[13:37] - Obstacles vs. Roadblocks
[19:16] - Consider Your Ways
[24:43] - Building Our Kingdom vs. God's Kingdom
[28:00] - The Heart of Obedience
[31:27] - The Importance of Tithing and Service
[34:53] - Faith Without Works is Dead
[40:15] - God's Encouragement and Presence
[41:19] - Rekindling the Spirit
[42:00] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Haggai 1:1-7
2. Proverbs 29:18
3. Matthew 6:33
#### Observation Questions
1. What were the Jews' main reasons for neglecting the rebuilding of God's temple according to Haggai 1:1-7?
2. How does Proverbs 29:18 relate to the importance of having a vision in our spiritual lives? [10:12]
3. What does Matthew 6:33 say about prioritizing God's kingdom, and how does this relate to the Jews' situation in Haggai? [16:25]
4. In the sermon, what were some of the excuses given by the Jews for not rebuilding the temple? [12:34]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the Jews prioritized their own homes over rebuilding the temple, despite having the resources? [22:58]
2. How can the concept of "earning wages to put them in a bag with holes" be applied to our modern lives? [04:07]
3. What does it mean to "consider your ways" in the context of Haggai and in our own spiritual journeys? [19:16]
4. How does God's reassurance of His presence in Haggai 1:13-14 encourage us to overcome our spiritual obstacles? [40:15]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you are focusing more on personal comfort than on your spiritual responsibilities? How can you realign your priorities to put God's kingdom first? [08:51]
2. Do you have a clear vision and direction for your spiritual life? If not, what steps can you take to develop one? How can Proverbs 29:18 guide you in this process? [10:12]
3. Think about a recent obstacle you faced in your spiritual journey. Did you view it as a roadblock or a challenge to overcome? How can you change your perspective on future obstacles? [13:37]
4. Take a moment to "consider your ways." Are there actions or habits in your life that do not reflect your commitment to God? What changes can you make to ensure your actions align with your faith? [19:16]
5. How can you actively remind yourself of God's presence and encouragement in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to rekindle your commitment to His work? [40:15]
6. Identify one specific way you can serve others or spread the gospel this week. How can you make this a regular part of your life to help build God's kingdom? [16:58]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What caused this stagnation, and how did you overcome it? How can you prevent it from happening again in the future? [34:53]
Devotional
### Day 1: Prioritize God's Kingdom
In the book of Haggai, the Jews returning from Babylonian captivity were tasked with rebuilding God's temple. However, they became preoccupied with their own lives, focusing on building their comfortable homes while neglecting the temple. This neglect was not due to a lack of resources but a lack of priority and vision. This mirrors our own lives today, where we often prioritize personal comfort over spiritual responsibilities. We must realign our priorities to put God's kingdom first, understanding that true fulfillment comes from serving Him. [08:51]
Haggai 1:4-6 (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. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have prioritized personal comfort over your spiritual responsibilities? How can you begin to realign your priorities to put God's kingdom first today?
### Day 2: Vision and Direction
Without a clear vision and direction, our efforts can be futile. Proverbs 29:18 reminds us that "where there is no vision, the people perish." The Jews in Haggai's time lacked a vision for rebuilding the temple, leading to their neglect. Similarly, we need to have a spiritual plan and purpose, ensuring our actions are aligned with God's will. Without this, we are like those who earn wages only to put them in a bag with holes. Having a vision helps us stay focused and purposeful in our spiritual walk. [10:12]
Proverbs 29:18 (ESV): "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law."
Reflection: What is your current spiritual vision or goal? How can you create a plan to ensure your daily actions are aligned with this vision?
### Day 3: Overcoming Obstacles
The Jews faced both external opposition and internal struggles while rebuilding the temple. Similarly, we encounter obstacles in our spiritual journey. These should be seen as challenges to overcome, not roadblocks to turn us away from God's path. The key is to persevere and trust in God's guidance, knowing that He is with us through every challenge. Overcoming obstacles strengthens our faith and commitment to God's work. [13:37]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: What is a current obstacle in your spiritual journey? How can you view this challenge as an opportunity to strengthen your faith and commitment to God?
### Day 4: Self-Examination
The repeated call to "consider your ways" in Haggai is a call to self-examination. We need to carefully think about our actions and priorities, ensuring they reflect our commitment to God. Neglecting this can lead to spiritual stagnation and unfulfilled lives. Self-examination helps us identify areas where we need to realign with God's purposes and make necessary changes to grow spiritually. [19:16]
Lamentations 3:40 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!"
Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on your recent actions and priorities. Are there areas where you need to realign with God's purposes? What steps can you take to make these changes?
### Day 5: God's Presence and Encouragement
Despite the challenges and rebukes, God reassures us of His presence. He stirs our spirits, encouraging us to continue His work. This divine encouragement is crucial for rekindling our commitment and staying focused on our spiritual goals. Knowing that God is with us gives us the strength and motivation to persevere in our spiritual journey. [40:15]
Haggai 1:13 (ESV): "Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message, 'I am with you, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: How does knowing that God is with you encourage you in your spiritual journey? What steps can you take today to rekindle your commitment to His work?
Quotes
1. "And for us to reach out and touch people, man, it was beautiful. It really warmed my heart. And I've heard nothing but good things about today at the prayer-a-thon. So I really want to thank you. And if you aren't signed up, is it too late to sign up? And if you are not signed up, I encourage you guys, I encourage you, go out there tomorrow and help them. It would be a huge blessing, not only for them, but for you, too. We could always use the help. I mean, there's always room to tell somebody about Jesus Christ, guys." [01:26] (34 seconds)
2. "That's where the Jews are. Everything they are doing just isn't getting them anywhere. They're going through it. They cannot get ahead. They can't find fulfillment in the things of the world. He says, ye have sown much and bring in little. Poor Darren. We're down at our farm and we are building food plot after food plot. Let me throw this in there. Failed food plot after failed food plot after failed food plot. We sow so much. We're sowing so much but we're not getting nothing in return. All we're getting is weeds back." [10:55] (41 seconds)
3. "We have no vision. And what does Proverbs 29, 18 say? Where there is no vision, the people perish. Where there is no vision, the people perish. The word of God says we need a vision. The word of God says we need a vision and an end goal and a destination." [10:12] (25 seconds)
4. "The pushback we receive from people is never a reason to deviate from God's plan. But it glorifies Him. It's always in His will. If it's in His will, He will surely make a way. He will always make a way for us. So for these people to not build His temple, to not be close with Him, to not want to get that done so they can further their walk and get closer to God, saying that it's not time, that's the God we serve." [14:41] (36 seconds)
5. "Why do we not want to get close to Him? Why do we not want to build the temple back? Why do we not want to glorify Him? Sometimes it's just a test to see how badly we really want it. Will you build my church when it's hard? Will you build my church when it's not cool? Will you build my temple when my temple doesn't benefit you? He says to build my temple. He says to build my church." [15:14] (27 seconds)
6. "You are the temple. Yes, you are the temple. Build my church. It's not these four walls. It's not this church He's speaking of. We are. You are the church. We are the church. When we go out there and change oil, that is the church. When you see somebody at the gas station telling them about Jesus Christ, that is the church. When Miss Jenny is helping people at the turnaround, that is the church. Everything that we do, we are the church." [16:58] (36 seconds)
7. "We have to give back. We have to find it important to give back to God because he has given us so much. No matter what, we will make the time. Was it convenient for Co-Construction to take off work yesterday and come serve and build a Gaga pit? No. That Gaga pit did not make Co-Construction money. But we glorified God with it. We glorified God with it. So we're fine there. That's worth more than anything we'll ever get back." [30:33] (33 seconds)
8. "Every way you are looking for happiness will always come back void until it's God. Until it's God all sufficient. Until it is the God who is enough. Clap it up, James. But what does it mean when he's saying consider your ways? Check yourself. Check your heart. Carefully think about what's important to you. As a Christian, the building of the church or his kingdom should hold a high importance in our lives." [31:27] (32 seconds)
9. "There are so many cases in our lives that we are the only church somebody is going to hear. Somebody is only going to see Jesus through you. There are so many people that are only going to see Jesus through you. As a believing Christian. If your heart isn't to do the will of God. Consider your life. Consider your way. So, y'all know what happened. Consider your ways. God's calling out. Are you living for him? Does your life paint a picture of the cross? Does your way of life scream I'm a child of God? Consider your ways." [33:22] (37 seconds)
10. "If you're saved. If your unsaved self looks like your unsaved self, you need to examine yourself. Your salvation comes solely from Jesus. But if a man is made new, you're going to be able to tell a difference. He's going to bear fruit. There should be change in your life. To touch on what the pastor spoke on Sunday. Faith without works is dead. That's James 2.20. We can say we have whatever we want. But are you living it?" [34:53] (40 seconds)
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