Reprioritizing Our Lives: Building God's Kingdom First
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we embark on a new series in the book of Haggai, focusing on chapter 1, verses 1-15. This series, titled "Consider Our Ways," is part of our broader initiative, "Fill This Space," aimed at filling our hearts, homes, and church with the love of Jesus. The central theme of today's message is the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God and the work He has called us to do.
We began by reflecting on the historical context of Haggai. The people of God had returned from exile and were permitted to rebuild the temple, but they faced opposition and eventually became complacent. God, through Haggai, challenges them to consider their ways and prioritize rebuilding the temple over their own comfort and homes. This call to reflection is crucial for us today as well. Are we prioritizing God's kingdom, or are we too comfortable in our "paneled houses"?
The message then delves into the concept of priority. Historically, the word "priority" was singular, emphasizing that there can only be one true priority in our lives. For the people of Haggai's time, and for us today, that priority should be God. We are called to reflect on our lives and consider if our spiritual temple lies in ruins due to neglect and misplaced priorities.
The next step after reflection is recommitment. We are encouraged to not just reflect but to take action. The people of Haggai's time recommitted to rebuilding the temple, and we are called to recommit to our spiritual growth and the work God has for us. This involves making tough decisions and possibly re-evaluating our current commitments to make space for God.
Finally, we are reassured by God's promise that He is with us. Just as He reassured the people of Haggai's time, He reassures us today. This reassurance is crucial because the task of prioritizing God and His work can be daunting. But with God's presence and guidance, we can move forward with confidence.
### Key Takeaways
1. Reflect on Your Priorities: God calls us to consider our ways and reflect on what we are prioritizing in our lives. Are we too comfortable in our "paneled houses" while neglecting our spiritual growth and the work God has called us to do? This reflection is crucial for realigning our lives with God's will. [09:09]
2. The Singular Nature of Priority: Historically, the word "priority" was singular, emphasizing that there can only be one true priority in our lives. For us, that priority should be God. We must evaluate if our spiritual temple lies in ruins due to neglect and misplaced priorities. [10:10]
3. Recommit to God's Work: After reflecting, the next step is to recommit to the work God has for us. This involves making tough decisions and possibly re-evaluating our current commitments to make space for God. The people of Haggai's time recommitted to rebuilding the temple, and we are called to do the same in our spiritual lives. [21:48]
4. The Importance of Community: The Christian life is a group effort. We need the local church, and the local church needs us. When the church body lies in ruins, individuals miss out on a key element of how God has designed us to relate to Him and to others. We grow into Christ when each part of the body is working properly. [23:44]
5. Reassurance of God's Presence: After reflecting and recommitting, we need to be reassured by God's promise that He is with us. This reassurance is crucial because the task of prioritizing God and His work can be daunting. With God's presence and guidance, we can move forward with confidence. [30:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:47] - Introduction to the Series
[02:38] - The Importance of Considering Our Ways
[03:23] - Opening Prayer
[04:16] - Reading Haggai 1:1-15
[06:28] - Historical Context of Haggai
[09:09] - Internal vs. External Opposition
[10:10] - The Singular Nature of Priority
[11:07] - Procrastination and Neglect
[13:03] - Building Our Spiritual Temple
[15:03] - The Danger of Complacency
[17:07] - Reflecting on Our Lives
[18:04] - The Right Time to Prioritize God
[21:48] - Recommitting to God's Work
[23:44] - The Importance of Community
[27:20] - Reassurance of God's Presence
[30:57] - God's Promise: I Am With You
[34:22] - Invitation to Reflect and Receive Communion
[36:18] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Haggai 1:1-15
- 1 Corinthians 3:16
- Matthew 28:18-20
### Observation Questions
1. What was the historical context of the book of Haggai, and why were the people of God called to rebuild the temple? [06:28]
2. According to Haggai 1:4, what question does God ask the people regarding their priorities? [04:16]
3. How did the people respond to Haggai's message, and what was God's reassurance to them? [05:47]
4. What does 1 Corinthians 3:16 say about believers and their relationship with God?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God emphasize the importance of considering our ways and priorities in Haggai 1:5-6? How does this apply to our lives today? [16:26]
2. In what ways can the concept of "paneled houses" in Haggai 1:4 be seen in our modern lives? What might be our equivalent of "paneled houses"? [09:09]
3. How does the reassurance of God's presence in Haggai 1:13 and Matthew 28:20 impact our willingness to recommit to His work? [30:57]
4. What does it mean to be God's temple according to 1 Corinthians 3:16, and how should this influence our daily actions and decisions?
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where you have been prioritizing comfort or personal gain over your relationship with God? How can you realign these priorities? [17:07]
2. The sermon mentioned the importance of community in the Christian life. How can you actively contribute to the growth and health of your local church community? [23:44]
3. Recommitment involves making tough decisions. Is there a specific commitment or activity in your life that you need to re-evaluate to make more space for God? What steps can you take this week to start this process? [21:48]
4. The sermon highlighted the danger of complacency. Have you experienced a time when you laid a foundation of faith but failed to build upon it? What practical steps can you take to continue building your spiritual temple? [13:03]
5. God's reassurance that He is with us is crucial for our confidence in His work. How can you remind yourself of God's presence and guidance in your daily life, especially when facing difficult tasks or decisions? [30:57]
6. The sermon encouraged reflection and action. What is one specific area in your life where you feel God is calling you to take action? How can you start this week? [16:26]
7. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in stirring up our spirits for God's work. How can you make yourself more available to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in your life? [25:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Reflect on Your Priorities
Reflecting on our priorities is essential for aligning our lives with God's will. In the book of Haggai, the people of God had returned from exile and were permitted to rebuild the temple. However, they faced opposition and eventually became complacent, prioritizing their own comfort over God's work. This historical context serves as a powerful reminder for us today. Are we too comfortable in our "paneled houses" while neglecting our spiritual growth and the work God has called us to do? This reflection is crucial for realigning our lives with God's will. [09:09]
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 are the "paneled houses" in your life that are taking priority over your relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus back to Him today?
Day 2: The Singular Nature of Priority
The concept of priority is historically singular, emphasizing that there can only be one true priority in our lives. For the people of Haggai's time, and for us today, that priority should be God. We must evaluate if our spiritual temple lies in ruins due to neglect and misplaced priorities. This involves a deep, honest look at our lives to see if we are truly putting God first or if other things have taken precedence. [10:10]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you have allowed other priorities to overshadow your relationship with God? What steps can you take to make God your singular priority?
Day 3: Recommit to God's Work
After reflecting on our priorities, the next step is to recommit to the work God has for us. This involves making tough decisions and possibly re-evaluating our current commitments to make space for God. The people of Haggai's time recommitted to rebuilding the temple, and we are called to do the same in our spiritual lives. This recommitment may require us to let go of certain activities or habits that are hindering our spiritual growth. [21:48]
Haggai 1:14 (ESV): "And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God."
Reflection: What is one specific commitment or habit you need to re-evaluate to make more space for God in your life? How can you take a concrete step towards recommitting to His work today?
Day 4: The Importance of Community
The Christian life is a group effort. We need the local church, and the local church needs us. When the church body lies in ruins, individuals miss out on a key element of how God has designed us to relate to Him and to others. We grow into Christ when each part of the body is working properly. This communal aspect of our faith is crucial for our spiritual growth and for fulfilling God's mission. [23:44]
Ephesians 4:16 (ESV): "From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the health and growth of your local church community? What specific role or service can you commit to this week to support the body of Christ?
Day 5: Reassurance of God's Presence
After reflecting and recommitting, we need to be reassured by God's promise that He is with us. This reassurance is crucial because the task of prioritizing God and His work can be daunting. With God's presence and guidance, we can move forward with confidence. Just as He reassured the people of Haggai's time, He reassures us today that He is with us in our efforts to prioritize Him and His work. [30:57]
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: In what ways do you need to be reassured of God's presence in your life today? How can you remind yourself of His promise and move forward with confidence in His guidance?
Quotes
1. "There is immense value in considering our ways from the little, maybe even feeling like insignificant decisions we make throughout the day, to the largest decisions we can make. Decisions like, who is God to me? And how do I relate to him? And what is he calling me to do?" [02:38] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is making clear through Haggai that the lack of progress on the temple, which is being described as in ruins, is due to the disordered nature of priority in their lives. This is no longer an issue of external opposition, but what's happening internally in their hearts and in their lives. And so Haggai calls on them to consider this. And that's what we're going to talk about today, is considering our priority." [09:09] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We can place multiple things on our list for importance for that day. We can have multiple things in our lives that we consider to be our priority. But ultimately, something is going to take first place. Something is going to be of utmost priority to us." [10:10] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Does our temple lie in ruins? We need to be wary of laying a foundation for our faith, as they did, and then leaving it in ruins as we return to our regular schedules. You may have seen this before or even experienced this yourself. Praying a prayer, having an emotional moment, even a genuine encounter with the living God. You lay a foundation of repentance, you lay a foundation of making a decision, making a commitment, belief in Jesus, faith in Jesus, turning from sin, turning to Him, all laid down in one's heart, foundation, right? But then what?" [12:57] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Let me assure you. That it is always the right time to prioritize your relationship with God. Now that doesn't mean it won't look different for different people in different seasons of life, right? Depending on your work situation, how many young kids are at home. It's going to look different for everybody in different stages of their lives. But to reflect on this is just to say, okay God, where do you have me right now? And who are you calling me to love? Where are you calling me to serve you?" [18:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "The Christian life is unequivocally a group effort. We are relational beings, no matter how introverted we may be or how individualistic we may feel in moments or how isolated we may feel in some of how life has treated us, whatever it might be, we are relational beings. You need the local church and the local church needs you. Not because our specific non-denominational church plan is the perfect expression of worship and doctrine and theology, but because God has gifted us with the local church to be a conduit of his grace, his reconciliation, his power." [22:40] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "The recommitment to building the temple is not the result of sheer force and willpower and white knuckling and pep talks though that stuff can help in a pinch. It's the transformative power of the Holy Spirit through us when we fill the spaces in our lives with the love of Christ and make ourselves this temple available to him. Don't be mistaken God will build his church he who calls us as faithful he will surely do it he will accomplish his purpose for us so God himself renews their desire to put him first and they act on it." [27:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The God who promised to be with the people of Haggai as they worked, as they built, as they reflected, as they recommitted is the same God who comes to us now and is with us now as we reflect, as we recommit. We can be reassured that we're going to run out of steam. Sometimes we get fired up here and there, but we're going to run out of steam. That's the good thing about the church body is when you do, hopefully someone can come alongside you and say, hey, let's keep moving. I'm with you. Let's go." [32:32] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God isn't saying, hey, this is going to be tough. but you got it, you know? It'd be maybe a good pep talk for a day or two, but then you stumble, and it's like, okay, well, what do I do now, right? No, God says, I am with you, and he stirs up our spirits, not to rely on willpower or sheer force or grit, but by his power, his spirit, his grace that lives within us when we make ourselves available to him." [33:40] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Is there something that's been in the way, or is it just a million little somethings that have slowly taken us off course? And so I think one of the best ways that God has kind of instituted for us to reflect is through communion, through receiving communion together. And so we're going to do that in just a minute, but as we do, as we reflect, I just want to invite you to just consider, and maybe something doesn't pop up right away, maybe it's not super obvious, and that's okay, but if there is something in life that has been consuming, that has been distracting, that has been discouraging, if there's something you've been putting off, a hard conversation, forgiving somebody who's hurt you, offering forgiveness to somebody that maybe you've hurt, laying down a sin, confessing a sin, coming forward to someone that you trust and just being honest and just being real, and just recommitting and getting back on track." [34:22] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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