Haggai: A Message of Hope

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Haggai A Message of Hope

• January 27

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Admit it

• What are some situations where you tend to
  procrastinate?
• Haggai confronts the people of Judah about their
  slowness to rebuild the temple.
• God wanted them to get their priorities straight
• Today we look also at how we might learn to do
  the same

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Listen for results of misplaced priorities.

• Haggai 12-9 (NIV) This is what the Lord Almighty
  says "These people say, 'The time has not yet
  come for the Lord's house to be built.' " 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.

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Listen for results of misplaced priorities.

• 6 You have planted much, but have 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,

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Listen for results of misplaced priorities.

• 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.

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A Question of Priorities

• The people of Judah whined that it isnt time
  yet to rebuild the temple. What other reasons
  do you think they might have had?
• What did Haggai suggest was the results for their
  lives?
• What are some ways when a person can be busy
  doing good things yet feels unfulfilled?

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A Question of Priorities

• How might an expensive and luxurious life-style a
  persons spirituality say like if you won the
  lottery?
• What excuses do people make for not doing the
  will of God?
• So what would be involved in putting God first in
  our thoughts, words, and deeds? How does it
  happen in a practical, day to day sense?

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Listen for mandates God gives His people and
their leaders.

• Haggai 24-5 (NIV) But now be strong, O
  Zerubbabel,' declares the Lord. 'Be strong, O
  Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be
  strong, all you people of the land,' declares the
  Lord, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the
  Lord Almighty. 5 'This is what

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Listen for mandates God gives His people and
their leaders.

• I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt.
  And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'
  9 'The glory of this present house will be
  greater than the glory of the former house,' says
  the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will
  grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty."

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A Word of Encouragement

• What encouragements and challenges did God give
  to the leaders?
• Why might leaders be discouraged?
• How might the encouragements we listed be helpful
  to leaders who suffered these kinds of problems?
  What encouragement do you find?

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A Word of Encouragement

• What are some ways in which God gives a word of
  encouragement to people today?
• How can you give a word of encouragement to those
  in leadership?

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Listen for assurances God offered.

• Haggai 218-19 (NIV) 'From this day on, from
  this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give
  careful thought to the day when the foundation of
  the Lord's temple was laid. Give careful thought
  19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn?
  Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the
  pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne
  fruit. " 'From this day on I will bless you.'
  "

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Listen for assurances God offered.

• 23 " 'On that day,' declares the Lord
  Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel
  son of Shealtiel,' declares the Lord, 'and I will
  make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen
  you,' declares the Lord Almighty."

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A Promise of Protection

• What contrast was made between Gods punishment
  up to that point and His future blessing?
• How does Gods discipline (not always punishment)
  change a persons life?
• What message was given to Zerubbabel, a
  government leader?

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A Promise of Protection

• A signet ring shows kingship and royalty. How
  would Zerubbabel be like Gods signet ring?
• What would this kind of message do for someone in
  spiritual leadership (from the pastor to a
  parent)?

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Application

• No excuses for our failure to honor the Lord are
  acceptable
• Admit that selfish priorities and pursuits prove
  to be futile
• Determine to put God first in your life
• Observe how it brings glory to God and is
  fulfilling to you

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Application

• In times of discouragement and disappointment we
  can expect the Lord to provide a word of
  encouragement
• Strength and motivation to serve the Lord come
  from realization of Gods presence and power at
  work in our lives
• Pray for those in leadership that they realize
  and appropriate Gods power.

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Application

• Know that God brings blessing to all who
  willingly change their priorities from themselves
  to Him
• That blessing may be here and now, it may be in
  eternity
• God will bless leaders who follow and serve Him

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Haggai A Message of Hope

• January 27