Building up the House

Haggai 1:2-5 & 7

Some of you may have heard me speak on this before, but that's okay I don't mind repeating myself when the message is a good one such as this. There is a lot of back story going on here that we have to understand in order to get a understanding of this passage. First this passage takes place after the exile from Israel to Babylon. Through King Cyrus of Persia some of the Israelites were allowed to return to Jerusalem. Their first job was to rebuild the temple, so they got all the materials and laid the foundation. Everything was going great until their enemies started intimidating them, telling them not to rebuild the temple (even though they had permission from the King to do so.) So the Jews became a bunch of sissies and stopped the rebuilding of the temple.

Now that was a seriously short version of what all took place but for our purposes today we will pick up the story there. So the Jews are in their city the foundation for the temple is laid and they are scared to do anymore. Through the prophet Haggai the LORD speaks to the people; he says to them, "you have built up your houses and yet my house lies in ruins". It's almost as if the LORD is saying to the people "Don't you trust me?". He already provided them passage back to Israel and I forgot to mention that all the materials for rebuilding were bought on Cyrus's dime! They don't even have to pay for it, all they have to do is build it! And the LORD comes to them and says, "Give careful thought to your ways." Now that phrase appears more than once in this book, so you have to know it's important.

What I want to say to you today is, "Give careful thought to your ways!" How many of us think that God would say to us, "You are living in a paneled house (which was a Hebrew-ism for a really nice solid house) while My house lies in ruins." I am hoping and assuming that those who read this have come to a relationship with Jesus Christ, (and if you haven't and would like to know more e-mail me and we can talk about that.) If that is a correct assumption, all of you have the foundation laid out for your "God's house." The foundation has been laid but what does the rest of the house look like? Have you built upon that foundation? Have you begun to grow your relationship with God beyond laying the foundation?

We spend so much time working on our "houses" (what we want to do) that we leave little time to work on "God's house". Believe me; I'm speaking to myself along with everyone else. So the question is then, what in your life gets in the way? Could it be your schedule, friends, jobs, working out, hanging out? What in your life would you consider "working on your house and not on God's house." Here may be a better question, what sins are you holding onto that hold you back from deepening your relationship with God? What do you struggle with that you haven't died to, that still has you in bondage, which holds you back from building up your relationship with God?

These people Haggai were scared to rebuild because of threats that is what held them back from building God's house. What holds you back? In chapter 2 of this book God says to the people in verse 4 & 5 "Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD 'and work. For I am with you, and my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." God is with you always do not be afraid to take that next step and build upon your foundation. God desires to have a Father-child relationship with you. His love for you is so deep it drove him to the cross, and if you would ask Him, I know he would say you were worth dying for. My siblings, God loves you so much He sent Jesus into our broken, messed up, fallen world so you may have a relationship with Him, that you may live with Him always. From the minute you said "Jesus come into my life" through all eternity, He is with you and He loves you.

Let me give you some scripture for you to look up to find ways to build upon your foundation and continue to grow as one of God's beloved children. I pray that you may shine and be the light of the world so that others may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.

Philippians 4:8-9

Ephesians 4:26-5:2

Colossians 2:6-8/ 3:1-2/12-15

1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

May our LORD be with you