Pastor's Message
Sermon
1. The Curse of the Past
Haggai 2:11-13 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?'” The priests answered, “No.” Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?” “Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”
Haggai 2:1414 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the LORD. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
2. The Repentance of the Present
Haggai 2:15-17 Now give careful thought to this from this day on–consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD’s temple. When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,’ declares the LORD.
Zechariah 1:1-3 “In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: ‘The Lord was very angry with your forefathers. Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Return to me,” declares the Lord Almighty, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.'”
Haggai 2:15 Now give careful thought to this from this day on–consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD’s temple.
3. The Blessings of the Future
Haggai 2:18-19 ‘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: 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.'”
Questions for Application
1. Read Haggai 2:10-19. How did the people during Haggai’s time disobey God? What was the result of their disobedience?
2. The people showed true repentance by doing the will of God of rebuilding the temple. What is true repentance? What are marks of a person who shows true repentance?
3. God’s promise to bless the people is conditional. They need to repent and forsake their sins. What lessons can we learn from them? How can we receive His blessings upon our life? Discuss.
- Sermon Date: October 15, 2023
- Date Posted: October 18, 2023
- God's Words: Download