If God is with you, he is working. And no matter in how small a way, it cannot be inferior because God is there.
Sermon Title: MAKING IT COUNT
Sermon Text: HAGGAI 1:1-15 NIV
Sermon Series: HAGGAI: THE TIME IS NOW
By: PTR NIC SY
Sermon Notes:
HAGGAI 2:1-9 NIV
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
2 “Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
4 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 I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
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.”
“I did my best, but I guess my best wasn’t good enough”
Lyrics from Just Once (James Ingram)
What do you do when you bring your best game and your best doesn’t seem to be good enough?
HAGGAI 2:3 NIV
3 ‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
When we remember the past as better than it was, the present will always seem worse than it is.
GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE PRESENT
HAGGAI 2:4 NIV
4 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.
ZECHARIAH 4:10a NLT
10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”
If God is with you, he is working. And no matter in how small a way, it cannot be inferior because God is there.
“When I left England, my hope of India’s conversion was very strong; but amongst so many obstacles, it would die, unless upheld by God. Well, I have God, and His Word is true.”
William Carey
Reflect:
How do you look at the work that God has entrusted to you?
GOD’S PROVISION IN THE PAST
HAGGAI 2:5 NIV
5 ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
HAGGAI 2:1 NIV
1 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
The secret to moving past our present fear is to remember God’s faithfulness in the past.
Four categories to reflect on:
Disappointment
Tragedy
Direction
A near miss
GOD’S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
HAGGAI 2:6-9 NIV
6 This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
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.”
God is not obligated to reward today’s faithfulness today.
It’s a fact that sometimes the things we’re investing in and pouring our lives into will not be rewarded in our own lifetime.
MATTHEW 6:20 NIV
20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
1 TIMOTHY 6:18-19 NIV
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
Reflect:
What are you investing for God’s kingdom today?
Don’t let the glitter of today take away the brightness of eternity in what you do.
God is with me today.
God has been with me.
There is something about today that will bear fruit tomorrow in ways that I cannot see or imagine.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-9 NIV
8 We are hard pressed on every side,
but not crushed;
perplexed,
but not in despair;
9 persecuted,
but not abandoned;
struck down,
but not destroyed.