Sunday, 16 January 2022 10:00 a.m.
We started a new series last Sunday from the book of Haggai entitled: “Bring Back the Glory.” It highlights the life of the nation of Judah 500 years B.C. God’s people had gone from being a world power and enjoying the grandeur, the fame, might, the Glory of being a superpower. But because of disobedience and idolatry she had gone into captivity for 70 years and now was returning to the Holy Land. But the glory had departed; could she once again attain the glory of yesteryear?
Last week we talked about the fact that the people had been home for 18 years but still had not engaged in rebuilding the temple…in fact they were saying in their hearts that it wasn’t time. God now is bringing them a message through the prophet that is a stinging rebuke, in order to cause them to examine their priorities.
Haggai 1:3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4“Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! 6“You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
The word of the Lord challenges the people to take a candid look at reality: they were living in comfort, ease and relative extravagance while the house of God was lying in ruins. God is asking the people to consider these things in an attitude of self-examination. Consider your planting...you have planted much, but have harvested little. Consider your provisions; you have food, drink and clothing but they don’t ever seem to be sufficient. And consider what you produce; it seems that your income is seeping through your hands like water through your fingers.
And all because they had not recognized the “time” they were in and given the appropriate priority to the Lord’s work. But if they would once again recognize the time, and give priority to their spiritual lives; they would once again experience the glory and the blessing of God.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “It’s Time for Self-Examination.”
(Social distancing and face covering requirements are in effect)
Pastor Kevin
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