“It’s Time to Wake Up!” Sunday, 09 January 2022 10:00 a.m.
We are starting a new series this 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 enjoyed 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?
The exiled Jews had been home for 18 years already but still had yet to engage fully in rebuilding the temple; the center of their spiritual lives. So the prophet Haggai challenges them with God’s word:
Haggai 1:1… the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”
In returning home after 70 years, God’s people faced the enormous task of rebuilding; they had to re-establish their homes, their livelihood, their commerce…but in doing so they had neglected the most important thing: their spiritual lives! It seemed like there was time for everything else, but not enough time to rebuild the temple.
And in our present situation, there have been unsettling events, confusion, stress and change that has shaken us: but it begs the question: have we made time for God in the middle of this crisis? Do we understand the times that we live in? Am I taking care of my spiritual life in the middle of these times?
Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12The night is far spent, the day is at hand.
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 to Wake Up.”
(Social distancing and face covering requirements are in effect)
Kevin