Haggai 1
1:1 IN THE second year of Darius king [of Persia], in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by means of Haggai the prophet [in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity] to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,
2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say, The time is not yet come that the Lord's house should be rebuilt [although Cyrus had ordered it done eighteen years before]. [Ezra 1:1-6; 4:1-6,24; 5:1-3.]
3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house [of the Lord] lies in ruins?
We must understand this morning that is it God’s desire, that with the same effort we use to build our own houses and families, we put the same effort into building his house and his family.
It is not too much for God to ask! His house and family is just as important to him as our house and family is to us.
Haggai 1:5 Now therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you.
6 You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it.
7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.
8 Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it].
Consider how you have been fairing without the true commitment, dedication and execution of building the house of the Lord.
Our seedtime and harvest time has been hindered because we have not spent enough time building the house of the Lord.
Our food and drink has been hindered because we have not spent enough time building the house of the Lord.
Our wardrobe has been depleted because we have not spent enough time building the house of the Lord.
Our wages have not gone as far because we have not spent enough time building the house of the Lord.
As we consider how we have faired, let us bring the lumber, reprioritize, and make time to build the house of the Lord.
Oasis God will take pleasure in our rebuilding and will be glorified by it.
Haggai 2:3 Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that?
4 Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.
5 According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land; [Heb 12:26.]
Compare to what this church use to be it has not arrived. You do not see the Oasis as you saw the former church. In your sight it is as nothing in comparison to how this church use to be.
Even still my Oasis family be strong, alert, courageous and have faith, and lets do the work. For I am with you says the Lord of hosts.
God will do according to what he has promised in covenant with us. His Spirit stands and abides right here in the midst of us. Don’t be afraid of what you currently see.
For God is saying to us Oasis family that, once again, in just a short time he will shake the heavens the earth, the sea and the land.
7 And I will shake all nations and the desire and the precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts. [Isa 60:5; Matt 2:1-12.]
8 The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
I believe God will shake the people. Their desires and all that they hold dear will come into this church. I believe God will fill this church with splendor.
I believe that God has silver is mine and gold for the Oasis, I believe that the latter glory of this church shall be greater than the former and I believe that God will give this church peace and prosperity.
Believe with me once again. Have faith rebuild with me once again. Have faith that God will honor us and reward our efforts. There much to do, but together we can do it. We can grow a great church together.
Together we can build a place where every-one of all nations, with all hurts, pains and sins, can come in and receive unconditional love. We can do it.
On July 14 we start anew. Come and join me, and say Pastor we will help you build. We will give you that night a strategic quiz to help you identify and confirm your spiritual gifting and talents. From there we will get you placed in a position for you to help in our collective building. On that night I need everyone there so we can build and start together. Clear the calendars and commit to helping build the house of the Lord.
Together there’s nothing we can’t do. We must start somewhere and this is our start afresh and new. So no matter how long you’ve been here, make a fresh commitment. Learn what we are going to do, how we are going to do it, and what you can do to help.
Haggai 2:12 If one carries in the skirt of his garment flesh that is holy [because it has been offered in sacrifice to God], and with his skirt or the flaps of his garment he touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does what he touches become holy [dedicated to God's service exclusively]? And the priests answered, No! [Holiness is not infectious.]
13 Then said Haggai, If one who is [ceremonially] unclean because he has come in contact with a dead body should touch any of these articles of food, shall it be [ceremonially] unclean? And the priests answered, It shall be unclean. [Unholiness is infectious.]
14 Then answered Haggai, So is this people and so is this nation before Me, says the Lord; and so is every work of their hands, and what they offer there [on the altar] is unclean [because they who offer it are themselves unclean].
Let’s make sure that we clean ourselves this morning. John 1:9 says if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness. Let’s make ourselves exclusively God’s. Let say God we belong to you and nothing else. We are your vessels, for you to do what you want to do with us. We are holy and thus what we offer to you is also holy and acceptable. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Haggai 2:19 Is the harvested grain any longer in the barn? As to the grapevine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree — they have not yet borne. From this day on I will bless you.
From this day on I will bless you. What prophetic promise to the people of the Oasis today as it was to the exiles returning from Babylon!
Build my House! Have Faith in the Future of my House! Be Holy!
And from this day forward I will bless you!
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