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Jesus in Haggai:
Conquering Distraction & Discouragement
Jesus is revealed in Haggai as God’s people are empowered to conquer distraction and discouragement.
Haggai is coming near to the end of the Old Testament. God’s people were established in the earth. Solomon built a glorious temple and in 586 BC Babylonian forces destroyed is. Seventy years later King Cyrus permited the Jews to build the second temple. Nehemiah then rebuilds the walls though he was met with great resistance. God’s people in Haggai had grown discouraged and had become weary with opposition to their call to build.
Challenges are inevitable. Courage is optional.
We can find the courage to carry on! As we look to our undefeated and unconquerable King we must remind ourselves there is no force coming against us that compares to the power at work within us.
We must fight the temptation to allow discouragement to hijack our faith and confine us to a meaningless existence. Frustration, disappointment, what’s the use.
Haggai 1:5-8 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. NIV
If you spend your time and energy pursuing comfort and security from this world without spending yourself for the glory of God you will find yourself perpetually frustrated.
Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God. NIV
God stirred up their spirits to build his work in the earth that would outlast their lives and express His legacy!
It is a wonderful thing to discover the joy generosity in helping others.
However, we must never lose sight of God’s plans to help people that existed before you came into being and will remain long after you are gone!
Learning to be generous is not the ultimate goal. Learning to prioritize generosity toward the eternal priorities of God is the goal!!!
They didn’t decide to do something and then God responded. God was doing something and they responded! Are you willing to respond to God’s desires?
He didn’t love us back he loved us first and our response determines his reach. We are a people who are marked by a hunger for God!
Let’s stir ourselves to believe for greater days to come than any of us have ever experienced or imagined!!!
Haggai 2:9 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.” NIV Shalom
GP4RL: Practice responding to God’s promptings in prayer this week by calling or texting people on your heart as you pray.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Ice Breaker: When you call on your best friend for help, what do you need most: A listening ear? Advice? A plan for action? Companionship? Compassion? Other?
Discouragement and distraction are common enemies to our faith and our future. Haggai shows us some important keys to conquering these enemies.
It starts by addressing the futility of a meaningless and distracted life:
Haggai 1:5-8 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. NIV
Discussion Questions:
• Share a way you have sacrificially devoted yourself to something you knew God was asking
from you.
• What would you say a sacrificial lifestyle looks like?
If you spend your time and energy pursuing comfort and security from this world without spending yourself for the glory of God you will find yourself perpetually frustrated.
Discussion Question:
• What about anything in your life, family, church or business do you sense God wants you to
change?
Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of…the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God. NIV
God stirred their hearts to build his work in the earth that would outlast their lives and express His legacy to all generations! God’s plan isn’t that we merely learn the idea of generosity to others. God’s plan is that we learn his plan of generosity, which helps others beyond our lives by establishing a strong church that will remain long after we are gone.
Discussion Questions:
• How do you embrace God’s priorities in the way you life your life and give?
• What can you do over the next month to place a greater priority on living more sacrificially?
Let’s join together to believe for greater days to come than any of us have ever experienced or imagined!!!
Haggai 2:9 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 (Shalom),’ declares the LORD Almighty.” NIV
GP4RL: Practice responding to God’s promptings in prayer this week by calling or texting people on your heart as you pray.