Resource:RayPrichard,KeepBelievingMinistries,May1977

SONGS: CLOSE:

DOESYOURBAGHAVEHOLES?
HaggaiSeries1of4 TEXT: Haggai 1 AIM: INTRODUCTION: TodaywebeginanewsermonseriesonaforgottenbookoftheBible.Infactthisparticular bookissoforgottenthatyoumayhavetroublefindingit.Haggaiisfoundattheendofthe OldTestamentrightafterZephaniahandjustbeforeZechariahbutthatusuallydoesnthelp muchdoesit?Afterall,ifyoudontknowwheretofindHaggaiyouprobablywontbeable tofindZephaniaheither. A. Lets begin with an observation. HaggaiisthethirdfromthelastbookintheOldTestament.Itsplacedthereonpurpose becausethetimeperioditcoverscomesneartheendofOldTestamenthistory.Infactthisis oneoftheeasiestbooksoftheBibletodate.WeknowfromChap.1vs.1thatHaggai prophesied,inthesecondyearofDariuskingofPersia.Wealsoknowthathisfirstprophecy cameinthesixthmonth,inthefirstdayofthemonthofDariusreign.Scholarstellusthat worksoutroughlytobetheendofAugust&beginningofSeptember520B.C.orbasically 2500yearsago.520B.C.isveryneartheendofOldTestamenthistorytheonlybooksthat comelaterareNehemiah(ca.445425B.C.)andMalachi(ca.450400B.C.).Asasidenote, HaggaiandZechariahwerecontemporarieswhoprophesiedaboutthesametime. I. SOLOMONS TEMPLE

Nowinordertounderstandthemessageofthisbook,weneedtogetagraspofseveral importantpointsofbiblicalhistory. A. First of all, when Solomon was king of Israel (970-930 B.C.) he built a magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. 1. 2. Itwasconstructedofsuchexpensivematerialthatpeoplecamefrom throughouttheancientworldtogazeuponit. TheJewsrightlyregardeditasthegreatestnationaltreasure. a. TheyreveredtheTemplebecauseitwastheplacewhereGoddwelledwith man.

b. AssuchitrepresentedtheheartandsouloftheOldTestamentreligion. B. In the centuries after Solomon the people repeated turned away from God in favour of idolatry. 1. 2. AsaresultGodusedtheBabylonianstojudgehispeopleandtopurifythem fromtheirsin. Thatbringsustoaverykeydate:586B.C.ThatwaswhentheBabylonian army,underKingNebuchadnezzardefeatedJudah,destroyedthewallsof Jerusalem,laidwastetothecity,andutterlydestroyedSolomonsTemple.

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a.

NothingwasleftwhentheBabylonianswerefinished.

b. ItwaslikeBerlinafterthealliedforceswerethroughinWorldWarII,orlike theJapanesecities,whichhadtheatomicbombdroppedonthem.Theentire citywasasmokingruinofrubble. c. MeanwhiletheJewsthemselvesweretakenintocaptivityinBabylon.There theyhungtheirharpsinwillowtrees(Ps.137:2)andweptforthecityof Jerusalem.

C. Fifty long years passed and then God raised up Cyrus of Persia who permitted the Jews to return under the leadership of a man named Zerubbabel. 1. In538B.C.heledabout50,000peoplebacktoJudah. a. 2. Theretheyfoundshockingdevastation. b. Nothinghadchangedsincethedefeatsome50yearsearlier. ImmediatelythereturneessetabouttorebuildtheTempleinabout536B.C. a. Theyrelaidthefoundationamidagreatcelebration(seeEzra3fordetails). 1) Afterall,theSamaritanshadnoreasontowanttheTemplerebuiltorfor theJewstoreturntoprosperity. 2) Becauseoftheirconstantopposition,theJewsstoppedtherebuildingthe processandnevergotstartedagain. 3) Afteralltherewasplentyofotherworktodoastheyweretryingto restartanationfromscratch. c. AstheyearspassedslowlybutsurelyJerusalemcametolifeagain.Homes werebuilt,storesopened,commerceestablished,fieldsplanted,crops harvested,andlifebegantoresemblesomethingofanormalpattern. b. ThensuddenlytheSamaritans(whohatedtheJews)begantoopposethem.

D. There was only one problem. The Temple foundation still lay in ruins overgrown with weeds. 1. 2. EverytimetheJewspassedit,itstoodasamutereminderoftheirfailureto takecareofGodshouse. TakingintheaccountsofEzra3:24:5thereconstructionoftheTemplestarted about16yrs.earlierandrebuildinghasceasedforabout10yrs. a. Nowwecometotheautumnof520B.C.andentersHaggai,aboutwhomwe knownothingexceptwhatisinthisbookandafewversesinEzra.

b. GodraisesHaggaiuptodeliverfourbriefmessagesin4mo.from Aug./Sept.toDec.,520B.C. 1) WhenIsaybrief,Imeanreallybrief.NexttoObadiah,Haggaiisthe shortestbookintheOTcontainingtwochap.comprisedof38verses 2) ItistheONLYbookoftheEnglishBibletocontain2chapters. Youcaneasilyreaditinlessthan10minutes. 3) Themessageofthislittlebookisclear: ItstimetofinishrebuildingtheTemple!

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Haggaiswordsareblunt,plainspoken,direct,andvivid.Hepullsnopunchesandwastes nowords.HaggaiseemedtobetheforemaninchargeofrebuildingtheTemple.Canyousee himwithahardhatandatoolbeltwalkingaroundtheconstructionsitegivingordersleft andright.Hehasonlyonegoalinmind:GetthatTemplerebuiltanddoitnow! II. GOD SPEAKS TO MISPLACED PRIORITIES Withthatasbackgroundletstakeaquicklookathisfirstmessage,whichtakesupallfifteen versesofchapter1. A. A Bad Excuse Vs. 2 << READ 1. Thisiseasytounderstand,isntit?Theyweresimplymakingexcuses. ThisisnothingbutPROCRASTINATION! a. TheytrulyintendedtobuildGodshouse,buttheyjusthadntgottenaround toityet.

b. Theywerefrozenbyfear,stifledbyselfishness,andparalyzedby presumption. c. TheywereafraidoftheSamaritanssotheyselfishlybuilttheirownhomes, andthenpresumptuouslyclaimedtoknowbetterthanGodwhentheTemple shouldberebuilt. Godwantsustotakecareofourownfamilies,doesnthe?Afterall1Tim5:8 says,ifanyprovidenotforhisown,andspeciallyforthoseofhisownhouse,he hathdeniedthefaith,andisworsethananinfidel. Thejobistoobig.Wellneverfinishit. Notourfaultsoitsnotourjob. Yaknow,Godwillprovidesomeonetodoitifwedont Weneedtoprayaboutitsomemore. IdontthinkweneedaTempleanyway.Wevegottenalongwithoutonethis long.Thinkofallthemoneywevesaved. Thetimejustisntright. Ourmotivesaregood,butwerejusttoobusy!!!

2.

Letsthinkofsomeexcusestheymighthaveofferedfortheirdelay:

TheseIsraeliteswerelookingfor:A)abettertimeandB)aneasiertime. Buttheresultwasthesameineverycase:delay,delay,delay. ItsalwayseasytomakeexcuseswhenyoudontwanttoobeyGod. SomeonereadingthisstorymightwonderwhytheTemplewassoimportant.Justremember thatintheOldTestamenttheTemplerepresentedGodspresenceonearth.ThusGods reputationwasatstakeintherebuilding.Thepaganswoulddrawwrongconclusionsifthe Templewereneverrebuilt.TheywouldassumethattheJewsdidntcareabouttheirGod. Howcouldtheycare,iftheyleftHisTempleinruins?AtthesametimetheJewswerealso

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teachingtheirchildrenthatGoddoesntmatter. ThusrebuildingtheTemplewasamajorissuetoGodandshouldhavebeentothepeople. B. A Penetrating Question Vs. 3-4 1. 2. TheHeb.wordforceiledspecificallyreferstoaroof,astopanelwithwood theceilingofroom,ortoputpanellingonthewalls. Pleaseunderstand.Theresnothingwrongwithhavinganicehome. a. Thisisntanattackonrichesorbighouses.Butthepointbeingmadeisthat itswrongtoownanicehomewhileGodshouseliesinruins.

b. Itsamatterofmisplacedpriorities!Thiswasespeciallynotablesincemost peoplelivedintinystonehouses,butevidentlytheJewswerebuildinglarge panelledhomeswhichjustmadethesituationworse. c. Universally,materialismhasthiseffect.Itseemsthebetteroffpeoplebecome financiallythelesstheycareaboutspiritualthings.

d. ItisarealtragedywhenGodspeoplearemoreconcernedaboutcomfort likedceiledhousesthanGodskingdom(houseofGod)moreconcerned abouttheirownsacrificethanCHRISTSsacrifice. C. A Pointed Judgment 1. Vs.5theLordofHostssays,Consideryourways!>>READVs.6,911 a. ThephraseConsideryourwayssaysintheHeb.Thinkaboutwhatyour heartissetupon.

b. Thisphraseisissued5timesthroughoutthecourseofthisprophecy(Vs.5,7, 2:15,18). c. 2. 3. ItisapleaonthepartofGodforthepeopletotakenoteofwhattheyare doing,andamendtheirwaysaccordingly.

Herewecometoasoberingreminderthatwhathappensinyourhearteffects everyotherpartofyourlife. BecausethepeoplehadpushedGodoutofthecentreoflife,theywerenow sufferingineveryotherarea.Theyhad a. c. Fieldswithoutproduce Labourwithoutprofit b. Actionwithoutsatisfaction d. Fruitlesstoilfleetingrichesunsatisfiedhungerfutiledefences

4. ThisistheLawoftheUnproductiveHarvest. IthappenstousoverandoveruntilwelearnthatGodwillnotbemocked. WhywouldGoddothis? Heallowsustosuffertheresultsofourwrongchoicesinordertogetourattention,toconvict ofsin,andtoleadustorepentance.Godknowshowtoringyourbell.Heknowsyouemail address,Heknowswhereyouliveandheknowshowtoreachyourprivatetelephoneline

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anytimeHewants. D. A Call to Action Vs. 7-8 1. HereisapromiseofGodssatisfactionandglorification. a. GodwasnotinterestedintheTemplesbeautyandappealtotheeye. b. HewasgoingtobechuffedexcitedanddelightedthatHischildrenwould dotheirbesttopleaseHim,whichwouldultimatelyglorifyHim. 2. Inalloflifethereisatimetotalkandatimetoact,atimetoconsider,anda timetostoptalkingandstartingdoing. a. Thiswasatimetoact.BecausetheyhadnothonouredGod,everyareaoflife wassuffering.

b. TheonlyremedywastostopmakingexcusesandstartdoingwhatGodhad toldthemtodo16yearsearlier. c. HereiswhereweseethatmonetaryofferingswereNOTenoughGod desirestheofferingoftheperson,thewillingnessofmindthatleadstothe effortsofthebody.

E. A United Response Vs. 12 1. 2. ThepeopledidfearbeforetheLord,meaningtheyALLrepented. Allgreatmovementsmuststartwiththeleaders. a. FirstZerubbabel(governor)andJoshua(priest)committedtoobeyingGod andthenallthepeoplefollowedtheirlead.

b. Everythingrisesandfallsonleadership.Thatprincipleisstilltruetoday. F. A Positive Promise Vs. 13 1. Heiswithyouinwhat?Refertovs.8.Godhonoursthosewhodohiswork. a. HeresanimportantinsightthatmanyChristiansneverdiscover:Godison thehardroad. 1) Thehardroadlooksdifficultanddaunting. 2) Allofuswouldratherbeontheeasyroad. 3) BUTGodiscallingyoutostopmakingexcusesandgetintheballgame. 2. Doyouwanttoknowtheironicthingbetweentheeasyroadandthehard road? a. Theeasyroadlookseasybutonceyougetonit,itturnsintothehardroad. Andthehardroadlookshardbutonceyoudothehardthinginlife,itturns outtobetheeasything. o o Itisthewayofdestruction,poverty,starvationanddesperation. Itisthewaytowasteddays,wastedweeks,wastedmonths,andwasted years.

b. Hesnotsittingwiththecouchpotatoes.

b. Theeasyroadisdeceptive.

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c.

Thehardroad,whichappearstobesodifficult,isultimatelytheroadof blessing,fulfillment,andlastingspiritualgrowth. 1) Itistheroadthatleadsyoutothetop.Theeasyroadtakesyoudownto thebottom. 2) Theonlyroadthatgoestothetopisthehardroad.Itistough,butitis theonlyonethatgoeswhereyouwanttogowithyourlife.

3.

Godhonoursthosewhostopmakingexcuses. Hepromisestobewiththosewhodaretotakehimseriously. Seldomhasanysermonhadsuchanimmediatepracticalimpactuponpeople thoughHaggaiwouldbefirsttoadmititwastheLordsdoing! a. ItwastheLordwhostrirredupthespiritofZerubbabel,itwastheLordwho stirredupthespiritofJoshua;itwastheLordwhostirredupalltheremnant ofthepeople.

G. A Good Beginning Vs. 14-15 1.

b. Haggaipreachedonemessageand24dayslaterthepeoplebegantorebuild theTemple.Wouldthatanyofmysermonshadthesamekindofunited, enthusiasticresponse!AMEN! 2. NOTEpleasethatithappenedbecausetheLordstirredupthespiritofthe people. a. ThisisanimportantnotebecauseitremindsusthatGodsworkultimately dependsonGod.

b. Hemustgivetheorders,Hemustgivetheenergy,Hemustgivethedesire, andthenHemuststirupthespiritsofhispeoplebeforeanythinggoodwill bedone. c. ThismightremindsomeoftheLatinphrasesolideogloria,whichmeansTo Godalonebetheglory.

d. IntheendGodhasarrangedthemoraluniversesothatHealonegetsthe gloryforanygoodthatisaccomplished. e. f. EverythingdependsonHim,YETheholdsusfullyaccountabletodohis will,YETwithoutHisenablementHiswillwillneverbedone. Thisisnotonlyamystery;itisalsoagreatencouragementbecauseinthe finalanalysisEVERYTHINGdependsonGod.

III. ABIDING LESSONS FOR DISCOURAGED CARPENTERS A. Lets focus on three primary lessons from this ancient story. 1. First,thereisalessonaboutPuttingFirstThingsFirst a. JesussaidinMk.8:36,Whatshallitprofitaman,ifhegainthewholeworld,and yetlosehisownsoul?ThepeopleofHaggaisdayweresobusytryingtogain thewholeworldthattheywereineffectlosingtheirownsouls.

b. TheymadeeveryexcuseinthebookfornotdoingGodswork.Andnotall theexcuseswerewrong,buttheywereallsinfulbecausetheycausedthe

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peopletopushGodfromthecentreoflifetothecircumferenceoflife. c. Wemakepreciselythesamemistaketoday.

ManypeoplewhotrulyintendtogivegenerouslytotheLordswork. WitheachpaychecktheysincerelyintendtogivesomethingtoGod.Butfirsttheypaythe mortgageortherent,thentheypaytheelectricbills,thentheotherutilities,thenthefood bill,thenthecreditcardbills,thentheysetsomeasideforsavingsandsomeforrecreation. Prettysoonthatpaycheckjustdisappears.Andsodoesthemoneytheyintendedtogiveto God. WelosesightoftheprincipleormaybeweveneverlearnedandputintopracticeMt.6:33 seekyefirstthekingdomofGod,andhisrighteousness;andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou. YoucantgiveGod99%ofyourlife.Whenyoucometothataltaroflifeandkneebeforethe KingofgloryandgiveyourselftoHim,Heexpectsyoutobringyourwalletwithyou.God wontbesatisfiedwith99%ofyou,HewantsitallandwontbesatisfieduntilHehasitall. Itssadthatsometimesittakeslosingeverythingtorealizethateverythingwehavebelongs toGod.NONEofitbelongstous!Werejustintemporarypossessionofthethingswecall ourown.HappyisthemanwhounderstandsthateverythingbelongstoourHeavenly Father.Ortosayitanotherway,Happyisthemanwhoholdslightlywhathevalues greatly. B. Second, this story teaches us something aboutGetting Started Again 1. Ifindtremendousencouragementinthisstory. a. Afterall,itshardtogetstartedafter16years. b. ImsuretheJewsnevermeanttolettheTemplelieinruinsthatlong.But afterafewmonthstheweedsbegantoovergrowthesiteandatthatpoint,it waseasierjusttoletitgo. c. MaybetheJewsfeltguilty,andImsurethatovertheyearstheyestablished severalTempleCompletionTaskForcestostudytheproblemandmake recommendations.Butdespitetheirgoodornotsogoodintentions,nothing everhappened.

2. Iknowthatsomeofusfeelstucktoday. Youneedtogetstartedagain,youneedanewdirectioninyourspirituallife,youwantto beginagain,butyoudontknowhowandyoudontknowwhereandyoudontknowwhat todo. 3. Oftenitsourguiltoverthepastthatholdsusback.Sometimesitsour frustrationwiththewaylifehasbeenthatkeepsusstrikingoutinanew direction.

Alady,newtothechurch,sharedwithherpastoraboutherdivorceseveralyearsago. Itseemsthataftermanyyearsofmarriageherhusbandleftherforanotherwoman.Shewent throughallthestagesofgriefandanger,shesaid,butthenaddeditwasgoodforme becauseIlearnedsomuchaboutmyselfandaboutGod.Thensheaddedaninteresting

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note.IguessIveforgivenmyexamilliontimes.AndIhavetodoiteverysingleday.To whichthepastoradded,Andyoullprobablyhavetoforgivehimamillionmoretimes beforeitsover. Letmeillustratethistruthfromtwounrelatedsources. ThefirststorycomesfromthesaddaysaftertheAmericanCivilWar,whenthepeopleofthe Southbegantorebuildtheirhomeland.Understandably,manypeoplewerequitebitterinthe wakeofmilitarydefeat,butnotGeneralRobertE.Leewhohappenedtobeafervent Christian.OnedayhehappenedtovisitwithawomaninKentuckywhoshowedhimagiant treeinherfrontyardthathadshatteredbyUnionartilleryfire.Shespokewithgreat bitterness,expectingthegeneraltosympathizewithher.Inhersoutherndrawsheasked, WhatshuldnIdoesaboutthetree?Afteramomentspause,GeneralLeereplied,Whycut itdown,madam,andforgetaboutit.Thegeneralunderstoodthevitaltruththatifyoure goingtomoveforward,youcantliveinthepastanymore. TheSECONDSTORYcomesfromaninterviewin1997withthefirstUSAmbassadorto Vietnam,PetePeterson. Mr.Petersonsappointmentisironicbecauseheserved6yearsasaprisonerofwarinthe dreadedHanoiHilton.Nowhegoesbacktothecityandlandwherehewasheldcaptive notforrevenge,buttorepresenttheUnitedStates.Whenaskedhowhecoulddosuchathing afteryearsofstarvation,torture,andinhumanbrutality,hereplied,Imnotangry.Ileftthat atthegatesoftheprisonwhenIwalkedoutin1972.Thatmaysoundsimplistictosome people,butitsthetruth.Ijustleftitbehindmeanddecidedtomoveforwardwithmylife. Inallthesestoriesasimplethoughtcomestomymind.Iffacedwithsuchtwistsandturnsof lifewhatwouldIdo?HereiswhatIthink! Icantgobackitisanexerciseinfutility! Icantstayhereitisaroadtonowhere! Imustgoforward! NeitheryounorIcangobacktothepastnottorelivethegoodtimesortoseekrevengefor thebadtimes.Butyoucantstaywhereyouareeither.Lifeislikeariverthatflowsendlessly onward.Itmattersnotwhetheryouarehappyinyourpresentsituationorwhetheryouseek tobedeliveredfromit.Youcantstaywhereyouareforever.Theonlywaytogoisforward.

Forward!
ThatswhatGeneralLeewastryingtosaytotheembitteredKentuckywoman.Sometimes youhavetocutthetreedownandsimplyforgetaboutthepast.Thewarisover;itstimeto moveon. Forsomeofusthatmaymeandecidingnottorereadthelettersthatdredgeupoldhurts.It maymeanleavingonejobforanother.Itcertainlymeansthatyouwontbeconstantlytalking abouthowothershavehurtyou. Amanwhosewifesufferedgreatlyatthehandsofherenemiessaidshehadtakenavowof silenceregardinghercritics.Shedecidedthatratherthanlowerherselftothelevelofher critics,shewouldsimplynotreplyatall.Thisisdifficult,butatleastitfreesapersontomove

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forwardwithGod. Godonlyhasonedirectionforhispeople:Forward! Heneverleadsusbackintothepastandherarelyletsusstaywhereweareverylong. Thatswhythefirsttwolettersofthegospelspellourmarchingorders:Go! Whenyoutemptedtogetevenwiththosewhohurtyou,rememberthatyoucantgoback, youcantstaywhereyouare,butbyGodsgrace,youcanmoveforwardonestepatatime. C. Third, this story teaches us something aboutAbout Immediate Obedience 1. ThepeopleofHaggaisdaymeantwellbutgoodintentionsdontmatterwhen itcomestoobeyingGod. a. Remember: Itsalwayseasytofindexcuseswhenyoudontwanttoobey God.

b. WhenGodsays,BuildtheTemple,Hedoesntmeantomorrowornext week.Hemeans,BuildItNow! 2. ProcrastinationisasinifitkeepsyoufromobeyingGod. a. Weallhaveourexcusesfornotdoingwhatweknowweoughttodo. 1) Soweneverwritethatletterandnevermakethatphonecall. 2) Wedontgetoutandlookforajob. 3) Wenevergetaroundtowitnessingtoourfriends. 4) Wedontturnintheapplicationandweneverstartthesavingsaccount. 5) Thatswhywedontloseweightandwedontsavemoney. b. Ourexcuseskeepusfromthehardroadofobedience. 1) Butyouknowwhatanexcusesis,dontyou?Itstheskinofareason stuffedwithalie. 2) Oncewestopmakingexcuses,werethenreadytoobeyGod. Untilthen,weredoomedtobestuckinspiritualneutral. 3. WhenGodcalls,wemustobeynottomorrow.Today.Godsworkmustbe donenow.Notnextmonthornextyear,butNOW.

CONCLUSION: Risky Obedience Missionariesservinginunderdeveloped,ThirdWorldcountriescanspeakofthedifficulties theyfaceonadailybasis.Thereissickness,danger,thelackofmedicalequipment,and potentialdangertotheirchildrenbeingraisedinsuchanenvironment.Apastored(Ray Pritchard)sharedthetestimonyofonesuchcoupleministeringinNigeriain1997shared theirhearts. Asaparent,itraiseslotsofconcernswhatitifhappenedtoourfamily,especiallyour children?Arewereallyreadytohandlethefactthatourmedicalresourcesarevery limitedhere?Forexample,wehaveoneventilatorusedaboutonceayearthatprobably

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wouldntworkwellatallforachild.ThereisnoMRIscanmachineinthecountry,and maybenoworkingCTscanner.Onasmallerscale,theepisodesofstomachupsetand diarrhoeaarearecurringannoyance,asistheconstantexposuretomalaria.Whytake theriskoflivinghere? Perhapssomepeopleenjoythethrillofsuchadventures,orrisktaking.Wedontfit thatcategory!Rather,theriskswetakebylivingherearepartoftheriskwetakeby believinginthatwhichisnotseenthatis,bybelievinginGod.Placingourfaithinan unseenGodISriskyespeciallyifthatfaithdemandstrustingGodsprovidenceinreal, tangibleways.Yes,wewouldprefertobelivingsomewherewhereafewoftherisks werereduced.ButobediencetoGodatthistimeinourlivesrequiresthatwebeinthis riskyenvironment. Ponderthatlastsentenceforamoment.TheyhaveconcludedthatobeyingGodmeansthat theywillhavetoleavethesafetyoftheirhomelandforthedangerofAfrica.Buttheyare willingtoriskitallinordertoobeyGod. A Moral Paralysis keeps some of us from obeying God. WeknowwhatGodwantsustodoandbecausewedontwanttodoit,ourlivesarestuckin akindofpermanentspiritualneutralwecantgoforwardorbackward.Wejuststaywhere wearemiserableandunfulfilled.Tothinkthatanytimewilldotobecomeseriousabout ourLordscauseistofailhimcompletely. ThisisABSOLUTELYRIGHT!ThatwastheprobleminHaggaisday.Thepeopleintendedto obeyGod,butbecausetheykeptdelayingtheyendedupnotobeyinghimatall. What Difference Will it Make in 10,000 Years? Oneofthemostimportantsubjectsyoucanaddresstoteensandyoungadultsisthesubject ofKnowingGodsWill.Insuchatalkorsermonitisreallyimportanttoshowthemthat theirrelationshipwithGodismuchmoreimportantthananyonedecisionapersonmay make.GodwantseveryonetoknowHimdeeplyandintimatelyineveryareaoflife,andif theywillcommitthemselvestoknowGodlikethat,Hepromisestodirecttheirpath. IamnotbeingflippantwhenIsaytopeople,toputitsimply,doingGodswillisreally Godsproblem,notyours.AlltheyhavetodoismakethemselvesfullyavailabletoHimand Hewilldotherest. Wheneveryoufaceamajordecision,youshouldaskyourselfthisquestion:Whatdifference willthismakein10,000Years?Thisisagreatquestion,becauseithelpsusdifferentiate betweenthatwhichmattersandthatwhichdoesntmatteratall.Mostofthedecisionswe agonizeoverwontmatterinthreeweeksorthreeyears,muchless10,000yearsfromnow. Butwhatwillmatter10,000times10,000yearsfromnowiswhetherornowyoucommit yourselftobeingGodsmanorGodswomanwithoutreservation,withnoholdsbarred,no stringsattached.Makethatcommitmentandtherestoflifewilleventuallyfallintoplace. Ifyoudont,youllstrugglefortherestofyourdays. Your Job is Too Small InoneofhissermonsRaviZachariastellsthestoryofthebelovedmissionarytoChina, Indonesiaandseveralothercountries,RobertJaffrayofCanadawhodiedin1945.Hecame

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fromawealthyfamilyandinfactwasheirtoalargenewspaperfortune,TheGlobe,in Toronto.Whenhewasayoungman,helearnedtheChineselanguageandwasofferedalarge salarybyStandardOilofNewYorkifhewouldforegohismissionarycareerandworkfor them.Herefusedsotheydoubledtheirsalaryoffer.Herefusedagain.Theycabledhimwith thismessage:RobertA.Jaffray.Atanycost.Hecabledback,Yousalaryisbig.Yourjobis toosmall. Whatafantasticperspectiveonlife.Wouldthatwecouldseeourprioritiessoclearly. Let God Fill in the Details OnefinalillustrationandIamdone.InoneofhisbooksDr.JamesDobsontellsofa missionarywhocamehomeafteralongcareeroverseas.Asamanofgreatgifts,hehad passeduptheopportunityforalucrativecareerintheUnitedStatestoserveinsomeislands ofthePacific.Someoneaskedhimtheinevitablequestion:Dontyouregretgivingupa promisingcareerintheState?Herepliedthatasayoungmanhehadindeedwrestledwith thatreality.FormanymonthshehadarguedwithGodandattemptedtomakeadeal wherebyhewouldserveGodifGodwouldagreetocertainconditions.Buthehadnopeace inhissoul.Finallyonedayhewenttotheauditoriumofhischurch,kneltatthealtar,and determinedtostaythereuntilthematterwassettled. ForalongtimehearguedwithGodabouthislife.Buteverytimehetriedtoofferconditions hefelttheLordrefusinghim.FinallyhesensedtheLordsayingtohim,Signablankpieceof paperandgiveittome.Themandidthat,andtheLordsaid,Nowletmefillinthe details. Thatwastheturningpointofhislife. Everythingthathadhappenedsincethen,hesaid,wassimplyGodfillinginthedetails. Haveyoueverdonethat?Ifnot,youneedto. Nomoreexcuses!Now!Today!You! WhatiskeepingyoufromobeyingGod?Whereisthemoralparalysisinyourownlife? WhatisGodcallingyoutodothatyouareresistingrightnow? Doyouseewhereyourresistanceishurtingyourself? Amanspokeabouthisstrugglesinthisarea.Hesaidthatheenvisionshislifeasagreatship withtheLordatthehelm.ButeverysooftenhewantstotapGodontheshoulderandsay, Areyousureyouknowwhatyouredoing? Weallfeelthatwayattimes,dontwe? Resteasy,myfriend.TheresasteadyhandatthehelmandHedoesntneedanyhelpfrom you.Butyoullneverknowuntilyougivehimfullcontrolofyourlife.

8May2011amRiverValleyBCLeixlip,Co.Kildare

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