THE CHRISTIAN’S EMPTINESS Haggai 1:1-11

WHEN WE HAVE THE WRONG PRIORITIES IN LIFE WE HAVE: I. EMPTY CONTENTMENT

I. EMPTY CONTENTMENT A. Empty Harvests Haggai 1:6a

A. Empty Harvests Haggai 1:6a 1. Sown much (Long hours)

A. Empty Harvests Haggai 1:6a 2. Bring in little (inflation)

A. Empty Harvests Haggai 1:6a 2. Bring in little (inflation) You have sown much, and bring in little … Haggai 1:6a NKJV

I. EMPTY CONTENTMENT B. Empty Nourishment Haggai 1:6b

… You eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink … Haggai1:6b NKJV

C. Lack Of Proper Clothing I. EMPTY CONTENTMENT C. Lack Of Proper Clothing Haggai 2:6c

… You clothe yourselves but no one is warm ... Haggai 1:6c NKJV

WHEN WE HAVE THE WRONG PRIORITIES IN LIFE WE HAVE: II. EMPTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A. A Money Bag With Holes Haggai 1:6b

… And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes Haggai 1:6d NKJV

B. Appearance Of Success With Little Haggai 1:9

“You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Haggai 1:9 NKJV

B. Appearance Of Success In Life Haggai 1:9 1. Their crops appeared to have grain, but all was husks and chaff with no kernel

B. Appearance Of Success In Life Haggai 1:9 1. Their crops appeared to have grain, but all was husks and chaff with no kernel 2. God took it away

You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. Haggai 1:9 NLT

B. Appearance Of Success In Life Haggai 1:9 1. Their crops appeared to have grain, but all was husks and chaff with no kernel 2. God took it away 3. God never gave rain

It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get. Haggai 1:10-11 NLT

WHEN WE HAVE THE WRONG PRIORITIES IN LIFE WE HAVE: III. TO FILL AN EMPTY LIFE

A. Empty Jobs Haggai 1:6

You have sown much, and harvested little You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. Haggai 1:6 ESV

1. Bring honor to God on the job A. Empty Jobs Haggai 1:6 1. Bring honor to God on the job

1. Bring honor to God on the job 2. Be a living sacrifice A. Empty Jobs Haggai 1:6 1. Bring honor to God on the job 2. Be a living sacrifice

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT

3. Live a Christians life at work A. Empty Jobs Haggai 1:6 3. Live a Christians life at work

B. Food

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV

1. In order to have well balanced nourishment we must feed the whole person Nourish the body, soul, spirit a) The body – with proper food b) The soul – with the Word of God c) The spirit – with cleansing and freedom in our relationship with God, self and others

2. This includes: a. Spiritual food b. Spiritual fellowship with God c. Spiritual fellowship with others d. Spiritual peace

C. Clothes 1. Being clothed for service (like a Christian)

C. Clothes 1. Being clothed for service (like a Christian) 2. Being clothed in the whole armor of God

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16 NKJV

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 ESV

C. Clothes 1. Dress for service (like a Christian) 2. The whole armor of God 3. Spiritual exercise warms the soul

1. The Biblical answer to the bag of holes (the words of Jesus) D. Savings 1. The Biblical answer to the bag of holes (the words of Jesus)

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

NOTE: He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose Jim Elliot

WHEN WE HAVE THE WRONG PRIORITIES IN LIFE WE HAVE: CONCLUSION WHEN WE HAVE THE WRONG PRIORITIES IN LIFE WE HAVE:   I. EMPTY CONTENTMENT II. EMPTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS III. TO FILL AN EMPTY LIFE