HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS HAGGAI 1:5-6

WE started the 2017 with a message “Let us do more in 2017” We followed it with “Our Resolve in 2017” To day we continue with the message titled “How to Unlock God’s Abundant Physical Blessings”

Let Us Do More In 2017 Our Resolve In 2017 Steps To Unlock God’s Abundant Physical Blessings

A BRIEF BACKGROUND TO HAGGAI Judah had been conquered, Jerusalem burned, the temple demolished and the people carried away to Babylon After 70 years in captivity, about 50,000 Jews had returned to their own land, by the edit of King Cyrus The Jews had returned from the exile with high hopes of rebuilding their city, and so without any delays they started to rebuild the temple But soon after they had laid the foundation, they faced serious opposition from their neighbours As a result, the zeal with which the labour was begun grew cold, and since their hope had been dashed by their neighbougrs, they left the work turned their attention and resources to building their private homes For 15 years, nothing further was done to rebuild the temple. God sent Amos, the prophet to warn the people, and through Haggai and Zechariah preaching, work was resumed, and the temple was completed in four years This morning I want us to learn something from a section of Haggai’s message to the Jews which was so compelling that the Jews could not do nothing but to go back to work That part that caused each of them to come out of their respective shelves to complete the task before them – i.e. (1:3-11 READ)

ANALYSIS OF THE PASSAGE: THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS (1:3-11) They planted much but harvest little. They ate but were not satisfied. They drunk but were still thirsty. They put on clothes but could not keep warm. Their wages disappeared as though they were putting them in pockets filled with holes! They hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. - How did God do all these? READ 1:10-11

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS They Planted Much But Harvest Little

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS They Ate But Were Not Satisfied

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS They Drunk But Were Still Thirsty

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS They put on clothes but could not keep warm

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS Their Wages Disappeared As Though They Were Putting Them In Pockets Filled With Holes

THE CONDITION OF THE JEWS They Hoped For Rich Harvests, But They Were Poor

THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL'S CONDITION Neglect of the Work of God (Hag.1:3-4,9)

THE CAUSE OF JEW’S CONDITION Neglect Of The Work Of God (Hag.1:3-4,9

GOD’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JEWS FOR ABUNDANT LIVING In verse 8, the Lord plainly stated… Did the Israelites respond to that clarion call? YES – Vs. 12 READS What they never did was to murmur, or develop cold feet towards God’s word Perhaps they had learnt a lesson from the past

GOD’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE JEWS FOR ABUNDANT LIVING HAGGAI 1: 8 HAGGAI 1:12

OUR CASE: OUR CONDITIONS This is the state some of us find ourselves just like the Jews: Even though some of us have worked assiduously in the past years, we seemed not to have enjoyed much from our labour To some of us, even though, monies came into our pockets, we couldn't account for what exactly those monies were used for Some Of Us Have been Bedevilled With Job Or Failure To Find Jobs Some of us have done everything possible to achieve certain targets in our lives but our efforts don’t yield the desire results. Some of us faced a lot of setbacks in almost everything we tried to lay our hands on Yes, some of us would contend that Jesus said that we should be content with what we have – THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD NOT SEEK FOR MORE BUT THE “HOW” IS WHAT IS UNDER CONTENTION HERE

OUR CASE: OUR CONDITIONS What is instructive to note here is that in the case of the Jews, even though God had withheld the dew and the earth its crops and had caused drought on their land, the Jews still had something to enjoy from the Lord. It means they were under enjoying the blessings of God (10-11)

OUR CASE, OUR CONDITIONS Even Though Some Of Us Have Worked Assiduously In The Past Years, We Seemed Not To Have Enjoyed Much From Our Labour

OUR CASE, OUR CONDITIONS To Some Of Us, Even Though Monies Came Into Our Pockets, We Couldn't Account For What Exactly Those Monies Were Used For

OUR CASE, OUR CONDITIONS Some Of Us Have been Bedevilled With Job Losses Or Failure To Find Jobs

OUR CASE, OUR CONDITIONS Some Of Us Have Done Everything Possible To Achieve Certain Targets In Our Lives But Our Efforts Have Not Yielded The Desired Results

OUR CASE, OUR CONDITIONS Some of us faced a lot of setbacks in almost everything we tried to lay our hands on

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS IN: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Just dressing up to church meetings is not enough to conclude that you are doing the work of God Some of us have neglected to promote God's cause first before ours yet scriptures enjoins us in Mt. 6:33 to do so (Jews biggest Some of us have neglected the work of Soul winning (direct or indirectly) yet scripture enjoins us in Mt. 28:19-20 Mark 16:15-16 to do so Some of us have neglected the work of benevolence, yet scripture enjoins us in Gal. 6:3, 9 to do so – Ref. Welfare Some of us have neglected the work of visiting the needy such as widows, orphans, etc., yet James 1:27 to do so Some of us have neglected the work of sharing our physical things with those who share with us spiritual food, yet scripture enjoins in Gal. 6:6 & 1 Cor. 9:1-14 to do so (REF WOMEN)

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Some of us have neglected the work of promoting God's cause first before ours, yet scripture enjoins us in Mt. 6:33 to do so

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Some Of Us Have Neglected The Work Of Soul Winning, Yet Scripture Enjoins Us In Mt. 28:19-20 Mark 16:15-16 To Do So

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Some Of Us Have Neglected The Work Of Benevolence, Yet Scripture Enjoins Us In Gal. 6:9 To Do So

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Some of us have neglected the work of visiting the widows, yet James 1:27 to do so

THE CAUSE OF OUR CONDITIONS: NEGLECT OF THE WORK OF GOD Some of us have neglected the work of sharing our physical things with those who share spiritual food with us, yet scripture enjoins in Gal. 6:6 & 1 Cor. 9:1-14 to do so

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS Haggai 1:12 READS… NO DELAY, NO MURMURING, We need to think about God first: When God is first in your life, it would tell where to invest more The man who has seen it all, Solomon, writes ….Eccl. 9:11… Now listen to the Psalmist rather (Ps. 147:11) We need to preach or spend resources as a congregation and individuals on spreading the good news to the lost (directly or indirect) We need to up our benevolence efforts e need to remember and visit widows and the underprivileged among us – including New Converts We need to obey the command to "share your physical things with those who share spiritual things with us“ VS. 14 OF HAGGAI 1 READS…

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS We need to think about God first When God is first in your life, it would tell where to invest more

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS We Need To Preach Or Spend Resources As A Congregation And Individuals On Spreading The Good News To The Lost

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS We Need To Up Our Benevolence Efforts

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS We Need To Remember And Visit Our Widows And The Underprivileged Among Us

HOW TO UNLOCK GOD’S ABUNDANT PHYSICAL BLESSINGS We Need To Obey The Command To "Share Your Physical Things With Those Who Share Spiritual Things With Us”

Doing The Work Of God Amid Complaining Or Arguing (Philip. 2:14) WHAT WE NEED TO AVOID Doing The Work Of God Amid Complaining Or Arguing (Philip. 2:14)

Doing The Work Of God Amid Complaining Or Arguing (Philip. 2:14) WHAT WE NEED TO AVOID Doing The Work Of God Amid Complaining Or Arguing (Philip. 2:14)

Conclusion Let us for once leave here and go do what God has said for he who has said it is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think