What God Has Always Wanted A Church To Be Haggai 1:1-9 So here is something we don’t think about often Our homes will never really work right until God’s house works right And here’s the background

In The Bible, God’s House was an irreplaceable part of being part of God’s family P Even god has a home for his family – heaven Wanted one to be on earth Jewish people – to not be at the temple was not to be part of his people Why when the temple was destroyed – It was the ultimate sign of being far from God

Pic – my family growing up

Pic – my house Here’s my family growing up Here’s our house today When I think about my family My home is a big part Part of my identity and purpose was that home God made families to have a home

God’s people were created to be His “priests” of His Home “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5-6 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Priests Were Supposed To Be Hosts In God’s House Family host people in the father’s house You come over, or invited – its not one of Pastor Brandon who hosts you It’s one of my family That’s how God feels about his house He wants his family to host people – called them priests Welcome them in and . .

They were supposed to host all the nations / every type of person “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. ” Isaiah 2:2 Why? Because he created them – he created you – you belong in his home God’s wants every type of person in his house Said it again and again Not just in the house – part of the family –family live at his home Jesus told a story about a master hosting a party “invite them in for every street corner and alley way – “That my house might be full”

“And foreigners [outsiders] who join themselves to the Lord and love the name of the LORD . . . these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:6-7 And here is why

could be taught and experienced through His family (of priests). God’s House was the place where the unseen God could somehow be seen and understood by a world blinded by sin & pain His love and promises could be taught and experienced through His family (of priests). How can people connect with and understand an invisible God God to his visible house Because that’s what family does – I don’t asl my neighbor / I don’t pay someone / the family does it

(stress, success, suffering) Haggai 1:1-10 The temple that was destroyed years ago has not been rebuilt because God’s people are busy with their own lives (stress, success, suffering) Instead of hosts in his house Forgot about his house Forgot about who they were

God’s Message In Haggai 1 Nothing else works in your life when you don’t remember who you are and where you should be When life isn’t working out and your community is stuck, look to see if your priorities & prayers are out of order and then return to your calling and God’s House.

“Look at what’s happening to you “Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down wood, and build My House, so that I will take pleasure in it and will be glorified as I should be" [Haggai 1:7-8, NLT] What the church needs What it should build What it should care about

PRAYING FOR WHAT THE CHURCH Needs, Builds, & Should Love “Look at what’s happening to you! Now go up into the hills, bring down wood, and build My House, so that I will take pleasure in it and will be glorified as I should be"

People in prayer & in His presence outside of church services What The Church Needs People in prayer & in His presence outside of church services “Now go up into the hills, bring down wood” Hills were considered places to pray and receive answers from God

Because of Jesus & our family, we can go and get what we need from God any time His Word (The Bible Project) Prayer (14 Days Of Prayer) His People (Small Groups) Acts 2:42 (daily + homes + Temple)

PRAY that we stop thinking: “I have to wait to ‘get fed’ or healed by God on Sundays” [ We’re family, not customers ] We can enter any time we want Families feed their kids everyday When do that with church – hangry people that only think about themselves {who’s the hangriest in your family] Biggest problem – haven’t eaten “oh you go first” Get out of my way

“This, then, is how you should pray: Luke 12:32 (NIV) “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Matthew 6:9 (NIV) “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in Heaven . . .” Why are we waiting until Sunday to be fed Ever go to a meal with someone who is starving You don’t think of anyone else What are you doing at church Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence [any time], so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need

Worship services that God What The Church Builds Worship services that God takes pleasure in “build the house, that I will take pleasure in it” Not about us having pleasure in the house It’s God And nothing pleases God more than his house would be filled (luke 14) That it would be a house of all nations That people would stream in Two types of people in his house – his family And those who aren’t his family yet

“Was it leanord sweet who said everyday he asks himself   “What did I do today that was worth Jesus dying for?” “What service did we have today that was worth Jesus dying for?”

“Sundays are about what pleases me” PRAY that we stop thinking: “Sundays are about what pleases me” Church is supposed to be a bridge and not a barrier for the lost But we come and usually think about what pleases us –this is what we have If we got fed everyday – we could come to sundays for others We could be what God’s house should be A place for others to know him

Jesus is for everyone (see all people here) Church is where people should see and understand what they have been blinded to: Jesus is for everyone (see all people here) Nothing is impossible or too late for God He’s the missing creator of their lives They’re supposed to be part of His family Rachel – interning at mental health

Hosting people who don’t know Him yet What Our Church Should Love Hosting people who don’t know Him yet “that I may be glorified, says the LORD” THIS IS WHAT WE WERE MADE TO DO

This is what we were made to do! “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 Rachel – interning at mental health

“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. Luke 14:23 (NIV84) Rachel – interning at mental health

“Sundays are a break from the real world” PRAY that we stop thinking: “Sundays are a break from the real world” [ We need to be hosts not guests ] Not a break but a bridge – for the world to come to us Us – family, fed, filled with faith Are we going to get fed – yes Are we going to get refreshed – yes (being doing that all week) Sundays are game time Time to see God’s plan for his house fulfilled What about me - go up to the Will come if you invite them

Priests (Hosts): You get fed but your focus is the guests An ordinary meal becomes a great joy Priests exist to change people’s eternities

THIS WEDNESDAY, 7P Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news . . . and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Mt. 9:35f) Next Sunday – you’ve wanted anyone ever to know why the gospel is good news And see an example of it they will never forget Host them Based on stats from 2013, “82% of the unchurched are likely to attend church if a friend, co-worker, neighbor or family member invites them.” This is from Tom Rainer, who wrote a book back in 2013.

Change me to be family (not a customer) Know God today – become part of his family Not just by being in this house – room for you to stay / here too Don’t be a friend – have a father! Unconditional love and authority in your life His authority will make you safe He is your creator – he loves you You’re is lost child -

Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for THE CROSS Change me to be family (not a customer) Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for THE CROSS Lord if I’ve been thinking about me Lord what will please me is what will please you You died so people could come to this house and meet you, know, get healed by you

Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for the lost Change me to be family (not a customer) Let our church be a bridge not a barrier for the lost Grow me to be a host not a guest on Sunday mornings Make me a host I want invite them Help them understand the amazing meal thye can have –be fed and not hungry again