Haggai
God has called us to great things and he has giving us a purpose. We start off excited... then life happens and we get tired. We forget that life is not a sprint, but a marathon. We stop persevering. Eventually we lose focus of God’s Kingdom and only focus on building our own kingdoms. In this series we are going to look at the lessons we can learn from the Israelites' experience in the book of Haggai, and see how our hope is restored through faithfulness to God.
WEEK 1 // Intro to Haggai
627 BC
586 BC
The destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonian armies marked the end of an era in Jewish national and religious life.
The Israelites were exiled to Babylon. In Babylon everything changed.
Jeremiah 29:10-14 (NLT)
10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
539 BC Cyrus the Great of Persia has overtaken Babylon.
In the beginning they were all excited.
Ezra 3:10-11 (NLT)
10 When the builders completed the foundation of the Lord’s Temple, the priests put on their robes and took their places to blow their trumpets. And the Levites, descendants of Asaph, clashed their cymbals to praise the Lord, just as King David had prescribed. 11 With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.
However, they were constantly being challenged.
520 BC, Enter Haggai.
The temple is then completed in 516 BC
Here are some questions for you to reflect on as we begin this series?
God is calling us to greater things and giving us a purpose, are you all in, or have you given up?
Are you excited about the great things God has for you and us, or are you tired and weary?
Have you lost sight of God’s Kingdom and started building our own kingdom?
