Haggai 1-2 -- What Hinders The Work?

The exiled Jews had returned home but had chosen to build not just shelter, but fancy houses for themselves, leaving the Temple in ruins.  They couldn’t see that their actions were causing their crop failures.  They had chosen not to put God first in their lives.

God’s name wasn’t being honored.  My commentary noted how we say the Lord’s prayer, starting with “Hallowed be Thy name”,  yet it’s often the last thing we thing about as we seek to serve God.

“When God speaks to us by His Word, there’s only one acceptable response, and that’s obedience.  We don’t weigh the options, we don’t examine the alternatives, and we don’t negotiate the terms.  We simply do what God tells us to do and leave the rest with Him.  Faith is not believing in spite of evidence.  It’s obeying in spite of consequences.”

Haggai also had to get the people to see that working on the Temple didn’t make them holy.  In fact, their sin and defilement had contaminated their relationship with God.  Once their defilement was removed and they stood ready to work, they could trust “the Holy Spirit for the enablement needed to do God’s will.”  My commentary also quoted A.W. Tozer, who said, “If God were to take the Holy Spirit out of this world, must of what we’re doing in our churches would go right on, and nobody would know the difference!”

Father, help us to remain aware of our state before You.  Show us where we need to remove defilement.  Cause us to seek out Your Holy spirit rather than simply doing something for You.  Help us to remember that sin hinders Your work and robs us of Your blessings.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford