Are you truly satisfied? Haggai 1 Lewis Winkler.

Are you truly Are you truly satisfied?satisfied?

Haggai 1Haggai 1

Lewis WinklerLewis Winkler

What is true satisfaction?What is true satisfaction?

Where does it come from in the first Where does it come from in the first place?place?

Once we have found it, how do we Once we have found it, how do we continue to experience it in our continue to experience it in our everyday lives?everyday lives?

Introduction to HaggaiIntroduction to Haggai

““Haggai” means festive or festalHaggai” means festive or festal

He is ministering in post-exilic IsraelHe is ministering in post-exilic Israel

The project of rebuilding temple was The project of rebuilding temple was started nearly 20 years earlierstarted nearly 20 years earlier

Introduction to HaggaiIntroduction to Haggai

Due to a number of factors, only the Due to a number of factors, only the foundation had been laid before all foundation had been laid before all construction ceasedconstruction ceased

Recently the people have been Recently the people have been experiencing poor harvests and a experiencing poor harvests and a general sense of dissatisfaction in their general sense of dissatisfaction in their liveslives

The The Excuse (2-4) Excuse (2-4)

The time for rebuilding God’s house is not The time for rebuilding God’s house is not rightright Earlier attempts had been thwartedEarlier attempts had been thwarted Cyrus, King of Persia, had ultimately failed to Cyrus, King of Persia, had ultimately failed to

help them in times of troublehelp them in times of trouble A new King, Darius, was now in powerA new King, Darius, was now in power The people were already struggling to surviveThe people were already struggling to survive The region was dangerous and resources The region was dangerous and resources

were hard to procure and protectwere hard to procure and protect Even theological considerations called into Even theological considerations called into

question the wisdom of rebuildingquestion the wisdom of rebuilding

The The (Reasonable?)(Reasonable?) Excuse (2-4) Excuse (2-4)





The The (Well-informed?)(Well-informed?) Excuse (2-4) Excuse (2-4)





The The LameLame Excuse (2-4) Excuse (2-4)

The time for rebuilding God’s house is The time for rebuilding God’s house is not rightnot right

The The LameLame Excuse (2-4) Excuse (2-4)

The time for rebuilding God’s house is The time for rebuilding God’s house is not rightnot right

The time for dwelling in my comfortable The time for dwelling in my comfortable house is righthouse is right

Some Truths to PonderSome Truths to Ponder

We always seem to find the time and We always seem to find the time and resources for the things we really care resources for the things we really care aboutabout

If we believe the “right time” to do If we believe the “right time” to do something only comes when it is something only comes when it is convenient and requires no significant convenient and requires no significant sacrifice or effort on our part, the “right sacrifice or effort on our part, the “right time” rarely, if ever, comestime” rarely, if ever, comes

Some Truths to PonderSome Truths to Ponder

At its core this is an issue of priorities, At its core this is an issue of priorities, and priorities are an issue of the heartand priorities are an issue of the heart—for God or for something or someone —for God or for something or someone else.else.

God loves us just as we are, but He God loves us just as we are, but He loves us too much to let us remain that loves us too much to let us remain that way.way.

The Source of The Source of DissatisfactionDissatisfaction (5-11) (5-11)

Unmet Unmet NeedsNeeds

Aurelius AugustineAurelius Augustine

““God, you have made us for yourself, God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you.”their rest in you.”

The Bible on SatisfactionThe Bible on Satisfaction

““Death and destruction are never satisfied, Death and destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man.”and neither are the eyes of man.”

——Proverbs 27:20Proverbs 27:20

““All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.”appetite is never satisfied.”

——Ecclesiastes 6:7Ecclesiastes 6:7

““But seek first His kingdom and His But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things [clothes, righteousness, and all these things [clothes, food, and drink] will be given to you as well.”food, and drink] will be given to you as well.”

——Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33

Blaise PascalBlaise PascalPensees #425Pensees #425

““What else does this craving, and this What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and that now remains is the empty print and trace?trace?

This he tries in vain to fill with everything This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God immutable object; in other words by God himself.”himself.”

The Source of The Source of DissatisfactionDissatisfaction (5-11) (5-11)

Unmet needs arise from misplaced Unmet needs arise from misplaced prioritiespriorities

Deuteronomy 8:18-18Deuteronomy 8:18-18

You may say to yourself, “My power You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.wealth.

Deuteronomy 11:13-17Deuteronomy 11:13-17

So if you faithfully obey . . . to love the Lord So if you faithfully obey . . . to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will send rain . . . and with all your soul, then I will send rain . . . so that you may gather in your grain, new wine so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods . . . . Then [the Lord] and worship other gods . . . . Then [the Lord] will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce . . . .the ground will yield no produce . . . .

Testing Personal PrioritiesTesting Personal Priorities

Heart priorities are demonstrated in the Heart priorities are demonstrated in the concrete ways you actually spend your concrete ways you actually spend your time, talents, and treasurestime, talents, and treasures

Dissatisfaction is often a signal from Dissatisfaction is often a signal from God that your personal priorities are God that your personal priorities are out of proper alignmentout of proper alignment

Where We Stand FinanciallyWhere We Stand Financially

After starting the year with nothing, in After starting the year with nothing, in 2007 we ended the year with $21,000 in 2007 we ended the year with $21,000 in the bankthe bank

After 2008 we broke even and ended After 2008 we broke even and ended with $21,000 in the bankwith $21,000 in the bank


After 2009 we ended the year with After 2009 we ended the year with $10,000 in the bank, an $11,000 deficit$10,000 in the bank, an $11,000 deficit

Now in 2010 after all our bills are paid, Now in 2010 after all our bills are paid, we have only $200 left in the bankwe have only $200 left in the bank


This is the situation even without This is the situation even without paying a senior pastor any salary at all paying a senior pastor any salary at all over the past almost four yearsover the past almost four years

If we do not respond, the church will If we do not respond, the church will have to closehave to close

The Response of the The Response of the PeoplePeople to to GodGod (12) (12)

The Response The Response of the of the PeoplePeople to to GodGod (12) (12)

They obeyed They obeyed God’s wordGod’s word

They feared They feared GodGod

The Response of The Response of GodGod to the to the PeoplePeople (13-15) (13-15)

He gave them His presenceHe gave them His presence

He gave them His powerHe gave them His power

He promised to bless them again (see He promised to bless them again (see Haggai 2:19)Haggai 2:19)

John 14:21John 14:21

Whoever has Whoever has my commands my commands and obeys and obeys them, he is the them, he is the one who loves one who loves me. He who me. He who loves me will loves me will be loved by my be loved by my Father, and I Father, and I too will love too will love him and show him and show myself to him.myself to him.

Proverbs 3:9-10Proverbs 3:9-10

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new and your vats will brim over with new wine.wine.

Malachi 3:8-12Malachi 3:8-12

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But Will a man rob God? Yet you rob Me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse . . . because offerings. You are under a curse . . . because you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing floodgates of heaven and pour out blessing that you will not have room enough for it.that you will not have room enough for it.

Though the fig tree does not bud and Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength. . . . —Habakkuk 3:17-19strength. . . . —Habakkuk 3:17-19

Questions for Self-examinationQuestions for Self-examination

Do you give to get or get to give?Do you give to get or get to give?

Have you given God your life or just Have you given God your life or just your leftovers?your leftovers?

Do you seek the blessing or the Do you seek the blessing or the Blesser?Blesser?

Conclusion and ApplicationConclusion and Application

Practical Answers to Practical Practical Answers to Practical QuestionsQuestions

What should I give?What should I give?

When should I give?When should I give?

Where should I give?Where should I give?

How much should I give?How much should I give?

How often should I give?How often should I give?

Making It More PersonalMaking It More Personal

Before all else, give your life Before all else, give your life completelycompletely to Christto Christ

Ask Him what He wants you to give to Ask Him what He wants you to give to help build the ministry of CIChelp build the ministry of CIC

Give it joyfullyGive it joyfully

Making It More PersonalMaking It More Personal

Give it firstGive it first

Give it regularlyGive it regularly

Trust God to provide for you and Trust God to provide for you and increasingly become your source of true increasingly become your source of true satisfactionsatisfaction

Giving It All Away:Giving It All Away:The Story of Bill and Vonette BrightThe Story of Bill and Vonette Bright

Things We Leave BehindThings We Leave Behindby Michael Cardby Michael Card

There sits Simon, so foolishly wiseThere sits Simon, so foolishly wise

Proudly he sits tending his netsProudly he sits tending his nets

Then Jesus calls and the boats drift awayThen Jesus calls and the boats drift away

And all that he owns he forgetsAnd all that he owns he forgets

But more than the nets he abandoned that dayBut more than the nets he abandoned that day

He found that his pride was soon drifting awayHe found that his pride was soon drifting away

And it’s hard to imagine the freedom we findAnd it’s hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behindFrom the things we leave behind


Matthew was mindful of taking the taxMatthew was mindful of taking the tax

And pressing the people to payAnd pressing the people to pay

But hearing the call he responded in faithBut hearing the call he responded in faith

And followed the Light and the WayAnd followed the Light and the Way

And leaving the people so puzzled he foundAnd leaving the people so puzzled he found

The greed in his heart was no longer aroundThe greed in his heart was no longer around




Every heart needs to be set freeEvery heart needs to be set freeFrom possessions that hold it so tightFrom possessions that hold it so tight

‘‘Cause freedom’s not found in the things that we Cause freedom’s not found in the things that we ownown

It’s the power to do what is rightIt’s the power to do what is rightWith Jesus, our only possessionWith Jesus, our only possessionThen giving becomes our delightThen giving becomes our delight

And we can’t imagine the freedom we findAnd we can’t imagine the freedom we findFrom the things we leave behindFrom the things we leave behind


We show a love for the world in our livesWe show a love for the world in our lives

By worshipping goods we possessBy worshipping goods we possess

When Jesus says, lay all your treasures asideWhen Jesus says, lay all your treasures aside

And love God above all the restAnd love God above all the rest

‘‘Cause when we say no to the things of the worldCause when we say no to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the LordWe open our hearts to the love of the Lord




And when we say no the things of the worldAnd when we say no the things of the world

We open our hearts to the things of the LordWe open our hearts to the things of the Lord



Oh and it’s hard to imagine the freedom we findOh and it’s hard to imagine the freedom we find


Are you truly satisfied? Haggai 1 Lewis Winkler.

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