Haggai  and  Malachi:shine  light  onto  things  that  

moved  God’s  people  away  from  him  and  away  from  what  he  was  

doing  in  the  world

Prophets  Give  You  Case  Studies  that  Show:• what  God  is  doing  in  the  world

• how  God’s  people  work  alongside  him

• what  distracts  God’s  people  from  working  with  him

• how  he  pursues  his  people  to  refocus  them

What  Distracts  God’s  People  from  Working  with  Him?

• external  opposition

• self-­‐indulgence

• discouragement

On  the  twenty-­‐first  day  of  the  seventh  month,  the  word  of  the  Lord  came  through  the  prophet  Haggai:  “Speak  to  Zerubbabel  son  of  Shealtiel,  governor  of  Judah,  to  Joshua  son  of  Jozadak,  the  high  priest,  and  to  the  remnant  of  the  people.  Ask  them,  ‘Who  of  you  is  left  who  saw  this  house  in  its  former  glory?  How  does  it  look  to  you  now?  Does  it  not  seem  to  you  like  nothing?

Haggai  2:1-­‐3

But  now  be  strong,  Zerubbabel,’  declares  the  Lord.  ‘Be  strong,  Joshua  son  of  Jozadak,  the  high  priest.  Be  strong,  all  you  people  of  the  land,’  declares  the  Lord,  ‘and  work.  For  I  am  with  you,’  declares  the  Lord  Almighty.  ‘This  is  what  I  covenanted  with  you  when  you  came  out  of  Egypt.  And  my  Spirit  remains  among  you.  Do  not  fear.’

Haggai  2:4-­‐5

This  is  what  the  Lord  Almighty  says:  ‘In  a  little  while  I  will  once  more  shake  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  the  sea  and  the  dry  land.  I  will  shake  all  nations,  and  what  is  desired  by  all  nations  will  come,  and  I  will  fill  this  house  with  glory,’  says  the  Lord  Almighty.  ‘The  silver  is  mine  and  the  gold  is  mine,’  declares  the  Lord  Almighty.  

Haggai  2:6-­‐8

‘The  glory  of  this  present  house  will  be  greater  than  the  glory  of  the  former  house,’  says  the  Lord  Almighty.  ‘And  in  this  place  I  will  grant  peace,’  declares  the  Lord  Almighty.”

Haggai  2:9

Discouragement  Makes  You  Feel  Like  Quitting

• comes  when  God’s  house  doesn’t  look  glorious

• threatens  you  from  the  inside

Battle  Song  of  the  Naysayers:Nay-­‐nay-­‐nay

Nothing  can  be  doneNothing  will  be  done

Nay-­‐nay-­‐nay

What  Do  Discouraged  People  Need?• someone  who  understands  them  and  is  gentle

• someone  who  gives  them  clear  direction

• someone  who  gives  them  resources  

• confidence  that  what  this  person  offers  is  bigenough  to  handle  the  problem

A  bruised  reed  he  will  not  break,  and  a  smoldering  wick  he  will  not  snuff  out.  

Matthew  12:20

Pastparted  Red  SeaMount  Sinai

Egypt  devastatedCanaanites  defeated

shake  heavens  and  earth  (v.  6)

shake  nations  (v.  7)

Future

plundered  Egyptianswealth  of  Canaanites what  is  desired  will  come  (v.  7)

Once  Morewhat  God  did  in  the  PAST  gives  you  confidence  

for  what  he  can  do  in  the  FUTURE

After  this  I  looked,  and  there  before  me  was  a  great  multitude  that  no  one  could  count,  from  every  nation,  tribe,  people  and  language,  standing  before  the  throne  and  before  the  Lamb.  They  were  wearing  white  robes  and  were  holding  palm  branches  in  their  hands.  And  they  cried  out  in  a  loud  voice:

“Salvation  belongs  to  our  God,who  sits  on  the  throne,

and  to  the  Lamb.”Revelation  7:9-­‐10

Process  of  Faith• look  back  to  what  God  has  done  in  the  PAST

• look  forward  to  what  he  says  he  will  do  in  the  FUTURE

• work  TODAY in  line  with  the  FUTURE he  promises  because  you  believe  he’ll  make  it  happen,  based  on  what  he’s  done  in  the  PAST  

Do  Our  Goals  Require  a  Big  God?

If  so,  then  look  back  to  the  crossIf  so,  then  look  back  to  the  crossand  to  the  resurrection.