WEBVTT 00:00:00.820 --> 00:00:04.020 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christchurch. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:08.279 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:08.660 --> 00:00:12.040 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:14.200 without prior consent from Christchurch. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:18.160 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:21.420 online at ChristchurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.820 --> 00:00:27.179 Good morning. My name is Lindsay Ng and I am a youth at Christchurch. 00:00:27.179 --> 00:00:31.460 Today's reading is a reading from the prophet Haggai. 00:00:57.179 --> 00:00:59.060 It came by the hand of Haggai the prophet. 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:03.140 Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:05.280 while this house lies in ruins? 00:01:06.299 --> 00:01:08.840 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, 00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.400 consider your ways. 00:01:10.819 --> 00:01:12.719 You have sown much and harvested little. 00:01:13.219 --> 00:01:15.019 You eat, but you never have enough. 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:17.280 You drink, but you never have your fill. 00:01:17.840 --> 00:01:19.900 You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:23.940 And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:27.600 Thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:30.680 Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.300 that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord. 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:37.200 You look for much and behold, it came to little. 00:01:37.580 --> 00:01:39.380 And when you brought it home, I blew it away. 00:01:39.880 --> 00:01:41.580 Why, declares the Lord of hosts, 00:01:42.020 --> 00:01:44.280 because of my house that lies in ruins 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:47.040 while each of you busies himself with his own house. 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:50.240 Therefore, the heavens above you have withheld the dew 00:01:50.240 --> 00:01:52.360 and the earth has withheld its produce. 00:01:52.840 --> 00:01:54.719 And I have called for a drought on the land 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:56.140 and the hills on the grain, 00:01:56.480 --> 00:01:59.400 the new wine, the oil on what the ground brings forth, 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.020 on man and beast and in all their labors. 00:02:02.800 --> 00:02:04.740 The grass withers and the flowers fade, 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:07.580 but the word of our God stands forever. 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:11.379 Good morning. 00:02:11.560 --> 00:02:14.219 My name is Andrew and I'm one of the pastors here 00:02:14.219 --> 00:02:17.979 and I'm looking forward to sharing God's word with you this morning. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:19.680 Will you join me in prayer? 00:02:23.259 --> 00:02:25.520 Father, we want to hear from you today. 00:02:26.599 --> 00:02:29.319 And I just pray as your mouthpiece 00:02:29.319 --> 00:02:31.539 that you would make much of my little, 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:35.819 that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart 00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:38.860 would be pleasing to you and be good for your people. 00:02:40.079 --> 00:02:43.199 You are our Lord, our rock, and our redeemer. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:43.699 We want to hear from you. 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:43.799 We want to hear from you. 00:02:43.799 --> 00:02:43.819 We want to hear from you. 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:47.219 Fill our hearts with love toward you 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:50.039 and awe at who you are 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:52.379 and a desire to follow you 00:02:52.379 --> 00:02:54.139 even when it's hard. 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:56.280 Give us your spirit to do that, we pray. 00:02:57.019 --> 00:02:58.780 We pray all these things in the name of Jesus. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:00.060 Amen. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:02.959 So like Jonathan had mentioned, 00:03:03.079 --> 00:03:03.799 like Eric had mentioned, 00:03:03.899 --> 00:03:05.899 today is the first Sunday of Advent. 00:03:06.099 --> 00:03:09.379 We're beginning the Christian liturgical year. 00:03:09.780 --> 00:03:12.019 And Advent, it means coming, right? 00:03:12.020 --> 00:03:14.480 So this is a season where we anticipate 00:03:14.480 --> 00:03:17.820 and we prepare for the coming of the Messiah King. 00:03:17.939 --> 00:03:20.300 Just as the people of God in ancient Israel 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:22.420 waited for the coming Messiah, 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:23.900 so the people of God today, 00:03:24.320 --> 00:03:25.960 we await the return, 00:03:26.160 --> 00:03:27.760 the second coming of the Messiah. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:29.820 This is a season of longing and hope. 00:03:29.879 --> 00:03:31.879 And can I just say that it's so important, 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:35.020 it's so important to hold these two things together, 00:03:35.500 --> 00:03:36.820 longing and hope. 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:38.140 Longing and hope. 00:03:38.139 --> 00:03:40.500 Because longing without hope is just despair. 00:03:41.219 --> 00:03:42.719 And hope without longing, 00:03:43.639 --> 00:03:45.059 it's really devalued. 00:03:45.739 --> 00:03:47.199 Hope without longing is devalued. 00:03:48.139 --> 00:03:50.459 Now as we enter into Advent today 00:03:50.459 --> 00:03:52.599 with the words of the prophet Haggai 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.879 to these returning citizens in Israel, 00:03:54.939 --> 00:03:55.719 that's what's going on here, 00:03:55.779 --> 00:03:57.159 they're returning from exile, 00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:00.379 I think we get a picture in this story 00:04:00.379 --> 00:04:02.439 of what happens when we long, 00:04:02.979 --> 00:04:04.119 yet without hope. 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:05.939 And I think we're going to see that 00:04:05.939 --> 00:04:07.620 when we long without hope, 00:04:08.140 --> 00:04:10.319 we'll always end up attaching ourselves 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:11.780 to lesser hopes 00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:14.219 that will eventually let us down. 00:04:14.319 --> 00:04:15.920 And the constant letdowns 00:04:15.920 --> 00:04:18.240 only lead us into a downward spiral 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:19.939 that increases our longing 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:20.939 and our disappointment 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:23.180 and our despair even more. 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:25.040 And not only that, 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:26.180 but the downward spiral 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:30.240 will also just only turn our attention inward, 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:32.300 make us inward focus on ourselves 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:34.480 in an individualistic, defensive, 00:04:35.100 --> 00:04:38.060 and self-preserving posture. 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:39.079 That's what it does 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:41.220 when we long without hope. 00:04:41.819 --> 00:04:42.800 That's what it does. 00:04:43.699 --> 00:04:44.900 It's no good for anyone. 00:04:45.300 --> 00:04:46.800 It's no good for ourselves. 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:48.160 Longing without hope 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:50.519 preoccupies us with our own houses 00:04:50.519 --> 00:04:51.500 and our own fields 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:52.699 and our own lands 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:54.019 and our own security. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:56.080 But the good news of Advent, 00:04:56.300 --> 00:04:57.180 the good news of the gospel 00:04:57.180 --> 00:04:58.220 is that there is hope. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:04:59.680 There is a king. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:02.800 He has come and he's coming again. 00:05:03.280 --> 00:05:04.340 And he's building for us 00:05:04.340 --> 00:05:05.860 an imperishable house, 00:05:05.959 --> 00:05:07.199 an imperishable kingdom 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:10.060 because he wants to dwell with us forever. 00:05:10.740 --> 00:05:11.800 The good news of Advent 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:12.980 is that when we sing, 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:15.300 O come, O come, Emmanuel, 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:16.399 which means, 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:17.360 O come, O come, 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:19.160 God with us, 00:05:19.980 --> 00:05:21.660 he answers us and says, 00:05:22.180 --> 00:05:22.699 I am. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:25.500 The God and king of the universe, 00:05:25.620 --> 00:05:26.000 when we say, 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:27.399 O come, O come, Emmanuel, 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:27.920 he says, 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:29.080 I am coming. 00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:31.920 I am coming to be with you. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:33.740 And in fact, 00:05:33.819 --> 00:05:34.819 I'm building a house. 00:05:35.300 --> 00:05:36.180 I'm building a house 00:05:36.180 --> 00:05:37.520 to be with you forever. 00:05:38.480 --> 00:05:39.400 And that's the point 00:05:39.400 --> 00:05:40.540 of our text this morning 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:42.960 as we enter into the Advent season 00:05:42.960 --> 00:05:44.700 through the prophet Haggai. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:45.740 God was saying to his 00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:46.700 groaning people, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:47.840 Israel, back then, 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:48.819 and he's saying to us 00:05:48.819 --> 00:05:50.480 groaning new covenant people, 00:05:50.819 --> 00:05:51.120 today, 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:52.900 I hear your groaning. 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:55.560 I know your longings, 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:57.399 but your greatest need 00:05:57.399 --> 00:05:59.439 isn't your own house. 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:00.959 Your greatest need 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:02.180 is my house. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:03.399 And you're invited. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:04.519 What you need most, 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:06.939 what is of the utmost importance 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:08.420 is not your own house, 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:09.680 but my house. 00:06:09.759 --> 00:06:10.720 Or as Haggai calls it 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:11.340 in verse two, 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:13.279 the house of the Lord. 00:06:13.980 --> 00:06:14.800 The house of the Lord. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:16.720 Now, before we dive 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:17.500 into the context 00:06:17.500 --> 00:06:18.680 of Haggai chapter two, 00:06:18.800 --> 00:06:19.620 I want us to understand 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:20.459 the significance 00:06:20.459 --> 00:06:22.199 of the house of the Lord. 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:23.660 We need a wide-angle view 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:24.300 from Scripture 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:26.080 of what the house 00:06:26.080 --> 00:06:27.380 of the Lord is. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:29.480 And to put it simply, 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:30.520 it's so much more 00:06:30.520 --> 00:06:31.260 than a building, right? 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:31.800 To put it simply, 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:32.480 the house of the Lord 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:33.120 is another way 00:06:33.120 --> 00:06:33.860 of talking about 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:35.340 the temple in Jerusalem. 00:06:35.840 --> 00:06:36.260 And man, 00:06:36.320 --> 00:06:37.600 there's so much I'd like to say 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:38.360 about the temple, 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:39.460 but let me just say this. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:41.160 The key point of the temple, 00:06:41.300 --> 00:06:42.160 the house of the Lord, 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.820 is the presence of God. 00:06:44.420 --> 00:06:45.460 The presence of God. 00:06:45.520 --> 00:06:46.180 The meeting place 00:06:46.180 --> 00:06:47.140 between heaven and earth, 00:06:47.379 --> 00:06:49.260 between God and humanity. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.140 And this has always been 00:06:51.140 --> 00:06:51.740 God's heart 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:53.260 from the very beginning. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:54.640 From the very beginning 00:06:54.640 --> 00:06:55.360 of creation. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:56.140 In the book of Genesis, 00:06:56.580 --> 00:06:57.180 we see that God 00:06:57.180 --> 00:06:58.040 has always sought 00:06:58.040 --> 00:06:59.260 to build a house, 00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:00.160 a dwelling place, 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:02.420 to be with His people. 00:07:03.320 --> 00:07:04.680 Like while every other 00:07:04.680 --> 00:07:06.100 ancient Near Eastern religion 00:07:06.100 --> 00:07:07.780 placed images of their gods 00:07:07.780 --> 00:07:09.200 in their temples, 00:07:10.100 --> 00:07:12.580 God, He created Adam and Eve 00:07:12.580 --> 00:07:13.440 in His own image. 00:07:13.700 --> 00:07:14.620 And He placed them 00:07:14.620 --> 00:07:15.800 in the garden. 00:07:16.280 --> 00:07:17.280 And He made them priests 00:07:17.280 --> 00:07:18.080 in that garden. 00:07:18.180 --> 00:07:19.320 He gave them the same job 00:07:19.320 --> 00:07:20.200 that He gave the priests 00:07:20.200 --> 00:07:20.900 of Israel. 00:07:20.900 --> 00:07:21.980 He said, guard it, 00:07:22.220 --> 00:07:22.780 cultivate it, 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:23.719 protect it, 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:25.419 nurture it. 00:07:26.119 --> 00:07:27.759 That's exactly what He said 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:28.500 to the priests 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:29.579 of the tabernacle 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:30.619 and the temple as well. 00:07:30.679 --> 00:07:31.319 And most importantly, 00:07:31.459 --> 00:07:32.059 there in the garden, 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:35.759 God walked with us. 00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:38.379 God walked with His people. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:39.159 He met with them. 00:07:39.219 --> 00:07:39.739 He walked with them 00:07:39.739 --> 00:07:40.399 and they enjoyed 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:41.719 each other's presence. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:42.839 And this is how it begins 00:07:42.839 --> 00:07:44.239 and this is also how it ends. 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:45.159 At the end of the Bible, 00:07:45.599 --> 00:07:47.159 in Revelation chapter 21, 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:49.279 Revelation chapter 21, 00:07:49.359 --> 00:07:50.179 it talks about the city 00:07:50.180 --> 00:07:51.100 and the temple 00:07:51.100 --> 00:07:52.740 and the final dwelling place 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:53.740 of God and His people. 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:54.480 And it says this, 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:56.300 I saw the holy city, 00:07:56.860 --> 00:07:57.480 the new Jerusalem, 00:07:57.660 --> 00:07:58.900 coming down out of heaven 00:07:58.900 --> 00:07:59.560 from God. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.340 And I heard a loud voice 00:08:01.340 --> 00:08:02.139 from the throne saying, 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:02.639 look, 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:04.620 God's dwelling place 00:08:04.620 --> 00:08:06.740 is now among the people 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:08.740 and He will dwell with them. 00:08:09.160 --> 00:08:10.280 They will be His people 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:11.259 and God Himself 00:08:11.259 --> 00:08:13.180 will be with them 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:14.420 and be their God. 00:08:14.460 --> 00:08:15.139 He will wipe away 00:08:15.139 --> 00:08:16.259 every tear from their eyes. 00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:17.959 There will be no more death 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:18.539 or mourning 00:08:18.539 --> 00:08:19.680 or crying or pain 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:21.219 for the old order of things 00:08:21.219 --> 00:08:22.120 has passed away. 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:23.500 And then He says, 00:08:23.579 --> 00:08:24.539 I did not see a temple 00:08:24.539 --> 00:08:25.039 in the city 00:08:25.039 --> 00:08:28.139 because the Lord God Almighty 00:08:28.139 --> 00:08:28.920 and the Lamb 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:31.259 are its temple. 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:32.460 So see, 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:34.419 this has always been 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:35.059 God's intention. 00:08:35.439 --> 00:08:37.240 Even in spite of Adam and Eve's 00:08:37.240 --> 00:08:38.200 sinful rebellion, 00:08:38.340 --> 00:08:39.580 their failure as priests 00:08:39.580 --> 00:08:40.960 to guard that garden 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:42.340 and their open rebellion 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:43.139 against God 00:08:43.139 --> 00:08:45.019 in His original dwelling place, 00:08:45.019 --> 00:08:46.579 God chose mercy. 00:08:47.139 --> 00:08:48.179 God chose grace 00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:49.819 time and time again 00:08:49.819 --> 00:08:50.879 and He never abandoned 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.600 His plan 00:08:51.600 --> 00:08:53.579 to dwell with His people, 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:55.439 to be with His people. 00:08:55.539 --> 00:08:56.899 That is the heart of God, 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:59.779 to be present with us, 00:09:00.340 --> 00:09:01.340 God with us. 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:03.019 And He made covenants 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:04.699 to ensure that this would happen, 00:09:04.840 --> 00:09:06.000 covenants with sinful people, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:06.720 sinful Abraham, 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:07.639 sinful Israel, 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:08.620 dwelling among them 00:09:08.620 --> 00:09:10.240 in their mobile tabernacle, 00:09:10.579 --> 00:09:10.799 right? 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:11.679 After delivering them 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:12.500 from Egypt 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:13.659 even while they complained 00:09:13.659 --> 00:09:14.319 and whined 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:14.980 and groaned 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:15.540 and grumbled, 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:17.000 He still dwelt with them 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:19.080 in that moving tabernacle. 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:22.700 And then, 00:09:23.300 --> 00:09:24.920 dwelling with them 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:26.900 for an even longer time, 00:09:27.020 --> 00:09:28.020 He dwelt with them 00:09:28.020 --> 00:09:28.740 in Jerusalem, 00:09:29.020 --> 00:09:30.300 in Solomon's temple, 00:09:30.920 --> 00:09:31.840 even while the nation 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.460 of Israel 00:09:32.460 --> 00:09:33.420 continued 00:09:33.420 --> 00:09:35.100 with their injustice 00:09:35.100 --> 00:09:37.180 and their infidelity. 00:09:37.179 --> 00:09:40.899 I'm glad it's done. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:46.539 God's a God 00:09:46.539 --> 00:09:47.519 who wants to dwell with us. 00:09:48.759 --> 00:09:49.279 He wanted to dwell 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:49.699 with the people 00:09:49.699 --> 00:09:51.839 with Adam and Eve 00:09:51.839 --> 00:09:52.239 in the garden. 00:09:52.339 --> 00:09:53.019 He wanted to dwell 00:09:53.019 --> 00:09:56.159 with His rescued Israelites 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:56.939 out of Egypt 00:09:56.939 --> 00:09:57.879 in the tabernacle. 00:09:57.979 --> 00:09:58.620 He wanted to dwell 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:00.620 with His sinful, 00:10:01.099 --> 00:10:01.719 unjust, 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:02.740 wayward, 00:10:02.839 --> 00:10:03.639 idolatrous people 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:04.839 in Solomon's temple. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:06.800 And even though 00:10:06.800 --> 00:10:07.519 He would eventually 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:08.620 send the Babylonians 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:09.040 and come 00:10:09.040 --> 00:10:10.379 and they would destroy Jerusalem, 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:11.160 they would destroy 00:10:11.160 --> 00:10:11.960 the temple, 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:12.920 and He would allow 00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:13.840 that first temple 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:14.759 to be destroyed, 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:16.180 even then, 00:10:16.680 --> 00:10:17.460 He never gave up 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:18.060 on His covenant 00:10:18.060 --> 00:10:19.040 with them. 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:20.220 He never gave up 00:10:20.220 --> 00:10:20.899 on His promise 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:22.100 that He would be with them. 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:23.620 And He brings them back, 00:10:23.660 --> 00:10:23.780 right? 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:24.420 He brings them back 00:10:24.420 --> 00:10:25.300 after 70 years 00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:26.960 from Babylonian exile 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:28.200 just as He promised. 00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:29.180 And then you have 00:10:29.180 --> 00:10:29.940 a small remnant 00:10:29.940 --> 00:10:31.860 of about 50,000 Israelites 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:33.440 who've chosen to return 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.180 and rebuild 00:10:34.180 --> 00:10:35.039 and resettle 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:35.960 in their homeland. 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:37.539 And they begin to farm. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:38.899 And they begin to rebuild 00:10:38.899 --> 00:10:40.139 the walls of Jerusalem again. 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:41.159 And most importantly, 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:42.460 they begin working 00:10:42.460 --> 00:10:43.440 on the second temple. 00:10:44.300 --> 00:10:45.139 And they laid down 00:10:45.139 --> 00:10:45.759 its foundation 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.240 as one of the first things 00:10:47.240 --> 00:10:47.560 they did 00:10:47.560 --> 00:10:48.440 after they got back 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:49.159 from exile, 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:50.259 all because God's plan 00:10:50.259 --> 00:10:51.060 has always been 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:52.600 to dwell with His people. 00:10:52.680 --> 00:10:53.379 And this brings us 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:54.519 to where we are here today 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:55.700 in the book of Haggai, 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:56.500 to our text today, 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.860 these words from the prophet. 00:10:58.680 --> 00:10:59.320 Here at the time 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:00.399 of Haggai's prophetic words, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:02.100 about 16 years, okay? 00:11:02.199 --> 00:11:03.840 16 years have gone by 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:05.919 since those original 50,000 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:07.259 have returned from Babylon 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:08.740 to Jerusalem. 00:11:10.019 --> 00:11:12.019 But after these 16 years, 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:13.639 it's still just the foundation. 00:11:14.679 --> 00:11:15.500 No one has built 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.500 on top of it yet. 00:11:17.079 --> 00:11:18.379 And so this is the context 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:19.539 that the prophet Haggai 00:11:19.539 --> 00:11:21.459 is speaking into. 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:24.879 This is what he wants to, 00:11:25.079 --> 00:11:26.179 this is the reason 00:11:26.179 --> 00:11:27.939 why he's giving God's word 00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:29.000 to them, okay? 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.299 There's nothing done yet. 00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.360 And he says in verse 2 00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:33.200 to the leaders of Israel, 00:11:33.299 --> 00:11:34.220 to the priest Joshua, 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:35.840 to the governors of Rebubal, 00:11:35.899 --> 00:11:36.539 he says this, 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:38.340 Thus says the Lord of hosts, 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:39.879 These people say 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:41.019 the time has not yet come 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.320 to rebuild the house 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:42.860 of the Lord. 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:45.000 Is it a time for you, 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:45.820 yourselves, 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:47.799 to dwell in your paneled houses 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:49.500 while this house 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:51.059 lies in ruins? 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:52.919 Saying, 00:11:53.100 --> 00:11:54.700 you built your houses, 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.860 how come you haven't built mine? 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:59.159 And, you know, 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:00.620 I think we might read this 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:01.379 and there might be 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:02.240 a tendency to 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.899 treat these Israelites harshly. 00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.060 Why don't you just obey God? 00:12:06.120 --> 00:12:06.560 Why don't you put 00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:07.379 first things first? 00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:08.519 But let's be sympathetic, 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:08.899 all right? 00:12:08.919 --> 00:12:09.399 Let's be sympathetic 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:10.360 and kind of think 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:11.159 of some reasons 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:13.019 why they might have 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:13.680 left the temple 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.500 in ruins. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.159 For starters, 00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.300 they were returning 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:16.940 from exile. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:18.240 Did they have tons of money? 00:12:18.419 --> 00:12:19.580 Probably not. 00:12:19.659 --> 00:12:20.159 Did they have tons 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:21.000 of resources? 00:12:21.180 --> 00:12:21.700 Probably not. 00:12:21.779 --> 00:12:22.440 Were they expert, 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:22.680 you know, 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:23.560 civil engineers 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:24.659 and architects? 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.039 Probably not. 00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.819 And we also have to 00:12:27.819 --> 00:12:28.819 imagine how daunting 00:12:28.819 --> 00:12:29.879 a task this would have been 00:12:29.879 --> 00:12:30.559 for them to return 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:31.419 to a nation still 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:32.279 bearing the scars 00:12:32.279 --> 00:12:33.539 of that complete destruction 00:12:33.539 --> 00:12:35.319 of their beloved city. 00:12:35.419 --> 00:12:36.839 Huge piles of rubble 00:12:36.839 --> 00:12:37.899 to get out of the way 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:38.539 before you can even 00:12:38.539 --> 00:12:39.419 start building, right? 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:40.259 Probably not a lot 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:41.479 of building materials, 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:42.719 easily accessible. 00:12:43.719 --> 00:12:44.819 And then the land itself 00:12:44.819 --> 00:12:46.599 and their ancestral homes 00:12:46.599 --> 00:12:47.939 in disarray 00:12:47.939 --> 00:12:48.899 and disrepair. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.839 The land had probably 00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:50.439 lain fallow 00:12:50.439 --> 00:12:51.719 for a very long time. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.279 There were people 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:54.620 who were left in Israel too, 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:56.220 people usually 00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.840 from the lower classes, 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.040 and now these people 00:12:59.040 --> 00:12:59.740 had moved into 00:12:59.740 --> 00:13:00.379 a lot of these lands 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.460 so there were legal disputes 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.759 about who belonged to 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.300 or what land belonged to whom, 00:13:05.000 --> 00:13:05.920 not knowing if, 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:06.639 you know, 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.399 this land is mine 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:09.340 or this land is yours. 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.180 How are we going to 00:13:10.180 --> 00:13:10.779 settle this? 00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:11.639 The king of Persia, 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:12.340 is he going to 00:13:12.340 --> 00:13:13.300 settle this for us? 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:14.779 And if you read back 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:16.779 in the biblical accounts 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:18.480 of Ezra and Nehemiah, 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.160 you'd also know 00:13:19.160 --> 00:13:19.700 that there was 00:13:19.700 --> 00:13:20.779 foreign opposition 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:21.959 to the rebuilding 00:13:21.959 --> 00:13:22.519 of the city 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:23.459 and to the rebuilding 00:13:23.459 --> 00:13:24.399 of the temple. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:26.100 And all the builders 00:13:26.100 --> 00:13:27.379 actually at one point 00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.259 had to hold both 00:13:28.259 --> 00:13:30.259 a shovel and a sword 00:13:30.259 --> 00:13:31.799 at the same time 00:13:31.799 --> 00:13:32.879 because they were 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:33.919 always under threat 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:34.799 as they were trying 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:36.079 to work on 00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:37.299 the city of God. 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:38.759 Verse 8, 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.519 God tells them, 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:40.279 go up that hill 00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:41.019 and get that wood, 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.500 bring it down. 00:13:41.539 --> 00:13:42.639 Who wants to go up a hill 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:44.059 and carry wood down, 00:13:44.299 --> 00:13:44.579 right? 00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.779 It's a lot of work. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.980 It's going out of my way. 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.600 And then there's also 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.559 the demotivation factor, 00:13:49.559 --> 00:13:49.839 right? 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:50.699 Imagine how hard 00:13:50.699 --> 00:13:51.079 it would have been 00:13:51.079 --> 00:13:53.079 to believe that God 00:13:53.079 --> 00:13:54.039 actually still wanted 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:55.099 to dwell with them at all 00:13:55.099 --> 00:13:58.000 after 70 years of exile. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.899 Imagine how hard 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:00.479 it would have been 00:14:00.479 --> 00:14:01.500 to believe that the 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:02.099 second temple, 00:14:02.219 --> 00:14:02.899 whose foundation, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.959 it really paled 00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:04.559 in comparison 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.239 to the first, 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.459 was going to actually 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:07.199 be significant 00:14:07.199 --> 00:14:09.159 in the plan of God. 00:14:09.819 --> 00:14:10.939 This temple that still 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:12.759 was under foreign occupation, 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:13.719 it was much smaller, 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:15.179 much less spectacular 00:14:15.179 --> 00:14:16.399 than the previous one. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:17.720 How could this second temple 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:19.600 that we've just scrounged up, 00:14:19.639 --> 00:14:20.319 how can this have 00:14:20.319 --> 00:14:21.340 any significance 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.779 like the prophets 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:23.939 had foretold? 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:25.539 In Ezra chapter 3, 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:26.659 there's this really vivid 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:27.819 and awkward 00:14:27.819 --> 00:14:29.879 and uninspiring description 00:14:29.879 --> 00:14:31.819 of the temple's foundation. 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:32.659 It says this, 00:14:32.659 --> 00:14:33.980 And all the people 00:14:33.980 --> 00:14:34.779 gave a great shout 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:35.620 of praise to the Lord 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.720 because the foundation 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.279 of the house 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.179 of the Lord was laid. 00:14:38.819 --> 00:14:41.319 But many of the older priests 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:42.279 and Levites 00:14:42.279 --> 00:14:43.299 and family heads 00:14:43.299 --> 00:14:43.899 who had seen 00:14:43.899 --> 00:14:44.799 the former temple 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.340 wept aloud 00:14:46.340 --> 00:14:47.759 when they saw 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:48.419 the foundation 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:49.299 of this temple 00:14:49.299 --> 00:14:50.480 being laid. 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:51.980 While many others 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:52.639 shouted for joy, 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:53.899 no one could distinguish 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:54.819 the sound 00:14:54.819 --> 00:14:56.259 of the shouts of joy 00:14:56.259 --> 00:14:57.740 from the sound 00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.360 of weeping. 00:14:59.299 --> 00:15:00.299 Not exactly 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.939 an inspiring time 00:15:01.939 --> 00:15:03.939 to build the temple, right? 00:15:04.419 --> 00:15:05.000 And then lastly, 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.980 you just have the scarcity 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:06.639 and the drought 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:07.419 and the famine 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:08.299 that they're dealing with 00:15:08.299 --> 00:15:08.879 in the land. 00:15:08.939 --> 00:15:10.000 I think it's in verse 8, 00:15:10.419 --> 00:15:11.439 which they don't even realize, 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:12.500 but it was God himself 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.460 who was preventing them 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.400 from prospering 00:15:14.400 --> 00:15:15.519 because they let his house 00:15:15.519 --> 00:15:16.879 stay in ruins. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:17.800 Verse 9, it says, 00:15:18.160 --> 00:15:18.879 You looked for much 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:19.340 and behold, 00:15:19.400 --> 00:15:20.060 it came to little. 00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:21.740 And when you brought it home, 00:15:21.860 --> 00:15:22.639 I blew it away. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.040 Why? 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.540 declares the Lord of hosts. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:26.320 Because of my house 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.480 that lies in ruins. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:28.680 While each of you 00:15:28.680 --> 00:15:29.420 busies himself 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:30.460 with his own house, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:32.680 therefore the heavens above 00:15:32.680 --> 00:15:34.720 you have withheld the dew 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.320 and the earth 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.460 has withheld its produce. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.639 And I have called 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.259 for a drought 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:38.900 on the land 00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:39.660 and the hills, 00:15:40.220 --> 00:15:40.940 on the grain, 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:41.960 the new wine, 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:42.580 the oil, 00:15:42.580 --> 00:15:43.700 on what the ground 00:15:43.700 --> 00:15:44.340 brings forth, 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.540 on man and beast 00:15:45.540 --> 00:15:47.200 and on all their labors. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.520 They were occupied 00:15:48.520 --> 00:15:49.680 with their own houses 00:15:49.680 --> 00:15:50.660 instead of God's 00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.379 and unwittingly 00:15:51.379 --> 00:15:52.139 they were digging 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.080 even deeper holes 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:54.040 for themselves. 00:15:55.139 --> 00:15:55.700 So I ask you again, 00:15:55.759 --> 00:15:56.340 can you imagine 00:15:56.340 --> 00:15:58.180 being very motivated 00:15:58.180 --> 00:16:00.240 to build this second temple? 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:02.759 Can you imagine 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.860 going through a drought 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.600 and famine 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:05.840 and such scarcity 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.980 and having the faith 00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.759 to stop working 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:08.740 on your own household 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:10.019 and start working 00:16:10.019 --> 00:16:11.180 on God's? 00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:13.159 Can you imagine 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:14.680 why they might have said, 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:16.200 it's just not the time 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.039 right now in verse 2. 00:16:17.100 --> 00:16:18.259 It's just not the time 00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:19.519 to build 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.440 the house 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.220 of the Lord. 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:23.039 And maybe that's how 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.940 a lot of us feel 00:16:23.940 --> 00:16:24.820 with regard to 00:16:24.820 --> 00:16:25.860 how much we are 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:26.600 wanting to invest 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.180 in the house 00:16:27.180 --> 00:16:27.600 of the Lord. 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:28.220 It's just not 00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:29.279 the right time for me. 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:30.539 It's not the right season. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:32.779 But I think the question 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.659 for us this morning 00:16:33.659 --> 00:16:34.340 from God's word 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:35.440 is when is the right time? 00:16:36.539 --> 00:16:37.519 When is the right time? 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.500 I was really convicted 00:16:38.500 --> 00:16:39.199 the other week. 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:41.539 I'll tell you two stories. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:44.220 There was a time 00:16:44.220 --> 00:16:44.679 in seminary, 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.179 I remember, 00:16:45.319 --> 00:16:45.980 and I was trying 00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:46.840 super hard 00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.879 to get good grades. 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:48.539 I really wanted 00:16:48.539 --> 00:16:49.980 to get into a Ph.D. program, 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.500 but my school 00:16:51.500 --> 00:16:52.259 in Philadelphia, 00:16:52.439 --> 00:16:53.220 Westminster Seminary, 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:54.399 has a reputation 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.439 for being quite 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.639 academically rigorous. 00:16:56.840 --> 00:16:57.539 Like, I think 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.759 if you got a 95%, 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.699 it was an A-. 00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:00.699 It was crazy. 00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.120 I was trying so hard 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:03.600 to get a good GPA, 00:17:04.039 --> 00:17:04.639 get my Ph.D. 00:17:04.639 --> 00:17:05.639 so I could serve God 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.960 and fulfill all the plans 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.519 that I had 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.920 to serve Him. 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:10.400 And, you know, 00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:10.960 I worked hard. 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:11.860 I worked my tail off 00:17:11.860 --> 00:17:12.900 and I remember 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:14.700 there was one point 00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:15.400 in the semester, 00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:16.500 oh, probably several points, 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.420 but there was one time 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.940 I remember, 00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.700 not only did Westminster 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.500 encourage us 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:22.240 to study hard, 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:23.120 but also encourage us 00:17:23.120 --> 00:17:24.600 to develop spiritually 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:26.660 and they had chapel regularly, 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:28.519 they had times of meeting 00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:29.500 with our prayer groups 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:31.340 and I remember 00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:32.559 one time 00:17:32.559 --> 00:17:33.900 I was hanging out 00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:34.400 with my friend 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.620 in one of these public areas 00:17:35.619 --> 00:17:36.679 and he said, 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.399 yo, are you going to 00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.719 go to prayer group now? 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:39.619 And I said, 00:17:40.119 --> 00:17:40.599 no, man, 00:17:40.719 --> 00:17:42.079 I don't got time to pray. 00:17:43.439 --> 00:17:44.799 I don't got time to pray. 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:46.099 And of course, 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.099 the vice, 00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:48.419 or the associate dean 00:17:48.419 --> 00:17:48.979 was there 00:17:48.979 --> 00:17:49.879 in the same room 00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:51.419 overhearing my conversation 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.179 and she said, 00:17:53.139 --> 00:17:53.559 hey, man, 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.919 you don't have time 00:17:54.919 --> 00:17:55.759 not to pray. 00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:57.939 And she got me. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:17:59.779 She got me. 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:00.639 I didn't value 00:18:00.639 --> 00:18:02.240 the presence of God 00:18:02.240 --> 00:18:03.519 and I didn't 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.559 see my time 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.819 as worthy of giving 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:07.819 to just be with him 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:08.940 in prayer. 00:18:09.180 --> 00:18:09.879 Another story 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:10.599 I wanted to tell you 00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.859 is I was taking a walk 00:18:11.859 --> 00:18:12.740 in Alameda 00:18:12.740 --> 00:18:13.339 the other week 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.319 with Peter Claussen, 00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:15.660 one of our deacons, 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.980 and I was just sharing 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:17.399 with him 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:17.980 some of the things 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.519 I'm working on 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:19.039 in my life. 00:18:19.139 --> 00:18:19.519 Right now, 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.980 me and our family, 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:21.559 we're really trying 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:22.279 to work on 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:23.399 observing the Sabbath 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.559 in a more faithful 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.819 and structured 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.779 and intentional way. 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:27.680 And I said, 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.379 here's my plan, 00:18:28.380 --> 00:18:30.040 but I'm going to 00:18:30.040 --> 00:18:30.780 start ramping up 00:18:30.780 --> 00:18:32.600 after this milestone 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:33.560 in our life. 00:18:34.800 --> 00:18:36.580 And Peter looked at me 00:18:36.580 --> 00:18:36.920 and he's like, 00:18:36.980 --> 00:18:38.420 oh, you're my pastor, 00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:39.440 but can I give you 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:40.140 some advice? 00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:43.840 And he said, 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:45.640 don't wait, man. 00:18:46.600 --> 00:18:48.720 Waiting for that right time 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.760 to do what's right 00:18:49.760 --> 00:18:52.520 is not the way 00:18:52.520 --> 00:18:53.700 of the people of God. 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:54.740 It's not the way 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.340 of the people of God. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:57.260 God's word to us today 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.680 is that it's always 00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.379 the right time. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:00.740 It's always the right time 00:19:00.740 --> 00:19:01.879 to build the Lord's house 00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:03.279 above and beyond 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.379 our own houses. 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:06.200 It's always the right time 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.059 to build God's house 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.980 above and beyond 00:19:07.980 --> 00:19:08.599 our own houses. 00:19:08.660 --> 00:19:09.259 And you might be asking, 00:19:09.400 --> 00:19:10.359 okay, what does that even mean? 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:12.140 What does it even mean 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.879 to build the house 00:19:13.879 --> 00:19:14.480 of the Lord? 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.259 Does it mean like, 00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:15.619 you know, 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:17.119 yesterday when everyone came 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:17.619 and they put up 00:19:17.619 --> 00:19:18.980 these nice decorations, 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:20.079 thank you everyone 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.879 for doing that? 00:19:21.480 --> 00:19:22.579 Well, yeah, sort of, 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.140 but it's also a lot 00:19:24.140 --> 00:19:25.440 more than that as well. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.059 And I'm not saying 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:26.840 we all need to, 00:19:27.380 --> 00:19:27.600 you know, 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.400 become contractors 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:29.980 and go build churches, 00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.880 but Paul says 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:32.140 in 1 Corinthians 6 00:19:32.140 --> 00:19:33.900 that the people of God, 00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:35.600 the body of Christ, 00:19:36.340 --> 00:19:39.360 we are the temple of God 00:19:39.360 --> 00:19:40.700 and the Holy Spirit 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.420 dwells within us. 00:19:43.320 --> 00:19:44.120 So when I ask, 00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:44.820 in what ways 00:19:44.820 --> 00:19:45.320 are we building 00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.080 the house of the Lord? 00:19:46.140 --> 00:19:46.539 I'm asking, 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.080 in what ways 00:19:47.080 --> 00:19:48.019 are we building up 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.500 the body of Christ 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.900 with our time 00:19:50.900 --> 00:19:52.100 and with our talent 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:53.180 and with our treasure? 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:55.240 And I'm not just saying 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.480 a simple volunteer more, 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.279 give money more, 00:19:57.340 --> 00:19:57.539 you know, 00:19:57.660 --> 00:19:58.360 here at Christ Church 00:19:58.360 --> 00:19:59.080 we like to say 00:19:59.080 --> 00:20:00.660 it's awesome 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.420 if you could worship 00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.400 plus two, right? 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:03.380 Come to worship, 00:20:03.840 --> 00:20:04.720 maybe get involved 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:05.480 in a community group 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.140 and maybe serve 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:07.779 on some kind of team here, 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.060 but it's so much more 00:20:09.060 --> 00:20:09.340 than that. 00:20:09.440 --> 00:20:10.180 What I really want 00:20:10.180 --> 00:20:11.080 to challenge us today 00:20:11.080 --> 00:20:12.759 is to consider 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.720 our priorities. 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.880 I want to challenge 00:20:15.880 --> 00:20:17.000 our very priorities, 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:18.160 like what if the church, 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:19.600 what if the body 00:20:19.600 --> 00:20:20.320 of Christ 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:23.159 came before our jobs? 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.759 And I'm not saying 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.659 quit all your jobs 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.599 and join me and Jonathan 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.460 to be pastors, 00:20:28.240 --> 00:20:29.639 but like what if 00:20:29.639 --> 00:20:30.339 we thought about 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:30.919 and weighed 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:32.279 the impacts 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.240 of our actions 00:20:33.240 --> 00:20:34.099 on the church? 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.639 Like when we decide 00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.159 to move away, 00:20:37.439 --> 00:20:38.279 move homes, 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:39.819 take a more demanding job 00:20:39.819 --> 00:20:41.039 or take that promotion 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:42.000 with maybe better pay 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:43.839 but hours less conducive 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.919 to leading people 00:20:44.919 --> 00:20:46.339 into deeper relationships 00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:47.079 with Christ 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:47.960 and His church 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:48.779 through community 00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:50.319 and for the city? 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.220 And I say this 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:52.899 with hesitation 00:20:52.899 --> 00:20:53.980 because the last thing 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:54.819 I want is for us 00:20:54.819 --> 00:20:55.819 to be some kind of cult 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.799 and the church is big 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.899 and we are so glad 00:20:58.899 --> 00:20:59.500 that so many people 00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.000 have come through 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:00.420 these doors 00:21:00.420 --> 00:21:01.180 and left 00:21:01.180 --> 00:21:02.160 and are now serving 00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:03.139 at other churches 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:05.019 in other contexts. 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:06.639 But what I'm trying 00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.799 to press upon us, 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.500 what I'm trying 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.259 to press upon 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:12.119 is where does the church, 00:21:12.259 --> 00:21:12.899 both local 00:21:12.899 --> 00:21:13.899 and global, 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.000 the temple of God, 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:15.759 where's the people 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.319 of God, 00:21:16.379 --> 00:21:17.039 the dwelling place 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:17.859 of the Holy Spirit 00:21:17.859 --> 00:21:19.719 land on each 00:21:19.719 --> 00:21:21.399 of our priority lists? 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.339 And I know this 00:21:23.339 --> 00:21:24.399 is a big ask 00:21:24.399 --> 00:21:24.959 because I know 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:25.719 I'm not asking 00:21:25.719 --> 00:21:26.699 most of you 00:21:26.699 --> 00:21:28.099 to stop dealing drugs, 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:29.519 stop murdering people, 00:21:29.719 --> 00:21:31.219 stop robbing banks, right? 00:21:31.719 --> 00:21:33.139 Usually when we neglect 00:21:33.139 --> 00:21:34.279 to do the most important thing 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.019 it's not because 00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.639 we're doing something 00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:36.899 evil, bad, 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:38.159 or wrong, 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:39.859 but it's almost always 00:21:39.859 --> 00:21:40.759 because we're so busy 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.979 doing good things, right? 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.879 And necessary things. 00:21:44.859 --> 00:21:46.119 But God is calling us 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:47.259 to put first things first 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.459 here in Haggai chapter 1. 00:21:49.419 --> 00:21:50.279 To trust Him 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:50.819 with the good 00:21:50.819 --> 00:21:51.659 and necessary things 00:21:51.659 --> 00:21:53.339 that we often 00:21:53.339 --> 00:21:54.799 wrongly put before 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:56.839 the ultimate things. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:21:58.659 We've got to trust Him. 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.359 He's the one 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:01.519 who closed the heavens 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:03.000 and withheld the grain 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.699 and the oil 00:22:03.699 --> 00:22:04.619 and the dew 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.839 from these people of Israel 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.599 because they did not 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:07.619 put first things first. 00:22:07.719 --> 00:22:08.659 Will He not also 00:22:08.659 --> 00:22:10.659 provide all those things 00:22:10.659 --> 00:22:11.839 richly for us 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.459 when we follow Him? 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:15.819 And I hope I've got 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.779 some of us thinking now, 00:22:16.900 --> 00:22:18.500 okay, well how can I be 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.579 building up the house 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.039 of the Lord, 00:22:20.120 --> 00:22:21.220 the temple of God, right? 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.100 The church. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:22.840 Hmm. 00:22:23.360 --> 00:22:24.360 Let me think about it. 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:25.600 Let me pray about it. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.860 See what doors God 00:22:26.860 --> 00:22:27.759 opens up. 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:28.420 And I'm thankful 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:29.460 if you're even taking 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.220 a step like that 00:22:30.220 --> 00:22:31.220 in your minds right now. 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.220 But let me also say, 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:33.840 are there not some 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.640 trivial things 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:36.180 that we can be giving up 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.940 right now? 00:22:36.940 --> 00:22:39.519 We often say, 00:22:39.620 --> 00:22:40.420 oh, it's not time 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.299 for me to serve God 00:22:41.299 --> 00:22:43.400 in this or that way. 00:22:43.580 --> 00:22:45.000 I need to wait on God 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.120 and hear from Him 00:22:46.120 --> 00:22:47.100 so I know exactly 00:22:47.100 --> 00:22:47.779 how I'm going 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.740 to serve Him. 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.840 Did we put that much thought 00:22:50.840 --> 00:22:51.840 into our decision 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.340 to watch Netflix 00:22:53.340 --> 00:22:53.840 last night? 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.720 And again, 00:22:55.840 --> 00:22:56.860 I have to be careful. 00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:58.420 God is not anti-Netflix 00:22:58.420 --> 00:22:59.759 or fun 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.660 or recreation 00:23:00.660 --> 00:23:01.580 or rest. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:03.000 But His Word 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.460 is always challenging us 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:06.000 to constantly examine 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.339 our priorities 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:09.000 and not to grow 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:10.599 in complacency 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:12.539 in our paneled houses. 00:23:14.819 --> 00:23:15.579 And can I just 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.359 start wrapping up 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:16.900 by saying this? 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:17.980 This is not just 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.500 a matter of obey. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.000 Give more. 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.819 Obey harder. 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.559 Try harder. 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:24.380 Like we like to say here, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.119 I don't want 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:26.960 your generosity. 00:23:27.299 --> 00:23:27.680 I don't want 00:23:27.680 --> 00:23:28.200 the generosity 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.019 of your time, 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:29.640 talent, 00:23:29.819 --> 00:23:30.420 and treasures 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.400 from you. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:33.259 I want generosity 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.480 for you. 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.380 I want you to know 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:36.740 the liberating 00:23:36.740 --> 00:23:39.300 way of being 00:23:39.300 --> 00:23:40.140 so influenced 00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:41.100 by the gospel 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:41.660 of grace, 00:23:41.760 --> 00:23:42.460 the abundant grace 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:42.960 of God. 00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.880 God doesn't want 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.820 more, more, more 00:23:45.820 --> 00:23:46.260 from us. 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:46.920 Like He's got this 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:48.380 checklist of all 00:23:48.380 --> 00:23:48.880 that we have 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:49.560 and He's grading us 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:50.460 on how much 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.180 we're going to give. 00:23:51.260 --> 00:23:52.780 He just wants us. 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:55.260 He just wants us. 00:23:55.340 --> 00:23:55.900 People who want 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:56.500 to build the house 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:56.880 of the Lord, 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.500 people who want 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.600 to invest 00:23:58.600 --> 00:24:00.000 in the temple, 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.180 they don't do so 00:24:01.180 --> 00:24:02.840 primarily out of duty 00:24:02.840 --> 00:24:03.720 but out of conviction. 00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:05.319 The house of the Lord, 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:06.059 the temple of God, 00:24:06.120 --> 00:24:06.680 the new covenant 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.880 people of God 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.860 is where the very 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:10.180 presence of God 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:10.860 resides. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:11.579 Like what if we came 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:12.539 to church believing 00:24:12.539 --> 00:24:12.960 that? 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:15.059 That this is where 00:24:15.059 --> 00:24:16.059 the very presence 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:17.880 of God dwells. 00:24:18.759 --> 00:24:19.700 The point of the temple 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.299 is not to have 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:20.880 an institution 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.620 to give to 00:24:21.620 --> 00:24:22.299 or serve 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:23.140 or support. 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.480 Like I said 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:24.920 in the beginning, 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.900 the point of the temple 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.839 has always been 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:28.559 the presence of God 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:29.920 with His people. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:31.500 You can ask, 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:32.440 does it do anything 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.680 to us to hear that? 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:35.160 That God, 00:24:35.600 --> 00:24:37.100 the most high creator 00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:37.779 of the universe, 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.120 desired not just 00:24:39.120 --> 00:24:39.799 to be God 00:24:39.799 --> 00:24:40.700 but to be God 00:24:40.700 --> 00:24:41.940 with us. 00:24:42.920 --> 00:24:44.240 God with us. 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:44.920 Emmanuel. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.220 Something that 00:24:47.220 --> 00:24:48.180 my three-year-old daughter 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:48.740 has been saying 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.680 a lot to me lately, 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:51.360 one of the nice things, 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:52.340 there are tons of other 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:53.519 not very nice things, 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.900 but one of the things 00:24:54.900 --> 00:24:55.799 that melts my heart 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:56.900 every single time 00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:57.539 is she says, 00:24:58.100 --> 00:24:58.380 Daddy, 00:24:58.779 --> 00:25:00.279 can you be with me? 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:00.799 Daddy, 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.579 can you get me more milk? 00:25:04.619 --> 00:25:04.740 Well, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:05.539 she says that every morning. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:05.980 Daddy, 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:07.139 can you get me more goldfish? 00:25:07.200 --> 00:25:08.119 She doesn't say that anymore. 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:10.500 But she says quite frequently, 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:10.980 Daddy, 00:25:11.579 --> 00:25:13.079 can you be with me? 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:14.339 She doesn't want me 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:15.139 to do something 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:16.200 with her 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:16.859 or for her. 00:25:16.940 --> 00:25:18.180 She just wants me to be. 00:25:18.259 --> 00:25:19.160 She wants all of me 00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.480 just with her. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.899 She wants my presence 00:25:21.899 --> 00:25:23.220 and it just melts my heart 00:25:23.220 --> 00:25:23.799 every single time 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.559 because I feel loved, 00:25:24.639 --> 00:25:25.519 I feel adored, 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.579 I feel honored. 00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.799 What if we said that to God? 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.700 And can we hear him 00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.740 saying that to us? 00:25:33.779 --> 00:25:34.659 Can I be with you? 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.279 That's what I want, 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:36.799 he says. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.720 That's what the temple 00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:38.220 is about. 00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.940 That's his heart. 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.440 God with us. 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:43.700 He wants to be with us. 00:25:44.500 --> 00:25:45.220 John chapter 1, 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:45.879 in the beginning 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.259 was the Word 00:25:47.259 --> 00:25:48.440 and the Word 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.599 was with God 00:25:49.599 --> 00:25:50.579 and the Word 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.279 was God. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:51.819 Verse 14, 00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:52.259 and the Word 00:25:52.259 --> 00:25:53.720 became flesh 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:55.960 and dwelt among us, 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.680 literally tabernacled 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.440 amongst us. 00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.140 Do we realize 00:25:59.140 --> 00:26:00.019 what great lengths 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.759 he's gone to 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.740 to be with us 00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.299 in Christ? 00:26:02.440 --> 00:26:03.720 God has emptied himself, 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:04.940 taking on humanity 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:06.019 to be with us 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.019 and not just to be God 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.799 with us 00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.519 but to be God 00:26:08.519 --> 00:26:09.140 crucified 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:11.220 by and for us. 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.759 God with us, 00:26:14.100 --> 00:26:14.500 crucified 00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:16.820 in Jesus Christ, 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.160 God with us. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.340 He's the one 00:26:19.340 --> 00:26:20.680 who went up that hill. 00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.340 He went up that hill 00:26:22.340 --> 00:26:23.580 and carried that wood 00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:25.519 because he wanted 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.099 to be with us. 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:29.119 Tear this temple down, 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.460 he said in John chapter 2, 00:26:30.680 --> 00:26:31.859 and I will raise it up 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:33.279 in three days. 00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:34.460 And he did. 00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.799 And he wants to raise us up too. 00:26:36.859 --> 00:26:37.700 He wants us to know 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:39.339 union with him, 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.900 presence of God 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:41.700 with him. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:43.379 Christ Church, 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.539 the temple has come 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.839 in Christ. 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.220 And the church 00:26:47.220 --> 00:26:47.900 is his body 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.099 whom he purchased 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:49.759 with his blood 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.940 and united himself with 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.420 and filled 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.379 with his spirit. 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:54.020 that's what this is. 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:56.200 In the book of Haggai 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.700 and in the person of Christ, 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:58.840 God is inviting us 00:26:58.840 --> 00:26:59.480 today. 00:27:00.240 --> 00:27:00.460 He's saying, 00:27:00.580 --> 00:27:01.380 I want to be with you. 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.960 I want to be with you. 00:27:03.020 --> 00:27:04.340 I want to dwell with you. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:05.980 I am building a house 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.460 for us 00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.640 to dwell together 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.540 forever in. 00:27:09.280 --> 00:27:10.040 Will you join me? 00:27:11.020 --> 00:27:11.760 Will you join me? 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:12.920 Will you pray with me? 00:27:18.060 --> 00:27:18.460 Lord, 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:18.940 if it 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:21.500 does not affect us, 00:27:21.500 --> 00:27:22.500 God, 00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:22.880 that you, 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.779 the God of the universe, 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.680 the I am, 00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:27.880 desire to be 00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:29.819 God with us. 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:32.200 That your son says, 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:33.440 surely I am 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.460 with you 00:27:34.460 --> 00:27:35.400 always, 00:27:36.319 --> 00:27:37.380 even to the end 00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.200 of the age. 00:27:39.619 --> 00:27:40.779 If that does not 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:41.519 affect us, 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:41.799 Lord, 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.339 would you 00:27:42.339 --> 00:27:44.579 wreck our stony hearts? 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:47.400 Show us 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.240 that our deepest, 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:49.440 our only need 00:27:49.440 --> 00:27:50.940 is the presence 00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.539 of God. 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:53.940 That's what we need. 00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.180 Help us to prioritize 00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:59.700 the presence of God, 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.059 the house of God 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.960 over our own 00:28:01.960 --> 00:28:02.860 households, 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:04.860 no matter what the cost. 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.799 And help us to know 00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.660 what great lengths 00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.660 you went to, 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.759 what costs you paid 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:11.640 to build your house 00:28:11.640 --> 00:28:12.480 amongst us, 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.900 to be with us, 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:15.279 to be our God. 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.319 Lord, 00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.399 we pray these things 00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.099 in the name of Jesus. 00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.139 Amen.