HAGGAI & ZECHARIAH

Today is Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to a full and wonderful day.  I get to preach two chapels today and then teach through Hebrews tonight as we Walk Thru the Bible.  Here are some thoughts from Haggai and Zechariah:

1) WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE NEGLECT GOD'S HOUSE?  Haggai 1:6, 9 "Ye have sown much and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he tht earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes."  vs. 9 "Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it.  Why?  saith the LORD of hosts.  Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house."  In other words, God is saying because the people have neglected to build His house, their homes will not prosper.  There is an important principle here that is stating that IF we take care of God's House (the Church), that God will take care of our house!  Our tithes and offerings are used to further God's Work in His House (the Church).  God blesses that!  And when we don't, we bring a curse upon ourselves that Haggai describes.

2) FROM THIS DAY- Haggai 2:19 says:  "... from this day will I bless you."  verse 18 explains it:  "... even from the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider it."  In chapter two, we see that the foundation of the new Temple was laid, and God is saying from the day the foundation was laid, even from that day.... He will start blessing His people.  Now notice this:  it was not the finishing of the project that God blessed but the starting of the project.  God does not bless your life as you complete the Christian journey, but as you start the Christian Journey!  Wow!  Isn't that just wonderful of God?  Yes, it is!

3) GOD'S FAVOR ON THE JEWS- Zechariah 8:23 says:  "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you:  for we have heard that God is with you."  This is talking about the divine favor that God has put upon the Jew.  I don't know if this is talking about a time past, present, or future, but I know God means it.  Let us ever be on the side of the Jewish people, even though they are not a present serving God, nor have they accepted Christ as their Savior; but, God is not through with His dealings with them, and many of them will turn to Christ during the tribulation period. 

Well, so much for today.  Hope you are having a wonderfully, blessed day today.  Pastor Mike Mutchler