Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 70:1-5 God, hurry to rescue me. Lord, hurry to help me!
2 Let those who seek to kill me be disgraced and confounded;
let those who wish me harm be turned back and humiliated.
3 Let those who say, “Aha, aha!” retreat because of their shame.
4 Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;
let those who love your salvation continually say, “God is great!”
5 I am oppressed and needy; hurry to me, God.
You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.
When David addresses God as Lord in this Psalm, he is using God’s personal name. God’s personal name is Yahweh. Yahweh, the personal, redeeming, just, merciful and rescuing God is the one that David cries out to for rescue. When you call to God you are calling out to a being who is personal. He knows you and he is truly great. Praise the personal God, Yahweh.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Haggai 1 – New Living Translation
A Call to Rebuild the Temple
1 On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest.
2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
Obedience to God’s Call
12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”
14 So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, 15 on September 21 of the second year of King Darius’s reign.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for those who do not know God. Ask God to help you see the lost people around you and have compassion for them. Ask God for opportunities to build trust. Ask God to give you opportunities to have gospel conversations.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
In response to God’s Word, the people of Israel did two things: they “obeyed the voice of Lord” (v. 12) and they “feared the Lord” (v. 12).
In response to Israel’s repentance, God did two things: He gave them a promise, “I am with you” (v. 13) and He “stirred up the spirit” of the people to get back to work (v. 14).
What we see throughout all of chapter one is that God is the One initiating, leading, and directing this holy task of rebuilding His Temple. He speaks, and the people fear Him. He commands, and the people obey. He promises, and the people take courage. He stirs up their spirits, and the people get to work.
As it was with the Temple, so it is with the church. God is the one who initiates, leads, and directs the holy task of building His church by the power of His Spirit.
Often, when we think about evangelism, discipleship, and our personal growth in godliness, we focus on our ability, our strategy, and our effort. Indeed, each of those things is a necessary part of our growth and progress. But we must remember that God is the One who ultimately initiates, leads, and directs the growth and development of His church. We participate by joining Him.
Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
Today, take a step back from your ability, your strategy, and your effort. Humble yourself before the Lord – fear Him. Ask Him to show you where He is at work in and around your life. Ask Him to stir up your spirit to live in line with His purposes. And then, obey His voice, trusting that He is with you.