Finishing the work (Home Improvements - 1yr anniversary)

The Act Of Thanksgiving, part 2 of 2
The book of Haggai talks about the challenge God’s people faced in rebuilding the temple after Israel and Judah had been exiled years earlier. The challenge was made more difficult because the people didn’t understand their role in the process of completing the temple. Through the encouragement of the prophet Haggai, they learned what they could do to finally finish the work that God gave them to do. Using this analogy we will talk about the journey and progress we have made as a church in our Home Improvements campaign and draw lessons from Haggis’s letter that can apply to us as we strive to complete the vision. Pastor Vince DiPaola

Lessons on finishing the work God’s assigned us (The OT book of Haggai)

I. God’s call: why we don’t complete it

1. We operate with our own schedule.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘These people say, ‘The time has not yet come for the Lord’s house to be built.”” (Haggai 1:2, NIV)

2. We tend to drift toward our own needs.

“Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: ‘Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses…” (Haggai 1:3–4a, NIV)

3. We often forget about the initial passion.

“…living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin ?” (Haggai 1:4b, NIV)

II. God’s challenge: how to finish well

1. Consider the consequences of incompletion.

“Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough you drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.’” (Haggai 1:5–6, NIV)

2. Start getting back to work one step at a time.

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house , so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored…” (Haggai 1:7–8, NIV)

3. Ask God for that extra spark of enthusiasm.

” The Lord sparked their enthusiasm…they came and began their work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God.” (Haggai 1:14, NLT)

III. Our completion: everyone wins!

1, God wins because He is glorified in the work!

“…I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:7b, NIV)

2. We win because God will bless us for the work!

“From this day on I will bless you.” (Haggai 2:19c, NIV)

3. Others win because God shakes things up in the world!

“…I will shake the heavens and the earth .” (Haggai 2:21b, NIV)

IV. Our call: finish “home improvements”

1. Where we stand today

2. What we need to finish

3. Your part: Can we “count on you?”

“Be sure to finish the work the Lord gave you.” (Colossians 4:17, NCV)