Haggai

verse 7 – Consider Your Ways – means to set your heart on your ways

-Israel was not putting the Lord first…the temple was still in ruins

-Haggai was saying to consider your ways…consider your priorities

-this was an invitation from Haggai – to obey & practice the principles of God

               a. the Bible contains Gods’ principles – 2 Peter 1:20-21

               b. other words are used for principles – Psalm 119:1-24

               c. The Lords’ principles do not change and work for anything & anyone

verse 8 – Put the Lord first with action and not just words

             – 1 Chronicles 12:32

             – Israel was being challenged to put Jesus first

Take pleasure and be Glorified – obeying principles will please the Lord

             ***John 8:29

             ***do only those things that please the Lord

                            How can we please the Lord?

1.) WE CAN PLEASE THE LORD THROUGH A SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

Hebrews 13:15-16

a. a sacrifice of praise is through Jesus

-we can only sacrificially praise the Lord as we are filled up with Him

b. a sacrifice of praise is continual

-because there will be many difficult times in our lives

c. the sacrifice of praise:

          1. is when you are not feeling it

          2. is when the storms of life approach us

          3. is when there is a lack of understanding

d. The sacrifice of praise is vocal

-we lift our voices and are thankful

2.) WE CAN PLEASE THE LORD THROUGH FAITH – Hebrews 11:6

1. Every believer possesses faith – Romans 12:3

-acquired immediately at salvation

2.  Our faith can grow – in 2 Ways

a. by reading the Bible – Romans 10:17

b. by immitation – Hebrews 6:12

     Faith is based on 4 Things:

1. It is based on Jesus Christ – Mark 11:22.  Trust in Jesus.

2. Faith is based on the revelation of the character of God

-the character of God never changes

-because we place our faith in the Lord and His character  – what has happened in the moment (present) will not overflow into the future

3. Faith is based on the Lord’s Track Record

-Jesus has a great track record from Genesis 1:1 and beyond

4. Faith is based on the Word of God – 2 Corinthians 1:20

-there are promises in the Word of God and the answer for all of them is YES…

         THE DEFINITION OF FAITH – Hebrews 11:1

1. FAITH IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN

-This is faith for things that have not happened yet

2. FAITH GIVES US ASSURANCE ABOUT THINGS WE CANNOT SEE  – 2 COR 5:7

-The Bible says to believe no matter what you see or don’t see