Vision: God’s House First

Haggai chapter 1; we are going to go from verse 2 to the end of this chapter. The word of the Lord says, verse 2, as follows: “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts”—these are God’s words, brothers—saying, “This people says: The time has not yet come, the time for the house of the Lord to be rebuilt. Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it time for you, for you, to dwell in your paneled houses while this house—that is, the temple of the Lord—lies in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways carefully.

You sow much and reap little; you eat but are not satisfied; you drink but are not filled; you clothe yourselves but are not warm; and he who works for wages receives his wages in a bag full of holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and rebuild the house, and I will set my will upon it and be glorified, says the Lord. You look for much and find little, and when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, the heavens above you withheld the rain, and the earth withheld its fruit. And I called for a drought upon this land and upon the mountains, upon the grain, upon the wine, upon the oil, upon everything the earth produces, upon men and beasts, and upon all the work of your hands.

And Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the words of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared before the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying: I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah; the spirit of Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.” May the Lord bless his holy word.

If we could choose a title for this message—and I am going to be very brief, brothers—it would be: Rebuild the House, Rebuild the House. We cannot fully understand this text unless we understand the historical context in which it was given.

The Hebrew people, as we know, were exiled to Babylon in the first exile, and they spent 70 years in Babylon before King Cyrus of Persia—because Babylon had already been replaced by the Persians—allowed a group of Jews to leave the capital of Persia and return once again to Jerusalem. In that first migration to Jerusalem came a group of Jews led by Zerubbabel and this man Joshua, the high priest. They arrived in Jerusalem in 538 B.C. and immediately began to rebuild the temple, the house of the Lord. Shortly after the rebuilding of the temple began, great opposition arose against its reconstruction from pagan nations that did not want to see that symbol of Jewish power raised once again in the Jewish nation.

Brothers, let me tell you something: There is opposition from the kingdom of darkness against healthy churches, sound churches, because the devil knows that a healthy spiritual community is a threat to the hosts of hell. A spiritual community in which worship is offered in the name of the Lord, in spirit and in truth, is a source of renewal for an entire community, and the devil will do everything possible to keep churches poor, badly managed, divided, led in inappropriate ways, and the people ignorant, so that the church of Jesus Christ will not do the work for which God has destined it. And the Hebrew people immediately experienced opposition when they tried to raise the house of God. The work was denounced to the Persian kingdom, and an order came from Persia to stop the rebuilding of the temple. Years after that order had ceased to be in effect, the temple still remained unbuilt, and this word from God came to the Jews 18 years after the construction of the temple had begun and been abandoned almost immediately.

Almost 20 years had passed, and the temple remained completely destroyed and unbuilt. During those 20 years, the Jewish people had devoted themselves to their secular work, putting up their houses, building their dwellings, and getting the nation’s economy running, while the house of the Lord remained completely ignored. And the Lord’s displeasure made itself felt, and God sent his prophet to bring a message to the Jewish people. God told them: “Listen to me: Is it right for you to go around saying that the time has not yet come, while you work on your houses, beautify their interiors, and beautify the surroundings of Jerusalem, while the house of the Lord continues to be neglected and unattended? Tell me, house of Israel, whether that is right.” And the Lord told them, “Attend to my house; concern yourselves with the affairs of my house.”

And here, brothers, I see some very important truths. Number one: The Lord wanted the proper order of things to be restored. In God’s mind, brothers, the first thing that must be attended to is the house of the Lord. How many of you know that? The first thing on which we must focus our attention is the affairs of the kingdom of God. We all know the words, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.”

People who do not know God normally do exactly the opposite. We put human things first. We worry about our finances, our jobs, keeping our bank account in good shape, and having all the bills paid, and then we say: “Okay, now that everything is fine, I am going to devote myself to blessing the house of God.” God has said that this is an unnatural order. God’s order is always for us first to make sure that the house of God and the ministries of God have everything they need to exert a positive influence on our community and to carry out the Lord’s work; then we have the opportunity to concern ourselves with everything else.

I remember that one of the most dramatic passages in Scripture is when, after a great drought and a great famine in Israel, God sends the prophet Elijah to the house of a widow, a woman completely without support. When Elijah arrives at this widow’s house in a city called Zarephath, he discovers an utterly depressing scene. At that very moment, when the prophet arrives, this woman is preparing to take the last little handful of flour she has and the little oil she has left and prepare the last meal—literally the last supper—remaining for her and her son, and then lie down to die, waiting to starve to death because there is nothing to eat in the land.

And God sent his prophet to that place. And one wonders why God did not send him to other nations where there was abundance. Why did he send him to a widow, who was a symbol of poverty and destitution? Because God thinks differently from the way we do. And when Elijah enters this widow’s house, he makes a scandalous request—an immoral one, I would say—and it is this: He tells her, “Woman, first prepare a cake for me. Prepare that cake and use that little bit of oil. Give me a glass of water before you and your son eat.” Brothers, he was asking them for their last means of sustenance; he was asking them for what they had left to eat. And he told her, “Do not worry, because God will provide for you.” Glory to the Lord that this woman allowed herself to be guided by God’s mathematics and did what the prophet asked. She prepared food for the prophet, and what happened? The Word says that after this, God’s blessing came, and multiplication came in such a way that this woman and her son ate for a long, long time. They never lacked food, because when God asks, God also promises a blessing to those who act with integrity toward him.

And in this, brothers, I see a model, a clearly established spiritual principle: We must first look after the interests of the things of God’s kingdom. God had sent his prophet, who was the living word of God in Israel, to be ministered to, and he sent him to that place so that a spiritual principle that would govern for centuries and centuries might be established. This Hebrew people was not carrying out that spiritual principle. They were concerning themselves with their material things, and God tells them, “You tell me that the time has not come.”

Brothers, in one sense, it is never the right time to tithe and give offerings to the Lord; it is never the right time, because if you look, we will always have more debts, we will always have needs, we will always have obligations, there will always be a better car to buy, and there will always be one more improvement to make to the house. Yes or no? It is never the right time, or the time to give to the Lord never comes, if that is how we are going to look at it. And let me tell you something: If the time did come, do you know what? It would not be appropriate to give to the Lord. Do you know why? Because I believe we must give to God when the time is not right. We must give to God when it hurts; we must give to God when it is inconvenient.

I believe that what pleases God is when we give to him in the zone of discomfort. If you give to God within your comfort zone, I do not believe you are giving him enough, because God honors it when a person takes into account the fact that he is the King of the universe and that he deserves to be honored by us through giving beyond even what we feel comfortable giving. My goal is that, as the years go by, I will feel free and my faith will increase so that I may give more and more to the Lord—more of my money, more of my time, more of myself, more of my talents—more and more and more each day, because I know that the more I give to the Lord, the more I am blessed and the more God prospers me. That is God’s order. God honors the person who makes an effort and gives generously to the Lord. God says that he honors the cheerful giver.

One of the most revealing passages we have in Scripture—I do not know why God likes widows so much when it comes to giving, and I think it is because, brothers, do you know why? Because widows in Scripture were a symbol of helplessness and poverty, and for a widow to give is precisely an image of generosity toward God.

The Word says that the Lord Jesus Christ was in the temple, watching from a vantage point the people who came and put money into the offering box for the tithes. The Lord could see rich people arriving in their luxurious garments and putting money into the box, and the Lord clearly understood that those people were giving from their surplus. Rich people have a great deal of money, and although they gave large amounts, proportionately it was like nothing to them. But the Word says that the Lord noticed a widow—poor by definition—who came forward and put into the box the last thing she had. It might have been 25 cents, enough to buy a coffee. This woman had nothing else, and the Lord, in his wisdom, discerned that this was everything the woman had. The Bible says that he called his disciples and told them: “This woman, who in absolute terms gave an infinitesimal fraction of what these rich people gave, gave more before God because she gave out of all her poverty. She gave the only thing she had; she honored the Lord with her love.”

Like Mary, who took the alabaster jar that contained an expensive perfume and broke it before Jesus and anointed the Master, and the Lord praised her for it. I do not know why women are always the ones who receive the praise in giving as well—perhaps because they love more and are more tender toward the Lord. Sometimes we are very resistant to the things of God; we rebel against these truths, against these teachings. There are always people in churches, brothers, who become upset when money is discussed. They grow uncomfortable; suddenly, such discomfort comes over them that they want to run out of the church, or they become upset with the preacher over it.

It reminds me precisely of Judas, when he saw that the alabaster jar was broken and that the expensive perfume was used to honor Jesus Christ, and he thought to himself: “Goodness, this money could have been used for the poor.” That was a lie. He wanted it so that he could steal it, because he was a thief. And the Lord Jesus Christ understood what the people were thinking and said, “You know that you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me, and this woman has honored me.”

Brothers, God is not so interested in the money you give him. Understand me: I believe that, ultimately, God does not even care about the amount you give. And do not take advantage of that to reduce your tithes and offerings. Brothers, what interests God is that what we give be connected to a genuine desire to honor the Lord, to give to the Lord according to our means and beyond our means.

In another passage, in Second Corinthians, we have the commendation of a group of Christians who, it says, gave not only according to their means but beyond their means, and God blessed them.

We, brothers and sisters, have to be generous with God. The time will never come when we can say, “I have already given; now I can concentrate on giving.” God asks for the firstfruits. God asks for what comes first. In the Old Testament—and I believe this is a principle that governs all of history—the Bible called the Hebrew people to give the firstfruits; the first animals had to be set apart, and they had to be animals without defect or disease, and the best and first fruits had to be set apart for the Lord. Today, we set apart our tithes and offerings. You cannot first attend to your own affairs and then, from whatever is left, decide on the spur of the moment: “Well, let’s see, how much am I going to give today—one dollar or two dollars?” The Lord wants disciplined giving, faith-filled giving, giving that says, “I am going to honor the Lord, whatever it may cost me.”

The prophet David, when he was offered the land for free to build the Lord’s temple, said: “I am not going to give the Lord a sacrifice that costs me nothing.”

Brothers and sisters, God wants generous people. And what does God want that money for? God wants it so that his grace may flow throughout the city. I believe our city needs models of a community like ours, made up of people from different income levels, many working people, newly arrived immigrants, yet people who have disciplined themselves to build an institution like this one, which blesses the community. From this temple, brothers and sisters, come ministries for young people, ministries for adults; families are blessed.

Yesterday I saw 30 children sitting here in this section during the graduation, coming up here and worshiping the Lord with a beautiful choir, all dressed so nicely, with smiling faces and that love for the Lord. And I could already see men and women, 10, 15, or 20 years from now, blessing their community because they were grounded in the Word of God in a place like this, because men and women gave of themselves so that there would be a place here to establish an institution where those children could receive the Word of God.

And like them, hundreds of children will come through this church, and our community will be blessed with hardworking people, wise people, people with solid moral and spiritual principles who will bless their community—couples like the brother and sister who were ministered to today, who came today and shared their testimony. How beautiful it is to see a young couple being healed and united in the things of God. How much is that worth? It is worth a fortune, brothers and sisters; in material terms, it is priceless, because this church is in this place, and thanks to the Lord we have a beautiful, orderly place that represents the Kingdom of God well and represents our community well. That is what the Lord wants. The Lord says, “Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and my will shall be established.” Brothers and sisters, may this church be a church where God’s will is established, where God’s good purpose for the city is established.

The Bible says in one passage, “For I know the thoughts that I have toward you, thoughts of good and not of evil.” God has good thoughts toward this Latino community in Boston. God’s will desires to be manifested, and it will be through this church and churches like this one. That makes it worth going up to the mountain and bringing wood. That means making an effort, brothers and sisters. Each one of us has a part to play.

I imagine that if God had wanted a temple, he could have magically caused the most beautiful temple you could possibly imagine to appear, just as he created heaven and earth. Yet he did not want to do that. He wanted us to build the temple for him. God could make money rain down, but what good would that do? What good is a gift that the giver—the person receiving the gift—gives to himself? It is no good at all; we are the ones who have to give. God is honored and says: “And I will be glorified. Rebuild the house, and I will establish my will in it, and I will be glorified, says the Lord.”

Two things are going to happen when the people devote themselves to rebuilding the house over the next 12 months, as you give so that this budget may be met, that building may be rebuilt, and new ministries may continue to flow in this congregation. God will be glorified, and his will shall be established in our community. Will you commit yourself with me now in the name of Jesus? What a blessing we had this morning. We saw the heavens open and the glory of God come down; we saw lives being ministered to and felt the organic touch of God, of the Holy Spirit. That is priceless, especially when it takes place in a beautiful place that represents us well and, above all, represents the Kingdom of God well. Let us work; let us rebuild the house; let us raise it a little higher.

Bow your head; commit yourself with me and with the Lord right now. I commit myself to you, you to me, and all of us to the Lord, to build a temple that honors God, that glorifies God in this city. To build a community where the will of God is embodied; to build a space from which God’s limitless grace may flow out to the entire city. And you are going to be part of that miracle—with your money, your time, your energy, your talents, and your life. You are going to make this possible, and from this moment on we prophesy that this year, in the name of the Lord, we are going to exceed our projections, and everything will come to pass so that God may be glorified in this community.

Father, to you we give all the glory and all the honor for every good thing that comes out of this church, this temple, this house, Lord, which you have built with our help, Father, because you do not do it alone. Thank you because men and women who know that the time has not come, but who have decided to give nevertheless, have made this miracle possible. And now we ask you to bring down more of your portion, Lord; that you bless this vision you have set before the people; that you prosper your people, Father, because you promise that if we do this, you will rebuke the devourer. You will close those leaks through which our money, energy, joy, life, and health drain away, and you will bless your people, Lord. The good shadow of the Lord will cover us, and his mercy will follow us, because you honor a people who honor you. Thank you, Father, because in a sense, Lord, you have made it so easy by promising us a reward for something that is truly an obligation. We love you; we love you for your generosity. Prosper our brothers and sisters this year, Lord. Bless their work, bless their homes, bless their finances, bless their health, their families, and their children.

Father, create for yourself a hardworking community, an excellent community, an exemplary community that shows the world the beauty of the Kingdom of God.

We bless your people on this day, Lord, and we thank you for everything that has taken place among us today. Praised be your name. And the people of God say, “Amen.”