WHY OBEYING GOD IS GOOD FOR YOU.
"Why Obeying God is Good For You" is based on
the book written by Haggai in 520 B.C.
Quotes are from the NIV Bible and our own
comments are in brackets.
(If you have turned from running your life your
way and trusted in God through faith in His son
Jesus Christ then you are a member of God's
family. When family members meet to absorb
God's word, pray, have communion meals and
encourage each other, the meetings are called
church. But this is not what church means today
and there is an urgent need for reform. Here's
what God says).
The Christians say "This is not the time to
make the church what God wants it to be."
But the Lord Almighty says you Christians are
more concerned about your lifestyle than making
my church (meetings of my family) work as it
should.
God continues "Give careful thought to your
ways. You have planted much but harvested
little. You eat... (and) drink but never have
your fill. You put on clothes but they are not
warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a
purse with holes in it".
The Lord Almighty says "Give careful thought to
your ways... Build the house (my church) so
that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured.
You expected much, but see, it turned out to be
little. What you have brought home, I blew
away. Why?... because of my house which remains
a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own
house. Therefore... I called for a drought
on... whatever the ground produces... and on
the labour of your hands."
There are "fair dinkum" believers today heeding
this message and giving God the reverence,
respect and obedience He deserves.
To them God says "I am with you" and He stirs
up their spirit to get on with making each
meeting of God's people what "The Lord Almighty
their God" intends them to be.
(Ch 1)
But having done their best the meetings
(church) are still far short of expectations.
So the Lord Almighty says "Be strong... and
work for I am with you". I got you out of
slavery through the death and resurrection of
my son Jesus Christ - The New Covenant. "And my
spirit remains among you. Do not fear."
"The Lord Almighty says... The desired of all
nations will come (Jesus will return) and I
will fill this house with glory.... The glory
of this present house will be greater than the
glory of the former house, says the Lord
Almighty. And in this place I will grant
peace."
Remember Christians, that until you get "fair
dinkum" about making your meetings what God
intends them to be your labour will be in vain.
But when you get "fair dinkum" God will bless
you.
And always remember that Jesus Christ will
return and then (and only then) will - meetings
of God's people (church) be what God intends
them to be.
(Chapter 2)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM HAGGAI:
1. You "Christians" have an honest look at
yourselves. So much work, little to show for
it. So much "church" activity. So little
results.
2. Forget your cathedrals, programmes and
performances. (Church is just a few "fair
dinkum" believers gathered to pray,absorb God's
word, celebrate a communion meal in remembrance
of Jesus Christ, and encourage each other in an
atmosphere of God's loving Holy Spirit presence
PLUS NOTHING). Do it this way and you will know
God's blessing.
3. But these meetings will only be 100%
complete when Christ returns to earth.
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