the church

Insights on church life

by Pastor Pete Beck III

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a matter of priorities 

 

You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the Lord who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! Haggai 1:9 (NET1)

 

Every time I read the prophet Haggai's words, I am struck with the same thought. Many of God's people do not have the right priorities. Haggai was one of the prophets God used to spur the Israelites into action during the rebuilding of the temple during the time of Ezra following the Babylonian captivity. Imagine yourself returning to a desolate land. Everything had to be rebuilt. But God had sent them to rebuild the temple, not their own homes. How easy it is for us to slip away from the main thing on God's heart and get distracted with our own agenda!

 

Jesus promised us that if we would seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, everything else that we need would be given to us. Why is it so hard for us to believe that? The parable of the sower speaks of a situation when good seed (the gospel) is sown into a garden full of thorns (a life without proper priorities). Jesus even told us what the thorns are: the worries and riches and and pleasures of life. Where in the entire world are people more consumed with those things than here in the United States? Where iare Christians' priorities more out of focus than here?

 

So the Lord energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord who rules over all. Haggai 1:14 (NET1)

 

But God did not leave them in such a compromised state. He sent his prophet to stir them into action. God has sent us His Spirit. He is calling the church to action. It is time for us to put working on God's temple (the church) ahead of working on our own things. If our faith and commitment to God does not result in our working in his harvest field, we are self-deceived and bringing shame to ourselves and the Lord who poured out His life blood for us.

 

The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a son who brings shame to himself. Proverbs 10:5 (NET1)

 

The temple, of course, is not a building: it is people. God builds His eternal temple, the dwelling of His Holy Spirit, out of "living stones". Before work can begin on such a big project, you have to assemble the materials. There are "living stones" out there that need to be assembled. We must go into the "highways and byways" to invite people to part of the temple of God, which is the church, those purchased for God's glory with the blood of the Lamb. We must do the work of an evangelist. We must do the work of a pastor. However and whatever your specific role is in this work, it must part of seeking first God's kingdom.

 

For us at Liberty Church, this means getting out on to the "front lines" of Mobile Ministry - taking the church outside the walls of our church building by going where those "living stones" are found - sharing our faith, caring and praying for them, wooing them to be reconciled to God and added to His household. I believe you agree with me: we want to see a large harvest in 2010. But it will not happen unless we make the commitment to prioritize working in God's field, sowing seed and "bringing in the sheaves". Will you join God in this work? May it not be said of us that we sought first our own things and let God's house lie in ruins!

 

So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. ⁹ We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:7-9 (NET1)

 

 

 

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