"Now is the Time for Renewal" Haggai 1:12-15

SHARING LIFE AT FBCBF ON JANUARY 11, 2009 BY PASTOR BOB BENDER
“NOW IS THE TIME FOR RENEWAL” FROM HAGGAI 1:12-15

What time is it? If you didn't have a clock or watch, could you tell what time it is? Bill Jenny can guess the correct time within half a minute at any hour of the day or night. Mr. Jenny is a London clock maker and was employed for many years as a clock tender in the Savoy Hotel where there are 1,505 clocks, taking four days to wind. Can you tell time? What time is it? The Bible says in the fullness of time Jesus came into the world. The Bible says there is an appointed time for everything--a time for every event under heaven. Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day for not knowing the time--"You know how to discern the appearance of the sky but cannot discern the signs of the times." May we not receive the same rebuke in this day for not knowing what time it is spiritually.

What time is it on God's clock in the life of FBCBF? The Bible says, "And this do, knowing the time that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep. The night is almost gone. The day is at hand" (Rom. 13:11-12). Jesus says, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; night is coming, when no man can work” (Jn. 9:4). What time is it? Now is the time for spiritual renewal in our lives and church.

This year’s life commitment theme is “Now is the Time” taken from Haggai. Last week we saw in ch. 1:1-11 that it was a time for reflection. The people of God considered their ways. They pondered their spiritual condition. They listened to the voice of God through His prophet. Today in verses 12-15, we see the record of their positive response to God's message through His messenger. Because of this people’s positive response, renewal was their experience. The same can be true for you today as we consider today’s big idea: Spiritual renewal can be ours if we respond positively to God's message today.

As we enter a new year with all of its promise and possibilities, would our hearts be renewed spiritually as well in preparation for all the Lord wants to accomplish in and through us. How did renewal come to these folks and how will it come to us today?

I. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL (V. 12).

Renewal always begins with God’s initial call. The way we get in is the way we go on. We got in this deal spiritually by responding to God’s call upon our lives. We move ahead spiritually as God continues to call and lead. Notice what we are to respond to—“the voice of the Lord their God and the words of Haggai the prophet.” The voice of God and the words of Haggai were one and the same. My greatest fear is to not speak for God and that my words are not God’s voice. We are to remain open to God’s voice through His word. Notice who responded—all the remnant of the people of God. God always works when there is unity of purpose; mostly with a minority.

God still calls today. How will you answer? When someone calls you on the phone, what is the first thing you do? You first check caller id and see who is calling. Then you make the decision whether or not to take the call depending on what you are doing and who it is who is calling. Then comes the decision whether or not to do what the caller is asking you to do if indeed it is a request. Does what you are engaged in trump the caller or do you drop everything in order to meet the requests of the caller? God is calling you today. How will you respond? Will your own interests trump God or will God’s request trump yours? Three times in Hebrews 3 & 4, God’s word says, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

When I was a youth minister, my pastor whom I worked for had a typewriter he used to communicate with his staff that had a red tape and a black tape on it. Most of the time the communiqués I received from him were in black, but sometimes I received some in red ink. When it was in red ink I knew it meant something real important and I was to make sure that communiqué’s request was met asap, for it normally was time sensitive. Is God calling you today? Is He sending you a red ink communiqué? God is at least saying to you today that now is the time to respond to God’s call upon your life if you are to experience spiritual renewal.

Then notice how they responded in verse 12, "All the remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord and the words of Haggai the prophet." The people simply obeyed God’s voice. He speaks through His word; that’s why we call it the Word of God. For God to work, His people must be responsive to God's call through His messenger and message. For 23 days Haggai preached to the people. On the 24th day, God's people responded with obedience to the voice of the Lord their God as preached by Haggai the prophet.

God still speaks today through His word and by His Spirit. He still speaks today through our brothers and sisters in the family. He still speaks today through open doors of opportunity. Would we be ready to go, pray, share, serve, give as we obey the voice of the Lord our God this month, within 24 days of the first hearing of these words. Are you obedient in your loving and living, giving and going, praying and praising and in your attitude and your actions?

Amschel Mayer Rothschild, the wealthy businessman of Frankfurt, Germany, called to his office one of his employees, told him he was going to start a business in the US and asked him how much time he would need before he could sail for San Francisco to head the work up. The man thought for a while and said, "Ten days." "Very well," said Rothschild, "If I decide to send you, I'll let you know." He called a second man and repeated the words to him. The man said, "I need three days." A third man was called and said, "I am ready at once." "Good," said Rothschild, "Today you are my partner in our new firm in San Francisco and you leave tomorrow." That man was Julius May who became one of San Francisco's richest men. His readiness at his employer's invitation was the beginning of his success. Are you immediately ready to do our Father’s will? Delayed obedience is disobedience and carries with it a painful price (Ps. 119:60).

Then notice why they obeyed--the fear of God (v. 12). There are obviously other motivations for obedience to God, but the fear of God ranks up there as a viable motivator to obey—and an often neglected one in our day. Their fear of God was shown in their positive response to God's message. God's word had brought conviction, then fear, which brought obedience. They saw their neglect, materialism, and selfishness as a sin against God. They feared the judgment of God. You say, “Well, that is kind of an OT deal isn’t it?” No. When Jesus was explaining to His followers the meaning of discipleship, He commands, “Do not fear those who kill the body, but fear rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28). The fear of the Lord was one of the keys to the spiritual and numerical growth of the early church (Acts 9:31). Throughout Scripture we are commanded to fear God. The fear of the Lord motivates us to obey His commandments so He might bless us and through us show His grace.

What is the fear of God? The fear of God means that I am in the presence of a holy God who demands obedience from me because my every thought, word, and action is being judged by Him before whom I will stand one day and give an account.

"Amazing Grace" goes something like this: "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved." As grace teaches us to fear God, grace also relieves our fears of other things. Psalm 34:9 says, "Fear the Lord you His saints for those who fear Him lack nothing." How can this be? Because the fear of the Lord delivers us from the desire of other things. Since the love of the Lord is with those who fear Him (Psalm 103:17), the satisfaction of living in the fear of the Lord teaches us how little we need as long as we have the approval of our Father.

The costliest minute on television is during the Super Bowl, where a 60 second commercial costs $3M. That's a costly minute, but that minute is not as costly as a minute lived in disobedience to the Lord--disobeying God in our living or our giving; our involvement or investment in the kingdom of God.

A young Christian boy was forced to beg on the streets of his village. One day the boy is teased by a wealthy atheist's son, "If God really loves you, why doesn't He take better care of you. Why doesn't He tell someone to send you a pair of shoes?" Sadly the boy replies, "I think God tells people, but they aren't listening." God is speaking, but many of God's people are not listening. Are you listening to His voice today in whatever He is telling you to do?

How I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God as we gave over $150,000 to local, state and world missions in 2008 through our budget and special missions offering. I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God and gave almost $100,000 to our building fund last year over and above our budget. I praise the Lord for those of you who listened to the voice of God and were watchmen on the wall last year praying for your church. I praise the Lord for some 200 of you who are listening to the voice of God and are serving in some capacity of leadership in our church. I praise the Lord for those of you who have heard the voice and call of God for full-time Christian service--our seminary students, church planters and local missionaries who have committed their lives to the Lord’s service. How I praise the Lord for the 100 plus new church members and the 230 new LIFE Group members joining last year who listened to the voice of God and followed the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives.

II. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO RECOVER GOD’S PRESENCE (VV. 13-14a).

Notice the results of the people’s obedience rooted in their fear of God. God says, "I am with you" (v. 13). God will be with you as you obey Him. “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him” (Ps. 147:11); “Surely His salvation is close to those who fear Him that glory may dwell in our land” (Ps. 85:9); He reveals Himself to the obedient in a special way (Jn. 14:21); He is with us as we obey in worship (Mt. 18:21) and evangelism (Mt. 28:20).

His presence is not some static, dull experience, but rather a dynamic movement. After God’s promise of His presence being with Moses and bringing him rest, Moses said to God, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here” (Ex. 33:15). We dare not move ahead without the powerful presence of our Lord God Almighty. I am asking you to consider what God would have you to do as you move ahead in 2009. Notice what happens as a result of the presence of God in the next verse—verse 14.

The Lord stirred up the spirits of Zerubbabel the governor, of Joshua the high priest, and of all the remnant of the people. God stirred them up! He renewed their spirits. Romans 12:11 says, "Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." Apollos was an example of one who was fervent in spirit.

The presence of God always stirs things up. God stirred things up when the people of God under Moses gave to build the tabernacle in Exodus 35. God stirred things up in the dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 5 when His presence showed up as His Shekinah glory filled the house of God as a cloud so much so that the priests could not stand to minister. God stirred things up at Pentecost in Acts 2 when His presence showed up and tongues of fire rested on each one of them filling them and loosened their tongues to declare the glory of God and the message of salvation. God stirred things up when Jesus showed up at church one day and turned the money changer’s tables over because their priorities were all fouled up. God’s word to us today is Acts 3:19-20, “Repent therefore and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord that He may send Jesus , the Christ.” God’s presence always brings times of refreshing and renewal.

God is a work today renewing His people--stirring them up to action. What time is it? It is time for a stirring; it is time for renewal; it is time for a willingness to carry out the resolutions we have made this new year. Previously these people were indifferent and apathetic, but God's Spirit stirred them up.

Renewal continues today with a stirring of God's people. That's what renewal is--a stirring up. Renewal is internal motivation. We are not coerced or cajoled; we are motivated internally. This solves the problem of too few workers, too few prayers, too few givers, and too few teachers. As God's people are stirred up, renewal comes.

A black church in Kansas City has as its motto, "Wake up, sing up, preach up, pray up and pay up, but never give up, let up, back up, or shut up until the cause of Christ in this church and in the world is built up."

We often hear the expression, "The voice of an angel." What does an angel sound like? What does an angel say? As one studies the Bible, one discovers that an angel's voice sounds remarkable like a person saying, "Hurry up." Many times in Scripture we hear this repeated phrase from the angel, "Get up and hurry." An angel comes to Peter in jail and says, "Rise quickly." An angel says to Gideon, "Arise and go in this thy might." An angel says to Elijah, "Arise and eat." An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and says, "Go quickly." An angel appears to Phillip and says, "Arise and go." Really, the angels are quite monotonous. They are always saying the same thing, "Get up; hurry!" God's word to us through angels is, "I am stirring you up to action."

Can you say with Jehu, "Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord" (II Kings 10:16)? Can you say with Jesus, "Zeal for thy house will consume Me" (John 2:17)? Paul spoke of the Corinthian's zeal for giving as having stirred up most of Macedonia (II Cor. 9:2).

Would we have the zeal to obey of the young MP on duty for the first time. He received orders not to allow any cars onto the military base unless they bore a special identification seal. The first car to pull up without the special seal was carrying the general. When the general testily told his driver to drive on anyway, the soldier poked his head in the window and said politely, "I am new at this, sir. Who do I shoot first--you or the driver?"

Today would you allow the Lord to stir up your spirit--to renew your spirit--to the work of this church in 2009? Would you allow God to do a new work in your heart to stir you up? This is indeed renewal that commences with a respond to God’s call to obedience. Renewal continues with a recovery of the presence of God that stirs us up.

III. RENEWAL: NOW IS THE TIME TO READY OURSELVES FOR ACTION (V. 14b).

Notice the result of their obedience to God, their fear of the Lord and willingness to be stirred up by God’s presence. The last half of verse 14 says, "And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts their God." Who are the “they” here? They are the remnant (v. 14). He always has a remnant of people who remain faithful to Him. God previously called these folks "this people" by the Lord in verse 2, but now He calls them "the remnant" in verses 12 and 14. They no longer are disdained by God, but now are dedicated to God.

God stirs up a remnant--a minority--to do His work. He stirred up Gideon's 300. He stirred up David's few fighting men. He stirred up Joshua and Caleb, only 2 of the 12 spies. Jesus only had 11 men whom God stirred to take up where He left off. God stirred up 120 the day of Pentecost, and the church was born.

God is forming a remnant in this place who will be obedient to Him. Would you be among that number? I am reminded of a personal notice in the Flint, Michigan Weekly Review which read, "Barbershop Quartet Forming; Need Bass, Baritone, and Tenor." Now that's a beginning of a remnant! Would you be among the few whom God uses this year to do His work?

Notice their action focused on what the Lord wanted them to do (vv. 8 & 14). They did not do this for man; they did this for God. An apocryphal story is told about Jesus and the disciples. It seems they were walking along a rocky road one day when Jesus asked each of them to pick up a stone and carry it for him. According to the story, John chose a large stone while Peter chose one that he could easily carry in his pocket. He ignored the stones until, about midday, tired and hungry, one of the disciples asked if there was anything to eat. Jesus told them to pick up the stones they had been carrying for Him. Then He commanded that the stones be made into bread. Each disciple was allowed to eat the bread he held in his hand. Peter's portion of bread was barely a mouthful, so John shared some of his bread with Peter. Later that same day, as they headed down the mountain along the same stony path, Jesus told the disciples to pick up and carry another stone for Him. This time Peter picked up the largest stone he could find. He had trouble carrying it; it was so big. Jesus led the disciples to a river. Then Jesus did a strange thing, he told them to cast their stones into the water. They each did so, but nothing happened--other than subsequent splashes. The disciples were bewildered. Then Jesus turned to them and asked, "For whom did you carry the stone?"

God's word to you today is, "Carry the stone for Me. Give for Me. Serve for Me. Pray in My name." Renewal culminates in action. There is no substitute for obedient action. Daniel 11:32 says, "And those who know their God will display strength and take action." God desires action. Renewal leads to action.

A pastor has combined two popular phrases: "What in the world are you doing?" and "For Heaven's sake!" He suggests that every Christian should respond to this question 5 times as seen in the following slides: WHAT in the world are you doing for Heaven's sake? What IN THE WORLD are you doing for Heaven's sake? What in the world are YOU doing for Heaven's Sake? What in the world are you DOING for Heaven's sake? What in the world are you doing for HEAVEN'S sake?

Notice in verse 15 that the date is recorded—“the 24th day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of Darius the king.” This was such a significant event that it is dated. There are many important dates in our church. Would January 11, 2009 be a significant date in our church, written in the annuls of our church's history, because of a willingness to God's people to be renewed in their spirit and obedient in their serving.

What happens when your magazine subscription runs out? You receive a notice that says, "It's time to renew.” What do you do? You renew it if you want to receive it. What time is it? It is time to renew your spiritual life in order to receive from God. Today is God's notice to you to renew your commitment to Him. What will you do?

In the book Alice and Wonderland, the rabbit continually runs around carrying a clock repeating the phrase, "I'm late; I'm late, for a very important date." Don't be late for this very important date on God's calendar as it relates to our church. What time is it? It's time for renewal. Would you today respond to God’s call; recover His presence and ready yourself for action in 2009.

Remember our big idea for today: Spiritual renewal can be ours if we respond positively to God’s message. John 11:28-29 says, “Martha called Mary her sister saying secretly, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she arose quickly and was coming to Him.” Would that be said of you.