Haggai 1:2-7

We have already given our praise and adoration and the Lord has definitely begun to minister in our hearts, so let's prepare now to listen to the word and see how the Lord directs us through his word.

I would like you to go with me to the book of Haggai, Chapter 1. I'm going to start reading from verse 2 to verse 7, Haggai, Chapter 1. It's time brothers, right? It's time. We often hear that phrase: It's time. And today I would like to reflect with you on some aspects of that word time, and how we can divide the word time into 3 different dimensions with respect to our lives.

The word of the Lord says this, I am going to read and you can continue reading. It says in verse 2: ".... thus says the Lord Almighty", is an oracle. A statement like that already shows that it is a prophetic oracle, that is, a prophetic word that is coming to the people. He says: this town alleges that it is not yet the appropriate time to go and rebuild the house of the Lord. And this word of the Lord also came through the prophet Haggai saying: “...perhaps it is the appropriate time for you to reside in roofed houses while this house is in ruins. Thus says the Lord Almighty once more. Meditate on your ways. You sow a lot but you reap little, you eat but you are not satisfied, you drink but you are not satisfied, you dress but you are not able to keep warm, and the day laborer loses his salary as if by a broken sack. Once again so says the Lord. Meditate well on his ways.” I repeat that phrase once more: meditate well on your ways.

Brothers, I recognize that many things in our lives are measured by time. Time with respect to our individual lives that we are in a process, a time. Time with respect to the moment in which we are living in our society today. And time also with respect to us to take some due actions that we have to take.

Part of this message I had already shared at the men's retreat. I also shared another part in the youth ministry, but now I want to bring this reflection and share it with you, the entire church. If you realize in the passage that we read, the prophet Haggai is making a call from God to the people of Israel about their priorities in their lives. The time of which he is speaking is when the people of Israel had returned to the land of Jerusalem after having been in exile for a long time. Imagine when you return to a place that has been destroyed by enemies, what is the first thing you want to do? You see what your house was before that right now is in ashes and is completely lying on the floor, and the tendency is to rebuild your own house. Obviously one needs a place to live, therefore as a sense of survival you are going to want to build the place where you are going to be dwelling.

But at this moment the people of Israel were dedicating themselves too much to their own things and they were leaving aside what was the house of the Lord, the temple. For the people of Israel, the temple meant the nucleus of their own society, this was before they went into exile. Around the temple was that the rest of the entire city was built. Now, depending on how the priorities were organized after the people left exile, it seems that they had undergone a change here. Instead of giving primary attention to what the house of the Lord was and what this implied in the midst of their lives, they were giving more attention to their own personal lives. And you know what? I am not saying that it is bad to pay attention to your own life and what your family and home mean, but there is a principle that we have to understand here that is being communicated through God and it is the principle of priorities. How do we have the priorities of our life organized? What has first, second and third place? And how is the time of our lives influencing those priorities in some way or another?

I want to talk to you about that first dimension, about the time of our lives. The Bible says in Philippians 1:6 that we, in fact, had sung it, that God has begun a work in us that will complete it until the day Jesus returns. Each one of us is a work of art in the hands of the Lord.

Tell the person sitting next to you: you are a work of art. I don't know if you are a work of art made of clay, iron or paint, or I don't know, but you are a work of art. But I can tell you for sure that the artist who is struggling with us is an expert in all these materials. So stay calm.

There are artists who only used to paint, and if they put a piece of iron on it, what they do is melt it completely. But God as our great artist is an expert working with all kinds of materials. And you are each one of those materials. God is doing such a beautiful work in each one of you that when the moment of your perfection arrives, I want to be there to see it.

But this implies, my brothers, that our lives, everything we go through, the good, the bad and the good bad, everything has to do with the timing of the Lord and how He is working in each one of us. And although many times when one has negative experiences one tends to see those experiences as if my life were a disaster: that our life is worthless, our life has no meaning, it has no direction, it has no purpose, just by seeing all this negativity through Around us. If I see that there is someone who tells me that I am a zero to the left, then I am going to be living all my life thinking that I am a zero to the left. Now, but if there is a person who tells me: you are a zero on the right hand, and you are going to give a very large value to the whole equation, then I am going to be living that way too. I think accountants understand that well, right?

Now, brothers, I believe that we have to develop a very deep appreciation for all those experiences in our lives. And I know that I am saying something very radical here because I imagine how I am going to tell a person that perhaps his son was killed in an accident, how am I going to tell that person, you know what, you have to develop an appreciation for what happened? And he's going to slap me if I tell him that. Obviously one can say these things, they have their moment, they have their place and they have their time. I believe that a person who has gone through this process, at the moment the best thing to do is just a silent presence of company. Share a prayer of strength. It's not just looking for a whole essay of things to say to the person in that situation. But when the opportune time has passed and one can look back with that person and see how God has been in action in different stages with that person, then one can say that there is an appreciation for all of that. But all this implies, my brothers, that our lives are a complete process of formation.

You may have a list of studies, experience, work, but with everything and that your life is still in formation. All this marks a time and within that time there is one in which we have to reflect. And that is how we are carrying out our lives in our daily living.

There is a version in the Bible that says that we have to redeem the time well. Redeeming time has a lot to do with discerning the moment in which we are living and looking for the way in which God is directing each of our stages and decisions in life. And that is a process that has to be constant in the midst of each of your individual lives.

That process will then take you to the second dimension that I want to talk about with respect to time. The way in which you discern your personal life is going to be greatly influenced by the time and moment in which we are living today in society. So the first aspect of time is the aspect of your personal life and the second is the time with respect to the present moment in which we live.

In the book of Colossians there is a very interesting passage. Colossians Chapter 4, starting from verse 3. Paul is speaking to the Colossians and tells them the following: “.... at the same time intercede for us so that God opens the doors for us to proclaim the word. Pray that I announce it clearly as I must do it.” Paul is asking that the Colossian church can intercede for him so that he knows how to discern the moment and the time to communicate the word of God and do it in the most correct way. So Paul says to the church, he says in verse 5 “...deal wisely with those who do not believe in Christ”. Exactly, in other versions it says "look how they behave towards those outside", meaning those who do not know Jesus.

Look how he says: “...making the most of every opportune moment. May your conversation always be pleasant and in good taste so you will know how to respond to each one” Do you know that my brothers? To the extent that we meditate on our path, on our personal life and the time in which we are, this will then influence how we meditate and reflect on the time in which we are living now. I shared with the group this morning that the society in which we live today is distinguished by many things, but there is one that is very important and that is the aspect of consumerism. I know that politics is a very important aspect that defines how many people govern their lives. The intellectuality or the great education is another way by which other people define their life, as there are also those who live by this philosophy that I do not like at all that is "whatever", whatever comes my way I go. They are the ones who let themselves be carried away by every wind of philosophy in the world.

But you know what? There is a large percentage of people whose lives are defined by an aspect of consumerism. And I can give you a very simple example: a person, I refer a lot to Pastor Greg in this. Pastor Greg had one of those first laptops that came out. I think he bought it in '96 if I'm not mistaken, something like that. Obviously it's a black and white screen, I think it's about 13 inches if I'm not mistaken the screen. But the thing is that your computer right now, my brothers, is totally obsolete, there are times when it doesn't work, it doesn't even turn on. But look at how that type of industry works that in a month they give you a product and at that moment it is the last thing on the avenue: I have to get it. Three months later they add another component that makes it better and costs you $300 more. Maybe it's a bit of memory or at least a color screen. And the issue is that they sell it to you as the last thing on the avenue, so what you had is useless, you have to get this new.

Before a laptop weighed maybe like 21 pounds, now since it weighs 5 pounds they are telling you: look, you have to get one that weighs 5 pounds now. Already there they are selling you $1,000 more, just because it weighs less. But the thing is that all this dynamic of consumerism is forming needs in us that we don't really need. And that is seen in all aspects, even in toothpaste. Before, Colgate had only one flavor and one function, which was to clean your mouth and prevent cavities, right? Right now Colgate has about 6 or 7 different toothpastes supposedly to either give you better breath, or not to give you tartar, or to prevent your gums from getting infected, and on and on. So when the person goes shopping, they have a dilemma because what they want is to get a paste to clean their teeth and then they enter into a dilemma: ok, what do I want, for my mouth to smell good or for my gums not to get infected, or have good breath for 24 hours, which one should I go with? Look at this last one, look at this: I don't know how many of you have entered a Wallgreens or a CBS or a pharmacy, and when you go to pay at the register, I don't know if you realize that right in front is the section of all the cigarettes that have been and have been, and right next to it is all the ways that have been and have been to avoid smoking or quit smoking.

And then a person who may be dealing with a habit or addiction to smoking, when he goes to pay and is thinking: “I want to quit smoking”, and looks straight ahead, he will find himself in a dilemma. Consumerism is putting two alternatives right in front of you: you have either chewing gum, a patch or an injection to stop smoking; or you have Winston, Malboro, and all the others out there with peppermint and cinamon too. Where are we going to go? In other words, the American industry decides. That's what I tell myself. In other words, if you are seeing that cigarettes harm a person, why do you put a person in that dilemma? If they are going to make a product for people to stop smoking, well, they just sell that product. Or if they are going to sell a product so that a person has just died, then sell it, but do not put both options in front of it.

And brothers that is the time in which we are living. Each of you has a choice before you. Everything is lent to you there in front of you, so that you decide what you are going to do with your life. They put it in all colors and all flavors so you can try them all and then you can make a decision.

There's an ad on TV about a pill for Avir's asthma, I think it's called and the thing is that the little song they play in the background, the song says: Do what you want, go where you want .... It's like who says a pill, an advertisement for an asthma pill is being put behind you as a subliminal message that says: you have the right to do what you want, and to go where you want. And brothers without realizing it, these messages go unnoticed like this and remain engraved in our minds. And many times that mentality of the world in which we live drowns out the mentality that God wants us to have, which is to ask ourselves: Lord, what do you want and ask of me?

It happens in something very subtle, little by little it cajoles you until one loses all the sensitivity of one to wonder: Lord, what do you ask of me?

And since that is the time in which we are living, I refer again to that passage from Haggai when God himself asks us: they have to meditate on their ways. The Lord is telling us: look, consider your priorities and where I am in all those priorities. It may sound like something we learn from kindergarten but, brothers, it is still a message and a principle as effective as from that moment we learned it until now and it will continue to be.

That then directs me to that third dimension regarding the time that it is time for us to take action. If a mother asks a son or daughter: can you wash the dishes for me and you have to wait three hours and after three hours, wash the dishes, what do you say to the son? Wow, about time, about time..... Brothers it's all about timing. Right now we are in a time where we have to take firmer and more decisive actions regarding what God asks of us. And yes, they are actions that one has to take with regard to their family lives, actions with regard to their individual lives, actions with regard to how you are going to integrate into society, but also actions with regard to how I am going to respond to what God is asking of me. No matter how difficult it is, what will be the answer that I am going to give to God? I always remember this again, there was a time when I mentioned it, doing God's will is not easy at all. And there are many people who think that I discern that I am in the will of God is because I have peace in my heart. But you know what? Peace is not always going to be an essential or determining ingredient for me to know if I am in the will of God or not.

Look at the example of Jesus when he was in Gethsemane. When I was crying there lying on the floor saying: Lord, pass this cup from me. Do you believe that Jesus had peace at that moment? I believe that what Jesus had was a very strong anguish that was reflected in drops of blood falling across his face. Therefore, brothers, I recognize that we as individuals, as families, as a church are approaching a moment where God is going to begin to ask something of us. God is going to start calling many of you to reach a level beyond what perhaps you have experienced to this day. And, brothers, I hope that when that moment arrives, we can obey his call.

Brothers, it may seem like a very familiar message, perhaps you are saying to yourself: Omar, I have already heard that message so many times that it even bores me to listen to it again. But I chide that thought right now. Do you know why? Because I am speaking to you about the principles of the word of God that do not lose their meaning or direction. And these are principles that have a capacity to shape your life in a way that you alone, you alone cannot. Only when one submits to those principles of the word of God is one truly able to experience that blessing of God that comes out of nowhere and does something new in our lives and one is left like Wow! This is truly from God. Certainly we have to follow what it says in this passage, we have to take time to meditate. But that time does not remain in a mere meditation but rather leads me to actions in life that I have to take.

Look how interesting. In Haggai Chapter 2. I will close with this brothers. Chapter 2 of Haggai, in verse 15, look how it says: "... now meditate where?, in your heart." He is no longer telling you to meditate on your ways, now he is asking you to meditate on your heart. I had to stop to analyze something here. You know what? It was a prophetic word right? God speaking through Haggai a prophetic word to the people. And I don't know about you, I imagine so, but when someone gives you a prophetic word, don't you get emotional? The first reaction is like emotion, it's like wow! God spoke to me. And you kind of get that current, like your juices start to move in a different way, and it's like you can't contain yourself, it's like wow! God spoke to me. But if I remain in that mere emotionalism, I am not doing anything with that prophetic word. A person who remains emotional is just that: emotion.

When I see the prophet Haggai telling the people: meditate now on your heart. Do you know what he is telling you? It is as if he were saying: yes, you know what is very exciting when God speaks to you, but don't leave it there, take that experience even deeper into your being so that you can learn what God is asking of you through that experience. word. If we stay in mere emotions, brothers, the purpose of that prophetic word is going to stay halfway. When that word is taken deep inside, reason is used, logic is used, which are gifts that God also gives us, you are going to convert and you know what? In a more balanced Christian and more prepared to be able to share the word at the right time and in the right way.

Brothers our life is about time. Many times many of us have a big fight with time. When this? when that? when will the other one happen? When is such a person going to stop being the way he is with me? Or when am I going to stop being who I am? But, brothers, knowing that a new year has begun, I invite you to follow the advice of the prophet Haggai: meditate on your ways. Meditate on the time in which your lives are. And that this reflection of the time of your lives leads you to discern how you are going to interact in an effective and affirmative way with society and in the time in which we are living. May we not be ambivalent in the aspect of our lives, but may we be people of firm convictions who know how to lead a life based on the principles of God's Scripture. And once you have reflected on that, my brothers, may the third dimension be brought to perfection as well, which is taking action. Let's take action on our life and on the call that God has for us. And so my brothers our lives will be different. That's how I believe it and that's how I profess it. Only when we obey God in an affirmative way do our lives have the capacity to make an impact around us.

We're going to stand up and pray. Thank you Jesus. Brother you are in a time. God has you in a while. And in that time there are purposes that are going to be fulfilled. Only as we respond to that time is that we will be able to see the greatness of the Lord in the midst of our lives. Lord Jesus we present your people now before you. You know the heart and the condition of each one of them: of children, of young people, of men, of women. Father, I ask you that in this year 2005 you come to an encounter with each one of them, it does not matter how long they have been in the Gospel, it does not matter if they have just arrived today, but that they can meet with you Jesus, an encounter with you transform all things. An encounter with you makes our lives something totally new. Lord and I present this people before you now. Just as you did with Sorobabel and Joshua in the book of Haggai, awaken our spirit, Lord. Awaken our spirit, Lord. Father that we are not indifferent to your voice. But that we can answer in an affirmative way to you, Lord. Father, I believe that if great things have happened in the year 2004, the ones that are going to happen now in 2005 will be even greater. The glory to come will be much better than the past. And I not only declare this for the church, I also declare it for each one of the families and individuals who are here today. May your glory be greater than has already been experienced, Jesus. Surprise us all. Surprise us Jesus. We thank you Lord. Amen, amen, amen. Thank you Jesus.

Brothers, let's get ready now, now we are going to participate in the Lord's supper, brothers. This for me, you know what? For me, what is a moment of prayerful praise, what are baptisms and what is this, is when God is at his maximum potential. It is a symbol, brothers, a simple piece of bread and a simple glass of grape juice, but that symbol has a transforming power. Symbol of the body of Jesus that was broken for us to give us the freedom that many of us experience today. Symbol of his blood that cleanses us and forgives us and restores us from all sin. Lord I consecrate these elements to you now, Jesus. And may you become present and real now, Lord, in the midst of our lives, may this be a moment of meeting with you, Lord. Amen, Jesus.