What Are You Building & Seeking?
Introduction• What have we learned? God
speaks…• What have we learned? God
speaks…
Introduction• What have we learned? God
speaks…– To David – Through people
– To Elijah – Through a quiet whisper
– To Elisha – Through opening our eyes to the Upper Story
• What have we learned? God speaks…– To David – Through people
– To Elijah – Through a quiet whisper
– To Elisha – Through opening our eyes to the Upper Story
Introduction• What have we learned? God
speaks…– To Ezekiel & Jeremiah –
through His Revealed Word
– Through the Return – through Circumstances
• What have we learned? God speaks…– To Ezekiel & Jeremiah –
through His Revealed Word
– Through the Return – through Circumstances
Introduction• What will God do to bring
His people back to Himself?• What will God do to bring
His people back to Himself?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Northern Kingdom – 722 BC to
Assyria – scattered beyond repair
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Northern Kingdom – 722 BC to
Assyria – scattered beyond repair
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Northern Kingdom – 722 BC to Assyria –
scattered beyond repair
– Southern Kingdom – 605-586 BC to Babylon – preserved intact & purified of idolatry
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Northern Kingdom – 722 BC to Assyria –
scattered beyond repair
– Southern Kingdom – 605-586 BC to Babylon – preserved intact & purified of idolatry
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Jeremiah – In captivity in Babylon
70 yrs. (Jeremiah 25:12, 29:10)
– Isaiah – My servant CYRUS will bring you out! (Isaiah 44:28, 45:13)
• Review – Tale of two exiles– Jeremiah – In captivity in Babylon
70 yrs. (Jeremiah 25:12, 29:10)
– Isaiah – My servant CYRUS will bring you out! (Isaiah 44:28, 45:13)
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• EXCITED to Rebuild Temple! (Ezra 3)
• EXCITED to Rebuild Temple! (Ezra 3)
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• EXCITED to Rebuild Temple! (Ezra 3)
– The Shelf of Forgotten Dreams
• EXCITED to Rebuild Temple! (Ezra 3)
– The Shelf of Forgotten Dreams
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Opposed & Then Distracted (Ezra 4:4-5; Haggai 1:1-3)
• Not time YET, after 16 years!
• Opposed & Then Distracted (Ezra 4:4-5; Haggai 1:1-3)
• Not time YET, after 16 years!
Spiritual Reality #1Spiritual Reality #1
DISCOURAGEMENT is to be expected in life; but the MORE God is going to be glorified, honored or proclaimed in something, the more SPIRITUAL OPPOSITION and resistance there will be.
DISCOURAGEMENT is to be expected in life; but the MORE God is going to be glorified, honored or proclaimed in something, the more SPIRITUAL OPPOSITION and resistance there will be.
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Matthew 6:33 & 22:36-38• Matthew 6:33 & 22:36-38
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Where Is God’s PLACE Right Now in YOUR LIFE?
• Where Is God’s PLACE Right Now in YOUR LIFE?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12)
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12)
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
• Empty & Fruitless
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
• Empty & Fruitless
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
– God’s WAKE UP Call!• I blew it all away
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
– God’s WAKE UP Call!• I blew it all away
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
– God’s WAKE UP Call!• Why? Neglecting My House
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
– God’s WAKE UP Call!• Why? Neglecting My House
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
Lower Story – What will God do to bring His people back to Him?
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
• Empty & Fruitless
– God’s WAKE UP Call! –God’s People RESPOND
• Exhortation, DISCIPLINE & Action (Haggai 1:4-12) – EXAMINE Your Ways
• Empty & Fruitless
– God’s WAKE UP Call! –God’s People RESPOND
My Story – Takeaways
Spiritual Reality #2Spiritual Reality #2
God’s Greatest PRIORITY Should Be OUR Greatest PRIORITY
God’s Greatest PRIORITY Should Be OUR Greatest PRIORITY
My Story – Takeaways
• COURAGEOUS PRAYER: God, do whatever it takes to get You back in the center of my life.
• COURAGEOUS PRAYER: God, do whatever it takes to get You back in the center of my life.