When we look at the beginning of the book of Haggai, we are presented with a people that collectively had an attitude problem. They were busily running around making sure that they looked good, instead of seeking to be good. The people were self-centered, self-seeking, and self-aggrandizing. They were building up their own houses, serving their own comforts and desires and leaving true service to the Lord for others to perform. The reference to "paneled houses" is a reference not to humility, but to finery; not to mud huts, but to mansions. All the while they had neglected the Temple. They had neglected God.

We do the same thing today. Our temple is the Church of Jesus Christ. It is the body of Christ. It is His people. When we neglect His people, we neglect Him. We neglect God. How do we neglect God? There are many ways. We look away from God and to ourselves. We feed our own comforts and our own desires. We make of ourselves paneled houses. But paneling does not change what we are. It only covers it up.

God is not interested in coverings. He is interested in the ceour. He is interested in the heart. All coverings will be removed. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home I blew away." (Haggai 1:9a)

We have layered ourselves in deceit---deceit of each other and deceit of ourselves. We deceive ourselves into thinking that we are innocent. We tell ourselves---and each other---that the accusations against us are imagined, or that they are known by our accusers to be false, but there is a debt against us. When we have been confronted with it, we must acknowledge the debt that is held against us.

The one who is holding the card on that debt is not imagining it. He is holding that card, and we must acknowledge it, for when the great day comes the Lord will have seen to it that every such card has been redeemed in full. Every card that is held because the offender refused to humble themselves before their victim by confessing and asking their forgiveness will be redeemed. They will be redeemed by the withholding of what we seek. Whether we seek food, shelter, riches, love, honor, or even peace they shall be withheld. God's drought will be upon us.

Short of our destruction, He shall withhold everything we seek. Even if we seek God, if we seek Him without humble repentance, He will withhold even Himself, and you shall have no peace. Seek Him all you want, if you do not do so with a humbled and repentant heart you will not find Him. All of those debts against you, which you deny, will bring the flames of judgment to you. Your vaunted paneling and the comforts of the house of your life will be put to the test.

What does God say? Paneling burns. All the panelings and coverings and deceptions of your life will be burned in that fire, and you will come through it as one escaping a fire. The effects of God's reaction to your dishonorable attitude form the consequences of your actions. These consequences are faithful and just, for how can you expect God to treat you in a way you enjoy when you dishonor Him by your attitudes and actions? He cannot. He must rip away the deceit from your life, and you will suffer the fire of that pruning.

There is a better way. If you will humble yourself before those who have claims against you, confessing your sins against them and asking their forgiveness, they are obligated to grant forgiveness, and cancel the debt which they hold against you. In Jesus' own words, "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." (Luke 17:3b-4) How can your brother repent unless he knows what his sin is? Therefore, when you rebuke your brother for sin, do so by telling him what his sin is, so that he can repent, for if you do not give them the opportunity to be forgiven, God's judgment will be upon you for wishing evil upon them. Likewise, if you know your sin against someone else you are obligated to approach your victim with a repentant heart, asking forgiveness. In Jesus' own words, "if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)

In Haggai, God says through the prophet, "Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored." (Haggai 1:7b-8) Note that He makes no assurances of ease or safety. You are climbing a mountain to take what is there. Even when you get there, and have done what you have come to do the load you carry back down that mountain will not be easy or light. The way is not easy, nor is the path straight and level, but if you will honor God in all you do by humbling yourself in sincere service to His temple---His people---and asking forgiveness from those you offend, God will stir up your spirit, as it is written: "'I am with you,' declares the Lord." (Haggai 1:13b) If you will humbly repent and serve Him, God will honor you. May His Grace and Peace be with you this day. Amen.

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

[This message has been edited by TallBill (edited November 26, 2002).]

Welcome to the CCN TallBill! I see your already making yourself at home which is great. How did you find the CCN?

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It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing.
http://www.twoguyssoftware.com

quote:

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Originally posted by Mack:
Forgive me, a bit delayed in the welcome:

Welcome to the CCN TallBill! I see your already making yourself at home which is great. How did you find the CCN?

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Spiffy Dinosaur sent me.

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

[This message has been edited by TallBill (edited December 02, 2002).]

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It's not seeing is believing, it's believing and then seeing.
http://www.twoguyssoftware.ca

--D-SIPL

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

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I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all around me seemed insufficient for the day. ABRAHAM LINCOLN

We are the temple of God.

BTW, I'm an Amiga nut, too. Bought me an A600 recently and an A500 as well. Now I just need to convince my wife I need an A1200. Oh, and to find the games I want ( Fire & Ice, Paradroid, North & South, Speedball 2 ).

quote:

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Originally posted by Christian:
Our temple is the Church of Jesus Christ.

We are the temple of God.

BTW, I'm an Amiga nut, too. Bought me an A600 recently and an A500 as well. Now I just need to convince my wife I need an A1200. Oh, and to find the games I want ( Fire & Ice, Paradroid, North & South, Speedball 2 ).

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You guys ought to join us over at Amiga.org as well. There are a few Christians there, but it would be nice to have more. By the way, over at that site, I am Billsey for those who haven't already worked it out.

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Never Forget to Pray!

"...prayer itself is an art which only the Holy Ghost can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. Pray for prayer---pray till you can pray; pray to be helped to pray, and give not up praying because you cannot pray, for it is when you think you cannot pray that you are most praying. Sometimes when you have no sort of comfort in your supplications, it is then that your heart---all broken and cast down---is really wrestling and truly prevailing with the Most High."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon, from the pamphlet, "Effective Prayer"

I have been a little bizzy of late. Glad to see you posting here as well. Gotta go Bizzzzzzy ya know!