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A Bag Full of Holes

A Bag Full of Holes.

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A Bag Full of Holes

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  1. A Bag Full of Holes • The setting of the book of Haggai is about 520 B.C., after the period of the 70-year's captivity in Babylon. Haggai had returned with Zerubbabel to Palestine after Cyrus, king of Persia, released them. The Jews began to rebuild the temple and reestablish the proper work of Jehovah. However, their adversaries soon interrupted them in this work and the work lay unfinished for 16 years.

  2. A Bag Full of Holes • Haggai's task was to stir the people to renew their work of rebuilding the temple (Hag. 1:1-7).

  3. A Bag Full of Holes In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2"Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built."'" 3Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4"Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" 5Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! 6You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes." 7Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Consider your ways! Haggai 1:1-7

  4. A Bag Full of Holes • Haggai's task was to stir the people to renew their work of rebuilding the temple (Hag. 1:1-7). The people were using the wood needed to refurbish the temple for their own "paneled houses" ‑‑‑ luxuriant homes.

  5. A Bag Full of Holes • Israel was intent upon following their own way (Judges 17:6). "…every man did that which was right in his own eyes." They were not yielding to the will of Jehovah. Consequently, their efforts ultimately were in vain because their heart was not turned to God. In v.6, the Lord describes the end result of their labor; it was if they were putting their money into a "bag with holes.”

  6. A Bag Full of Holes • We still observe the "bags full of holes" in the conduct of people who claim to be servants of the Lord.

  7. A Bag Full of Holes • Superficial Responses • Many encourage responses from people based solely on an emotional appeal • No more than a "church-house" religion • Let the fervor of the moment pass and there's no lasting benefit to such responses

  8. A Bag Full of Holes • Superficial Responses • Difference between "coming forward" and lasting loyal commitment to faithfulness - Joel 2:12-13; Jonah 3:10; Rom. 6:17

  9. A Bag Full of Holes "Now, therefore," says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." 13So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:12-13 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it. Jonah 3:10 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. Romans 6:17

  10. A Bag Full of Holes • Social Club Religion • More and more people are swarming around congregations who cater to the social appetites • “Gymnasium, church staff, youth minister, etc.” • Have turned religion into “Big Business”

  11. A Bag Full of Holes • Social Club Religion • The simple preaching of the Gospel of Christ is all we have to offer - Rom 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:18-21; 2 Tim. 4:2-4

  12. A Bag Full of Holes For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 1:16 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 20Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4

  13. A Bag Full of Holes • Social Club Religion • The Madison Ave. approach is a bag full of holes

  14. A Bag Full of Holes • Preachers Who Seldom Study • Preachers who seek to please men don't spend their time studying the Book of Life • Study Norman Vincent Peale, Robert Schuller, etc. • Smooth words, fair speech and social graces

  15. A Bag Full of Holes • Preachers Who Seldom Study • In order to preach The Word • Preacher must study The Word - 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 4:2-4

  16. A Bag Full of Holes Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:2-4

  17. A Bag Full of Holes • Preachers Who Seldom Study • In order to preach The Word • Preacher must study The Word - 2 Tim. 2:15; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 • It takes time and energy!

  18. A Bag Full of Holes • Overseers Who Fail To Watch For Souls • Overseers who forget they are God's shepherds, watching for the souls of brethren, help to widen the hole - Acts 20:28

  19. A Bag Full of Holes Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28

  20. A Bag Full of Holes • Overseers Who Fail To Watch For Souls • Some look upon their role as a board member of a large corporation instead of an overseer in the house of God - Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 5:2; Titus 1:9-11

  21. A Bag Full of Holes Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 1 Peter 5:2 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. Titus 1:9-11

  22. A Bag Full of Holes • Parents Who Stress Material Values • Parents who stress better cars, bigger houses, finer clothes and richer monetary gains eventually fail their children - Mk 8:36-37; Matt. 6:19-21

  23. A Bag Full of Holes “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 37Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

  24. A Bag Full of Holes • Parents Who Stress Material Values • Parents who stress better cars, bigger houses, finer clothes and richer monetary gains eventually fail their children - Mk 8:36-37; Matt. 6:19-21 • When a parent pushes their children to excel in sports or secular education, and not in Bible knowledge and obedience, THEY HAVE FAILED.

  25. A Bag Full of Holes • Parents Who Stress Material Values • Parents who stress better cars, bigger houses, finer clothes and richer monetary gains eventually fail their children - Mk 8:36-37; Matt. 6:19-21 • Parents who stress material things over spiritual things are filling a bag full of holes.

  26. A Bag Full of Holes • Parents Who Stress Material Values • The spiritual is what will last. What God wants is what will endure - Psa 49:16-17; Psa 119:36; Col 3:1-2

  27. A Bag Full of Holes Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; 17For when he dies he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him. Psalms 49:16-17 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. Psalms 119:36 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

  28. A Bag Full of Holes • People Who Postpone Obedience • Millions who have postponed their obedience will remember throughout eternity the folly of their delay. • Why would anyone who knew the truth fail to respond? • Why spend one day in Satan's service when heaven can be yours?

  29. A Bag Full of Holes • People Who Postpone Obedience • The Bible exhorts that "today is the day of salvation" - 2 Cor. 6:2; Acts 24:25; 26:28

  30. A Bag Full of Holes For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you." Acts 24:25 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." Acts 26:28

  31. A Bag Full of Holes • Brethren Who Drift Away from God • There cannot be a bag with any larger holes than the one an apostate Christian carries. • Such a person has no excuse, no reason, and no hope as long as they remain in such a sad condition. • Might this describe anyone in this audience?

  32. A Bag Full of Holes • Brethren Who Drift Away from God • Grave consequences are described in the Bible toward those who turn back - Ezek 18:24; 2 Peter 2:20-21

  33. A Bag Full of Holes But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die. Ezekiel 18:24 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 2 Peter 2:20-21

  34. A Bag Full of Holes • Are you putting all your hopes and dreams into a bag with holes?

  35. A Bag Full of Holes Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified. 2 Corinthians 13:5

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