Haggai Series: Stopping Spiritual Drift (Hag 1:1-15)

Stopping Spiritual Drift

On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year, the Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak: This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’” The Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai as follows: “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins? Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “Pay close attention to these things also. Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,’ says the Lord. ‘You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little. And when you would bring it home, I would blow it right away. Why?’ asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce. Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce. ” Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the Lord their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s announcement to the people: “I am with you,” decrees the Lord. So the Lord energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year.

Haggai 1:1-15 (NET)

How can we stop spiritual drift in our lives and our communities—losing zeal and passion for God and his work? Romans 12:11 (NIV) says: “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” We all have a responsibility to keep our passion for God, and we all have specific works we are called to do. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.” We get an object lesson on how to keep our zeal and be faithful in God’s work in the book of Haggai. The post-exilic Jews who returned from exile in Babylon lost their zeal to rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem and had to be aroused to faithfulness by Haggai, the prophet.

Intro to Haggai

But before we consider how to stop spiritual drift, we will briefly consider the historical background of Haggai and what it is about. The historical background is Cyrus the Great of Persia, after conquering Babylon in 539 BC, decreed in 538 BC that the Jews could return to their homeland after seventy years of exile and rebuild the temple of their God (Ezra 1). In response, about 50,000 exiles under Governor Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua returned to the land and laid the temple’s foundation in 536 BC (Ezra 3).

However, because of opposition from the Samaritans, a decree from King Artaxerxes for them to stop building, and their own discouragement and spiritual apathy, the people halted progress on the temple and instead focused on their own homes and prosperity (Ezra 4; Hag 1:2–4). After around sixteen years of neglect, Haggai and Zechariah’s prophecies reignited the people’s zeal, and the work resumed—culminating in the temple’s completion and dedication in 516 BC (Ezra 6:15).

Haggai’s prophecies consist of five distinct messages (some argue for four or six) delivered over a four-month period (August 29 – December 18, 520 BC). These are some of the most precisely dated prophecies in all Scripture.

The five messages in Haggai are:

1. A Call to Rebuild the Temple (1:1–11). On the first day of the sixth month (1:1), which is equivalent to August 29, 520 BC in our modern-day calendar, Haggai rebuked the returned exiles for living in their paneled houses while the Lord’s temple lay in ruins. He urged them to consider their ways (1:5, 7), explaining that their hardships were due to misplaced priorities. The people responded in obedience under Zerubbabel (the governor) and Joshua (the high priest) and began preparations to rebuild the temple, including gathering wood (v.8).

2. A Promise of God’s Presence (1:12-15). On the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month (1:15), which is equivalent to September 21, 520 BC, because of the people’s obedience to Haggai’s first message by committing to build, God said to them through Haggai, “I am with you.” In response, Israel started the actual building of the sanctuary. This happened twenty-three days after Haggai’s first prophecy.

3. Encouragement for the Builders (2:1–9). On the twenty-first day of the seventh month (2:1), which is equivalent to October 17, 520 BC, the builders grew discouraged when they realized that the new temple seemed inferior to Solomon’s. Haggai encouraged them to “be strong” and continue the work, assuring them that God’s Spirit remained with them (2:4–5). He promised that the future glory of this temple would surpass the former—pointing ultimately to the coming of the messiah, the eschatological temple, and the glory of the new covenant (2:6–9, cf. Heb 12:26-29, Ez 40-48).

4. The People’s Defilement and Blessing Restored (2:10–19). On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (2:10), which is equivalent to December 18, 520 BC, Haggai used a priestly illustration to teach that holiness is not contagious, but defilement is (2:12–13). Because of their past neglect, the people and their produce had been defiled. Yet from that day forward—since they had resumed the Lord’s work—God promised to bless them (2:19). This marked a turning point from judgment to restoration.

5. God’s Promise to Zerubbabel (2:20–23). On the same day as the previous prophecy (2:20; December 18, 520 BC), God gave a personal oracle to Zerubbabel, promising to overthrow the nations and make him like a “signet ring” (2:23)—a symbol of divine authority and covenant favor. Zerubbabel was in the Davidic line, and though he never ruled as king, this prophecy ultimately points forward to the future Davidic king, Jesus (cf. Matt 1:12–13).

As we look at Haggai 1:1-15, we learn principles about stopping spiritual drift and maintaining zeal in our serving the Lord.

Big Question: What principles can we learn from Haggai 1:1-15 about stopping spiritual drift?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Vulnerability to It

On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year, the Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak: This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’ ”

Haggai 1:1-2

When looking at the post-exilic Jews and the leadership of the Governor Zerubbael and the High Priest Joshua, it would be easy to consider them as simply carnal believers or maybe even not true believers, as they neglected building God’s house, but that wouldn’t be a clear picture of the context. Out of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who were exiled and living in Babylon, only these returned. They left their houses, businesses, and children’s schooling to go in faith to a place that was still in ruins from the war seventy years prior. It was a major step of faith. Ezra 1:5 says they did it because God moved upon their hearts. It says, “Then the leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites—all those whose mind God had stirred—got ready to go up in order to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem.” No doubt, God stirred their hearts, in part, through prophecies given before and during the exile. Jeremiah 29:10 says: “For the Lord says, ‘Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland.” Also, Jeremiah 31:33-34, promised a new covenant with Israel after their return. It says:

“But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people. “People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says the Lord. “For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.”

This prophecy ultimately awaits the second coming of Christ when Israel will accept their messiah and be delivered not only from exile in other nations but from their sins.

Either way, it was this remnant that chose to take God’s promises in faith, not knowing exactly how they would be fulfilled. When they got to the land, they were still passionate and zealous after the long journey. They even took up a major offering to rebuild the temple. Ezra 2:68-29 says,

When they came to the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild it on its site. As they were able, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly robes.

In our currency, this was tens of millions of dollars. After doing a fundraiser, they immediately started to build and finished the foundation soon after. It was because of antagonism from the neighboring Samaritans that they were forced to stop building. The Samaritans contacted the new Persian king, Artaxerxes, and he commanded that the Jews stop building (Ez 4:21). At the time of Haggai’s prophecy, it had been sixteen years since they stopped building the temple. The remnant of Jews who journeyed to Israel, led by Zerubbabel and Joshua, were faithful Jews who believed God’s promises. However, their passion eventually cooled when they experienced antagonism and difficulties in the land.

This is also common for us, no matter how passionate we are right now; we are vulnerable to spiritual drift. This happened to the Ephesians as well, who Christ commended before rebuking their lack of spiritual passion in Revelation 2:2-5. He said this to them:

I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—that is, if you do not repent.

This has happened to many of us. We can look back on brighter days in our faith life, times where we read the Bible zealously, shared our faith with others, encouraged the weak, gave generously, but now, maybe because of encountering some trials or going through busyness, we are not as zealous as before. James Boice described this common disposition among believers in his commentary on the same passage, as he compared the modern-day church to the post-exilic remnant in Jerusalem:

Many in our day are like that. They are not unbelievers. They are not even unconcerned believers. These people want to know the will of God and do it. At least they did at one time—perhaps when they were in a Youth for Christ group in high school or in Campus Crusade or InterVarsity Fellowship during their years in college. Perhaps they were zealous for God in the years immediately following their conversion. But life has moved on. Now there is a job or a wife or children (or any one of a dozen other things) to think about, and somehow they have let the work of God slide. They have left the work to younger or older or newer or merely other Christians. The word of God by Haggai comes to such people—to you, if you are one. God says: What is the condition of my house? What is the condition of my work in your home, your church, your neighborhood, your city, your land? He says: What are you doing to fulfill the purpose for which you have been set apart by Jesus Christ? “Consider Your Ways”

Likewise, if we are going to protect ourselves from spiritual drift, we must recognize that we are vulnerable to it and maybe already in it? How is our current relationship with the Lord and the work he has called us to?

Application Question: Describe your most passionate seasons of faith and what led to them. In what ways have you experienced spiritual drift, and what led to those seasons? Where would you currently rank your zeal for the Lord and his work, 1-10, and why?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Excuses and Their Inadequacy in Light of God’s Sufficiency

On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year, the Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak: This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’”

Haggai 1:1-2

When Haggai initially approached the leadership of Israel, Zerubbabel and Joshua, it was the first day of the sixth month, which would be a holy day and time to offer sacrifices. Numbers 28:11 says, “‘On the first day of each month you must offer as a burnt offering to the Lord two young bulls, one ram, and seven unblemished lambs a year old.” Even though the temple wasn’t built, the Israelites still probably gathered at the temple site on that day to offer sacrifices and worship God, so Haggai would have had an audience as he approached the leadership of Israel. He approached the leadership in verse 2 and said: “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said has said: ‘These people have said, ‘The time for rebuilding the Lord’s temple has not yet come.’” He didn’t explain the reasons why the people said it wasn’t time to rebuild, but we can easily imagine them.

No doubt, some said, “It seems like God closed the door when the Persian king forbade us from rebuilding the temple and the city.” Others probably said, “Finances are slim right now, there has been a crop failure and drought in the land” (as seen in Haggai 1:10-11). The sixth month was also a harvest time , so some probably simply said, “It’s too busy right now. We don’t have time!” Others might have said, “Things are OK as is. Why do we need to make a change?” The temple was the place of the manifest presence of God, and that reality separated Israel from all the nations of the world. Unfortunately, many Jews had just become accustomed to living without God’s manifest presence in their lives. They lacked power and, in many ways, were just like the unbelieving people around them.

Furthermore, a slim minority of the remnant who were over seventy may have struggled with the fact that the second temple would be much smaller and not as magnificent. In Ezra 3:12, when they built the foundation of the temple, the older generation wept, probably because of its size, and the younger generation shouted. Some scholars believe that Haggai was one of the older people from the remnant, in his seventies or eighties, who had seen the former glory of the temple. They argue it could be implied by his comparison of the temples from Haggai 2:3-4 when he says:

‘Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? How does it look to you now? Isn’t it nothing by comparison?’ Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,” decrees the Lord. “Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. And take heart all you citizens of the land,” decrees the Lord, “and begin to work. For I am with you,” decrees the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

God rebuked their discouragement by saying this in Haggai 2:6-9,

Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “In just a little while I will once again shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry ground. I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,” So the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said. “The silver and gold will be mine,” decrees the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,” the Lord Heaven’s Armies has declared. “And in this place I will give peace”, decrees the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Yes, the second temple would be smaller, but it would ultimately have a greater glory as the nations would send their treasure to it and God would fill it with glory. Many believe this refers to the eschatological temple, which God saw as a continuation of the first and second temple (cf. Heb 12:26-29, Ez 40-48).

No doubt, there were many excuses that people made which kept them from faithfully rebuilding the temple and allowed spiritual drift to enter in. None of the Israelites would disagree with the importance of rebuilding the temple; it just wasn’t time to do it because of other circumstances.

Unfortunately, we commonly make excuses as well. We’re too busy to read the Bible, serve, or even pray consistently right now. We’ve got a hard semester with difficult classes. For others, we have a spouse, kids, a job, and bills to pay. We’ve got difficulties happening in our life that don’t allow us to be spiritually disciplined, serve, or give. And for some of us, like the older generation that looked at the smallness of the second temple, we might also be discouraged by our lack of ability, our past failures, or the menial opportunities in front of us. We look at our smallness, including our giftings, the size of our church, or the nation we come from, and we feel like God can’t use us significantly. Like the person with one talent, we are tempted to put our talent in the ground because we think we don’t have much to offer (Matt 25:24-25).

Implied in the title Haggai used for God is the fact that God is all powerful and has all the resources needed to accomplish his work. In Haggai 1:2, Haggai called God “the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” or “Lord of Hosts.” Haggai used this title for God fourteen times in the book. It represented the fact that God was all-powerful with all of heaven’s armies at his disposal. It implies his authority to tell us to obey him, but also to empower us to do his work. The Lord of Heaven’s armies tells us to seek his face, build his house, and spread his kingdom work. The Lord of Heaven’s armies will empower us to do his work. When Moses declared that he was slow of tongue and therefore not capable of leading Israel, God simply said, “Who made the mouth?” He would teach his mouth to speak. God says the same to us, as we declare our excuses for not being spiritually disciplined, serving, and building his kingdom. He is the Lord of Hosts with all the authority and power we need. Likewise, when Paul challenged Timothy, who was struggling with timidity in his serving, he said this in 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.” God’s Spirit is with us, so we don’t have to be afraid about a lack of resources, giftings, or even obstacles. We just need to obey.

What excuses do we make for not faithfully serving the Lord? How is God calling us to trust the God with all the resources, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the Lord of Hosts? If we are going to stop spiritual drift, we must recognize our excuses and God’s sufficiency for them. In Haggai 1:13, God will say this directly, and not just implied by his name. He said, “I am with you,” and he is with us to do his work as well. Christ said to his disciples when he commissioned them to make disciples of all nations in Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me… And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As the disciples naturally started to make excuses in their minds about going to the nations to make disciples, he encouraged them with his authority and presence. Likewise, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is with us as well. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline. What excuses are we making for not being zealous and diligent about God’s work?

Application Question: What fears, excuses, obstacles do you struggle with that hinder or threaten to hinder your service of the Lord in various capacities? How have you at times seen or experienced God’s removal or minimizing of those potential excuses, so he could use you or others?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Prioritize God’s House Instead of Our Own, including Our Comfort and Prosperity

The Lord’s message came through the prophet Haggai as follows: “Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins?

Haggai 1:3-4

When Haggai confronted the post-exilic Jews, and specifically the leadership, about living in richly paneled houses while the temple was in ruins, he challenged their self-oriented priorities. The word for “paneled” in the Hebrew comes from a root word for “covering.” He could have been contrasting their houses with roofs with the temple, which had no roof, but likely, he was confronting more than that. As translated by the NET, it seems he was referring to luxury (“richly paneled houses” in verse 4). Certainly, not all the Jews had homes that were luxurious, but many did. When the 50,000 Jews returned to the land, according to Ezra 2:64, 7,337 of them were slaves—meaning a good number of the returners were wealthy, while others were not. Either way, any time we put our needs or wants over God and his work, we are dealing with a form of idolatry. God and worshiping him were no longer the exiles’ first priority; their comfort was. Likewise, we must be careful of the same. There is always a temptation for us to put our interests and specifically our comfort over God and his priorities. We are also tempted to focus on building paneled houses with all the latest creature comforts instead of focusing on God and his kingdom.

Christ warned against this temptation in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:19-21 and 24, he said:

Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and devouring insect destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and devouring insect do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also… “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

In describing the foolishness of these pursuits, Christ taught that the accumulation of earthly treasures was temporary, as moths and insects devour them (probably referring to clothes) and thieves steal them, but heavenly treasures are eternal. He also warned us of our tendency to idolize wealth, saying we cannot serve God and money.

The post-exilic Jews, though previously zealous for God, had fallen into this temptation. They would wholeheartedly declare that God was their first priority and show up at the incomplete temple on festival days to offer sacrifices, but their actions, or inaction, showed that they were truly serving self, as they focused on their wealth and comfort. The idol of comfort was hindering their worship of God, who provided it.

Scripture is pretty clear that wealth and prosperity are gifts from God, but also gifts that come with various dangers. First Chronicles 29:12 says, “Both riches and honor come from you,” and Deuteronomy 8:18 says, “You must remember the Lord your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth.” Also, 1 Timothy 6:17 says, God “richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.” And yet, with this reality, Scripture repeatedly gives us a warning that riches (and the pursuit of them) can be spiritually dangerous. Wealth tends to make us forget God. With the original Israelites who entered the promised land after being delivered from slavery in Egypt, Moses warned them about this in Deuteronomy 6:10-12:

Then when the Lord your God brings you to the land he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you—a land with large, fine cities you did not build, houses filled with choice things you did not accumulate, hewn out cisterns you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—and you eat your fill, be careful not to forget the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, that place of slavery.

As we know from biblical history, this happened. After the Israelites conquered the land in the book of Joshua, they repeatedly forgot the Lord and worshiped idols in the book of Judges, and therefore were repeatedly disciplined by God. Likewise, as the post-exilic Israelites developed a measure of prosperity while rebuilding the ruins in Jerusalem, they started to do the same. They started to spiritually drift. This reality has been noted by missiologists who study missions in foreign lands. It’s been said metaphorically that the gospel goes into a city, as preached by missionaries, and soon after people accept the message, it bears a baby called wealth. Then the baby devours the mother. The Bible teaches things like hard work, integrity, self-control, forgiveness, gentleness, and generosity. These types of disciplines and traits often lead to success and, at times, material wealth. But then wealth commonly leads to spiritual neglect. That has happened historically, not only with missions, but with the established church in general. In the nations where Christians are materially prosperous (America, Germany, Korea, etc.), the church is often decreasing, but in nations where they are persecuted (like Iran and China), they are growing.

Again, Scripture teaches that wealth and prosperity, though often gifts of God, are spiritually dangerous because we tend to idolize them and neglect the Giver of every good gift. In 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Paul warned Timothy of the same thing. He said:

Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

Furthermore, Paul told Timothy to both warn and encourage the rich in the Ephesian church. In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, he said:

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others. In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

Instead of being prideful because of their wealth and looking down on others who don’t have as much as them, they should be humble. Instead of setting their hope on their wealth or the accumulation of it, they should put their hope in God. And instead of simply accumulating wealth, they should use it to do good by being generous givers and storing up their wealth in heaven.

When the post-exilic Jews gave the equivalent of tens of millions of dollars to build God’s house, they did well with the wealth God had given them. However, when they focused on building paneled houses instead of sacrificially building God’s temple, they did wrong, and God judged them for it.

As mentioned, we face the same challenge as the post-exilic Jews to focus on our house by pursuing comfort, wealth, and social status instead of focusing on God’s house by sacrificially seeking to expand his kingdom.

Focusing on God’s House

How can we focus on building God’s house today instead of our own? For Israel, God’s house referred to the temple, where God’s presence dwelt. Though God was everywhere, as he is omnipresent, there was a special way he was present in the temple to meet with people, receive their worship, and forgive their sins. Today, according to the New Testament, our bodies are the temple of God. First Corinthians 6:19-20 says,

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Therefore to build God’s house today in part refers to growing in holiness in the ways that we speak, act, and think. First Timothy 4:7 says, “train [or discipline] yourself for godliness.” As we practice spiritual disciplines like prayer, reading Scripture, confession of sin, corporate worship, fellowship, and service, we grow in holiness. We should not neglect our spiritual disciplines because this is how we make ourselves holy and worship God on a personal level. This is one of the ways we build God’s house.

Another way that we build God’s house is by building up the people of God, since we, gathered together, are his temple. First Peter 2:5 refers to individual believers as bricks being built together to form God’s house. It says, “you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Also, Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Therefore, we not only build God’s house by becoming holy and using our bodies to worship and serve him, but we also build God’s house by building up other believers and sharing the gospel with unbelievers, so they can become part of God’s house. As we get together with other believers at church, small groups, and individually to sacrificially serve them and worship God together, build God’s house, and as we share the gospel with the lost and focus on world missions, we expand it. First Corinthians 15:58 says, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Trials and delays, or even success and prosperity, should not hinder us from faithfully laboring to build God’s house and kingdom.

Are we prioritizing building God’s house and kingdom, or are we putting comfort and prosperity before our Lord?

Practically Putting God First

Like the post-exilic Jews, we would all declare that God should be first, including seeking him in the Word and prayer, serving his church, and reaching the lost, but many of us still struggle to practically implement these. How do we practically put God first? Pastor Steve Cole gave a great illustration on putting God first in his sermon on this passage, as he shared a story from the book First Things First by Stephen Covey. He said:

I’ve shared before the story of the time management expert who was speaking to a group of business students. He pulled out a large, wide-mouth jar and filled it with fist-sized rocks. When he couldn’t put any more in, he asked, “Is this jar full?”

The class responded, “Yes.” He said, “Really?” Then he pulled out a bucket of gravel and poured it in, shaking it down through the cracks. Then he asked, “Is the jar full?”

The students were onto him, so they said, “No.” “Good,” he replied. He dumped in a bucket of sand. Once more he asked, “Is the jar full?” “No,” they shouted. Again he said, “Good.” He poured in a pitcher of water until the jar was full to the brim.

Then he asked, “What is the point of the illustration?” One student ventured, “No matter how full your schedule, if you try hard, you can always fit more in.”

“No,” the speaker replied, “that is not the point. The point is, if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

That’s what we must do as well when it comes to our priorities. Are we struggling with putting God first through faithfully studying God’s Word and spending time in prayer? We should make them our first thing in the morning by going to bed earlier, so we can get up early to prioritize God. Are we struggling with giving? In faith, we should give our first portions to God, just like we do with our taxes. Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. Are we too busy to prioritize encouraging the faith of our spouse or children? Then we must get home from work earlier, choose to watch less TV, and spend time in the Word and prayer as a family. With our kids, instead of overly focusing on extra-curriculars and academics, we should focus on their involvment in spiritually enriching endeavors like youth group or retreats. Are we too busy to go to church faithfully, join a small group, or ministry? If so, we need to make changes in our weekly schedule which demonstrate that God, seeking and serving him, is our biggest priority. As we make even small changes by faith, God will bless us. As he said to the post-exilic Jews when they started building his house, “I will be with you and I will bless you” (Hag 1:13, 2:19). James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” As we seek God, he will draw near us and bless us, including meeting our needs.

Are we seeking God’s kingdom and his righteousness first, or are we seeking other things? We must put God’s house first, and then he will take care of ours. In addition, we must be careful of the temptation towards not only prioritizing self, but specifically prioritizing wealth and comfort. We are all tempted to focus on building our paneled houses while our churches and the work of global missions suffer. To stop spiritual drift, we must focus on building God’s house and kingdom instead of our own.

Application Question: Why are comfort, riches, and the pursuit of them spiritually dangerous? In the New Covenant, what are ways that we build God’s house? In what ways is God calling you to prioritize his house over your own?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Regularly and Soberly Evaluate Ourselves and Allow Others to As Well

Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’” “Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “Pay close attention to these things also

Haggai 1:5-7

As Haggai confronted the post-exilic Jews about their misplaced priorities, he called them to soberly evaluate their lives. In verse 5, he says, “Think carefully about what you are doing,” and in verse 7, he says, “Pay close attention to these things also.” This is the same phrase in the Hebrew. The ESV translates them both, “Consider your ways.” The phrase literally means ‘to set your heart upon’ and implies serious reflection. Haggai repeats this phrase three more times in Haggai 2:15 and 18, which demonstrated how the post-exilic Jews should regularly evaluate themselves. In order for the Jews to stop spiritual drift, they needed to regularly and soberly evaluate their lives to see if they lined up with God’s will for them. They needed to evaluate whether their works (“what you are doing,” v. 5) and the results (“planted much but harvested little,” v. 6) aligned with God’s covenant with them. God promised to bless Israel if they obeyed the Mosaic law and curse them if they did not (Dt 28). At the time of Haggai’s prophecy, they were under the curse as they were experiencing consistent aggricultural failure and constant lack (v. 6-7) .

Likewise, if we are going to stop spiritual drift in our lives, we must regularly and soberly evaluate ourselves and allow others to as well. We should ask ourselves questions like:

1. How are we spending our time?

Does the way we spend our time demostrate that God is first, or are we giving our best to other things, work, social media, entertainment, or even family? God must be first, family second, and everything else should follow after. If we are putting our work before God or our work, including ministry, before family, we should revaluate and reprioritize our time. Obviously, the post-exilic Jews were using their time for things other than God’s house, and we commonly do the same, leading to spiritual drift. Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV) says it this way: “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

When we don’t use our time wisely to do God’s will, we’ll commonly fall into the evil of the day, including addictions and habitual sins. How are we using our time? We must guard our time to protect ourselves from spiritual drift.

Here is another question.

2. How are we spending our money?

What we spend our money on shows what we love most. If we love entertainment, clothing, or food, those things will be demonstrated in our receipts. Likewise, if we truly love God and others, those priorities will be clearly manifested in our spending. According to the Mosaic law, the Jews needed to give at least 10% of their income. In the New Covenant, we are never given any numerical percentages; however, in 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV), Paul said this: “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” As we are trying to grow in our faith and love, we should be trying to grow in the grace of giving as well. If they gave a minimum of 10% in the Old Testament, we should consider starting our giving there as well and aim to excel in it by giving more, especially as God prospers us (cf. 1 Cor 16:1-2). When the post-exilic Jews first returned to the land, they generously gave around tens of millions to start building the temple; however, after drifting spiritually, their money primarily focused on themselves, including making their houses more comfortable. How about our giving? We must remember that all the money we have is God’s; we are just stewards of what he has given us (cf. Ps 50:10, Matt 25:14-30).

3. What are we constantly thinking about, including our anxieties, goals, and entertainment?

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Whatever we continually think on drastically affects our lives. Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression.” Because Satan realizes our minds guide our lives, whether in a negative or positive direction, he always seeks to fill our minds with worry, lies, confusion, lust, greed, and anger. Much of the media and society breed these things in us and therefore cause us to drift away from God. For this reason, we must guard our minds against ungodly music, TV, podcasts, worldviews, and general conversations. In 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, Paul describes our spiritual warfare as largely mental when he says, “we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” Proverbs 4:23 says it this way, “Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.” As we evaluate ourselves, we must regularly evaluate our thought life. We must ask, “What are we constantly thinking about? What consumes our thoughts and affections, and how is it affecting us?”

In fact, according to Scripture, we must saturate our minds with godly things, so we can receive God’s blessing. Philippians 4:8-9 says,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

Thinking on godly things like God’s Word leads to God’s manifest presence and empowerment in our lives.

To add to this, Psalm 1:2-3 describes how God blesses the person who meditates on God’s Word day and night. “He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts” (v. 3). What are we constantly thinking on? Does it bring spiritual dullness, temptation, or God’s blessing? As God said through Haggai, we must consider our ways carefully.

Here is another question we should ask.

4. What are the results of the lifestyle we are living?

With the post-exilic Jews, God described how their crops were failing, and they were constantly in lack. Likewise, we must consider the fruit of our lives. Are we struggling with habitual sin, lack of joy, peace, and spiritual fruit in our lives and the lives of others, as we serve them, or even a lack of resources to do God’s will? Those things may demonstrate that we are not prioritizing God as we should. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” The way we develop these fruits in our lives, according to Galatians 5:16, is by abiding in God and obeying him. It says, “live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” As we live in God’s Word, practice obedience to it, worship the Lord, pray, serve, and starve the flesh (our desire for sin and things of the world), love towards God and others will overflow in our lives instead of a desire to isolate ourselves or be in conflict with others. As we live in the Spirit, we should experience more self-control over our thoughts, emotions, words, and actions, and joy, peace, and righteousness should flourish in our lives. If those are not our harvests, then we need to “live” more in the “Spirit” by spending more time in prayer, worship, confession, fellowship with others, and service. These fruits will grow in our lives as we are faithful. If we lack them and have the fruits of habitual sin, lack of joy, anxiety, anger, and conflict, we must pursue God more. Even with pragmatic things like lacking finances or resources, we must question if this is a result of not being a good steward of God’s resources or simply not prioritizing him. Though God doesn’t promise to give us all our wants, he does promise to meet all our needs when we are prioritizing his kingdom and righteousness. In Matthew 6:33-34, Christ said:

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

The post-exilic Jews were lacking because of wrong priorities and sin, and often we struggle with the same in both spiritual and pragmatic ways.

Here is another question.

5. Are we inviting and allowing others to speak into our lives and challenge our faith?

Not only did the post-exilic Jews need to regularly evaluate their ways, but they needed others to do so as well. Haggai and his contemporary Zechariah helped fulfill that role to Israel on a corporate level (cf. Ezra 5:1, 6:14), but individual Israelites would also need it on a personal level. We need the same. Often, when we are drifting away from God and his purpose for our lives, we will make excuses that sound logical and fine. We’re too busy. We’re in a different stage of life so we can’t serve God or give generously. People have failed us, so we need to heal before we step up to serve God and others. We may even make excuses for sin. A dating couple might say, we love each other and are going to get married anyways, so it’s OK to be intimate or even move in with one another. Spiritual drift often leads to spiritual blindness, whether that be only a speck in our eye or a log (Mat 7:1-5), and we’ll often need somebody to come along to point out the speck or log and help us pull it out. Whom have we given permission to evaluate our lives and to speak into them? Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says this about the protective benefit of godly friends:

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.

Being at a church where God’s Word is preached, and we’re developing loving and transparent relationships with others who pray for us and challenge us helps protect us from spiritual drift. If we are going to stop spiritual drift, we must regularly and soberly evaluate ourselves and allow others to as well.

Application Question: How would you evaluate your spiritual status at the moment? Are you spiritually drifting, stagnant, or growing? What are your spiritual successes and spiritual dangers? How are you allowing others to help you grow in your faith? How should you respond to your current spiritual status, including successes, dangers, and relationships with others? What changes should you make, and what should you continue?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize and Fear God’s Discipline

Here then, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’ ” … ‘You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little. And when you would bring it home, I would blow it right away. Why?’ asks the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce. Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce. ” Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the Lord their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the Lord.

Haggai 2:5-6, 9-12

As the post-exilic Jews went about their daily lives, while neglecting the temple, their economy failed, and they suffered personally. They expected a large harvest but got little. What they brought home from the harvest was blown away. When they earned wages, it was like putting them in bags with holes, which probably refers to inflation. What should have been profit ended up not being enough or was somehow destroyed. Obviously, some had material success since they were living in paneled houses; however, even that left them dissatisfied. They ate and drank but weren’t filled. The nice clothes they put on didn’t keep them warm. They were constantly in dissatisfaction, lack, or both. They probably looked at these problems as reasons not to build God’s temple. The economy was tight, wages were low, and inflation was high. They were just trying to make it. However, 1:9-11, Haggai said this:

Why?’ asked the Lord of Heaves Armies. “Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce. Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce. ”

God was disciplining Israel to get their attention, to bring repentance in their lives, and to turn them back to building God’s temple. The problem was Israel did not recognize that God was in control of their difficult circumstances. He brought the drought that was affecting the fields and everything that grew on the ground. This was part of the covenant God made with Israel after delivering them from Egypt. In Deuteronomy 28:15-19, 23-24

But if you ignore the Lord your God and are not careful to keep all his commandments and statutes I am giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you in full force: You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field. Your basket and your mixing bowl will be cursed. Your children will be cursed, as well as the produce of your soil, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks. You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out... The sky above your heads will be bronze and the earth beneath you iron. The Lord will make the rain of your land powder and dust; it will come down on you from the sky until you are destroyed.

That was the primary role of the prophet: pointing out people’s failure to follow God’s Word, pronouncing the curses of the covenant, and calling them back to obedience.

Biblically, we are not under the Mosaic Covenant (cf. Rom 6:14, 10:4, Gal 3:24-25, 5:18, Heb 8:13); however, the covenant still demonstrates God’s character, which is unchanging. God loves his people and therefore disciplines them so they can grow in holiness. Hebrews 12:5-8 says,

And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts. Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

The writer of Hebrews pictures God as in control of all trials. When he says, “endure your suffering as discipline” (v. 6), he doesn’t distinguish between sufferings caused by our sin, the sins of others, or even Satan. God is in control of all and uses it for his children’s growth. Now, as with the Israelites experiencing drought for not building God’s temple, some forms of discipline are direct results of sin, not doing God’s will for our lives, and God uses it to turn us back to his will. If we are putting school, work, relationships, or even our health and appearance before God, sometimes he will allow them to fail or go through problems to point us back to himself and his ways. At other times, the suffering may not be a direct result of sin but simply a trial God is using to stretch and strengthen us. A coach on a sports team will create a difficult environment, including weight training, sprints, drills, and scrimmages, so the team and individuals will grow in characteristics needed to win. The rigorous training is not always to correct some failure but often simply to stimulate the growth of positive characteristics in the team, like speed, endurance, strength, attention to detail, and teamwork. God does the same with us. In fact, the writer of Hebrews says if we don’t go through God’s discipline, we are not his children (Heb 12:8). We are illegitimate. Like any good parent, God is wholly invested in our growth and holiness, and he uses wise discipline. It is an essential part of our growth process. Therefore, to stop spiritual drift, we must recognize God’s discipline, especially corrective discipline. That is part of the self-evaluation we are called to do. The Israelites did not recognize the trials they were going through as part of God’s discipline to turn them back towards God and building his temple.

As the post-exilic Jews recognized how they were breaking God’s law and were experiencing his discipline, this caused them to fear God and obey him. Haggai 2:12 says, “They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the Lord.” “Began to respect the Lord” can also be translated “the people feared the Lord” as in the NIV and ESV. Therefore, part of the reason the people were neglecting God’s temple was not just their self-focus and desire for nice homes, but specifically because they had stopped fearing God. Consequently, the same is true for us. Recognizing God’s discipline is not enough; we must fear it to keep us from spiritual drift in the first place. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord.” To fear God means to worship him and desire to glorify him with our lives. It also means to fear his displeasure and his discipline. It also means to hate sin. Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.” Many verses teach its importance: Second Corinthians 7:1 says, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” Fearing God leads to cleansing ourselves from inner and outer sin. First Peter 1:17 says, “And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.” We each should have a reverent fear of God’s discipline, which causes us to hate sin, turn away from it, and pursue righteousness. The post-exilic Jews lacked this, which allowed them to put themselves and their houses before God’s house. Likewise, in the New Testament, the Corinthian church had no reverent fear of God when they took the Lord’s Supper, and therefore, they got drunk during it and mistreated the poor. As a consequence, God disciplined them. First Corinthians 11:28-31 says this about their casual and disrespectful taking of the Lord’s Supper and his discipline.

A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead. But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged.

Some were depressed, others were sick, and some had died. They had no fear of God, and therefore, they casually took the Lord’s Supper without examining themselves—without considering their ways as God called the post-exilic Jews to do. Likewise, many believers are under God’s discipline simply because they don’t fear God. They have no fear of God, so they neglect reading his Word and sitting under the preaching of it at a local church. They have no fear of God, so they defile their bodies through sexual immorality. They have no fear of God, so they waste all the gifts, talents, and resources he gave them.

If we are going to stop spiritual drift, we must recognize God’s discipline if we are already experiencing it, and we must fear God’s discipline to keep us away from sin and to help us pursue righteousness. Do we fear God and his discipline?

Application Question: In what ways have you experienced God’s discipline? What is a proper fear of the Lord and an improper one? Why is fearing God so important for our spiritual lives? From a parent-child standpoint, how should godly parents practically reflect God’s discipline in the training of their children (cf. Heb 12:5-11), and how should children respond to their parents’ discipline (cf. Eph 6:2-3, Ex 20:12)?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Consistently Meditate On and Obey God’s Word

“Moreover, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has said: “Pay close attention to these things also. Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,’ says the Lord… Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the Lord their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the Lord their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the Lord.

Haggai 1:7-8, 12

After rebuking the post-exilic Jews, Haggai called for the people to go to the hills and get timber to rebuild the temple. This raises the question: What happened to the timber they initially bought from Lebanon eighteen years prior, when returning from exile in Babylon? Ezra 3:7 says,

So they provided money for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia.

Possibly the timber started to rot when they ceased building the temple or maybe they used it to build their richly paneled houses. Either way, they misused it and needed to restock. Apparently, they still had stones, probably from the rubble of Solomon’s temple, so timber was the prime material needed for reconstruction. Timber was typically used between layers of stone to reinforce buildings and protect them from earthquakes.

Surprisingly, the people immediately obeyed Haggai’s prophetic challenge (v. 12). This is unique throughout the Old Testament, because most times God’s people resisted the prophets and sometimes attacked them. Israel continually complained about Moses and, at times, rebelled against him. Samuel’s ministry was ultimately rejected in order to have a king. Jeremiah was imprisoned in Israel and, soon after, forcibly taken to Egypt. Tradition tells us Isaiah was sawn in half by Hezekiah’s son, Mannaseh (cf. 2 Kgs 21:16, Heb 11:37). However, Haggai preached the Word, and the people immediately, in faith, obeyed.

This is also necessary for us to stop spiritual drift. We must both hear God’s Word and obey it. It is when both are inconsistent or completely cease that spiritual drift sets in. In fact, 1 John 2:3-6 says obedience is a proof of true salvation:

Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. The one who says “I have come to know God” and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.

In John 14:15, Christ said it this way, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” John 8:31 says, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples.” If we profess Christ but don’t live a lifestyle of obedience to his Word, it might prove that we are not truly born again. Christ warned about this at the end of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:24-27. He described two listeners in the crowd: ones who listened to his Word and others who listened and obeyed. He described them as two different builders. The builder who didn’t obey God’s Word built on the sand, and his house was destroyed when the storm came. And the builder who obeyed God’s Word built his house on the rock, and it stood the storm. Since the previous verses (21-23) describe how many will call Christ, “Lord,” but will not enter the kingdom of heaven, the storm ultimately reflects the judgment. Only those who live lives of obedience will enter God’s kingdom. It is the surest proof of salvation, and the way we stop spiritual drift.

As clearly seen in the narrative, obedience is based on hearing God’s Word. Haggai prophetically challenged the people, and they responded. Likewise, we must both hear and obey God’s Word to hinder spiritual drift. We must be people who consistently read, meditate on, and listen to God’s Word. It has been said, “Sin will keep us out of God’s Word, or God’s Word will keep us out of sin.” Spiritual drift sets in when we are no longer consistently reading Scripture as a daily discipline. As our appetite for Scripture continues to decrease, eventually we stop going to places where God’s Word is taught. We start to fall asleep in church or sleep in instead of going to church. We stop showing up to small group. And then small and large compromises start to show up in our lives. No doubt, that’s what had happened to the Israelites. Revival happened when Haggai faithfully preached God’s Word, even saying things that would have made the Israelites uncomfortable, and the people responded. This has been true throughout history. In times when the church has become weak and ineffective, it largely was because of a lack of faithful preaching and therefore a lack of obedience. And when revival came, as it did with Jonah and the Ninevites and Haggai and the post-exilic Jews, there was faithful preaching and a faithful response.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves, What is our current relationship to God’s Word? Are we still faithfully reading it, going to places to enthusiastically sing it, pray it, listen to it preached, and see it symbolized through the ordinances, and in response, faithfully and immediately obeying it? Or has spiritual drift set in where we don’t desire God’s Word and therefore struggle to read, listen, and obey it? In 1 Peter 2:1-2, Peter gives us this command, “So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation.” Before commanding us to yearn for God’s Word like an infant, he first commands us to get rid of sin and evil because it affects our appetite. Many have no cravings for God’s Word because they are daily feasting on worldly music, entertainment, and desires, which hinder their spiritual desires. Only after we get rid of sin can we have a proper spiritual appetite. He doesn’t command us to read, pray it, or obey Scripture, because if we truly crave it, we will enthusiastically do those. We will read, pray, sing, and obey it, and we’ll spiritually grow, instead of spiritually drifting.

If we are going to stop spiritual drift, we must consistently meditate on and obey God’s Word. The post-exilic Jews had neglected God’s Word to rebuild the temple, but Haggai reminded them of it and pointed out the consequences of their failure. As they heard God’s Word faithfully proclaimed, they feared the Lord and began to build God’s temple. We must consistently hear and obey God’s Word as well to stop spiritual drift. Are we consistently meditating on Scripture and obeying it?

Application Question: How have you seen or experienced the saying, “Sin will keep you out of the Word of God, or the Word of God will keep you out of sin”? How can we obey God’s command to consistently crave or yearn for God’s Word? What are your current spiritual disciplines like, in pertaining to the study of Scripture?

To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Need for God’s Presence and Empowerment and Daily Pursue It

Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s announcement to the people: “I am with you,” decrees the Lord. So the Lord energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius’ second year.

Haggai 1:13-15

After the people obeyed God’s Word through Haggai to go to the hills and gather wood for rebuilding the temple, God spoke again through Haggai twenty-three days later in verse 13, saying, “I am with you.” Repentance and obedience led to God’s manifest presence being upon the people to do God’s work. In fact, in verse 14, it says,

The Lord energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God

This is important to notice because this was the very reason they were called to build God’s temple. Israel was to be the nation on the earth where God’s manifest presence dwelt, specifically in the temple. God is omnipresent, in that he is everywhere, but he also manifests his presence in special ways at times, and that was to be Israel’s daily experience. However, in Ezekiel 8-11, we see that because of Israel’s disobedience to God’s Word and specifically their worship of other gods in his temple, God’s presence, in stages, left the temple and the nation before God destroyed them through the Babylonians. No doubt, while in exile, the Israelites had become accustomed to living without God’s manifest presence among them (just like other nations). But here, after they started to obey God, he manifested himself to empower them to work. The text doesn’t say God made himself visible in a glory cloud or some other theophany, but he was present in a real way to stir and empower them to work. Again, this was meant to be Israel’s daily experience. When they left Egypt, God led them by fire at night and a cloud by day and dwelt in the tabernacle. When they entered the promised land to conquer it, God told Joshua, in Joshua 1:9, “I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” God would empower him to lead Israel and conquer the Canaanites. And when Solomon built the temple, God’s glory manifested in there until Israel’s disobedience caused his presence to leave. But now, after they went to the hills to get wood, God’s presence was with them and energized them to start rebuilding the temple.

Likewise, as believers in the New Covenant, we each have God’s presence dwelling in us because our bodies are his temple (cf. 1 Cor 6:19); however, we also see that when we are walking in obedience and worship of God, he will manifest his presence and power in our lives in special ways. As mentioned earlier, Philippians 4:8-9 says,

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.

By continually thinking on godly things like God’s Word and practicing it, God’s presence and empowerment will be manifest in our lives. He will empower us for the good works we have been called to do, whether that be being a godly student, minister, worker, parent, or spouse. Paul essentially commands us to pursue the manifestation of God and his empowerment in our lives by what we think on and practice. We should not want to live without it.

Unfortunately, like the Jews living in Babylon apart from God’s temple and manifest presence and the post-exilic Jews in the land, we can easily become used to living without it, just like the world. No manifest presence of God, no empowerment, and therefore not much distinguishing us from the world. Therefore, we can’t consistently conquer sin or help others be set free from it. We can’t witness, serve, or worship God as we’re supposed to. As Israel obeyed God, God manifested his presence and empowerment to them. We must pursue the same through a lifestyle of obedience, worship, prayer, and service.

Ephesians 5:18 says: “And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit.” “Filled” is a command, which has the sense of being controlled and empowered by. It is both a comparison and a contrast with drunkness. In the same way people drink alcohol and become controlled by it, we should daily seek to be controlled and empowered by God’s Spirit. The contrast is alcohol leads to sin and the Spirit leads to righteousness. Every morning, we must make it our goal to be in God’s presence, empowered, and controlled by him by getting into the Word, prayer, and worship. If we are going to stop spiritual drift, we must not become content with a sub-Christian life, void of God’s manifest presence and power, as had happened with the post-exilic Jews. We must seek the manifest presence of God in our lives and the filling of the Spirit daily, so we can live the supernatural life God has called us to. Are we living a life void of God’s manifest presence and power, as witnessed by our inability to conquer sin, help others to conquer it, and serve God with joy, peace, patience, and self-control?

As began in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, God’s original plan was to dwell with his people and empower them. It was sin that broke and hindered this relationship. However, Christ came to die on the cross for our sins and be raised from the dead to reconcile our relationship with God, so we could live in his presence and empowerment again. Are we stilling turning away from sin and drawing near God so we can experience his fullness in our lives? James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” Are we drawing near God as a daily discipline and experiencing his presence and empowerment? We must do so to stop spiritual drift.

Application Question: What is the difference between God’s omnipresence and manifest presence? Why is experiencing God’s manifest presence important (cf. Josh 1:9, Gen 39:2-3, 1 Sam 18:14)? As demonstrated by post-exilic Jews (and the rest of Scripture), how can we pursue God’s manifest presence and empowerment in our daily lives (cf. Jam 4:8, Phil 4:8-9, Eph 5:18, 2 Cor 6:14, 17-18)? How is God calling you personally to pursue God’s presence and empowerment as a daily discipline?

Conclusion

How can we stop spiritual drift in our lives—losing passion and zeal for God and empowerment for his work? God moved upon the hearts of the post-exilic Jews to return to God’s land and rebuild the temple; however, after experiencing opposition in the land, they stopped building and became consumed with their own self-interest, including building nice homes. After around 16 years of neglect, God revived their hearts to do God’s work through Haggai’s prophetic ministry.

1. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Vulnerability to It

2. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Excuses and Their Inadequacy in Light of God’s Sufficiency

3. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Prioritize God’s House Instead of Our Own, including Our Comfort and Prosperity

4. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Regularly and Soberly Evaluate Ourselves and Allow Others to As Well

5. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize and Fear God’s Discipline

6. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Consistently Meditate On and Obey God’s Word

7. To Stop Spiritual Drift, We Must Recognize Our Need for God’s Presence and Empowerment and Daily Pursue It

Application Question: What stood out most in the text/study and why, and how will you apply the study to your life?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to forgive us for losing passion for him, his Word, and his work, that he would deliver us from spiritual drift, and revive our hearts toward him.

• Pray for God to renew and invigorate our passion for his Word, studying, reading, and sharing it with others.

• Pray for God to raise up those who faithfully and boldly proclaim his Word and that there would be a revival of repentance and obedience in his church.

• Pray for God to draw the lost to himself throughout the world to expand his church.

• Pray for God to abundantly bless his saints and their labor and that he would continue to miraculously build his church through them.