04 The Call to Prepare to Build God's House

So if you would, please take your Bible, turn back to the book of Hagia. I know that surprised some of you, but we're gonna be in the book of Hagia chapter one. Some of you know the book of Hagia and the prophet Hagia, it's considered one of the minor prophets, but his message and his purpose definitely was not minor. But we'll be in the book of Hagia chapter one all throughout the message. Now for three weeks we have been looking at some much needed subjects and messages that have been on my mind for quite some time. Really, I have been meditating over these things and praying over these things before the Christmas holidays.

And if you have missed any of those messages, I encourage you to listen to them. If you get my notes, that may help you because all of these messages are tied together. I have been in some conversation with some of you and I have enjoyed and been blessed how some of these messages have spoken to you and it showed me the importance of these things and how all of this comes together to grow us as a church. But last week we looked at what I called the tithe and our approach to giving. We looked at tithing in God's people before the giving of the law of Moses and tithing in God's people after the law of Moses was given and established.

Then we looked at tithing and giving during the time of Jesus and we saw two things. First, Jesus obeyed everything commanded unto the old covenant concerning tithing and giving. You may not have ever thought about that, but he did. But then second, the obvious, Jesus expected the Jewish religious leaders to do the same thing without neglecting the weightier matters of the law. And then we looked at how we should relate to the tithe as believers who are under the new covenant. We saw that believers today are under the new covenant and that we are not bound to or under the old covenant tithing laws and regulations.

As a matter of fact, Hebrews 8.13 actually says that all things in the old covenant are obsolete. That is because those things have been fulfilled in Jesus and in the new. And then we learned that as believers under the new covenant we are never commanded from the new testament to tithe like we see in the old testament. There is simply no standard for new covenant believers to tithe like we see in the old testament found in the new, either by command or by teaching or even through example.

But as your pastor as well as the elders of this church, we call you to begin your giving by bringing the tithe, which is the 10th of our income to the church and to the leaders that God has raised up for the work of the church. And then your leaders bring those tithes and those offerings and the recommendations as to how those tithes and offerings should be used for the ministry needs in the life of the church. I've said something like this before, matter of fact, several different times.

But if those Jews who were under the old covenant and under the law brought their tithes and their offerings faithfully to God, then we who are under grace and who have been saved by the saving gracious work of Christ and we should rush to begin our giving with the tithe. And we should rush to even give above and beyond the tithe as it is needed. Now I know I say this often, but if you've not gotten that teaching, you'd really need to do so. Throughout the years I have taught on giving several different times. You can go to our church website and access that information.

But I beg you, if you have a question here or a point of discussion here, don't leave any stone unturned. I'll be glad to help you here. I know that there are some times in my early Christian journey when I had questions about the things the pastor preached, I got neck deep into the scripture, but I also sought some counsel and that is good and helpful. Now two things before we move into our message for this morning and Hagia chapter one.

First, learning how we should give our tithes and offerings as members of Grace Life Church and giving as your leaders call you to do so and how the spirit leads you, this is all about and all tied to a mighty expectation for our church. Let me repeat that because we need to have that in our minds. Learning how we should give our tithes and offerings as members of this church and giving as your leaders call you to give and how the spirit leads and works in you, this is all about and all tied to a mighty expectation for our church.

Remember church, back in our first message of this series, we learned that Jesus has a mighty expectation for his church and we should too. What did Jesus say? On this rock, I will build my church, Matthew 16, 18, but then second, personally, I give. My wife and I, we give. We give our tithe of 10% and we give offerings above the tithe because we have a mighty expectation for our church and the ministries that are before us. Let me repeat that.

I give, we give, we give our tithe of 10% and we give offerings above the tithe because we certainly have a mighty expectation for our church and a mighty expectation in all of the ministries before us. Let me give you an example. I am super excited that my tithes and my offerings, which are God's tithes and offerings, by the way, I am super excited that our tithes and offerings will be going to help fund our Anchored in Truth mission trips this summer. Our tithe monies will be going to help some of you go to be a part of very healthy, much needed local church ministry there in Canada and even in Poland.

So I have a mighty expectation in all of our tithes and all of our offerings and how that money is budgeted and how it will be spent. Again, what did Jesus say? And on this rock, I will build my church. And look, church, we need to see that Jesus is using our tithe monies, our offerings, which are His, to do that work here in Brookhaven and even around the world. Now this morning, I wanna move on to giving above the tithe. And this should be seen as an offering that is above that tithe because the tithe is meant for the general operating budget of the church.

We are to give the tithe for what we see as the general operating every day, every month, budget of the church. And then at times, as needs arise, we give above that tithe. And more specific, I want us to look at the need for us as a church to give towards a building that would be our own. Now for some of you, you may be fairly new to our church and you may not know much about the backstory of how we've gotten to where we are today. Now I will not go into all the details, but let me try to catch you up a little. The Lord led me to Nola Baptist Church in 2010. I spent a good bit of time there as an interim.

I can't remember how many months, my wife can tell you. But I became the pastor of Nola Baptist Church in 2011. Many of you know that that church was almost closed. In many ways, it could not be considered a church maybe more like a mission. But during those years, with God's help and a lot of work, we experienced what we call the rebirth of the church. And as we began to grow, we certainly did possess many marks of a healthy church. But in time, I felt, and Brother Keith and I both felt as elders, we felt that our church was not what it could be and that God had a much, much bigger plan for our church.

We truly had a mighty expectation for Nola Baptist Church. And by faith and through a lot of prayer and a lot of waiting on God, we saw that God had big plans for our church. And we saw that the church at that time was hindered greatly by three things. First, the distance and the location of the church was a big hindrance. Go ask Kobe and Misty McMorris about that hindrance. Second, the condition of the building. It got to the point where the building was just not worthy of God and the work of the church.

Now, we were glad to have what we had and we treated it like it belonged to the Lord, but it got to the place where it really was not worthy of the word. And then third, the fact that we did not own the property. So investing in a new church building or into that old church building, it really was not very wise at all because we did not own the property. So I led our church to begin to meet and to discuss and I proposed that we move locations and more specifically, I proposed that we move downtown to Brookhaven. Of course, Keith is an elder, was behind that vision as well.

And after meetings and discussions, we all believed that our church should physically relocate. If I remember these dates, we had kind of a decommissioning service there in the old building on March the 1st of 2020. And our first Sunday here in this location was March the 8th of 2020. We're coming up on five years. But let me tell you the story of how we were able to get this building. Now I knew of the lady who owns the building and I called her and I just simply said who we were and what we were doing that we were looking to move to town.

Brother Keith and I met with her and we sat right in this room and we walked off through the facility and she said, you know, ever since I bought the building, it's always bothered me that it's not a church. So after some discussion back and forth, she basically said, you just pay me what you can afford. She basically said, you just pay me the rent that you can afford. And we got it far under market value and we still do. But what I'm trying to show you is this, the Lord provided this building that we rent and we are happy to be here in this location. But I believe that it is time for us to start praying towards a building of our own.

And I believe that it is time for us to give towards a building of our own. That is what I'm calling us to give. I'm calling us to look at giving above the tide for the future for a building of our own. And as a part of some spiritual preparation for this need that is before us, I want us to look at a few things that we see here in Haggai chapter one. But before we get into these verses, there are a couple of things we need to understand. First, I'm not gonna be exhaustive here. Anytime I read an entire chapter like that, some of you have a panic because you're used to me covering about three or four or five verses.

To cover all that's found here in chapter one, we would have to go through the book of Ezra and Nehemiah as well. Actually, the book of Ezra and Nehemiah were in our one book in the Hebrew Bible and Hagia, that really goes together with those two books. Second, we cannot make direct application of these events in these teaching. Here in chapter one, we see how after the Jews had already returned from Babylonian captivity, they were commanded to finish or to build the second temple.

And since we as Christians in the church age are not commanded to build a temple like we see here in the Old Testament, we cannot make direct application of these things. So I question, what do we do with teaching like this? We learn from their circumstances. We learn from their example. We learn from what God taught them and what God did in them and what God was doing through the circumstances. Now, before we get into the chapter, we really must get some background and context here. Now I'm gonna be very, very brief because of time. There's a lot more that I would like to say.

As a matter of fact, years ago, I talked through the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. You can go back and look at some of that information and I did get into a lot of the background there. But it is best to see that the book of Hagia actually goes along with the book of Ezra and Nehemiah. All three books pertain to the return of the Jewish people after they had been taken into Babylonian captivity. Ezra and Nehemiah are the history or the story of God's people returning from captivity. And Hagia is the account of the Old Testament prophets' ministry to the people during and after those initial events.

And basically this is what was taking place with Hagia, the prophet in this book. After the nation of Israel had been invaded and systematically destroyed, they were taken into Babylonian captivity. But after they had been in captivity in a foreign land for 70 years, they were permitted to return to their homeland to rebuild just as God had foretold. And basically, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah are all about the Jews returning home to rebuild. And this was no easy task. They faced both internal and external difficulties. They were a weak and defeated people. They really did not exist as a nation like before.

So internally, they struggled to find the spiritual strength and fortitude for the work. And externally, they faced all kinds of opposition from the peoples who remained in the land. Those against them were the descendants of the Jews who had stayed or been left behind that had intermingled with the pagan people. So we can see in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah that God used men like Ezra and Nehemiah to lead the people, to encourage the people, to teach the people, even to rebuke the people in the work of returning and rebuilding. But some 16 years later, the temple of God was still not built.

So God used prophets like Hagia and Zechariah to stir up the people to rebuild the temple. But God used them not only to stir up the people to rebuild the temple, they were used of God to correct the people, to teach and to lead them so as to straighten out their spiritual priorities. So what we have here in chapter one is this. The Jews had returned home from Babylonian captivity 16 years before, much had been rebuilt, but much of the work was not done. But most importantly, the temple was not rebuilt. So here we find Hagia confronting the people and being used of God to motivate them to the work of rebuilding the temple.

And of course, this would be considered the second temple because the first was Solomon's temple. Now this is what I want us to do. I want us to examine what we see here in chapter one, and then I want to make some application of what we see here along the way and in conclusion. Now out of this chapter, I want us to make three observations. First, I want us to see how Hagia rebuked the people. Second, I want us to see how Hagia revealed the consequences of their sin. Third, I want us to see how Hagia renewed the people for the work. You can summarize that in three words, rebuked, revealed, and renewed.

And notice I said Hagia did these things. Obviously it was God who did these things through Hagia. So let's get started really in what I call the body of the message dividing the verses. Number one, Hagia rebuked the people. We see that Hagia rebuked the people. This is in verses two to four. Let's read the verses again. Thus says the Lord of hosts. These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord. Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Hagia the prophet. Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your panel houses while this house lies in ruins?

Now we know the context and the basic background of these verses, and we know that Hagia was confronting them in their sin for not rebuilding the temple some 16 years after they had returned home. But notice two specifics here in the verses. First we see God's disdain for his people. Yes, we see God's disdain for his people. Verse two says, thus says the Lord of hosts. These people say that time has not yet come to rebuild. Now notice something here. All of the translations say these people, not God's people. The Lord does not say my people say that time has not yet come. The Lord says these people say that time has not yet come.

And scholars who comment on this say that God was speaking in a reproachful way of his people. He was in a way disowning them as his people because they had disowned him in their sin and rebellion. One commentator said of this sluggish and selfish people, he does not say my people since they had neglected the service of God. So God was expressing his disdain and disgust for his people. And second, Hagia reveals the nature of their sin in verse three. Here we see the root of the issue. Here we see the very thing that God was angry about. And notice what Hagia was rebuking them for.

He rebuked them for having completed their own houses while the temple, God's house was in ruin. An interesting detail here is seen in this term paneled houses. Hagia says, is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses? While his house or this house lies in Romans? In this term panel houses, this was used other times in the Old Testament. And it seems to refer to a type of wood overlay of some kind, a type of covering or a wood covering in a home. Now the point here is this. Hagia was rebuking them because their houses, their homes had all been finished. All their homes had the finishing touches, even the fancy touches.

But the temple, God's house was still in ruin. So notice Hagia's rebuke of the people or God's rebuke of his people through Hagia. God expressed his disdain for his selfish, sluggish and sinful people. And he asked them, and I'm putting this into my words, you say that you do not have time to rebuild my house, but your houses are finished and fine while my temple is still in ruin. Now there is much that we can learn here, but I wanna give us three warnings that we need to learn out of what we've seen, out of verses two to four. First the warning not to value our homes and our possessions at the expense of God's work.

If we allow ourselves to become sinfully selfish, we can value our homes, our possessions, and our material goods all while God's church and work suffers, some probing questions. How many professing Christians spend money on vacations, but they do not give for vacation Bible school? How many professing Christians have nice homes while their church buildings suffer? How many professing Christians pay their country club dues and their deer camp dues while the church budget suffers? Now I'm thankful, I do not believe that we see that kind of an attitude and sentiment here at Grace Life Church, but honestly I don't know who gives.

I don't know who gives, I don't ask, I don't look at that information. The second warning, the warning of never having enough time for God's work. If we allow ourselves to become sinfully selfish, we can spend all of our time on self and even good things now while we never seem to have the time for God in his church. Probing questions? How many professing believers have the time for television, entertainments, vacations, and hobbies while they never seem to have the time for service in the church?

I remember in my early years as a Christian, when I came to a crossroads, I could spend more time with hobby or I could spend more time serving in the church. I remember those crossroads. Again, I do not believe that that is the case with the majority of you, but we still need to examine our hearts, we need to examine our minds and examine our motives, and we need to examine our time and what we do with our time. The third warning, the warning against procrastination. These people knew that they were supposed to build God's temple, but they put it off until tomorrow. They put it off until tomorrow.

They put it off until tomorrow and that day never came until God confronted them and rebuked them. Again, some rhetorical questions. How many professing Christians always seem to promise to serve God in his church tomorrow, next month, and next year, all while that day never seems to come? And I question Grace Life Church. Just be honest. If God were to rebuke you in this message, in what I have taught and what I've yet to teach, if God were to rebuke you in this message, specifically if God were to rebuke you in how you give your tithes and your offerings and all of these things, would you receive that rebuke? We're gonna see that they did.

But I have seen others at times not. Number two, Haggai revealed the consequences of their sin. Next, we see that Haggai revealed the consequences of their sin. Now we see this in verse five to seven and then we see it repeated really in verses nine to 11. Let's read the verses again now because we need to see this. "Now therefore," says the Lord of Hosts, "consider your ways," in other words, examine your lives. Think about how you're living. You have sown much and harvested little. You eat but you never have enough. You think but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves but no one is warm.

And he who earns wages does so to put it into the bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of Hosts, consider your ways." Now I'm gonna skip over to verse eight and come back to it again in a minute. But notice verse nine, it's really like a repeat. "You look for much and behold it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away." Why? "Declares the Lord of Hosts because of my house that lies in ruins while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew and the earth has withheld its produce.

And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills on the grain, the new wine, the oil on what the ground brings forth on man and beast and on all their labors." Now if we pay attention, we will see that verse five and seven basically say the same thing. Here the Lord calls them to consider their ways and in that phrase God was calling them to think about things, to take notice of these things, to examine and notice how they had been living. Then in verse six, God through Hagia pronounces the brutal consequences of their sin and sinfulness.

Now scholars tell us that Hagia broke out into a kind of synonymous parallel poetry in this verse. And as he does so, he names five things that basically reveal the same thing, all of which were meant to reveal the consequences of their sin. First he tells them that they had suffered from poor harvests. Remember this was an agricultural society. Second he tells them that they never had enough food. Third he tells them that they never had enough drink. Fourth he tells them that they never had enough clothes to keep them warm. Fifth he tells them that they never could keep what they had earned. Now look at this picture folks.

Look at the picture that Hagia painted for them. They had finished panel houses, yet their harvests were poor and getting poor. Oh they had finished panel houses, yet they never had enough food and drink to get their feel. They had finished panel houses, yet they never had the clothes to keep them warm. They had finished fancy panel houses, yet what they earned they never were able to keep. And in case there is any doubt, verses nine to 11, or really just a repeat meant to reinforce what he had already said in verses five to six.

Now I know it's repetitive, but with all of that in our minds, let's look back at verse nine to 11 and see if God is not reinforcing the consequences here. Verse nine, you look for much and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? Declares the Lord of hosts? Because my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house. Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce. And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth on man and beast and on all their labors.

Now this is simple, but the brutal point here is this. They were a covenant people, and a part of being the covenant people of God was blessing and cursing. God had promised them that as long as they loved him, served him and obeyed him, he would bless them. But if they did not love him supremely, serve him and obey him, he's promised that he would curse them. So the people were suffering the consequences for their sin. For 16 years, the temple lay in ruin, even when they had the time, the ability, and resources to finish their own homes, even paneled homes. But they said that they did not have the time to rebuild God's temple.

Some of you used William McDonald's commentary. He doesn't say a lot about these verses, but I like some insight that McDonald gives here. He said that their own history should have been a warning to them not to commit these same sins. In other words, they were doing the same things they had done before, which caused them to be sent to captivity. Now, what can we learn and apply out of these verses to our own lives? We do not live under blessings and cursings from God like those old covenant Jews did. But what we can see here is this.

There are certain blessings that do come into the life of a believer when they love God supremely, serve God supremely, obey God supremely, and when they are wholeheartedly committed to the church. Now, I'll get personal here. If I do not give my tithes as I should, if I do not give offerings above the tithes as I should, as the Lord has led me, and along with that, if I do not love the Lord as I should, if I do not serve Him as I should, if I do not obey Him as I should, and if I am not wholeheartedly committed to the work of the churches I should be, my life will be in shambles. My wife will tell you that.

Now, I'm not acting like sometimes I serve God like this and sometimes I just vacate, no. But I've not been perfect here, folks. Now, some of you have been born again for quite a while. Some of you have been Christians for a while and you're mature Christians and you have served God for many years and you cannot put your finger on blessings like this, no. But you can say that what I'm saying is true. If you're a mature believer, I encourage you to bring that up in small group tonight. Bring that up in small group tonight. But I wanna say something, folks. Some of you are missing out.

You're missing out on a blessing and blessings in your life because you're not loving God like you should and serving God like you should. You're not. You're not. So notice what we see here. Haggai revealed the brutal but real consequences for their sin and disobedience. And notice that all came from the hand of God now. Then number three, Haggai renewed the people for the work. We see that God used Haggai to renew the people for the work. Now here we see that God used Haggai to bring about a work of spiritual renewal. We can use the word revival in his people, which then turned into a spiritual renewal and revival for the work at hand.

And to see this, we have to look at verse eight, which is in the middle of that stinging poetic accusation. And then we have to look at the last section of the chapter. So let's read those verses, verse eight, and then verse 12 to 15. Verse seven. Thus says the Lord of hosts, consider your ways, go up to the hills and bring wood and build a house that I may take pleasure in it, that I may be glorified says the Lord. Verse 12.

After the rebuke, then Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltel, and Joshua, the son of Jehozadech, the high priest, with all of the remnant of the people, obey the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet as the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the messenger of the Lord, spoke to the people with the Lord's message. "I am with you," declares the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, the son of Jehozadech, the high priest, and the spirit of all of the remnant of the people.

And they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts their God. Now here I wanna make four observations out of these verses. First, notice the commandment from Haggai. Now notice we actually see three commandments in one here in verse eight. Haggai tells them, "Go, bring, build." Notice that, those are three imperatives. Verse eight says, "Go up to the hills, "and bring the wood, and build the house." One interesting thing here that has to do with our history and background. Scholars tell us that because they had been in captivity for 70 years, the forests had grown. So there was plenty of building materials for the work of the temple.

Now pause here. I wonder if that's where they got the wood for their panel houses. It's kind of indicting, isn't it? But notice something here. The rest of verse eight. Verse eight says, "Go up to the hills, "and bring the wood, and build the house." Notice that, "I may take pleasure in it, "and that I may be glorified, says the Lord." Here we see the reason for the rebuilding of the temple in the first place. This was all about God's people having a place of worship so that he would be glorified, and in that he would take pleasure in all of those things. So this was all about their worship and his glory. Second, the obedience.

Notice the obedience and the reverence of the people. We see this in verse 12. Here we see their response to all that God through Hagia was doing. First, we see that they obeyed God, and second, we see that the people feared God. And notice how this took place. In the verse, we see that the people obeyed the voice of the Lord in the words of Hagia. So notice we have the voice of God in and through the prophet, and we have the voice of the prophet who is speaking for God. And the result, the people of God reacted in obedience and reverence, reverence and obedience. Now look, church, there is a lesson here for us.

Spiritual renewal always leads to reverence, which is worship, and then to obedience. And obedience that does not come out of reverence and worship is nothing but empty religious efforts. You see that? I need to repeat that. Spiritual renewal always leads to reverence, which is tied to worship. And that leads to obedience, and any obedience that does not come out of reverence and worship is nothing but empty religious efforts, and that'll lead to legalism. Third, the encouragement from Hagia. We see this in verse 13. Here we see several important details.

Here we see that Hagia was the messenger of God to God's people, and he spoke God's message to the people. But notice, we do not know all of the content of what Hagia spoke, but we do see that his message was a message of comfort and encouragement. Here we see that he told the people of God that God said, "I am with you." And I have to think that this message was repeated all throughout the work. I've gotta believe that all throughout the work Hagia was saying, "God says he's with us. "God says he's with us.

"God says I am with you." One commentator said of this encouragement, "Though they were few in number as a people, "these words were comforting and encouraging "to a people oppressed by enemies "and depressed by their failing crops." But then fourth, we see the work of the people building the temple. Let's read verse 14. In the Lord start up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltel, governor, and the spirit of Joshua, the high priest, and the spirit of all of the remnant of the people, and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God.

Now, it is easy for us to see that the people came and worked on the house of the Lord because they did, but there's more. We need to see who came and who worked. Here we see that Sheltel, the governor, he came for the work. So that tells us that the government officials were a part of the work of rebuilding the temple. We also see that Joshua, the high priest, he came to the work. So that tells us that the spiritual leaders were a part of this work. And last we see that all of the remnant of the people, they were there for the work. So this tells us that all of the remaining people were a part of the work. Now, my point is this.

All God's people from the leaders on down or from the people on down, they were all a part of the work that was at hand. So notice that God used Haggai to revive and renew his people spiritually. And this spiritual renewal produced a renewal for the work of rebuilding the temple. He called them to go and to bring materials for the work and to build, and they did, all of them. Out of a renewed love and reverence for God, they obeyed God for the work. But what do we need to learn here and what could we apply to our lives and our church today? We are not building a temple. We are not to go out into the county and cut down timber for the church.

And we do not have government officials and we do not have high priests. So what can we learn here? To me, there are several lessons that we can learn and these are needed lessons. First, as God's people, we are always under the command to go to bring in wood and to build. Let me explain. As God's people, we are always under the command to bring into the work of the church our time, our physical talents, our abilities, and our spiritual gifts to work, to build up the work of the church. And that includes our tithes and offerings, even offerings above the tithe.

Second, as God's people, we obey our Lord in the work, not out of duty, but out of love and reverence. Luke Church, I have not worked hard in the life of the church for 35, almost 36 years out of duty. My spiritual birthday is coming up in February. I have not worked hard in the life of the church for almost 36 years out of duty. I have worked hard in the life of the church because I love God. Sadly, we had some people in the life of our church years ago that created some division, quite a few problems. But besides some of those unmerited accusations from one, I was paid one of the biggest compliments.

One of those people looked at me on more than one occasion and they said, "I've never seen a husband and a wife work in a church like you and your wife do." I didn't ask for that. I just shrugged my shoulders. What am I trying to show you? It's not me. It's not that there's anything special about me. See, I've not worked hard in the life of the church for almost 36 years out of duty. No, I've worked hard in the life of the church because I love God and it is a work that God has done in me. Third, as God's people, there are times when our obedience and reverence wanes.

Yes, as God's redeemed people, there are times when our love for God and our obedience to God grows cold. Have you ever had times like that? I have. We're still sinners. We're still sinners. And if you've known me for very long and gotten close to me, you probably sensed when I have struggled in coldness. Fourth, as a church and as a people, God is with us. God is with us. Now, I'm not acting like we've got church all figured out and we've got God in a box and nobody else does. No, that's not what I mean. But we are a healthy church, biblically. God is with us.

God is working and we should have a mighty expectation and we should be encouraged in all of these things. God is with us. And then fifth, in the work of the church, it takes all of the church. It takes the leaders first and then only 20%. You ever known churches like that? Where 20% do 120% of the work. I'm thankful that we're not like that. In the work of the church, it takes all the church. It takes the leaders first and then the people. It takes the people first and then the leaders.

I'm so thankful that when it comes time for vacation Bible school, 95% of you will step up to serve and the other 5% will be mad because you scheduled a vacation or a work trip and you're providentially hindered. And look, leaders, I'm speaking to leaders of Grace Life Church. Haggai, I listed the leaders first because the leadership must be first in the work. First in the work. And I've lived here long enough with you and served with you to prove to you, not perfectly, but I'm first in the work.

And for us, pastor, the elders, the future elders, the future deacons, small group leaders, other leaders, especially men, all leaders must be first in the work of the church and then God's people will follow. Do you see that? And I believe that that is the standard here. Now churches are closed. What I wanna say here is simple. It's time that we see that this work, the work of Grace Life Church, God's church, deserves something more than a borrowed church and a rented church and a church building that we love but a church building that needs tons of repair.

Of course, these things and the timing of these things, the timing of these things is in God's hands. Of course, these things are all according to God's will. Of course, these things are all a part of God's timing. We do not have a plan right now that we just have not told you no. We do not look for a plan right now. We look to God who has a plan in his heart and his mind. And if we find him and if we seek him, and if we find him in this need, we'll find his plan. But I believe that we should do two things. First, we should see that God's work deserves something better.

I'm thankful for where we are now, but I believe we should see that in his time, God's work deserves better. And second, we should see that we should give to and towards that work. So that is why I'm calling. The elders of the church are calling us all to give to and towards the work and the need at hand. And look, church, may we never get to the place where God says to us, you have nice homes, you have nice clothes, you have nice cars and trucks, you even vacation in nice condominiums, you even have nice clothes and possessions that are strictly for hobbies and entertainment.

But the church where the word is preached and small groups meet, children are ministered to and taught. That church is old, broken and borrowed, and you should have done better. Now, before I give us the title of the message, I wanna share with you a warning that a dear old friend gave me years ago. I'm going way back in time to our Nola Baptist Church days. One of the first brothers, very respected brothers that came into the life of our church that really encouraged me and Brother Keith was Ed Lacy. Ed since passed away. Ed Lacy was a God called, truly biblical, missionary and evangelist.

Brother Ed came and ministered the word and there were people who came to faith in Christ under Ed's ministry, if I remember right, Clarissa Travis came to faith in Christ when Ed ministered among us. Ed came several times and Ed was a mentor to me. And I'll never forget, he looked at me when we were in the middle of praying about possibly moving. We were praying and struggling to see what God had in store. And I'll never forget what Brother Ed said. Brother Ed said, this church is a mess, physically. The church deserves better. The gospel deserves better. This work deserves better. And he said, Chris, be careful, be careful.

Not to build your homes with panel walls while the church is neglected. What am I trying to show you? We have to be careful. We have to be careful here. Now, what's the thought of the message? I really wrestle with that this weekend. It could be called the call to build God's house. It could be called the call to prepare to build God's house. We could call this message the call to provide the funds to build God's house. I'll let you take a pic at it. You can decide, let me know what you think. Now, as always, let's pray. We're gonna sing a song of worship and then I'm gonna give us some practical direction here. So let's pray.