Bible Text: Haggai 2:1-9 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: Don’t Give Up, Haggai

1.  In Haggai’s second message to the people he deals with the problem of discouragement and disappointment brought on by a wrong perspective.  The people were unfavorably comparing the present Temple re-building with the former Temple (Solomon’s Temple) especially led by those old enough to have seen the former Temple.

2.  “Do not say, ‘why were the old days better than these?’  For it is not wise to ask such questions.” (Solomon in Ecclesiastes 7:10)

3.  Their discouragement came because they looked backward rather than forward thus they missed seeing God’s perspective on their present work.  They were encouraged to remember God’s presence, remember God’s promises, and to remember the glorious future God had prepared for Israel through this and the future Millennial Temple, both of which would be visited by the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the true glory of the Temple.

4.  “Life holds disappointments for all of us, from the child who doesn’t get a passionately desired Christmas present, to the young adult whose proposal is rejected, to the father who loses his job, to the mature person whose partner of many years is lost.  Hurts are an unavoidable part of every life.  Big or little, each disappointment can cause pain.  How we deal with disappointments is a key to our development and to our character.  God’s Word provides us a perspective which can help us deal with disappointments in a godly and a constructive way.” (Richards)

5.  Discouragement comes when we do not view life’s events from God’s perspective.  Discouragement can be defeated if we will: remember God’s presence with us; His promises to us (Romans 8:28; Matthew 28:19,20; Hebrews 13:5,6 for example); and remember that God see the whole, we only see the part.