The document discusses December 24th in relation to the book of Haggai in the Bible. It notes that December 24th is mentioned five times in Haggai chapter 2 and is a day for consideration, participation, and anticipation. It also provides context that the Jewish calendar used in Haggai's time is different from the modern Gregorian calendar, with April on our calendar corresponding to January on the Jewish calendar.
2. Gods Calendar and April Fools Day
Passover is the 14th day of the 1st month of
the year. April on our calendar is January
for the Jews.
Exod 12:1-2
The Julian calendar vs. the Gregorian
calendar
April Fools Day
3. Dec 24th - Five times
2:10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month
2:15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day
2:18 Consider now from this day
2:19 from this day will I bless you.
2:20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai
in the four and twentieth day
#2: Dec 24th is a day for ?
For most Americans its a day of cooking or wrapping last-minute presents; Christmas parties ect.
But, have you ever wondered what does God intend Dec. 24th to be?
Haggai 2
Introduction:
Our subject matter concerns the rebuilding of a nation and its land.
If Jerusalem had not been rebuilt by the apparently defunct nation of Israel;
then, humanly speaking,
Christ could not have been born and died.
The history of the world,
The rise and fall of vast empires and
Mighty dynasties,
Depends on the history of the seed of Abraham- because,
It is only through the seed of Abraham (Jesus Christ) that any man can be blessed.
It is upon this ominous and momentous occasion
That we read the details of God
breaking in on the affairs of man- in the book of Haggai.
#3: This book is focused on only 3months in time,
and makes its crescendo on one particular day.
We must understand Gods calendar and April Fools day.
Passover is the 14th day of the 1st month of the year. April on our calendar is January for the Jews.
Exod 12:1-2
1) And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2) This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
April Fools Day, also called All Fools Day, dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became known as April Fools.
1Cor 3:18
18) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
#4: Five times in this book our attention is called to one specific day: Dec 24th
Hag 2:10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month
Hag 2:15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day
Hag 2:18 Consider now from this day
Hag 2:19 from this day will I bless you.
Hag 2:20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day
#5: Dec 24th is a day for
Consideration-
Hag 2:10-11
In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law
Consider the Commandments (law)
If you dont know the law you will never be able to consider it.
(Hag 2:11 Ask now the priest concerning the law)
Eccl 12:13
13) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Knowledge of the law is no guarantee you will consider it-
Rom 8:1-3
1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
(who walk not after the flesh)
Consider the Commandments (law)
Consider your Consecration
Hag 2:12-14
12 If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No
13 Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.
14 Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
Sanctification is not merely a Sunday exercise; it is a daily determined dedication.
Consider the Commandments (law)
Consider your Consecration
Consider your Conversation
Hag 2:3-4
3) Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4) Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
Deut 1:28
28) Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
Rom 13:11-14
11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; NOT in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Dec. 24th is a day for Consideration
#6: Dec 24th is a day for
Consideration
Participation- Hag 2:19
Hag 2:19
19 Is the seed yet in the barn?
yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree,
and the pomegranate, and the olive tree,
hath not brought forth:
from this day will I bless you.
God will grow the field but we have to stock the barn.
Your Labor in the Devils field also gets Gods attention.
Hag 2:16
16 Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.
Hag 1:9
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.
Hag 1:2-8
2 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.
3 Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?
5 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.
Hag 2:23
23) In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
Exod 28:36
36) And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
Dec. 24th is a day to plan your Participation in Gods work.
#7: Dec 24th is a day for
Consideration
Participation
Anticipation- Hag 2:20-23
Hag 2:20-23
20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,
21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;
22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
Insider trading is allowed in preparation for eternity. We know the end of the story.
Rom 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
2Tim 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
Rev 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Dec. 24th is a day to Anticipate the fulfilment of Gods promises.
#8: Conclusion:
We probably have never used this day as God ordained it in 520 BC however, this is the time to start.
Dec. 24th is a day for
Consideration
Participation
Anticipation