On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ”

Then the priests answered and said, “No.”

And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?”

So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”

Then Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.

‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD— since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the LORD. ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider it: Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ ” —Haggai 2:10-19 NKJV

I. The Teaching Point
A. Consecrated Meat

God brings home the truth that a few worthy acts will never obliterate their neglect of him, but their refusal to honor God and put him front and center in their lives contaminates everything else they do. As long as their impurity remains, nothing will ever be right. —-Unknown

II. Diagnosis
A. The Past

III. Prognosis
A. Consider

IV. Prescription
A. The Problems

V. Healing
A. I Will Bless You