Summary: Many folks labor for the Lord with unclean hands. From Haggai 2, holiness is not easily transmitted, but uncleanness is.

Key Scripture (Haggai 2:11-19): 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. 15 Now then, consider from this day onward.[a] Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When[b] one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

From Haggai 2, the people have begun building for three months but are building with unclean hands. They still harbor sin in their lives and struggle with God's work. They go to the storehouse for twenty measures and there are but ten. They go to the wine vat for fifty measures and there are but 20. The fruit of their toil has diminished, amounted to little. (1:9)

(Back to Ezra 2). It is impossible to be transparent about a condition that you don't acknowledge. The Jews are confronted and asked for their names, twice. Their only response is to go to their fathers and speak to their fathers.

A father maintains much power, or capacity, for good and/or evil.

A child's future faith is largely a function of the faith of the father.

Yet, at some point, we must own our sin.

From Haggai 2, when I find the diminished stockpile in the storehouse or the leaky vat, I must ultimately look to myself.

Perhaps Israel should've responded a bit differently when asked for their actual names.

If you want to name it and claim it, name and claim your sin.

Important takeaway: Responsibility always precedes transparency.

The moment they acknowledge that they are complicit in the work, the moment they become vulnerable to

• the enemies of God.

Once you announce your allegiance, you own your sin become vulnerable to

• other people of God.

Often folks resist transparency out of fear of the judgment of their brothers.

Their inner-Pharisee assumes the inner-Pharisee in their brothers.

Sadly sometimes the people of God behave as if they were enemies of God.

Are you ready to be transparent?

Consider the impossibility of rebuilding this temple, with physical opposition.

For 19 years they were opposed, discouraged, made to be afraid, bribed by the lusts of the flesh.

Restoration seemed impossible yet they begin the rebuilding effort by the preaching of the Word but needed a final exhortation.

Vulnerability is to acknowledge the filth of my hands, that they must be cleansed for me to rebuild appropriately.

From verse 19, the seed is yet in the barn.

We've been rebuilding in vain because the seed itself is still in the barn.

Our unclean hands have hindered the work.

Should we open the barn door and scatter the seed?

Shall the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree yield fruit?

Then we must be accountable, we must be transparent, we must be vulnerable and find victory in our vulnerability.

We will find victory as an individual and victory as a church.

Renewal | Revival | Restoration