The Call to Put God First
Haggai 1:1–7
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the
Lord’s house should be built.”
“…Consider your ways.”
POINT 1 — GOD SPEAKS INTO A
DISTRACTED GENERATION
Haggai is preaching to people who love God, but life got busy.
They weren’t rebellious — they were just overwhelmed.
They said:
“Lord, we’ll get to You… when things calm down.”
“When we get ourselves settled.”
“When I get a better job.”
“When the kids get older.”
“When my schedule frees up.”
But “when” is a thief.
And & "later" & has robbed more blessings than the devil ever has.
God told them — and He’s telling us:
“Consider your ways.”
Not “Condemn yourself.”
Not “Beat yourself up.”
Not “Feel guilty.”
But consider…
Consider where your time is going.
Consider where your energy is going.
Consider where your heart is drifting.
Consider if God is really in first place… or if He’s waiting in line.
POINT 2 — WE DON’T REJECT GOD, WE
POSTPONE GOD
Most of us don’t reject God.
We still love Him.
We still believe Him.
We still honor Him.
But many times… we postpone Him.
We treat God like roadside assistance.
We only call Him when we’re broke down on the side of the road of life.
If things are going well, we don’t say too much…
but the moment we break down, we reach out to God in a second.
But hear me:
If we only call God in crisis, we miss the fullness of His covering.
God doesn’t just want to rescue you —
He wants to lead you.
POINT 3 — GOD INVITES US TO START
AGAIN
In verse 8, God says:
“Go up… bring the wood… build My house.”
In other words:
Let’s rebuild the priorities.
Let’s restart your routine.
Let’s resurrect your spiritual life.
This is not a moment of shame — it is a moment of invitation.
God is saying:
“Let’s start over. Let’s build something together. Let’s make this season better than the last.”
POINT 4 — THE GOD FIRST
MOVEMENT
Family, this teaching series is not just sermons.
This is a movement.
A personal commitment.
A spiritual realignment.
The God First Movement is a call to:
✔ Start your morning with God
✔ Give God the first part of your time
✔ Give God the first place in your thoughts
✔ Give God the first voice you listen to
✔ Give God the first opportunity to guide your day
You’ve given the world enough of your time.
You’ve given distractions enough space.
You’ve given problems enough attention.
Now it’s God’s turn.
POINT 5 — WHEN WE PUT GOD FIRST,
GOD PUTS US FIRST
In verse 13, God says:
“I am with you.”
When did He say it?
When they chose to put Him first.
Let me tell you something:
When God is with you, everything changes.
Peace settles.
Strength rises.
Favor increases.
Doors open.
Purpose awakens.
Something shifts when God becomes FIRST —
because God blesses what is in proper order.
CONCLUSION — THE CALL
Family, this is your invitation:
Put God first.
Join the movement.
Start today.
Start with 1%.
Start with 14 minutes and 40 seconds.
Start with the morning.
Start with a Scripture.
Start with a prayer.
Start with a simple “Lord, I give You this day.”
Because when you put God first…
God blesses the rest.
CLOSING WORD:
I want to speak this into your spirit:
This is your turning point.
This is your fresh start.
This is your God-first moment.
Lord’s house should be built.”
“…Consider your ways.”
POINT 1 — GOD SPEAKS INTO A
DISTRACTED GENERATION
Haggai is preaching to people who love God, but life got busy.
They weren’t rebellious — they were just overwhelmed.
They said:
“Lord, we’ll get to You… when things calm down.”
“When we get ourselves settled.”
“When I get a better job.”
“When the kids get older.”
“When my schedule frees up.”
But “when” is a thief.
And & "later" & has robbed more blessings than the devil ever has.
God told them — and He’s telling us:
“Consider your ways.”
Not “Condemn yourself.”
Not “Beat yourself up.”
Not “Feel guilty.”
But consider…
Consider where your time is going.
Consider where your energy is going.
Consider where your heart is drifting.
Consider if God is really in first place… or if He’s waiting in line.
POINT 2 — WE DON’T REJECT GOD, WE
POSTPONE GOD
Most of us don’t reject God.
We still love Him.
We still believe Him.
We still honor Him.
But many times… we postpone Him.
We treat God like roadside assistance.
We only call Him when we’re broke down on the side of the road of life.
If things are going well, we don’t say too much…
but the moment we break down, we reach out to God in a second.
But hear me:
If we only call God in crisis, we miss the fullness of His covering.
God doesn’t just want to rescue you —
He wants to lead you.
POINT 3 — GOD INVITES US TO START
AGAIN
In verse 8, God says:
“Go up… bring the wood… build My house.”
In other words:
Let’s rebuild the priorities.
Let’s restart your routine.
Let’s resurrect your spiritual life.
This is not a moment of shame — it is a moment of invitation.
God is saying:
“Let’s start over. Let’s build something together. Let’s make this season better than the last.”
POINT 4 — THE GOD FIRST
MOVEMENT
Family, this teaching series is not just sermons.
This is a movement.
A personal commitment.
A spiritual realignment.
The God First Movement is a call to:
✔ Start your morning with God
✔ Give God the first part of your time
✔ Give God the first place in your thoughts
✔ Give God the first voice you listen to
✔ Give God the first opportunity to guide your day
You’ve given the world enough of your time.
You’ve given distractions enough space.
You’ve given problems enough attention.
Now it’s God’s turn.
POINT 5 — WHEN WE PUT GOD FIRST,
GOD PUTS US FIRST
In verse 13, God says:
“I am with you.”
When did He say it?
When they chose to put Him first.
Let me tell you something:
When God is with you, everything changes.
Peace settles.
Strength rises.
Favor increases.
Doors open.
Purpose awakens.
Something shifts when God becomes FIRST —
because God blesses what is in proper order.
CONCLUSION — THE CALL
Family, this is your invitation:
Put God first.
Join the movement.
Start today.
Start with 1%.
Start with 14 minutes and 40 seconds.
Start with the morning.
Start with a Scripture.
Start with a prayer.
Start with a simple “Lord, I give You this day.”
Because when you put God first…
God blesses the rest.
CLOSING WORD:
I want to speak this into your spirit:
This is your turning point.
This is your fresh start.
This is your God-first moment.