This Is The Time | Jonathan Josephs | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

This Is The Time

Jonathan Josephs

Elevation Church • Nov 30, 2025 • 43 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Jonathan Josephs teaches from Haggai chapter 1 to confront the spiritual danger of delaying obedience to God. When we prioritize our own comfort while neglecting God's house and purpose, we enter cycles of discontentment where our efforts never seem to be enough. True peace and spiritual growth occur when we align our priorities with God's Kingdom, responding immediately to His voice in faithful surrender.

Themes

ObediencePrioritizing GodStewardship and TithingFaithfulnessOvercoming Procrastination

Key Points

1.
Procrastination in our spiritual lives often stems from failing to prioritize what matters most to God.
2.
When the devil cannot get a believer to flatly disobey God, he will attempt to convince them to delay their obedience.
3.
Delayed obedience is still disobedience in the eyes of God.
4.
When we prioritize building God's house and honoring His presence, He faithful promises to care for and bless ours.
5.
Waiting for comfortable circumstances or a feeling of ease before obeying God confuses worldly comfort with divine peace.
6.
Financial frustration and discontentment often result when we put God second rather than giving Him our first fruits.
7.
True biblical generosity is measured not by the magnitude of the financial amount, but by the degree of sacrificial faith and trust behind it.
8.
God operates through a clear pattern when moving among His people: He speaks His instruction, we surrender in obedience, and He stirs up our spirit.

Sermon Moments

“When the devil can't get you to disobey, he'll get you to delay.”

“Delayed obedience is still disobedience.”

“When I build God's house, He'll bless mine.”

“Very rarely does peace precede obedience; often, peace comes after you obey.”

“What you call a reason for not giving is actually the result of putting God second.”

“It is better to have God in a little with me than to have much without God.”

“God spoke. They surrendered. God stirred.”

“The disciples were so focused on the house of worship, but what Jesus was drawn to was the heart of worship.”

This Week

Identify areas in your life where you have been putting off obedience to God and choose to act today without further delay.

Evaluate your financial priorities to ensure that honoring God with the first portion of your income comes before other expenses.

Pray as a family or individual about how you can participate in supporting the building and expansion of God's house.

Stop waiting for ideal or easy circumstances before stepping out in faith and serving the Lord.

Seek God for a specific focus word for the upcoming year that reflects what you are believing Him to do in and through you.

Shift your mindset from giving out of surplus to giving as a heartfelt act of worship and trust in God as your provider.

Reflect on Haggai 1:5 by giving careful thought to your ways, realigning any out-of-order priorities with God's Kingdom.

Remember This

When we align our priorities with God's Kingdom and respond to His voice with immediate obedience, He blesses our lives and stirs up our faith.

A Challenge for You

I want to encourage you to go home and have a conversation about what does it mean to honor the Lord in our wealth, to honor the Lord in our finances... Ask God to give you a word that represents what He wants to do in you or through you.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.