Scripture Reading: Haggai 2:1-9

The Coming Glory of God’s House Haggai 2:1-9New King James Version (NKJV) The Coming Glory of God’s House 2 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple[a] in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing? 4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the Lord; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ 6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations,[b] and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Sermon How Do You See It Now?

People see what they are prepared to see

The temple was in ruins for 70 years Cyrus ordered the Jews return and rebuild the temple The returnees began, became discouraged and quit – 16 years of inactivity! Hag 1:4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” V 8 “Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified”

“The word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet “The word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet . . . ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Yet now be strong . . . all you people of the land. Work, for I am with you . . . Fear not. For . . . once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth . . . and I will fill this house with glory . . . The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ” Malachi 2:1-9

How do you see the New Year? Full of promise and potential? Or with fear, dread and uncertainty?

Psychological phenomena: “Self-fulfilling prophecies” 1. How do you see yourself? Psychological phenomena: “Self-fulfilling prophecies” Haggai 2:3 “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?”

If we see only ourselves, “I’m hard to get along with” “I’m a failure” “I’m short- tempered” If we see only ourselves, we may be discouraged!

But when we see God is with us . . . Verses 4, 5 “Be strong, O Zerubbabel; be strong, O Joshua, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the Lord. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.”

Remember Moses Reluctance Exodus 3:11, 12 “Moses said, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ God said, ‘I will be with you . . . .’”

Remember Joshua’s challenge The Lord said to Joshua: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Remember Jeremiah Saw Himself As Inadequate Jeremiah 1:6 “Ah, Lord! I cannot speak for I am but a youth!” Paul to Timothy 1 Tim 4:12 “Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Never forget Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always even to the end of the age” ~ Mt 28:20

2. How do you see the church? If we see only the negative, it is easy to get discouraged! If judged by worldly standards, big buildings, big crowds If the history of God’s people is ignored: it’s up’s and down’s If we forget God is in control and He gives the increase

God sees the end from the beginning Hag 2:6-9 “Thus says the Lord: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in and I will fill this house with glory. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace.’ ”

How God sees the church Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3. How do you see the world? Is the world our portion or our passage? James 4:4 “Know you not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Is the world our cross or our challenge? The Great Commission: “Go and preach the gospel . . .” James 5:19, 20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”