King of Persia has allowed Haggai to return to Jerusalem Remnant of 50,000 faithful have returned They’ve finally started work on Temple after being back for 18 yrs and needing a prompting! (Chap 1) October 17 520 BC only a few weeks after chapter 1 Whilst Celebrating Feast of Tabernacles they become discouraged

HAGGAI brings 4 distinct messages from God DATE TO REFERENCE Aug 29 520 BC Zerubbabel & Joshua Chapter 1 Oct 17 520 BC Zerubbabel, Joshua & Remnant 2:1 - 2:9 Dec 18 520 BC Priests 2:10 – 2:19 Dec 18 520 BC Zerubbabel 2:20 – 2:23

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. 5 “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”

4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,” declares the Lord. “Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,” declares the Lord, “and work. For I am with you,” declares the Lord Almighty. 5 “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.”

For I am with you, declares the Lord Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt.

is not what is important The temple itself is not what is important “I am with you” is what is important!

1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2 ‘Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory Ask them, 3 “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

Ezra 3 And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Ezra 3 And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Work! “For I am with you” AND He stirs up your spirit “My spirit remains among you!”

1 Chronicles 28 20 David also said to Solomon his son, ‘Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.

Do we have rear view mirror thinking? Are we watching the sun set behind us?

Or are we watching the sun rise in our front windshield?

Philippians 3 But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, 14 I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.

6 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: “In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,” says the Lord Almighty. 8 “The silver is mine and the gold is mine,” declares the Lord Almighty. 9 “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty.’

Promised Glory of New House Presence of God v4-5 Power of God v6-7 Possessions of God v8 Peace of God v9

Revelation 21 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.  

Questions: Do you tend towards ‘rear view’ or ‘front windshield’ thinking naturally? What part spoke to you today?