God Is In Control Series

GOD IS IN CONTROL

Haggai 2:20-23

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday, October 26th, 2025)

There are many things this world that we have no control over. Social security is going bankrupt, the national debt is nearing forty trillion, the government is currently shut down, wages are stagnant, inflation is real, and groceries, homes, and healthcare are unaffordable for most Americans.

US armed forces are in harm’s way all over the world. There are perennial wars and rumors of more wars. Mass shootings are commonplace. Our country is more divided than it has been in our lifetime. We live in a world that is filled with trouble, turmoil, difficulty, and uncertainty. Things are bad and getting worse.

On top of this, many of you are dealing with various personal issues; you have marital troubles, rebellious children, bills that you can't pay, problems at work, health issues, and many other distressing situations that demand your attention.

Far too often we are blinded by our circumstances and we forget who is really in control. When this happens, doubts come and fear grips our minds. If nothing else happens today, I hope that I can remind you who is in control. It is not the republican or democrat party (thankfully). Nor is it the governor, Congress, the Supreme Court, or even the President. The LORD God Almighty, our Heavenly Father, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe is, always has been, and always will be in control.

As our study of Haggai comes to a close we arrive at a passage that provides great encouragement in times of difficulty and uncertainty. Haggai’s fourth oracle is a vivid reminder that God chooses certain individuals for specific purposes and ultimately for His glory. Even when it seems that the world is spiraling out of control, we can experience rest, peace, hope, and assurance because, in spite of it all, God is in control! I would like to examine the closing verses of Haggai and consider the reality that “God Is In Control” .

- In these four short verses we will see God’s Plan, God’s Power, and God’s Promise. Let’s begin by examining:

GOD’S PLAN

v20 The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, 21 “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah.

The Book of Haggai reveals God’s plan for His people. This plan is presented in four “oracles” that were delivered by the prophet Haggai. An oracle is a divine utterance, message, or revelation from God delivered through a prophet or intermediary. In this instance, God sent messages through Haggai, to Zerubbabel, Joshua, the priests, and the people.

The first oracle was delivered on August 19th, 520 BC and it was a call for people to “consider their ways” and was focused on the reality that the Temple lay in ruins while the people were building luxurious homes for themselves (Haggai 1:1-11).

The second oracle was delivered on October 17th, and this was a message of encouragement related to the fact that the glory of the second temple would be greater than the first. This message also came with the promise from God that He would be with them throughout the rebuilding process (Haggai 2:1-9).

The third oracle was delivered on December 18th, and it contained an illustration from the Law contrasting holiness and defilement. In this oracle the Lord also placed an emphasis on the reality that He would bless His people if they would return to Him and focus their efforts on rebuilding the Temple (Haggai 2:10-19).

Our selected text records the fourth and final oracle and it was delivered on the same day as Haggai’s third message (December 18th, 520 BC). In this message the Lord affirms Zerubbabel as His chosen servant and pictures God’s ultimate servant, the Messiah; (our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ). God’s people were assured that the Messiah would come and restore the house of David. Furthermore, Haggai promises that the Lord would “shake the heavens and earth” and place Zerubbabel (a descendant of David and an ancestor of Jesus) into a position of great authority.

God’s Remnant in Judah were experiencing great material, financial, political, and spiritual challenges. In this passage, the Lord makes it clear that even in the midst of a time of tragedy, struggle, and uncertainty, He has a plan.

Moreover, God had a man; His plan involved “shaking the nations” and elevating that man (Zerubbabel) to a greater role. In spite of the numerous troubles experienced by the Remnant, the Sovereign Lord was all powerful and nothing and no one could prevent Him from fulfilling His promises to His people.

It was important for God’s people to look to the Lord rather than their problems. They needed to know the importance of listening to Him in times of uncertainty, and they could and should trust His plan, His timeline, and His purposes, and believe in His promises.