Gods Glory Whats The Story - Haggai?

Message of Courage and faith

So the people had their priorities reset and motivation sorted, the temple foundation were laid all was proceeding, the prophet Haggai comes again with his second message. Solomon’s temple would have been awesome by any standard, more gold certainly bigger and in some eyes maybe better than the temple they were building, but how does God judge, going to impress the creator of all things with anything man made, I think not, so when Haggai cried out “’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?” he was not belittling their efforts or trying to de motivate then. No, this is about the heart, like the widow giving from her poverty these exiles gave from their little in the face of many trials and a lack due to drought, poor harvest and so on, they gave of their heart, that’s what impresses God, when it is given out of the heart, out of lack not plenty, when it hurts and take courage to trust, that impresses God. As Haggai told them “Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ’and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ’This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.” This is the heart of their motivation and courage, God is with them, it gets no better, gets no truer God is with them. May I say to you God is with us, do not fear, be strong, take courage stand firm, link arms, link shields together and stand for God, for Jesus and for the kingdom – this is the heart of faith. (1:7-9) "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. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ’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." We who give our lives to Jesus we are Gods silver, Gods gold, this church is his house, do not these words stir you heart, they stir mine, this is a prayer for US here and now, shake the nations Lord, bring all peoples to you house, your church may we all become your silver, your gold, like you son Jesus and may your Glory fill this house and may you church to come be even more glorious than this one, bring your peace, bring your presence, that’s a prayer for now if you ask me!

This is a prayer of courage and faith!

Message of Cleanliness and holiness

So Haggai sorted the motivation, gave courage and faith and then turned to the matter of holiness, be holy because I am Holy, we are told by God. This is difficult, but its not up to us its not up to our strength its due to the Holy Sprit – consider the values of Gods kingdom:

The strong must be weak

The rich should give all to the poor