Future Glory
Text: Haggai 2:1-9
Introduction
1. Illustration: There is a legend that the devil was having a yard sale. People were buying articles such as lying, cheating. etc. An article was on the end of the table that had a sign not for sale. What is this item that is not for sale, people ask. The devil said I use this a lot of times and found it to be very effective. It is called discouragement. If I can get people discouraged, then I can do almost what I want with them.
2. Discouragement is one of the Devil’s biggest tools, and he has been using it on us big time. However, God has given us a weapon to use in fighting the Devil’s tools - the Sword of the Spirit, which is His Word.
3. Romans 15:4 (NIV)
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
4. Instead of discouragement God’s word gives us:
a. Strength for the Present
b. Expectations for the Future
5. Read Haggai 2:1-9
Proposition: God’s word gives encouragement by assuring us that God is still in control.
Transition: God’s word gives us...
I. Strength For The Present (1-5)
A. I am With You
1. Our text today is actually the second prophecy given by Haggai. In his first prophecy, he admonishes the people to begin the work of rebuilding the Temple.
a. They had been focusing all of their attention on themselves and their own homes while leaving the Temple in ruins.
b. Their priorities were all wrong, and through Haggai, encouraged them to get them right.
2. Because of that prophecy, the work began in September of that year. However, in only a month’s time discouragement had already set in.
a. People were coming in to celebrate the required festivals and began to mutter words of discouragement.
b. They would say things like "Oh, it will never be like it once was in the ’good old days.’"
c. Illustration: People like that are like the character "Glum" from the cartoon "Gulliver and the Lilliputians." He would always says "We’re doomed; we’ll never make it!"
3. The Lord tells Haggai to say, "Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor?"
a. You see there were people who had come back with the remnant after the exile who were old enough to remember the Temple’s glory days.
b. The word "anyone" in the Hebrew is literally "such a one who was left over" (Verhoef, NICOT: The Books of Haggai and Malachi, 95).
c. This event occurred only some fifty years after the destruction of the Temple, and there were some there that lived long enough to see this reconstruction that remembered the original.
4. He then asks them "How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all!"
a. He tells them "Compare this Temple to the old one and tell me what you think?"
b. In their minds, it was never going to be like it was before.
c. It had nothing to do with the size of the rebuilt Temple, because in actuality the new one was bigger than the original one (Verhoef, 96).
d. The problem was that did not have the resources that Solomon had at his disposal.
e. They didn’t have all of the silver and gold that Solomon had when he built the Temple.
f. They couldn’t afford to pay the skilled craftsmen from other countries like Solomon.
g. They did not have the King of Lebanon giving them huge cedar logs like Solomon.
5. They said it can never be like it once was, and they were discouraged and disheartened.
a. They thought there was no way it would ever be the same.
b. They were discouraged and ready to give up.
6. However, notice what the Lord says to the people through Haggai: "But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."
a. The first thing that we must notice is the phrase But Now.
b. It constitutes just six letters, but they form two big words and one monumental concept.
c. What it insinuates is that things need to change.
d. Their understanding must change.
e. Their attitudes must change.
f. Their focus must change.
7. The next thing that we must notice is he says to Be Strong.
a. This phrase appears three times in v. 4.
b. It comes from the Hebrew word hazaq "which denotes a frame of mind which enables one to pursue or initiate something with fervor and diligence" (Verhoef, 98).
c. Joshua 1:6 (NLT)
“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.
d. He is telling them not only to continue, but to do it with all of their might and passion.
8. The third thing we must notice is that the Lord tells them now get to work, for I am with you.
a. The LORD then encouraged the people by urging the two leaders and their people to take firm action (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).
b. 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NLT)
Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the Lord is finished correctly.
c. Just as the Apostle Paul states in Romans "If God is for us who can be against us."
9. Then He puts the icing on the cake when He says "My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid."
a. Zechariah 4:6 (NLT)
It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
b. If God was with them and the Holy Spirit was with them they could not fail.
c. If God was with them and the Holy Spirit was with them they had nothing to fear.
B. God Is Still Here
1. Illustration: A father watched out the kitchen window as his 7 year old son played in the backyard sand box. He watched him moving several large rocks out of the sandbox. There was one very big rock that was giving his little boy a great deal of trouble. He watched his son move the rock to the edge of the sandbox, but each time it looked like he would be over to move the rock over the side of the sandbox, the rock would fall back into the sandbox. The last time it fell, it pinched one of his little fingers. The father walked out to his tearful son and asked him what was the matter. His son told him all about the heavy rock in the sandbox. The father asked, "Why didn’t you use all the strength you had?" The little boy replied, "I did dad, I did." The father responded, "No son, you didn’t ask your dad." And with that the father reached down and together he and his son removed the rock from the sandbox.
2. Just He told the people in Haggai’s time, He would tell us today to Be Strong.
a. Ephesians 6:10 (NLT)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
b. He would tell us never to give in, give up, or give out.
c. He is still here and He never changes.
d. He would tell us to continue to serve Him all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
3. He would tell us get to work for I am with you.
a. Matthew 16:18 (NLT)
upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
b. Pastor’s, people, and situations change, but God never does.
c. He promised to be with us until the end of the age, and He has not broken His promise.
d. This isn’t my church or your church, it is His church and the powers of hell will not conquer it!
4. He would tell us that His Spirit Is Still With Us.
a. Acts 1:8 (NLT)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses...”
b. The power of Pentecost is in this church.
c. The power to witness.
d. The power to heal.
e. The power to overcome.
f. The power to make a difference.
Transition: Along with strength for the present, He also gives us...
II. Expectations For The Future (6-9)
A. The Future Glory Will Be Greater
1. Although the word of the Lord from Haggai has already said a mouthful, He isn’t done yet. He goes on to say “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land.
I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."
a. He tells them that they need not worry about where all the treasures were going to come from, because the Lord himself would make things happen.
b. Notice that the Lord will do the shaking, and the nations will bring contributions to rebuild the Temple.
c. Also notice the violent nature of shaking. These offerings will not be voluntary, but they will be spoils of war - a Holy War.
2. He says that He will fill this Temple with glory.
a. He is referring to more than just the glory of gold or silver.
b. He talking about more than rubies, diamonds, and precious clothes.
c. He is talking about a glory that can only come from Him - His glory.
3. He says not to worry about earthly wealth because "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies."
a. Psalms 50:10 (NLT)
For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
b. Illustration: Once I was driving through the mountains in Arkansas, and as I looked into the distance the Lord began to speak to me. He said, "Mark, look at that mountain and imagine it filled with cattle." I said "Okay, Lord, I got the picture in my head." Then He said, "Just remember, I have 999 more just like it!"
c. Money is not an issue for God.
d. He doesn’t need our money, but He demands our obedience.
4. However, what He says in v. 9 is what really takes it over the top. He says, "The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory...”
a. Not only would it be as good as but greater than the first Temple.
b. The reason for this is that it would be graced by the presence of Messiah, the Son of God.
c. Matthew 12:6 (NLT)
I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!
d. How could it help but be greater than with the presence of Jesus?
B. Brighter Future
1. Illustration: I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is “I AM.” He paused. I waited. He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’ When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’ When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’
2. We need to put the past behind us and embrace the future.
a. Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
b. Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)
Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
c. Jesus is not the great I Was, He is the great I Am.
d. God has a great future in store for New Life and we need press on toward that goal.
3. We need to expect that God will fill this Temple with glory.
a. Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
b. God has the power over all things and He can do more than we can ask or think.
c. We must expect Him to do powerful things.
d. We must expect Him to do mighty things.
e. We must expect Him to do miraculous things.
4. We need to expect that our future glory will exceed our past glory.
a. My God is not bound by people.
b. My God is not bound by circumstances.
c. My God is not bound by resources.
d. My God has not limits!
Transition: Will you believe God for future glory today?
Conclusion
1. Are you discouraged today? God gives:
a. Strength for the Present
b. Expectations for the Future
2. Psalms 121:1-2 (NLT)
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
3. Look to the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
