MORE THAN WE USED TO BE
Haggai 2:1-9
July 12, 2015 Pastor Buddy Cook
Introduction: Song my mother used to sing when I was growing up: The Old Gray Mare The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Ain't what she used to be, ain't what she used to be, The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many long years ago. Many long years ago, many long years ago, The old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be, Many long years ago.
Transition: This song might aptly be applied to the culture of our world today.
Recent rulings by the Supreme Court
Crimes and actions we see daily on the news
The church in the USA also seems to be fading in her luster. (Attendance is lower/ Commitment appears to be waning/ Younger people losing interest in the church etc.) As the sun appears to be setting on the church in the US, Many of God’s people are looking wistfully back hoping for a return to glory but their hope is fading.
It could appear to the outside observer that “the ole girl just ain’t what she used to be”.
Perhaps this was the feeling of the people of Israel who became emotional when they saw the foundations of the new Temple in Ezra 3 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” 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.
This was an emotional time for the people of Israel and they could easily be excused for such emotion. They had suffered much with the defeat of their nation. The Temple of the Lord had been laid waste at the hands of the Babylonians and all of this was followed by 66 long years in exile. Finally they had been allowed to return and the temple was being rebuilt. However for some who could still remember the previous temple it just wasn’t the same. Perhaps this is why the Lord prompted Haggai to speak to the people in our passage today Scripture: Haggai 2:1-10 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.’ 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.” Transition: Perhaps these words from the prophet Haggai can teach those of us in the 21st century church something important. Just because times look bleak doesn’t mean God is finished. I. HAGGAI POINTS OUT OUR DISCOURAGEMENT. ‘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? Haggai 2:3
1. The glory of the past temple clearly outshone the present one. If you read the first 4 chapters of 2 Chronicles you will see the wealth and manpower of a mighty nation focused on building a grand temple for the Lord. God, silver, cedar flowed from what seemed like an inexhaustible supply. In fact, there was so much wealth that they could not even calculate the weight of the bronze. This must have made the meager resources of the returning exiles seem like nothing. Kind of like visiting a wealthy family member or friend. When you compare what they have to what you have you almost feel embarrassed. 2. Many of you can remember the good ole days of the church. Church buildings were packed and revivals went for weeks with the altars filled with seekers. Judeo Christian morals filled the culture and Bible reading and prayer
were a regular part of public education. As DS Ralph put it to the Assembly: “In the ‘50’s and early 60’s everything was favorable for the church. Traditional values supported the church. “Blue laws” protected the Sabbath. TV supported Christian values. … It was a world favorable to our values and convictions as a church” (Dave Ralph DAC DS’s Annual Report). Transition: DS Ralph asked this question: Does it feel like to you that “doing church” is getting harder these days? Just take a look around the culture of modern America hardly resembles the culture of previous generations. Governmental favor, lifestyle, sexual behavior, Sabbath observance We seem to be more like the church in exile than the “moral majority”. Words from a person moving from the Bible belt of the South to Colorado said “This place is different. You don’t see respect for the clergy, the Sabbath, church attendance, and an affinity toward the church and religious things.”
… “moving to Colorado is like moving to a foreign land” Question: The question we must deal with is “What are we going to do about it?” Many of us are tempted to look back at the good ole days and wistfully hoping for their return. We are like the people in Psalm 137 who said By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:1-4 This however wasn’t the way Haggai saw it. II. HAGGAI CHALLENGS US TO “BE STRONG AND WORK”. …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. Haggai 2:3-4
1. Haggai told the people it was time to quit weeping and get to work. Haggai addressed the whole crowd. o Zerubbabel the Governor o Joshua the High Priest o And “all you people of the land” He didn’t leave anyone out because all are needed to do the work. It’s too easy to blame the politicians and the preachers. We are all responsible for the work. God has given us gifts and responsibilities to carry out His purpose in this world. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:10-11
2. Haggai reminded them God was still with them and would provide for them.. 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. Haggai 2:4b-5 They did not need to be afraid because God himself would be with them. “My Spirit remains among you.” Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you Acts 1:8 If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 Haggai also reminded them that God could supply what they lacked.
‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty Haggai 2:8 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 Transition: It was if Haggai was reminding us and them, “Don’t sit around weeping over the ashes of the past when the living God is present with you today! Get up and get to work!” III. HAGGAI POINTS US TO A HOPEFUL FUTURE. “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. Haggai 2:6-7 1. The future was going to be greater than the past.
All the Israelites could see was the disappointment of the past and the difficulty of the present. Rather, Haggai wanted them to focus on a future provided by God. 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.” Haggai 2:9 They could have hardly imagined the temple built by Herod the Great precisely because the exilic temple was 60 cubits shorter than Solomon’s temple. It was so massive that the disciples were in awe of it when they entered Jerusalem with Jesus. Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” Matthew 24:1-2 2. The future physical temple was to be glorious but the true glory of the world is Jesus!
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:5 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn Isaiah 60:1-3 Simeon referred to Jesus when he speaks of the glory of Israel in Luke 2 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32 One more thing to notice – “and in this place I will grant peace” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. Isaiah 9:6-7 Conclusion: The church is not what she used to be but she is not yet what she is going to be. God wants to do a new thing if we will be willing to follow Him. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Matthew 9:16-17 I believe Haggai would say this to you and I today:
It’s time to stop looking wistfully to the past weeping over its loss but rather we must roll up our sleeves and go to work building God’s future church which may look significantly different than what we have previously seen. If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31
