God Is In Control
Haggai 2:20-23
There are many things in this world that we have absolutely no control over. The stock market is unstable, the economy in recession and there is global turmoil. Our national debt is over 19 trillion dollars, social security of going bankrupt. the cost of living is rising and wages are stagnant. Healthcare is unaffordable and jobs are scarce. ISIS is on American soil, our military men and women are in harms way all over the world, there are wars and rumors of more wars, North Korea is testing missiles and Iran is building nuclear weapons. Mass shootings are becoming commonplace and our country is becoming increasingly divided.
We live in a world filled with trouble, turmoil, difficulty and uncertainty. It seems that things are bad and getting worse. Some of you may be dealing with personal issues... you may have rebellious children, bills that you can't pay, problems at work, marital troubles, health issues or any of a host of other situations and problems that consume your life. Many times we are blinded by circumstance and often we forget who is really in control. When this happens, doubt enters our minds and fear begins to consume our lives. If that is the case for you, I come bearing good news, I want to remind you who is in control! It is not the republican or democrat party, our governor is not in control, congress is not in control, the Supreme Court is not in control, the President is not in control and the United Nations general assembly is not even in control. God Almighty is, always has been and always will be in control!
When you are tempted to fear remember that your Heavenly Father is supreme in authority! He is Omniscient, which means that He knows all. He is Omnipotent, which means He is all powerful. He is Omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at all times.
Remember what Jesus said in - Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
What a comforting promise form our Savior. As we conclude our study of the Book of Haggai we come to a passage of scripture that reminds us just Who is in control. God sends Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel and deliver a message of great encouragement. In His message to His servant we see that God Has A Sovereign Plan, God Possesses Supreme Power and God in His infinite wisdom has Selected some Special People. I invite you to join me as we examine abundant evidence that "God Is In Control". The first piece of evidence that proves that God Is In Control is:
I. God's Sovereign Plan - v20 And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah.....
Sovereignty is defined as "supreme power or authority". God is the supreme authority in History. And, He is the supreme authority in our lives.
God sent a direct message to His servant Zerubbabel. Remember, at this point the rebuilding process of the Temple was in it's infancy. There were a lot of unknowns. Perhaps Zerubbabel was dealing with some uncertainty concerning the future. He was God's chosen man to lead this rebuilding process. Imagine the great responsibility that rested upon his shoulders. Here God reminds Zerubbabel that ultimately He is in control. God is still in control today and He still has a sovereign plan.
God has a sovereign plan for this world, for Bride of Christ, for the future and for eternity. God has a sovereign plan for this church and God has a sovereign plan for you as an individual. Zerubbabel was simply a willing vessel that God would use to carry out His sovereign plan. That is what we must be! Willing vessels that God can use to carry out His sovereign plan.
A legitimate question would be, "how can we know God's sovereign plan for our lives?" Zerubbabel learned of that plan through THE WORD OF THE LORD. Haggai went to him with a direct message from the Father. And we will learn of His plan for us the very same way... on the pages of HIS HOLY WORD! When you search the scriptures you will receive a direct message from your Heavenly Father!
Perhaps God has already revealed His plan for your life to you. Maybe the task seems impossible. You look at what He has called you to do and you think that there is no way that you will ever be able to accomplish His purpose for you. If you will simply be a willing vessel and trust in Him... He will use you fulfill His sovereign plan! We are able to put our faith in God because He has the power and ability to do anything that He pleases. GOD IS IN CONTROL!
A sovereign plan is great, but it would mean nothing were it not for God's power to accomplish that plan. I am glad to report that God has the power to accomplish anything that He desires. Consider if you will:
II. God's Supreme Power - v20b (God said to Zerubbabel), I will shake the heavens and the earth; 22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
In verses 20-22 we get a glimpse of God's sovereign plan. He tells Zerubbabel that the time is coming when He would "shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow royal thrones and destroy the kingdoms of the heathen" He would "overturn their chariots, the horses would fall and the riders will kill one another".
There has been much debate over what specific conflict God is referring to in this text. But what I would like for us to take away from this discourse is the fact that God retains supreme power. In every battle and conflict throughout history, those past, present and future... God is, always has been and always will be in control! He is so powerful in fact that He can even use His enemies to accomplish His sovereign will.
- Because God Is In Control:
A. We Can Be Confident In God's Supreme Power - No matter what comes our way... no matter how bad things get, God's power will never fail. Consider the scope of God's Supreme Power:
1) He Has Power Over Nature - He can "shake the heavens and the earth".
2) He Has Power Over Rulers - Our God is able to "overthrow royal thrones" and "destroy the kingdoms of the heathen"
3) He Has Power Over Our Enemies - Romans 8:31 ...If God be for us, who can be against us?
We have no need to fear anything in nature... for God is more powerful! We have no need to fear Governments and rulers... for God is more powerful! We have no need to fear those who would come against us and persecute us... for God is more powerful! Whatever comes our way we can be confident in God's supreme power! We can trust Him to see us through no matter how difficult the circumstance!
Coupled we the fact that We Can Be Confident In God's Supreme Power is the fact that:
B. We Can Be Comforted By God's Supreme Power - When you truly grasp that God is in control there is no need to fear anyone or anything. Many of our brethren have walked away from serving God because of fear. Some have determined the task impossible and not even attempted to move forward. When you come to the realization that the One Who has called you to the task has the power to see you through then there is nothing that can stop you from reaching your goal. There is an old cliché that states "If God brought you to it, He will see you through it"
Friends, we can be comforted in God's Supreme Power! We can trust that GOD IS IN CONTROL!
- A young boy traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a man who happened to be a seminary professor. The boy was reading a Sunday school take-home paper when the professor thought he would have some fun with the lad. "Young man," said the professor, "If you can tell me something God can do, I'll give you a big, shiny apple." The boy thought for a moment and then replied, "Mister, if you can tell me something God can't do, I"ll give you a whole barrel of apples!"
(Source:Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 43.)
God has a sovereign plan and He possesses supreme power...there is nothing that He can't do. But in His infinite wisdom, God chooses to use us to accomplish His sovereign plan. This brings us to the last point that I would like to consider and that is:
III. God's Selected People - v23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
In this discourse God reveals His plan for His man. Consider:
A. The Purpose Involved - God chose Zerubbabel to accomplish a specific task.
He had a job for him to do. God used him to help the captives in returning to Jerusalem. He used him to reestablish the temple worship and He used him to lead the building program for the 2nd temple. Through the Word we find that God was pleased with Zerubbabel's service. God had a remnant of people to choose from and He chose Zerubbabel. In fact, there were more prominent people that God could have used, but He chose Zerubbabel. I believe one reason that he was chosen is because he was a willing vessel that the Lord could use.
If you are a child of God then He has a specific purpose for your life as well. You have a calling... you have a purpose. But like Zerubbabel you must be a willing vessel. If you will make yourself available to the Lord, He can use you to accomplish what seems impossible. Not only is there a purpose for those that God selects, it is also a privilege to be selected. Consider if you will:
B. The Privilege Involved - v23 "On that day,' declares the Lord of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel ... My servant ... and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you."
God had made a promise made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob concerning the Messiah. There were promises to Judah concerning the coming King. This promise was also made to David. In fact, the throne of David came to symbolize the Messianic throne of Christ. Zerubbabel was a descendant of David. The lineage of Christ (the Messiah) is traced back to David through Zerubbabel (Matthew 1:12,16). Zerubbabel would be a part of something great long after his death. And the fact that God chose him to accomplish what he did concerning the temple was a great privilege in itself.
We have already seen that God is all powerful. This proves that He doesn't have to use us to accomplish His will. But He chooses to use us! And there is no greater privilege than to be called by God to serve Him in any capacity.
Let us not forget that we will be held accountable for our service. Paul says in - 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
At the Judgment Seat, after our works will be put to the fire....there is the potential for some of what we did in this life to remain. What will remain? What we did for Jesus is what will endure the fire of his judgment. What remains will be the basis for rewards. Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him.
The Bible tells us five crowns that are available as rewards to the faithful saint of God.
1) The Incorruptible Crown
2) The Crown Of Life
3) The Crown Of Rejoicing
4) The Crown Of Righteousness
5) The Crown Of Glory
Every deed done in the name of Jesus will be blessed and rewarded at the BEMA. We are chosen by God to fulfill His purpose and it is a privilege to be chosen. To know that we will be rewarded for simply being willing vessels is simply amazing to me. The best part about these rewards is the fact that we will then be able to offer them to our King. Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
This should be our motivation for serving our Master!
We are saved to serve... we are selected for a purpose. When it seems that accomplishing what God has called you to do is impossible... remember GOD IS IN CONTROL! God had a direct message for Zerubbabel. In that message we find some truths that still apply today: God Has A Sovereign Plan, God Possesses Supreme Power and God in His infinite wisdom has Selected some Special People.
Several weeks ago we began this study of Haggai. In the beginning the Temple was abandoned.. it lay in ruins. God was not pleased and He confronted His people. He chose Zerubbabel to lead the rebuilding process. Eventually this very important task was completed. God was pleased and honored.
There is a work for you to do. Though the task may seem impossible, if you will surrender to His call He can use you. And you will see that nothing is impossible when God Is In Control!
