Sermon – There Will Be Glory After This (I Will Fill My House with Glory)
Scripture Lesson – Haggai 2:1-9
Introduction: Today’s lesson focuses on a remnant of Jews that were returning form the Babylonian Captivity with a new assignment from God. God himself, had moved Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian empire to release the Jewish captives and to allow them to return to their homeland. The Jews had an assignment to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem. Not only was King Cyrus moved, God moved the hearts of more that 50,000 Jewish captives to return and carry out his assignment. Many of the Captives choose to remain in Babylon.
The called congregation of Jews was a mixed crowd; the old and very young, from skilled craftsmen and common labors, from priest and Levites, and others from every walk of life. The seniors could still remember the temple, temple worship, and all the former glory and splendor of the house of God. The young who had grown up in Babylon had never seen the temple nor had they attended a worship service. Solomon’s temple was something to behold! Its beauty attracted visitors from all over the known world. Yet, God would use the band of Jews to rebuild His temple. Sometimes God will choose the most unlikely candidate to do His greatest work. God chooses to use the Prophet Haggai to encourage Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people to “be strong and work for two good reasons. First, ‘I will be with them”. My promises and my covenant are as sure now as they were from the beginning. Secondly, “I will fill my house with Glory” You are concerned about the outer beauty, I am concerned with Glory!
1. The Church Has a Glorious Future
Ezra 3:10-13 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Ezra allows us to see the reaction of the people as the foundation was completed. Many of the Priests, Levites, and chief fathers, who were ancient men, begin to weep, as many of the younger men rejoiced. Why is this important? The incidence reveals the importance of perspective. We may find the same reaction today in many churches. Those who have witness the former glory of Church, the hymns, the form and appeal of high church are sadden and even dare to criticize the church of today. All they can see is what seems to be missing from the church. All they seem to see is weakness, ungodliness, and worldliness. They criticize the preachers, the choirs, the modern music, their salvation experience, their Holy Spirit experience and many other things. God is still in charge of his church. It is easy to forget that this the Lord’s church and the Lord know how to make His ready for His coming. Read Eph 5:26, 27 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
2. The Lord God Himself Will Glorify the Church
God has a plan for a glorious Church without a spot or wrinkle. God’s plan has not been altered or changed because of the condition of the church or the condition of the world. God will glorify His Church. He will shake the devil out of the Church and shake the world out of the world. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes that we are not the first to feel this way, E Ecclesiastes 7:10 “Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.” Many reminisce and call the former days better. Yet today, there is more revelation, understanding, and insight into pleasing God.
The former temple was full of splendor and glory. Its outward beauty was so attractive. The temple mount was a platform 9 feet high, 10 steps leading up to its porches, there were pillars and columns with decorated ornaments. The interior was overlaid with gold and silver, the cypress doors with carving of Cherubims, palm trees, and flowers engraved. The new temple who foundation they completed had no gold or silver. There was no ark of the Covenant or sacred fire. They fail to realize that the temple was glorious because of the presence and glory of God. Yet God promised to fill this house with glory!
Hag 2:6-9 “For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.”
3. The Church Will Lose Nothing of Lasting Value
God promises that every shakable thing will be shaken. Every shakable foundation will be shaken. God will make room for His glory! Read Hebrews 12:25-29, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.”
God will shake out everything impure and unholy out of His church and glorify the church with His presence and power. Only those things planted on the Word of God, birthed by the Holy Spirit will remain. Our fancy building, rituals, titles, everything stamped manmade will be shaken out. I love the old-time church, the old-time way, but I am ready for God’s new thing.
Hag 2:4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:
Hag 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
4. The Charge of the Church is to Be Strong and Work
God calls for his Church to be focused on the assignment. Our assignment includes going into all the world and make disciples of all men, teaching them to observe all that Christ has taught us. We can be encouraged because this new generation are not mesmerized by the past. They don’t remember the glorious history of the church. They are excited about the now! We must help them find God and experience God in their lives today. The present generation is not impressed with our buildings, steeples rituals and bells, they want to see the glory of God.
The glory of this second temple shall exceed that of the former, not in riches or costly ornaments, but in this respect, that there the “Prince of peace” shall make his appearance, and the “gospel of peace” shall be preached and published. We be strong and work proclaiming the good news that the Prince of Peace has come, offering forgiveness, salvation, and redemption. The good new is, God himself is offering reconciliation.
2Co 5:17-21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
The former temple required a sacrifice, and many were rejected. In Christ, the sacrifice has been paid and all are accepted. Come unto him and live! Be strong and work, it is an important work, necessary and critical. All may not believe yet some will. Be strong and work because God is counting on us! If we do, God says, “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” I will fill this house with glory!
