Sermon: There Will Be Glory After This! Scripture Text: Haggai 2:1-9
Haggai 2:1-5 “Then on October 17 of that same year, the Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai. “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land: ‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! 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. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’
6-9 “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. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”'"
Introduction: Haggai begin God’s Promise of Renewal. No Matter what it looks like, something new and glorious is on the way! The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory. A renewal, a refreshing, a rejuvenation, a renovation, and a complete restoration is coming. Renewal is the process of shedding the old outer covering and putting on the new. This takes place in the 'spirit of your mind'. As we come to know God, our minds are renewed in accordance to the knowledge of Him. In Romans 12: 2 Paul speaks of 'proving' what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Paul speaks of inward Renewal. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
The first message of Haggai to the people encouraged them to consider their ways and then reprioritize their lives. Misguided priorities had led the people of God away from their assignment. The work was neglected 18 years. After the first message from the Prophet Haggai, the whole nation repented and returned to the work. The first order of business was to secure the needed materials and start to build again. The enemy of our souls works continuously to pull us away from our God-given assignment. What Satan failed to do through misguided priorities and outward opposition, he tries to accomplish through discouragement. The world is going through a lot of pain. But in dark times, we also see that people stand together as bright torches shining through the blackest night. When people in great suffering cannot keep their faith and bow down in discouragement, let us faithful believers share our confidence, faith, and courage with them.
A long time ago, there was a rumor that the devil was going out of business, and he was selling his tools to whomever bids the most for them. One night he opened doors to his customers and showcased all his tools: hate, jealousy, fear, deceit, and many more. But somewhere in a dark corner of the room was a very old, harmless-looking and worn-out object, looking as if it has been used throughout eternity. It had the highest price of all. Somebody asked the devil what that instrument was and why was it so expensive.
"Discouragement," answered the devil. "It is the most expensive tool because it is the one, I use most on people. When nothing else works, I can enter slowly in their minds and hearts, and nobody notices. Once I am there and get them discouraged, I can do whatever I want with them. This tool is so worn out because I've been using it since the dawn of humanity, and it works with everybody."
"Very few people know this tool belongs to me. When they get discouraged and lose hope, they think it's themselves to blame, other people and the world around them," laughed the devil. “Sometimes, they even blame God. People hit obstacles in life, they encounter problems, but when they get discouraged, when they lose hope, that's just me doing my job."
The second message of Haggai was sent to combat the high level of discouragement among the people. The present difficulties created by the pandemic has discouraged many. First because of how long it has impacted our lives with no end in sight. The mixed crowd in Haggai were made up of young and old, many who could remember the former temple and temple worship with all its beautiful form, rituals, and glory. The former temple had a glorious history and drew people from all over the world. The floor was black and white marble, the walls were the finest cedar overlaid with pure gold, the curtains were made of fine linen with embroidered work of angel wings. The veil was made of woven materials nine inches thick, and all the instruments of the temple were forged and beaten from fine gold and silver. The returning exiles had no fine gold or silver, no fine linen cloths, or embroidered works. The temple that they were building was only a shadow of its former self. They were discouraged and started losing hope. But God sends a word of encouragement.
God word does several things for His people: (1) it reminds them that He is with them (2) it reminds them not allow their past to rob them of their future (3) It reminds them not to allow comparison to blind them and hinder their work. (4) It reminds them that their success does not depend on what they do not have, it depends on what they have. They have the Presence of God. They must renew their minds. A renewed mind sees differently. What you see can make all the difference in the world.
1. What You See Makes the Difference.
Listen to God’s question in verse 3, “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?”
The most important influence on your life is your perception. How you see and what you see in your own heart and mind is important. The opinion of others has only limited influence. We are discouraged or encouraged by how we see things. They saw their building efforts as no match to Solomon’s temple. They saw limited resources, inferior materials, and ill prepared laborers. Although God was pleased with them doing the best, they could with what they had. Their strong memory and proud hearts would not allow them to be pleased. Ezra 3:12 “But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy;”
The work had begun well, and the foundation was completed. Yet the older saints were overcome with disappointment and discouragement. The younger crowd celebrated the foundation but were discouraged by the opposition. They were using the wrong standard for measuring success. God does not use worldly standard to measure the accomplishments of His people. God measures the faithfulness of his people to their God-given assignment. God saw the people discouragement and disappointment, so He sends the word. “I am with You” now be strong and work! Sometimes we may be tempted to quit or to give up because the church changed, the crowds have changed, the music has changed and even the attendance has changed, be strong and work. Today’s music is different, commitment seems shallow, prayerlessness prevails, salvation seems like an empty confession, society is more self-centered, and materialism seems to have taken over, yet all is not lost. Our hope is in God! A renewed mind sees differently; and A renewed heart believes differently!
2. What You Believe Determines Your Actions.
Listen to God’s command in verse 4-5, “Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you; fear not.”
Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.” As people of God, we must trust in God’s promises and in God’s power to provide every need. These Jewish believers had history with God. After 430 years in Egypt, God kept His promises. Now after 70 years in Babylon, God kept his promise. No matter how long and no matter what must be done, God will do what He Promised. The command is to “take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you; fear not.”
What we believe inspires us to take courage, to keep on working and move forward without fear! It is true that these Jews lacked many things: gold, silver, fine linen, supplies and support, but they had the one thing they needed. They had the presence of God and the Power of God active among them. God is everywhere, but He does not always manifest his presence. Faith in God drives out fear and intimidation. God promised to be with them and us. We have the presence of God as we face every trial. If God is for us, He is more than the world against us! We have God’s word on it. God has not changed his mind. An agreement has been made, prayers have been answered, and God is committed to the success of His project. “I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.'" How You See Still Makes the difference; What You believe determines Your Actions and finally, What we will experience is the manifested Glory of God.
3. What We Will Experience is the Manifest Glory of God.
God promises glory after this. The manifested Glory of God appeared in the temple. Simeon and Anna saw it firsthand. Lu 2:27-32 “That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
If we renew our minds on the word of God, renew our faith in His word and recommit to our assignment, How can we fail? How can we fail to do God’s work if He is with us? If he is with us, peace is with us, power is with us, and nothing can stop us but ourselves. The promise of God was fulfilled, the earthly temple was completed, even though it was only a type and shadow of the reality God promised. Then God fulfilled His promise again by sending his son, the real temple of God, Jesus the Christ, who shed His own blood to purchase the redemption for the world. We must renew our minds and hearts, for we are a part of God’s glorious Church. We are not perfect, but we are being perfected. We belong to Him. He gives us life and breath and health and strength and everything else.
Ac 17:24-28 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
1Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
The challenge is to take courage and journey on. Jesus makes two powerful statements in John’s Gospel: Joh 4:23-24 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Joh 9:4 “I must work the works of him that has sent me while it is day. [The] night is coming, when no one can work.”
Jesus though the earthly temple was important, it pointed to some thing more important. Christ himself is our dwelling place and we are charged to work while it is day. Do not allow discouragement and disappointment to stop you. We are called to continue to work. We are called to take courage and be strong. His presence is with us, His power is available, His promises are sure. We have history with God. He is a covenant keeping God and we can depend on Him. Haggai's point is that our choices matter, and the faithfulness and obedience of God's people is part of how he has chosen to work out his purposes in the world. This surprising reality should motivate us to continue working in humility and to be determine in our actions as we live in the hope of the manifestation of God's glorious Kingdom.
God will send renewal to our minds and hearts as we embrace His promises. We must see His vision because what we see makes the difference; what we believe determines our actions and finally, what we will experience is the manifested Glory of God. There will be glory after this! Raise your level of hope and begin to believe God’s promises. The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former', pointing to the spiritual glory which would arise from the presence of the Christ. On calvary, Jesus paid the sin debt, removed every obstacle out of our way. Regardless of the circumstances, in this place we have peace with God, peace within, and peace with others. John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Your story ends in victory!
The songwriters, Civilla D. Martin and Charles H. Gabriel said it the way,
“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav'n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
"Let not your heart be troubled, "His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. [Refrain]
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies, I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain: I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free, For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Amen.
