Sermon – From Gloom to Glory (I Will Fill My House with Glory)
Scripture Lesson – Haggai 2:1-9 “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: “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, ‘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? 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. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
“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. 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. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘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.”
Introduction: The people were filled with gloom because progress was slow and limited. What does gloom to glory mean? Gloom, in the dictionary meaning is partial or total darkness, a dark or shadowy place. It's lowness of spirits, dejection, and an atmosphere of despondency. The gloom of the people was brought on because they were disappointed in the appearance of the new temple. So much was lacking, yet God promises glory, greater glory. The people must brighten their eyes, cheer up, lighten up and perk up. Israel must embrace the idea that brighter days are ahead. Their efforts and work was fine, but God alone could fill the house with Glory. The glory of God’s house is His manifested presence. Many may marvel at the building, but they are only changed by His glory.
Today’s lesson focuses on a remnant of Jews that were returning from the Babylonian Captivity with a new assignment from God. God himself had moved on the heart of 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 than 50,000 Jewish captives to return and carry out his assignment. Many of the Captives chose 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 am with you”. 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 – There will be glory after this!
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. 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. 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: 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 the former 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 is the Lord’s church, and the Lord know how to make His Bride ready for His return. In Ephesians 5:26, 27 it says, “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 – We are charged to do only what we can do.
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 cause the world to recognize His Lordship. We are reminded in Ecclesiastes that we are not the first to feel this way, 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 Cherubim’s, palm trees, and flowers engraved, yet it was only a type and shadow of Christ. 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 not because of the gold, silver and stones, the temple was glorious because of God’s presence and glory filled it. God promises that they would work and do their best, He would fill His house with despite its imperfections! We should all rejoice, that God can use imperfect people, building, and circumstances for his honor and glory.
Haggai 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; 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. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 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.” If gold and silver were the issue, God owns the silver and gold. God’s house is glorious because of his presence. Choirs, robes, and even instruments are all optional. God’s presence is essential!
3. The Temple Has Lost Nothing of Lasting Value – A Shaking will come to reposition us!
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: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 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. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 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.
Haggai 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:
Haggai 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 Church is Charged 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 news is, God himself is offering reconciliation.
2Corinthians 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. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. 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. 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!
Haggai’s prophecy promises that there would be a greater glory upon the latter house. We understand the principle that the accomplishing of a thing or the finished product is greater than the beginning. The Old Testament sacrifices, rituals and temples were only types and shadows of what was to come. All those things pointed to Christ. What the early church experienced with the appearance and manifested glory of God upon Jesus Christ was the beginning of greater glory. And as great as the Early Church was, it was only the beginning of what God is doing. When God finishes His house and matures His Church, it will have a greater glory than the Early Church. John 14:12, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”
We haven’t seen the finished product yet. Christendom is much larger today than it was then, but it is not how large it is that makes the difference. It is not how large your church is either, but how much of God’s presence fills it that matters. The glory of the Lord filling the house is what makes the difference.
We don’t find any churches out in the church-world today that are even moving in a small amount of what the Early Church did. So far it seems that the Early Church still has more glory than the church of today. Nevertheless, that prophecy is still going to be fulfilled. What do you want to do? Do you want to take the Latter House glory and push it out into the future? Or would you like to say, “Lord, let us be the ones to experience Your glory. Let us be a part of that latter house, that temple You are building and that You will fill with Yourself.” Our present assignment is to be strong and work, knowing that the LORD is with us here and now!
Charles Johnson and the Revivers recorded a song says, “It's so plain to see times getting shorter, Anyone can tell this world just cannot stand, For the things God created in their beauty, They are now being destroyed by mortal man.
Oh, but God is going to raise him up a nation, Who will delight in Him and do His perfect will. My friend I feel the time is drawing nearer, When we shall see our Saviour as He is.
But until then I'll lift the name of Jesus, Until then I'll lead His lost sheep to the fold. I'll tell the world Jesus lives, He still saves, He still heals And you still can find sweet refuge for your soul.
Any day now I'm gonna move to my new mansion, its custom built by Jesus Christ the King of Kings And when we gather around the throne with our Saviour, We'll sing a song the Angel's cannot sing.
But until then I'll lift the name of Jesus, Until then I'll lead His lost sheep to the fold. I'll tell the world Jesus lives, He still saves, He still heals. And you still can find sweet refuge for your soul." The song call for faithfulness to God's call in this present moment because of the importance of the work. Keep on working until...
Haggai 2:4 “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.” We must stay on task and on target. Right now the world is a noisy place, There are a million voices calling, offering many choices but God’s Church already has an assignment. We have a great commandment to Keep, a great commission to fulfilled and a great collaboration needing a faithful support, so stay on task and on target. Be Strong and work, know that God can do what we cannot. God will not do our part and we cannot do God’s part. Amen.
