· In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. The satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph it and its moons, and beam data it collected about this giant planet back to earth. Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, because up until then no satellites had gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it would ever get to Jupiter.
But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Flying past Jupiter in November 1973, the space probe continued its incredible journey toward the edge of our solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past the planet Uranus, then past Neptune, at nearly three billion miles, and Pluto, at almost four billion miles. By 1997, 25 years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun.
And it’s still going. Though now nearly 8 billion miles from the sun, the satellite keeps sending signals; some were received as recently as April 27, 2002. And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continues to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. Commenting on the Pioneer 10 in Time magazine Leon Jaroff says, “Perhaps most remarkable, is the fact that those signals emanate from an eight-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night-light, and take more than nine hours to reach Earth.”
"The Little Satellite That Could" was not qualified to do what it did. Engineers designed Pioneer 10 with a useful life of only three years. But it has kept going and going and going. By simple longevity, its tiny eight-watt transmitter radio accomplished more than anyone thought possible.
So it is when we offer ourselves to serve the Lord. God can work even through someone with only eight-watt abilities. God cannot work, however, through someone who gives up and quits.
(Craig Brian Larson, Pastoral Grit: The Strength to Stand and to Stay; Bethany House, 1998)
God has called you and I to do a great work in His Church; the greatest days for our church truly are ahead of us as collectively we do that which God is calling us to do. As you and I cooperate with God, we are a part of the miracle that is Praise A/G.
Two weeks ago we began a series of messages drawn from the prophet Haggai, A WORD TO THE CHURCH. Putting it simply, just as God called the nation of Israel to complete the work of building the temple, God is likewise telling us to complete the work He has called us to do.
We looked first at “GOD’S WORK DELAYED”. Satan cannot destroy the church, but he would like to see it’s work slowed down. The devil can keep us from doing God’s work as our priorities get out of balance through just being comfortable. In order to fulfill God’s purpose we must keep God in His rightful place as our #1 priority as we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
Last week we looked at “GETTING GOD’S WORK DONE!” We’ll do nothing for God unless we follow His plan for action: Assessment ð Agreement ð Action–Getting God’s Work Done! When we make an accurate assessment of our priorities we will come into agreement with God and with one another. Until we come into agreement nothing can be done; remember the African proverb, “The man who tries to walk two roads, splits his pants.” As we join together in unity we are then able to move forward and do the work God has call us to; that’s action that will accomplish His purposes.
Well folks getting started with God’s work isn’t enough. God has another word for His church. Haggai brought the people building the temple a third message; it’s a message that you and I need to hear as well: “DON’T QUIT; THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
1. GOD KNOWS WE CAN BE EASILY DISCOURAGED.
Discouragement is to lose courage or hope; it is to become overwhelmed or lose heart. When we are discouraged it’s easy to want to quit–to stop doing the very things God told us to do.
Discouragement says, “What’s the use of trying anymore? Isn’t it time to just give up and make the best of it?” The nation of Israel faced that kind of discouragement.
+ Haggai 2:1-3 1On 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 Jehozadak, 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?” (NIV)
The timing of this word from the Lord is significant, the twenty-first day of the seventh month. The nation had just finished the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. This was a time to remember how God brought Israel out of the bondage of Egypt; this was like a week long celebration of Independence Day with all the fireworks. The day prior to Haggai’s message was the Day of Atonement when sacrifices had been offered to God for the nation of Israel; the sin of the people had been forgiven.
These should have been days in which the people were encouraged. God had done great things for them in the past, and now they had been released from exile in Babylon. Israel had returned to their homeland; Jerusalem and the temple were being rebuilt. But instead of being encouraged, God saw that the people were becoming discourage; some were ready to quit.
Bad news was making its way around the city during this time of celebration. Among the people were a few who could remember Solomon’s Temple; when they talked about how great the temple had been, it made the building of the new temple look like a small thing. Under King Solomon the nation of Israel was at it’s apex of power and riches. Solomon’s Temple was a masterpiece.
How could the new temple the people were now rebuilding even begin to compare with Solomon’s? God asks the people, “Is there any of you who can still remember how splendid the Temple used to be?” Few could really remember the good old days, but everyone imagined how great it must have been and how pitiful their efforts seemed in comparison.
What was it that caused the people to become discouraged? What made them want to quit?
The people had the WRONG PERSPECTIVE; in other words, they were focusing on the wrong things.
+ Ecclesiastes 7:10 Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions. (NIV)
I would like to paraphrase what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes like this: The only thing good about the good old days is that they are old.
We make the same mistake. Our perspective can sometimes be wrong; instead of looking forward, we look back at the good old days. Then rather than having faith to move forward, we too find ourselves becoming discouraged and stuck in the past.
God doesn’t want us to just “live in the past”. It’s not good to think how much better it used to be in days gone by because our perspective is wrong. In other words, when we think of “the good old days”, we look back using “rose colored glasses”; we only see the good and gloss over the hard stuff.
A WRONG PERSPECTIVE FOCUSES ON THE PAST WITH NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. A wrong perspective seeks to resurrect the good old days instead of looking ahead for even greater days. The church of Jesus Christ is not call to move backward or retreat; we’re to move forward with the power of the Holy Spirit!
2. GOD’S ANTIDOTE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT.
If discouragement is the loss of courage and hope, to lose all strength, then what we need is a dose of ENCOURAGEMENT; that is to be filled with courage and hope, to be strengthened within our hearts.
Now don’t overlook the obvious. If you are discouraged having little or no strength, then you cannot encourage yourself; a self help program is not going to fill you with courage and faith for the future. ENCOURAGEMENT CAN ONLY COME FROM SOMEONE WHO POSSESSES STRENGTH, OR HOPE. Look what God tells the nation of Israel:
+ Haggai 2:4-5 4But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ’Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, 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.’ (NIV)
God gives His people strength. Three times the Lord tells his people, “Be strong!” How can discouraged people be strong; can they strengthen themselves and pull themselves up by their own bootstraps? No! The people can only be strong because THE LORD IS WITH THEM; HIS SPIRIT ENCOURAGES THEM WITH STRENGTH AND HOPE.
Doing God’s work cannot be done using human energy; God’s work can only be done through the power of the Spirit. The prophet Zechariah had the same message for the same group of people:
+ Zechariah 4:6-9 6So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ’NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, ‘SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY. 7"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ’God bless it! God bless it!’" 8Then the word of the LORD came to me: 9"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. (NIV)
God is telling Zerubbabel and the people of Israel that the work He called them to do will not be completed by human energy. God will give them the strength and power to do the work through His Spirit. God provides the antidote for discouragement; no one else can.
3. DON’T QUIT, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
God spoke to His people to bring them the courage they needed in order to complete God’s work. He came to change their perspective opening their eyes to the reality of His glory which was to come. The best is yet to come!
+ Haggai 2:6-9 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. 7I will shake all nations, and the desired of 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." (NIV)
What was God telling His people? The best is yet to come! Because the perspective of the people was wrong, they believed that nothing would ever compare to the glory of Solomon’s Temple; oh for the good old days.
God wants the people to see His perspective; look to the future with hope! God says, “The silver and gold all belong to me; if I wanted you to build an elaborate temple better than Solomon’s then I could give you more than you needed.” God tells the people, “My glory will fill this house; it will be greater than anything Solomon ever experienced.”
Don’t look back; the best is yet to come! Zechariah told the people the same thing:
+ Zechariah 4:10 Who despises the day of small things? (NIV)
“You believe that what your doing won’t amount to much; it’s just a small thing.” You don’t see what God sees; the best is yet to come!
The temple that Zurubbabel and the people completed was visited some 500 years later by Jesus Himself. Jesus Christ who embodied the presence and glory of God honored that Temple with His presence. The desired of nations had come announcing Peace. God kept His word, the best really was yet to come!
I’ve said it before, but let me tell you again, “The best days for our church are ahead of us!” Don’t let your perspective get trapped in the “good old days”; the best is yet to come!
· God want each of us to be like the Pioneer 10 satellite. Keep going; don’t quit! A great big universe is out there to explore and through its tiny eight-watt transmitter, Pioneer 10 continues to show us more than we ever imagined possible.
As we give ourselves to God, He will use us in greater ways than we could ever imagine. We simply need to be willing to continue to do the work God has called us to do–to not quit. God can do nothing through us when we quit, but NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WHEN WE YIELD TO HIS SPIRIT!
+ Ephesians 3:20-21 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)
So how do we keep from becoming discouraged? How do we keep on pressing on and not quit?
1. Expect the enemy to try to discourage you. Don’t give Satan a place in your mind. After a spiritual victory, or when you have made a commitment to do God’s work the enemy will attack. Be on guard against negative or pessimistic thoughts.
2. Examine our perspective; we need to get our vision checked. Are we looking forward with hope, or are we living in the “good old days”? No matter how old you may be God can show you His plan–even old men can dream Holy Spirit inspired dreams.
3. Judge what we say and what we listen to. Are we quick to find fault, or to say we’ve tried that before? Do we blame or criticize others for our past failure? Would we rather listen to stories about the “good old days” or agree with criticism than to hear about a dream or a call to action? Are our ears more “in tune” with what the world would say than what God says?
4. Listen for God’s word of encouragement. Take time in prayer and listen for the voice of His Spirit. Write down what you hear and look for scripture that agrees with what you’ve heard. Don’t ignore thoughts that could bring you or others hope and strength; it’s not just wishful thinking–it’s God’s Spirit!
5. Look for God’s vision and capture His perspective. Ask God to show you what He sees; believe that God will make His plan known to you. Again take time to listen to what God says to you by His Spirit; write it down as a goal.
6. Receive the strength of His Spirit to move forward. Don’t be afraid to tell God that you are weak (He already knows that anyway); ask Him to fill you with His power to do what He wants you to do.
7. Exercise your faith and just do it; move forward with God! Get out of your comfort zone and let God do something great through you that you cannot do on your own. Believe that when you step out on the water it will hold you up because God will not let you drown!
8. Believe that the best is yet to come. Hold on to your dream with a bull-dog tenacity and perseverance that refuses to let go. Write the what God shows you down and go for it! (Habakkuk 2:2) Don’t let anything rob you of a God-given dream.
