Have you noticed a difference in the salute given by our military men and women as President Bush walks by? Most folks would not notice anything, but those who have served in the military see it right away. Next time just watch for this: as President Bush leaves his helicopter or Air Force One, the honor guard will salute–first facing the President as he disembarks, turning to face him as he passes by, and then turning again to salute the President’s back as he walks away.
Though it is a customary courtesy to the Commander-in-Chief, this kind of salute has not been seen for a long time. Why? Soldiers aren’t required to turn and face the President as they salute, nor to salute his back. The only requirement is to salute. They can remain face-forward the entire time, and that is what they did during the previous administration. Our soldiers had to obey President Clinton’s orders, but they were not forced to respect him.
Why is such respect afforded to President Bush? Could it be that he doesn’t know how to bite his lower lip and not get teary-eyed when he speaks?
The following incident reported by Major General Van Antwerp is one of many examples that may help us to understand why President Bush is so respected by our military. Gen. Antwerp’s executive officer LTC Brian Birdwell was badly burned following the September 11th attack on the Pentagon. When President Bush visited Brian in the hospital, our President took the time to stop and pray with him. As he was getting ready to leave, he went to the foot of Brian’s bed and saluted; the President held his salute until Brian was able to raise his burned and bandaged arm, ever so slowly, in return. The Commander-in-Chief almost never initiates a salute; the injured soldier did not have to return the salute. Brian did so out of respect for his President . . . a Soldiers’ President.
As our nation faces the possibility of war in Iraq, we are blessed to know that our armed forces will not just be carrying out the orders of the Commander-in-Chief; they will be following a respected leader into battle.
Jesus has given his church marching orders; God is calling each of us to active duty. Will our response to the Lord be only that which is required of us? Will we try to simply fulfill our duty? Or will our response be an overflow of our hearts expressed through loving obedience and worship to our God?
Now I know that’s what many of us will say we want, but this is not just a feel good response that we make to the Lord. We can’t just say we’ll answer God’s call and then go on with life as usual. IF WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW CHRIST, THEN WE MUST BE WILLING TO FOLLOW THE LEADERS THAT GOD HAS PLACED IN AUTHORITY OVER OUR LIVES. No sugar coating today; we’re going to get very practical. That’s the only way we can become the church God has planned for us to be.
Over the last four weeks we have been looking at a series of messages "A WORD TO THE CHURCH." God used the prophet Haggai to call the nation of Israel back to the work of building the temple. For 16 years the people had neglected the work of God; with misaligned priorities the people lived comfortably in their paneled houses while the house of God was still a pile of ruins. It was time for God’s work to be done!
The same is true for us today. God is calling each of us to examine our priorities. HOW HAVE WE NEGLECTED THE WORK OF GOD? It is time for each of us to cooperate with His Spirit in the building of His Church.
I’ve said it now for four weeks; Satan cannot destroy the church, but he can slow it down. Satan will slow God’s work through mixed up priorities (we saw that often our priorities will get out of alignment because of fear). WHEN OUR PRIORITIES ARE OUT OF BALANCE, WE OFTEN PURSUE OUR OWN COMFORT–WHILE NEGLECTING GOD’S PURPOSES.
Let me remind you that if you are comfortable, or if you are on a “spiritual cruise control, then you are in a danger zone. Jesus has no blessing for the "comfortable,” but only for those who were zealous for His kingdom to the laying down of their own lives (see Matthew 5:3-12). God wants to move us out of our comfort zone in order to complete His work.
You are a part of the miracle that is Praise A/G. Only as we are willing to cooperate with God will we become the church that He has designed. Yes, Jesus is building His church, but GOD’S PLAN IS NOT TO BUILD THE CHURCH IN SPITE OF YOU; GOD WANTS TO BUILD HIS CHURCH THROUGH YOU.
Remember that every miracle in the Bible beyond creation and the resurrection involves God working with a human agent. God never just does a miracle for a "supernatural side show"; God chooses to display His power IN and THROUGH a human agent. God want’s to do His miraculous work through you and me!
GOD’S WORK IN OUR CHURCH IS MORE THAN JUST WHAT HAPPENS HERE. The church is not bricks and mortar joined together to form a building; the ministry of the church is not limited to this place. The church is you and I joined together as the body of Christ.
The most important work God wants to accomplish in our church is within you and me. Only as we individually become the person God wants us to be will our church grow to be the church God has designed. When we become all God wants us to be, we will no longer be limited by the four walls of the church building; then the church will be effective in reaching out to our community and world. YOU ARE THE MIRACLE THAT IS PRAISE A/G!
All right, that’s enough of a pep talk–I mean review, it’s time to move ahead with the message for today, “FOLLOW THE LEADER.”
1. HAGGAI’S FINAL MESSAGE: A SPECIFIC WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
+ Haggai 2:20-23 20The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21"Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother. 23"’On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ’I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ’and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty." (NIV)
Haggai’s fourth and final message was given on the same day as the third message in 2:10-19. As we saw last week, Haggai’s third message was a word of encouragement to the nation. God promised the people that if they would continue in obedience and do the work God had called them to do, then they would receive His blessing.
This final message is a personal word of encouragement to Zerubbable the leader, and in turn the people whom he led. Undoubtedly, God’s promise to overthrow the nations gave Zerubbable and the nation the assurance that God would continue to protect them as they built the temple. The temple was not Zerubbable’s project; it was the work of God and the Lord would see it to completion.
Haggai’s message was a SPECIFIC WORD of encouragement to Zerubbable and the people. Why was this SPECIFIC WORD of encouragement needed?
Israel had spent 70 years in exile. Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed their homeland and taken them to Babylon to serve him. They had finally been released by King Darius to return to their home, but they were still under his control. Zerubbable was only a puppet governor who could do nothing without the permission of the king. Israel had returned home, but they still were not an independent and sovereign nation; many wondered if Israel would again ever be truly free.
Israel’s exile did not happen by accident; it was God’s judgment upon a nation that had continually rebelled against God. SIN HAS DEADLY CONSEQUENCES!
Everyone now living in Israel from Zerubbable on down knew what God had said through the prophets. They had lived through God’s judgement; it wasn’t just a story or a history lesson to any of them. The nation of Israel had watched family and friends live and die in Babylon; each one knew why they were there.
Prior to their exile, God had spoken a word of judgement upon the nation and their king through the prophet Jeremiah.
+ Jeremiah 22:24-25, 30 24"As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear–to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians” . . . 30This is what the LORD says: "Record this man as if childless, a man who will not prosper in his lifetime, for none of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah." (NIV)
Now you may remember that Zerubbable is the son of Shealtiel, but do you know who his grandfather was? The people of Israel knew; Zerubbable’s grandpa was Jehoiachin king of Judah. God said that Jehoiachin was the signet ring which he would pull from His hand and throw away. But God spoke a specific word of encouragement to the grandson Zerubbable, “I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.”
Can you begin to imagine how this specific word from the Lord encouraged Zerubbable and the people of Israel? God had not forsaken them! God was with them as a people and would use them to fulfill His purposes!
God had made a promise to King David that one of his descendants would sit upon the throne of Israel forever. Although God judged Jehoiachin, the Lord did not break His promise to David. Generations later David’s bloodline was still intact in Zerubbable; it was still the chosen line. Some 500 years later God kept his promise when a babe was born in Bethlehem. The Gospels tell us that Jesus Christ is no ordinary Child. JESUS IS THE PROMISED HEIR TO THE THRONE OF DAVID; THE ANCESTRY OF JESUS CHRIST IS TRACED BACK TO BOTH ZERUBBABLE AND DAVID (Matthew 1; Luke 4).
God kept His promise. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, and King of Kings; He will rule the nations from David’s throne and of His kingdom there will be no end!
2. GOD’S SIGNET RING
When God chose Zerubbable as His signet ring it was more than just validating his position of leadership. It was also more than a prophetic statement assuring the Messianic promise of Christ’s birth through the line of David and Zerubbable.
Being God’s signet ring means that God is granting His authority and power to the bearer of the ring. A signet ring is like a presidential signature signing a bill into law, however the ring is not dependant upon the signature of a president or king. A signet ring gives the individual carrying the ring the same authority as the leader.
· When Joseph was interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams he also suggested a plan to prepare for the famine that would soon devastate the kingdom. Pharaoh chose Joseph to carry out that plan and made him the second in command of all Egypt. Joseph’s role as the new leader was validated when Pharaoh took off his ring and gave it to Joseph.
We have been chosen as those who bear God’s signet ring; we represent Christ to our world.
+ 2 Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (NIV)
3. GOD’S HAS A CHOSEN LEADER
ZERUBBABLE WAS GOD’S CHOSEN LEADER; he did not come to the position of governor by chance. God put him in there. The Bible tells us everyone in governing authority has been established by God; no on has a position of leadership unless God places him or her in that place. Furthermore, it says that those who reject the authorities placed over them are not just rebelling against man but against God (see Romans 13:1-2).
Throughout scripture we see individuals that God placed in positions of leadership to accomplish God’s purposes.
· God brought Moses out of the Nile river and placed him within Pharaoh’s court. Years later God again brought Moses before Pharaoh in order that Moses might lead the nation of Israel out of bondage.
· God used Joshua to lead Israel into the promised land.
· God lifted Gideon out of a winepress to defeat the Midianites.
· God exalted David in the eyes of the people over King Saul and at the proper time established David as the new king.
· God used the prophets–Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jonah and others–to bring the Word of the Lord before kings in Jerusalem and foreign lands.
Throughout history God has looked for individuals to place in positions of leadership to bring about His purpose. Many times God found a man to go and do what needed to be done; Isaiah answered the Lord, “Here am I, send me”; he was willing to let God use him (see Isaiah 6:8).
Unfortunately, at times God searched for someone willing to fulfill His purposes, but no one answered God’s call.
+ Ezekiel 22:30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, BUT I FOUND NONE.” (NIV)
Today God is still looking for a man or a woman who will take a God-given place of leadership to accomplish God’s purposes. Just as Zerubbable was God’s chosen leader for a specific time to accomplish a specific purpose, God will position leaders today to fulfill His purposes.
4. GOD’S CHOSEN LEADER FOR TODAY
For this day and hour, I have answered God’s call. Like Isaiah, I want to answer the Lord, “Here am I.” Now I some-times still wonder why God decided to take a chance on me and put me in the position of leadership as your pastor, but He did. Some may think this sounds self-serving; that Pastor Greg is on an ego trip, but it isn’t true. I am not seeking to build my own kingdom or make a name for myself. What God wants to do through our church is not about me; IT’S ABOUT HIM!
I am confident that God has placed me here as your pastor. I was sure of it four plus years ago when God brought my family and I hear, and the Lord continues to confirm His calling.
+ Ephesians 4:11-12 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. (NIV)
The pastor is God’s gift to the church, but I am not the only gift or leader that God has placed within the church. God has place other men and women in positions of leadership as deacons and they have willingly accepted their God-given role.
+ 1 Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. (NIV)
Biblical leadership is not about being #1 or exerting authority. BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE WITH HUMILITY.
+ Mark 9:35 [Jesus said,] "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (NIV)
At this time God has entrusted me with the leadership of Praise A/G. Ultimately Christ is the head of the church; Jesus is the one who is leading Praise A/G. I know that I will have to give an account to God for what happens here at Praise; I want to do my very best for Him.
+ Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (NIV)
5. WILL YOU FOLLOW THE LEADER?
This is where things will get very practical. Zerubbable had to provide the people of Israel with the needed leadership to accomplish God’s work. Zechariah reminded him that, “‘it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord.” Zerubbable knew that the job was bigger than he was, but he also knew that God would work through him if he just made himself available.
Over the last five weeks God has had one simple message to His Church at Praise A/G, “It’s time to do the work that I have prepared for you to do.”
God wants to know today if you are willing to follow the leader. I’m not just asking if you will follow Christ; all of us would answer yes to that. Will you follow the leader He has placed over you? Will you follow me?
If you are willing to follow me then here are some practical steps you can take as you follow the leader.
1. PLACE YOUR HAND UPON MY HEAD AND PRAY FOR ME.
· Ask God to protect me from evil; pray that I will not fall into temptation.
· Ask God to keep me humble; pray that I may always have a servant’s heart–the heart of a child.
· Ask God to continually empower me; pray that I will not do anything in my own strength but only through the anointing of His Spirit within me.
· Ask God to give me wisdom, pray that I will use my time wisely–this is my greatest need right now.
2. LIFT MY HANDS AND PRAY WITH ME.
· Prayer must be the foundation of everything we do; I cannot do it alone. I need you to join your faith with me; let’s believe God for more than we could alone!
· Aaron and Hur lifted Moses hands on the hilltop so that Joshua could defeat the Amalikites. Two important things will happen as we pray together: [1] we will strengthen one another, and [2] our perspective will be enlarged.
3. JOIN HANDS AND SERVE WITH ME.
· The disciples understood what their priorities of ministry should be; deacons were appointed to help in the work of the ministry.
· Believe it or not, the pastor cannot do it all. Each of you have gifts and abilities that God wants to use in order to make our church great, but you have to be willing to do something.
· Are you willing to follow the leader and say “yes” to opportunities for ministry within our church?
· Together we are building it THICK. As we do there are three areas of ministry that we need to focus on:
1. ADMINISTRATIVE and office work–this is the behind the scenes work that I need help with. Right now it may be our #1 need.
2. SUNDAY MORNINGS–we need to continue to find ways to improve our morning worship service in order to welcome new folks into the church. This includes: greeters/ushers, nursery workers, children’s church staff, and worship.
3. WEDNESDAY NIGHTS–this is our primary tool of discipleship at this time. We need folks to work with our children and youth; there is a lot of room to grow on Wednesdays–we need you!
4. FORGIVE THE HANDS AND TRUST THE HEART.
· Do you know my heart and the hearts of those around you? Have you discovered that we are united in mind and purpose? Do you know that you are loved?
· None of us are be perfect. If I should fail you, will you forgive me? Will you not let the enemy bring any division between us?
CONCLUSION:
Haggai–it is a call to the church today. God wants us to lay aside our misplaced priorities and get out of our comfort zones. It’s time to do the work of God!
Together we are building God’s church at Praise A/G as we follow the leader, Jesus Christ. Are you willing to follow the leader God has established? Will you follow me? We are on a journey together; the greatest days for our church lay before us. Let’s go there together!
