Sermon Haggai's Call From Gloom To Glory

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.”