Building The House Of God, Part 2 (sermon)

Building the House of God, Part 2 Haggai 2:1-9 Today, we’re going to look at some scripture. First, we’ll study what’s going on in the scripture: who’s involved and the context. Then, we’ll go back and see how this applies to our Christian lives. As we do this, it’s important for everyone to open their heart to God. It’s entirely possible for you to decide that you’re the master of your own life and choose what you’ll accept from the sermon. If that’s the case, it’s very unlikely that God’s word is going to wash you and renew your mind. If, however, you open your heart to God’s word, it will change your life. A few weeks ago, we looked at the first chapter of Haggai. The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem after more than 50 years in exile, and had started to rebuild the city and the temple. However, they stopped because of intense opposition. 15 years passed by and the people had become settled, and had lost focus on the reason why they returned. God sent Haggai to rebuke the Israelites and remind them why they were there. He asked them, “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” The Bible says that the Israelites listened to God and decided to resume building the temple despite the difficult circumstances. Verse 14 says that after the people obeyed, God stirred their spirits to give them courage. Now, in chapter two, we see what the Israelites are doing one month later … Haggai 2:1-3 1 On 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? Despite their obedience and decision to obey God, the Israelites slowly became discouraged because of the things they saw. Some of them were old enough to remember the temple built by Solomon, which was magnificent in size and decoration. It had what they called a bronze sea weighing many tons. It was covered inside with gold, was built was the most luxurious stone and woods, and featured the craftsmanship of hundreds of skilled artists who made the curtains and other instruments of worship. These exiles had no hope of building anything comparable to the first temple. They were relatively new to the land and few resources—it was very sad to realize that their new temple would be smaller and more humble than the previous one. Haggai 2:4-5 4 But 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.' God did not challenge what they saw with their eyes, but he challenged what they saw with their hearts. He told them to take courage and continue the work because He was with them. God was underwriting their effort. He had assumed all liability for the project. And God reminded the Israelites why this was … He reminded them of the covenant He had made with their forefathers many centuries earlier. Can you imagine: To these people, the stories of Moses and Joshua must have seemed very far removed from their own everyday living. But God was saying, “My covenant was not only with Moses and the Israelites at that time; it’s also with you and it’s still in effect today!” Haggai 2:6-8 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. 7 I 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. God again tells them to look with hearts of faith, not just their eyes. He tells the Israelites that He is the one who is going to do the impossible things. Everything belongs to Him and He has absolute control over everything in His dominion. The Israelites’ job is just to obey the task before them. These verses also have a prophetic aspect to them. For one thing, the first King Herod (the grandfather of the Herod that interviewed Jesus) completely renovated the temple. The present temple that the Israelites were building was never spectacular compared to Solomon’s or Herod’s temple. But if we understand that the Christian church is God’s temple and know that God’s presence is what brings glory, then this scripture makes perfect sense. Basically, God is telling the Israelites that one day, God will move heaven and earth for the sake of His temple, His glorious church. Haggai 2:9 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." Finally, God declares that He is the one that will consecrate the Israelites’ work. The glory of the church will only grow as God’s will is made known. And it is only in His house that people can receive the peace that the world cannot give. Application Now, I’d like to see how these verses apply to our lives today. Like the Israelites, we are building His church, His temple. We also have a covenant with God and are heirs of God’s promises. We have also made a commitment to God and have begun obeying Him, but oftentimes get discouraged by what we see with our eyes. As we build God’s church, it’s so easy to get discouraged by the mundane details. After you come home from church camp, you still have all that laundry to do. The lawn needs to be mowed. You can’t do everything that you want to do for the church. In this

environment, if we don’t be careful, we will forget our calling and start to think like some of the Israelites. Haggai 2:3 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? I can promise you that even Paul’s life at times seemed like nothing special. Remember, the book of Acts records about 30 years of history. There was plenty of time in between chapters for tough circumstances and discouragement. Paul wrote that one coworker, Demas, left him because “he loved this world.” In another place, Paul wrote that he and his companions sometimes felt “like the scum of the earth.” When Paul did not receive help from the churches, he made tents to support himself. Can you imagine the apostle who wrote at least half the New Testament making and selling tents for a living? Brothers and sisters, what I’m telling you is that it’s extremely easy to get discouraged or lured away by the world if we don’t see things through eyes of faith. Remember, God did not challenge what the Israelites saw with their eyes; He challenged what they saw with their heart. You and I have the same challenge. Are you able to look past the mundane aspect of your task and see the eternal and heavenly consequences? Do you realize that your job is to simply obey and be faithful to the task immediately before you? It is up to God to do the impossible. This, brothers and sisters, is why I have hope that God will one day bring revival to our city, that our sanctuary will not hold everyone who comes, that we will send church-planters out to the nations. Don’t judge the situation by what you see now and don’t judge your capacity by human standards. The Israelites were not strong when they returned from the exile, but God promised them great things. Haggai 2:4-5 4 But 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.' Now is the time to be strong and work. –

Caregroup – You caregroup leaders are on the frontlines of the church. Everyone knows the name of Hannibal, Napoleon, Robert E. Lee, and Patton, but who knows the names of the sergeants and platoon leaders that were responsible for carrying out the orders? No one. But I promise you that your work and dedication is not gone unheralded in heaven. “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be … And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 2 Peter 5: 2,4

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Husbands and wives, and parents – Be strong and remember the promises of God. He has not forgotten His covenant with you, and the Bible says that if anyone is

saved, all their household is sanctified as well. Your house is marked for God, so hold onto that. Don’t lose hope. –

Young people and professionals - The Wall Street Journal this week had a special section on competition among companies to hire new MBA graduates. Turns out that 25 percent of new MBAs have a six-figure starting salary. To all of you really smart and ambitious young people out there, I have absolutely no doubt you’re capable of this. But let me ask you, if you have an opportunity to “make it big” in the world or in heaven, which will you choose? Will you choose the road that “seems to you like nothing” even though you may not get recognition from your peers, parents, and society? I would love to know that more young people are ambitious for the kingdom of God, not to build their own future.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.