God’s Work Will Prosper
Introduction
Do you feel discouraged?
We live in a day of small things
In the day of Haggai – it would have been a day of small things
They had been in exile for 70 years but could not return
Encouragement and blessing
They first rebuilt an altar to God
They laid the foundation of the Temple – a great day
Soon after they become discouraged
Opposition comes against them and the work of God stops
For 16 years the people become apathetic
They have come to a standstill
God acts
Haggai is raised up to speak to the people
God encourages the people to think not just of themselves but of Him
God speaks to the political and religious leader
God stirs up the people (1:14)
Do we come to stages where we are not working for the Lord?
This is disobedience
God is the Lord of Hosts
Have we become stagnant and stopped serving Him?
Looking at chapter 2 (@ 520 BC)
God speaks three times through His prophet
God encourages us through the proclamation of His word
Overview:
The Preaching of God’s Word
The Probing of God’s Word
The Promises of God’s Word
The Preaching of God’s Word
Haggai was an Old Testament prophet
To forth-tell the word of God
To fore-tell the word of God
E.g. to prophesy of Christ or the Second Coming
God’s word came on the 21st day of the 7th Month (around October) – v1
Speak first to the leaders, then the people – v2
We all need to be under God’s word
We must pray for the leaders of God’s people
Preachers are not prophets but they have the complete word of God
The final revelation is given in the word of God
God’s word came on the 24th day of the 9th month (around December) – v10
God’s word comes to the prophet regardless of the ruler in power
Speak to the priests
God’s word came on the 24th day of the same month – v10
Speak to Zerubabbel
God’s work will prosper
God’s word is light
The human mind is in darkness controlled by sin
Christians have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and renewed minds
The word of God has power
Ezra 6:14
God’s kingdom will prosper through the preaching of His word
God’s people first need to be stirred up and revived
We may need to be rebuked and reproved
2 Tim 3:16-17
God’s word will equip us
Joshua 1:7
Ps 1:1-3
The Probing of God’s Word (v10-14)
Haggai is to speak to the priests
He speaks to their minds – v12
Reading v12-13
The people / nation are unclean – v14
Perhaps people thought they were clean
They had returned from exile
They were worshiping God at an altar
The people were unclean
Everything they touched / all they do – is unclean
They were only serving themselves
The people has been disciplined by God – v15-17
There was a lack of blessing
God was rebuking them through His word
In chapter 1 – had they not been stirred up [from their previous apathy] and rebuked?
In chapter 2 – they needed further rebuking
We need the reproof of God’s word
Personal example
God lifts us up after He has humbled us
The Promises of God’s Word (v3-5)
If only rebuke, we would become discouraged
We must look to Christ and the cross
We must remember the promises of God
The promise of His presence
The old people had previously seen the Temple
This new Temple would be smaller -v3 …
… but God was with them – v4
We are to work for God – for He is with us
God’s Spirit has been poured out at Pentecost
We are the temple of the living God
Joshua 1:9
Take hold of the promises of God
Hebrews13:5-6
We must not underestimate the challenge – but God is with us
God was with them in a special way – after the people had fear the presence of the Lord – 1:12-13
If we obey God – He comes to us
God’s promise – He is with us (Emmanuel)
The promise of His provision
Reading v6-8
God will provide the resources
In Christ – we have all the provision we need
Matt 6:33
Phil 4:19
The promise of something far greater
God is building His church
God is shaking the nations
God would fill the temple with Glory
Christ would come and preach
Christ and the Church is the temple of the living God
God will give peace
Look to Jesus Christ and His peace
Closing Remarks