SCRIPTURE: Haggai 2
OBSERVATION:
There are 3 sections in the reading. (1) God encourages His people who are discouraged by how small the temple seems. God is with them, He will bring His glory to this little place. (2) The poisonous effect of sin and worldliness, it undermines our success and happiness. Sin is contagious and affects us and those around us. But so is godliness, and the result is God’s blessing. (3) God chooses Zerubbabel as His special servant, and through Him He will accomplish His purpose.
APPLICATION:
I am encouraged as I step into this ‘smaller’ ministry, maybe a shadow of its former glory, that the Lord can magnify and expand His glory through our little efforts. I am challenged to see the contagious nature of both sin and of holiness. We can be contagious Christians if we set ourselves fully on serving Jesus, but if we don’t, that will also be contagious, in a negative way. Finally, if we belong to Jesus, chosen to serve Him, then He will accomplish His purpose through us. As long as I remain fully devoted to Jesus and His cause, His purpose will prevail (no matter how weak or small it may seem right now).
What an amazing little book, a great motivation for us to once again devote ourselves to building God’s spiritual house. I hear the repeated refrain, ‘Be strong’, and I am encouraged to step up. My spirit is being stirred!
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for inspiring and motivating me through Haggai. Forgive me for my worldly distractions, and I hereby dedicate myself to building Your spiritual house, gathering Your family, serving Your kingdom!
Your sermon today really had a special meaning for me.
In my line of work I meet and get to know a lot of wealthy people and watching how these people live there lives it seems to me they feel that what they have achieved and become is all because of who they are and the choices they make and for most of them God does not enter into there lives.
In contrast I recently had the opportunity to travel to Africa with some other members of Crossroads Community Church to do some work in orphanages. The part that moved me the most was how incredibly strong the faith of these people was, a lot of them did not even know where their next meal would come from but believed firmly that God would provide (and he does every time) This experience gives a lot more meaning for me to the bible scripture Mathew 19:verse 24 where Jesus said it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. Thanks again for today’s sermon and reminding me.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. The new temple was not as large and beautiful as the one Solomon built but the Lord made His house more glorious than the one Solomon built. He is the All in all. It is by His power, by His blessing His kingdom will grow. God will make things a possibility through Jesus Christ -Zerubbabel’s offspring. We too are His servants and all things are posiible if we but work through His power and might. Put not your trust in horses and kings and chariots and sword, but put your trust in the Lord, the King of kings.
Lord , use me as Your servant also on this day – a Sonday. May I see each day as Your day to do Your work where I have been planted.
Make me a servant
Humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up
Those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be
Make me a servant
Make me a servant
Make me a servant today