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

– 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.