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The Glories of the House of God

Scripture Passage: 
Haggai 2:1-9

INTRODUCTION: At the preaching of Haggai and Zechariah, the Jews who had returned from Babylonian Captivity renewed work on the unfinished temple. When it was finished, they could not help but compare it to the original temple built by Solomon and destroyed by the Babylonians. In comparison, it was as nothing (Haggai 2:3). But the prophets do not want them to be discouraged. They are not to despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10). Haggai promises that the glory of the latter house will be greater than the glory of the former (Haggai 2:9). This message is about the glories of the latter house and how they compare to the glories of the local church today.

  1. THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD (Haggai 2:4)
    1. A Present Help in Time of Need – “for I am with you” (Matthew 18:20 – “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”)
    2. A Cause to be Strong in Him (Joshua 1:9 – “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”)
    3. A Call to do the Work
      1. God does not make us strong so we can sit around and flex our muscles. He makes us strong so that we can do the work of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 28:20 – “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”)
      2. We come to church to be strengthened so that we can go out and serve.
  2. THE WORD OF THE LORD (Haggai 2:5)
    1. Founded on the Word – “according to the word”
      1. The blueprint for building our life
        1. 1 Corinthians 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
        2. 1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
      2. The map for showing us the way (Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”)
    2. The Word of Deliverance – “when ye came out of Egypt” (1 Peter 1:25 – “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”)
  3. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD (Haggai 2:5)
    1. The Promise of the Spirit
      1. He would remain among them – Old Testament promise
      2. He now abides in us
        1. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
        2. John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
    2. The Remover of our Fear (2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”)
  4. A REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE (Haggai 2:6)
    1. Just a Little While Until Trouble
      1. Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
      2. Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
    2. The Coming Shaking of the Entire Earth
      1. If it is not enough that our lives are filled with trouble from time to time, Haggai reminds them that the time is coming when all the earth will be shaken. We should never get complacent in this life or think that all things will continue as they are.
      2. Troubles force us to look to God; to look for a refuge in the time of trouble. The house of God provides this refuge and takes us to the God of hope and comfort.
  5. A PLACE TO MEET THE CHRIST (Haggai 2:7)
    1. The Desire of All Nations
      1. All peoples and nations are looking for a Saviour. They may not know it, but Jesus Christ is who they really desire.
        1. Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
        2. Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
      2. All individuals have a void in their hearts that can only be filled by Jesus Christ.
    2. The Glory of this House – a coming glory on this house
  6. A PLACE FILLED WITH GOD’S GLORY (Haggai 2:7-9)
    1. God Already has Gold and Silver (Haggai 2:8)
      1. Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
      2. Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
    2. The Greater Glory of the Latter House (Haggai 2:9)
      1. Although Herod had rebuilt the temple originally built by Zerubbabel, the Jews recognized it as the same temple and connected to the Second Temple Period.
      2. Solomon’s Temple was grander, but it never had the Messiah enter it. Zerubbabel’s Temple was plain, but it would know the presence of the desire of all nations; the blessed Son of God.
      3. This follows with Simeon’s recognition of the baby Jesus in the Temple:
        1. Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
        2. Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
        3. Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
        4. Luke 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
        5. Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
        6. Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
        7. Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
        8. Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
  7. A PLACE TO FIND GOD’S PEACE (Haggai 2:9)
    1. A Place of Peace
    2. The Gift of Peace
      1. God will speak peace to His people (Psalm 85:8 – “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.”)
      2. We preach peace by Jesus Christ [Acts 10:36 – “The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)”]
      3. We make peace through the blood of the cross (Colossians 1:20 – “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”)

CONCLUSION: The placing of God’s glory on a work or ministry is not determined by the beauty or lack of beauty of a physical structure. Around a hundred years ago, some of the churches where God’s glory was most apparent were meeting in buildings that were built like warehouses. And, there are many beautiful physical structures today where God is nowhere to be found. Get God first. If the nice building comes, then praise the Lord for it. But do not expect God to show up in the edifice. He does His work in people.

David Reagan
Daily Proverb

Proverbs 25:27

It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
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