Temple Baptist Church - 6-11-2023
Haggai 2:1-9
Introduction:
A. I want to give a quick history of what has led up to the Book of Haggai:
1. In 597-586 BC the Babylonians destroyed the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem and took the Jews captive because of the continual idolatry and disobedience of Israel.
2. 70 years of captivity in Babylon have now passed and King Cyrus has allowed about 40 to 50 thousand Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem under Nehemiah and the Temple, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua, the high priest. (The books of Ezra and Haggai.).
B. In Haggai, chapter 1:12-15, we find that the people went to work building Zerubbabel’s Temple in the 24th day of the second month and in the second year of Darius. The work of that month was foundational. They built this foundation on top of the foundation of Solomon’s Temple.
Ezra 3:1 And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
Ezra 3:10-13 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. (11) And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. (12) But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: (13) So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
C. In Haggai, chapter 2:1-3, the question was asked: Haggai 2:3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
1. There were builders here who had seen Solomon’s Temple in all its glory before the Babylon Captivity of 70 years.
2. The problem: Solomon’s Temple was the most Expensive and Extravagant building ever built. With its gold and silver, its brass, and its wood from the cedars of Lebanon. A glorious Temple build to glorify a Glorious God.
3. Their mental picture: Zerubbabel’s Temple would be built of stone instead of Gold and Silver. Of what wood that they could find locally instead of the floats in the sea send down from the forests of Lebanon.
Luke 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
4. God knew their hearts were let down as their minds made the comparison! You see, the glory of the Temple was not what God wanted! The glory of the Lord found within the Temple was what God desired!
D. In verse 2:8-9 of the Book of Haggai, the Lord changed their mental image.
Haggai 2:8-9 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. (9) The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. (It is not expense of the building because the gold and silver belong to the Lord. It is not the extravagance of the building, it is the content of the building that glorifies the lord.)
E. Many of us older people remember the “good old days”, but we need to quit comparing and start living:
1. These are perilous days - 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. These days are days when doctrinal preaching is not rewarded with great crowds. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; (2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
3. These are the days of“falling away - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. (3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4. The Laodicean Church Age is here - Revelation 3:15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
5. The Days of Noah are here – Matthew 24:37-38 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
6. The Days of Lot are here - Luke 17:28-29 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; (29) But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
7. The Last Days are in full swing and most people have fat bodies an lean souls!
F. I am not preaching this to disappoint or to discourage you. I am preaching this to excite and encourage you! The Lord is coming, and we are leaving.
1. I am so glad that the Lord has allowed me to live, flourish, and preach in such a time as this. More sinners to preach to and more sin to preach about along with a wonderful Lord to EXALT!
2. There is a whole lot of “shaking” going on, but I have a Bible that does not shake! I have a Holy Spirit who does not shake!
a) The World Is Shaking - Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
b) The Nations are Shaking – vs. 7 Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
c) The Saints Are Shaking - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
G. Now, let us see what God told Haggai to say: Haggai 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.
1. The Presence Of God In The Work – vs. 4 Through it all, the Lord said that He would never leave nor forsake them. He has given us the same promise today in Hebrews 13! Though things may look dark at times, we can take great comfort knowing that the God of our salvation is faithful to His children!
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (His presence brings contentment for He gives us what He wills.)
2. The Promise Of God In The Work – vs. 5 He told Israel that He would keep His word to them and give them victory! This was the land of His promise. He brought them out of Egypt to give to them the land of Canaan. What He promises, He is fully able to perform. God has promised us victory over the world, and we can live within the realm of God’s victory in hard times.
Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (The battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is already won!)
3. The Power Of God In The Work – vs. 6-7 Notice with me the phrase “I will” found in these verses. The work was done in the power of God, not the power of man. Thus it is with us in this present evil world. We can do nothing without Christ and all things through Him. The work is the Lord’s!
Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. (The work is great and it takes the power of a great God to do it. I cannot save souls! I cannot add to the church! I cannot work in the hearts of men! God must do His work or it will not get done.)
4. The Purpose Of God In The Work – vs. 7b God’s purpose was not to fill His house with people, though we want to see a multitude saved and added, but it was to fill His house with His glory! I fear that we have been so numbers conscious that we equate greatness with largeness! Our emphasis here at Temple should be that God is glorified in our worship services and then through our personal testimony which reflects on the church.
1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (We glorify God in our lives and worship which causes the lost to glorify God.)
5. The Provision Of God In The Work – vs. 8 God provided all that Israel needed to rebuild His house. God will provide for the church in these last days also. I do not have enough money to sustain God’s work; therefore, He must take care of the needs. He uses us to do the work and supplies our every need in the meanwhile.
1 Chronicles 29:14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
Psalms 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (God will take care of God’s business! What God orders, God pays for.)
6. The Peace Of God In The Work – vs. 9 God gave Israel peace in the midst of persecution and problems. God will also give us peace in these last perilous times! Trouble on every hand has cause a great discouragement among God’s people but He will speak sweet peace in these stormy days that lie ahead!
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Conclusion: We need God’s peace in these last days. The Lord is in control, and we are soon going home! Let us be encouraged in the work of the Lord in these last days. It is still a good work, and it is still His work, and there is still work to be done!
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