Sermon Central
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Be Strong For I Am With You Series
Contributed by Greg Irby on Jul 21, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Satan is always doing his utmost to stay the work of God. He hindered these Jews from building the temple, and today he endeavors to hinder the people of God from spreading the gospel. We must remember to be strong for the Lord is with us.
Text Verse: Haggai 2:4
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:
Introduction:
Satan is always doing his utmost to stay the work of God. He hindered these Jews from building the temple, and today he endeavors to hinder the people of God from spreading the gospel.
He is very cunning, and knows how to change his devices and yet keep to his design: he doesn’t care how he works, as long as he can hurt the cause of God.
In the case of the Jewish people on their return from captivity he sought to prevent the building of the temple by distracting them with opposition, detouring them with selfishness and now by discouragement. There were those involved in the rebuilding of the temple who had seen the temple that Solomon had built.
Discouragement comes from:
Feebleness
Our lack of ability to do the things that God deserves at our hands.
Comparing and contrasting our work with others.
2 Cor. 10:12
For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
The truth is that nothing that we do or build is worthy of God.
What house could man build for God?
What human work can be worthy of the Lord?
To depreciate the present because of the glories of the past is very dangerous.
We look at the giants of the past who thundered forth the word of God and they are succeeded by pigmies.
Are we looking at the size of the church or the Savior of the church?
In the first chapter we have a call to build. In our text today we have the call to "Behold".
Notice:
1. The Present (vs 1-3)
In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying, [2] Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, [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?
A. Discouraged
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:
2. The Past (vs 4-5)
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: [5] According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
3. The Prospect (vs 6-9)
For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; [7] And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. [8] 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.
A. The Lord’s Power
B. The Lord’s Presence
C. The Lord’s Possessions
D. The Lord’s Peace
