Key Text: 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:" Haggai 2:4
The building of the temple in Haggai's day gives us a wonderful message for our generation. The building of the physical temple is a type of the spiritual kingdom that the church is building today. God is building His church, His glorious temple through His Word and His people. We are building on Christ, the Rock! And we must keep at our work. God is with us!
Through the years it has been my joy to spend time with many pastors. Working as a full time evangelist, I have had the privilege of conducting revivals surrounded by a number of difficult circumstances. I have also met pastors who appeared to be either burned out or perhaps never divinely called into the gospel ministry. God be the Judge.
The pastor is not perfect, and here is where many congregations make a horrible mistake. They place the pastor under constant focus which causes great emotional strain on that pastor. I have talked with pastors who were tired, worn-out, and just plan exhausted. Some pastors after years in pastoral work are still trying to define their work and establish a job description. Local pastors can stay too long, and of course, these pastors can leave too soon.
As you can see from this introduction, the sermon of the month for November is primarily for pastors, but all Christians can benefit from its content. The words, "I (God) am with you." should encourage and inspire all God's children. If you are tired and weary, if you are doing a work for God and feel all stressed out, ready to throw in the towel, listen and take a look at these words, "I am with you."
Here is the promise, "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." Hebrews 13:5. God gave Haggai a message for Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel was to give it to the people. "I am with you."
There are many wonderful lessons for God's people
to study and learn in these two chapters of Haggai's short book
of prophecies. I want us to see four of them in this sermon. I
want us to understand the source of strength, the sacrifice of
the saints, the surety of the Saviour and the selection of the
servants.
"...for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:" Haggai 2:4. The source of the people being strong is God. They have His Word on it. They are to hear it from Zerubbabel, and they are to understand and believe that God gave it. His word of strength is, "fear ye not." Verse 5.
As the people join together with their leaders and each other, they have assurance that God is with them. They can have confidence and not fear because of the following:
A. God Made a Promise - Now, friend, when God gives His Word on anything, you can depend on it. You can have confidence like that found in Hebrews 11:1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." His promise is just as great as His name. Growing up in the 1930's, I heard and learned the meaning of the expression, "A man's word is as good as his bond." That meant the man would do what he said he would do. It was like the expression we hear today, "You can take it to the bank." Thank God for people who keep their word. The Scripture that comes to my mind is Psalm 138:2, ""I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name."
B. God Gave the People His Priests - In Haggai 2:1 the Lord sent His Word through His prophet, Haggai, "...came the word of the Lord by the prophet Haggai, saying," In Haggai 2:2 the word went to Zerubbabel and Joshua, the son of Josedech, the high priest and from him to the people. The ministers are to lead the way; they are to awaken the people. They are to call the people to help do the work of God. The people have God's leaders, but the leaders must lead. During the building of a Christian boarding academy in the early 1960's, I received the following quotation from our main conference office. It read,
"Among the first to catch Nehemiah's spirit of zeal and earnestness were the priests of Israel. From the position of influence which they occupied, these men could do much to hinder or advance the work. Their ready cooperation at the very outset contributed not a little to its success. Thus it should be in every holy enterprise. Those who occupy positions of influence and responsibility in the church, should be foremost in the work of God. If they move reluctantly, others will not move at all. But 'their zeal will provoke very many.' When their light burns brightly, a thousand torches will be kindled at the flame." --Southern Watchman, April 5, 1904
C. God Gave the People His Presence - God reminds
the people of their journey out of Egypt and the covenant He made
with their forefathers. And His presence is to be with them. "According
to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt,
so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not." Haggai 2:5.
Snowflakes were falling on a cold, January night, and I as preaching
the sermon, "How to Know When You are Converted." The
membership of the church was large, but that night the crowd was
very small. As we walked on the rostrum, and I looked out over
the audience, I thought, "Thank God, I am converted and have
my assurance of being called to the gospel ministry." God
gave me grace, and it seemed to me, as I preached, that we had
standing room only. After the service, one of our deacons said
to me, "Brother Thrower, you preached tonight as if we had
a full house. God is with you." Thank God for His presence.
We have see the source of the strength of the people. The source
is God! Now, let us discuss the sacrifice of the saints.
They are to go forth and work! "...and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work..." Verse 4. Time and work are needed if any project is expected to move forward to its completion. Success is dependent on time and work. Those that work for God ought to exert themselves with vigor, and then to encourage themselves with the hope of seeing the work finished and done well.
A. During the time these verses were describing, there was a scarcity of the material necessities of life because of bad harvests and crop failures. The cost of living and the failure in cattle rearing all brought about bad times. They could hardly care for their own physical needs. Their earnings went very quickly. "...and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.: Haggai 1:6. Haggai's message was to inform the people that their disobedience was to be interpreted as God's displeasure at their slackness in His service. It was not to be taken as a deterrent from, but as a summons to service in the cause of God. The word for us is to keep going. We are to labor in good times and in bad times; we are to work without money, and we are to go forth with money. Haggai is calling the people to use what they have and build. Friends, large corporate companies are rich and wealthy today because they kept going when the funds were low. In the case of the church, we must keep going. In all seasons we are to work for God.
B. The people were to go for God. "Go up to
the mountain..." Haggai 1:8. They were to go and God was
to bless. In going, God is with them. He will take pleasure in
the thing, and He will be glorified. The message of Haggai had
somewhat of a rebuke in it. It also contained a blessing. The
people were to sacrifice, and God was to have pleasure in the
work of His people. The saints are blessed and God is pleased.
The church is to go. See Matthew 28:19-20. "As soon as Israel
decided to obey, the words of reproof were followed by a message
of encouragement. 'Then spake Haggai...unto the people, saying,
I am with you, saith the Lord. And the Lord stirred up the spirit
of Zerubbabel' and of Joshua, and 'of all the remnant of the people;
and they came and did work in the house of the Lord of hosts,
their God." Verses 13,14. (The Story of Prophets and Kings,
by E.G. White, p.575)
"Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you." Haggai 2:19. Is your "seed" in the barn yet? Is the seed you are to plant for your next crop in the barn? Farmers and gardeners understand the meaning of "seed plant." It means the seed in the barn waiting to be planted. God is asking, "have you eaten the 'seed plant' because your crops have been destroyed?" The drought had prevailed, but God is going to overcome the dry, dusty land, and He is going to bring forth a great and full crop. The people will have plenty. Deuteronomy 28:2,3 tells us, "And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field." When we obey the Lord, we are to expect His blessings in the business place (in the city) as well as on the farm and ranch.
A. Remembering Egypt - "According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not." Haggai 2:5. Led by Moses and guided by God and with Heaven's power, Israel left Egypt. Remembering Egypt until this day is the greatest event ever to take place in the history of the Jewish nation. The Passover is celebrated to remember that great historical event. Now, God is reminding Haggai: Haggai tell the people. Remind the people that I brought them out of Egypt.
B. Red Sea Ecstasy - "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:1-2. The Red Sea experience was enough to excite and encourage Israel. They sang, and they exalted the Name of God. They took courage for they knew God was with them. Friend, especially my pastor friends, while it is true God does bring some of us through deep waters, we can also know that whether we are in the storm or the sunshine, God is with us. As He spoke to Haggai, He speaks to us. "I am with you." "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31. God gives His servants this promise as presented in the words of Hess, "I never will leave you alone; and when you grow weak in your struggle, my strength will prevail--not your own." My preacher friends, let us keep going; let us depend on God's strength, not on our own. Someone once asked Uncle Bud Robinson, Uncle Bud, what do you do when you come to the end of your rope?" The old evangelist replied, "You just tie a knot and hold on."
C. Reappearance of God in the Elements - "And
the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead
them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light;
to go by day and night." Exodus 13:21. The pillar of cloud
was not only a guide to lead Israel, it was also a protector from
the heat of the day. The pillar of fire gave Israel light, and
it also served as a heaven-given thermostat to keep the temperature
warm. Friends, Israel has not forgotten the Red Sea experience,
nor has she forgotten her journey in the wilderness. Haggai's
word from God is, "I am with you." Let us get busy building
the temple! God is with us!
"...for I have chosen thee, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:23. Haggai, Zerubbabel and Joshua, the son of Josedech were all selected to lead the people in the building of the temple. They were to take the lead and inspire the workmen. The project needed workmen; however workmen become disorganized unless there are leaders. Chosen and called leaders can triumph with united workmen. In the church, work applies to building a physical structure or the spiritual house of God. God told us, "I am with you!" "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,..." John 15:16. God is well pleased with the choosing and calling of His pastors. And those God chooses will be put to good use for Him. He will enable them to do the work He calls them to do; therefore God would say to the struggling pastor, the weak Christian or the Christian family going through a difficult time, "I am with you.!"
A. Work of Honor - It is a wonderful blessing and honor to be in the ministry and be the undershepherd of the flock. It is a thing to be honored to be a layman, a workman to help build the spiritual temple of God. Whatever our lot may be, we can count it all joy."
B. Work of the Husbandman - The work of the Husbandman is very hard, and he must endure many hardships. He must plow the land and cultivate the soil, but there is joy in the morning. In the harvest time there is gladness as he sees the fruit of his labor. Pastor friend, you and I may feel that the road is too rough to travel. We may think at times the task is too much, but wait a minute. Let us think of the work. It is His work, and He has chosen us back in the first eternity and called us in time to help build the temple. Remember, God said, "I am with you!"
C. Work of Heaven - "...I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:" Haggai 2:4. "The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts." Haggai 2:8. "Thus saith the Lord of hosts..." Haggai 2:11. The work of God in building the temple in Haggai's generation was a heavenly work. It was because the Lord of hosts had called him and given him the green light. Go build the temple. I am with you! The preacher, the evangelist, the Bible teacher chosen of God and called in time will do well to remember that the work of God is heaven's work. It is heaven's work on earth and the Lord of hosts has assigned us our task. We preachers are heaven-called men for a heavenly work guided and empowered by the Lord of hosts. "I am with you!"
"To His children today the Lord declares, 'Be strong,...and work: for I am with you.' The Christian always has a strong helper in the Lord. The way of the Lord's helping we may not know; but this we do know: He will never fail those who put their trust in Him. Could Christians realize how many times the Lord has ordered their way, that the purposes of the enemy concerning them might not be accomplished, they would not stumble along complainingly. Their faith would be stayed on God, and no trial would have power to move them. They would acknowledge Him as their wisdom and efficiency, and He would bring to pass that which He desires to work out through them." (The Story of Prophets and Kings, E. G. White, p. 576)
Be of good courage, pastors and friends, for there
is no doubt that God is with us. Praise His Holy Name for His
goodness to us, the children of men.