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Weekly Message | July 18th, 2010
Passage: Haggai 2:1-23
Key Verse(s): 7
Hello, my name is Russell Kille, and my wife is S. Ruth Kille. She is very precious to God and to me. I want you to know that this message was only possible because of her love for Christ and prayers for me and the gospel ministry. So, I really love her.
For the past 20 years I have been attending conferences like this in UBF. But never before, have I attended a conference where the messages were from Genesis, Isaiah, Mark, Acts, Romans, and Haggai--passages which span thousands of years of God’s history. Yet, amazingly, one thing has become clear. They all point to God’s hope and vision for his people. In today’s passage, God not only expresses his hope for the Jewish nation and the temple, but connects them to God’s great hope for all people of all nations to be connected through Christ and to experience God’s personal blessing.
First, Be Strong and Work, For I Am With You. (1-5)
Note that the title is not, “Be lazy and take a nap during the message, for no one is looking.” It is to “be strong and work, for I am with you.” What is the title? There is a lot of very interesting historical background surrounding this passage which you covered in the morning Bible study. So I do not want to repeat, rather I want to get to the point. All you need to know is that Haggai was a prophet during the time when the Jews returned from exile in Babylon only to find their homes and city burnt to the ground. Just for this message, I want you to try and put yourselves in their shoes. Imagine if suddenly war broke out and the people of Bluffton came and carried you off and forced you to serve them for the next 70 years. After 70 years, they let you return home. But when you got home, you found your house had burnt to the ground. Not only your house but the Bible center, the University, and the whole city had been destroyed. Of course, I am over simplifying, but what seems almost impossible to imagine was the reality to the people of Haggai’s time.
Look at verse1, “On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai…” Now this day on the Jewish calendar, was very special. This was not just the final day of the feast of Tabernacles (their 4th of July so to speak) celebrating their independence as a nation. This day was also the 430th anniversary of the completion of Solomon’s temple. But now it lay in ruin, only the foundation remained and the altar restored. The people were all gathered around the site looking at the ruins─so sad for what had happened to their precious temple.
Then, Haggai steps up to deliver the Sunday message. Look at verses 2-3, “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, '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?” Haggai began to address what was already on everyone’s minds. They looked at the temple, and were just sad. It was not glorious or spectacular; it was like nothing. Sometimes, I look in the mirror and think, yeah not much there. Just a few more grey hairs is all. Likewise, the people were lacking God’s vision and hope for their lives. The only looked to the past remembering the good old days.
Like them, our human tendency is the same. College students, say, “I miss the teenage years.” Those in their 30s & 40s say, “I miss the college years.” Those over 50 say, “I just miss when my body did not ache.” It is good to remember the past, but we must not live in the past or on past accomplishments. We must have faith to move forward, and to challenge the mountains in front of us.
The fact is; we have never been more equipped than right now to meet the challenges in our lives. God has brought each of us to where we are now, prepared us through various trials and achievements to face the next step in our journey of faith. Personally, I have been struggling whether or not to continue my PhD study because of so much time commitment and money. But, through this message I realize, God has prepared me for this next step in my journey of faith. As God’s people, we are not called to move backward or retreat. We’re to move forward by faith, believing God’s promises as Apostle Paul proclaimed, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Rom 8:37). Therefore, from now on when I look in the mirror, I am going to say to myself, “For I am God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Eph 2:10) I am God’s workmanship.
Speaking of work, let’s not forget the point of the first part, “Be strong and work, for I am with you.” It’s very exciting to think about God’s vision, but before that God first says, “’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.” (Hag 2:4)
Before the promise, and vision, there is first the command to be strong and work! The work was already defined in God’s covenant as verse 5 states, “This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt…” The book of the covenant or the covenant was simply God’s law. In the general sense their work was simply to obey God’s word. More specifically, God’s word given to them at this time in Chapter 1 was to rebuild the temple. In this way, God’s work was something within their reach. Even more practically, it meant, some had to lay bricks, some had to bring wood, others had to paint, others watched the children and prepared food. So while God’s work was much bigger than one person, each person played a very important and practical role. Only together could they complete the work. That’s why God addressed this message to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and to all the people.
What about us? What is our work? In general, it is the same. First and foremost our work is to fear God and obey his commands. More specifically, it is to carry out Jesus’ world mission command and make disciples of all nations. Practically, it means inviting others to Bible study, teaching the Bible, attending meetings and Bible conferences, and even babysitting, so that others can attend. In this way, God’s work is within our reach no matter what our capacity or talents. As a UBF ministry we have a vision for America to become a Kingdom of Priests and Holy Nation. If we look at our ministry and see only a handful of larger chapters and some house churches scattered here and there, we think this is not possible. But we are not working as individual chapters. We are working together as the Great Lakes Region, and as a world wide ministry. We are not alone. God is with us, and he is working through countless ministries like ours to fulfill a much greater work than what we can see.
However, as with any work, sometimes we become tired or discouraged when the work does not seem to be going as we expected. We fear we are not worthy. Maybe God will fire me. But God is not like Donald Trump. He does not fire us and then outsource our job overseas. He never abandons us. He loves us and disciplines us as his precious sons and daughters so that we become even more fruitful than before. His contract is irrevocable and it comes with eternal rewards.
Recently, after my long time Bible student left the ministry I was discouraged. But then I thought about my life, my work, and my fellowship. Our fellowship name is Team Emmanuel. Emmanuel means God with us. And we added the team to remember that we are not individuals but must work as team for God. I discovered that I am indeed not alone. I am surrounded by precious coworkers such as Dr. John and Mary Seo’s family and my wife, S. Ruth, who is always praying for me. At this conference, 8 precious remnants attended including: Bible students, Kelly Rowan, Van Hoang, Nathaline Chiu, and Jordon Maddocks. Together we are rebuilding the ministry of prayer and disciple making.
Second, I Will Fill This House with Glory. (6-9)
Defining our work is just the first step. In order to keep working for any period of time, that work must be connected to a vision. A vision simply defined is what gives work its meaning. Verses 6-9 are God’s vision for the people. God’s vision connects their small work with something, much greater. Look at verse 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.’” The phrase, “shake the heavens and earth” can be either literal or metaphoric. Literally, sometimes, God sends an actual earthquake. Metaphorically, God shakes up nations through wars and changes in their political structure. Then for what purpose would God shake the nations? Let’s read verse 7 together: “’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.” God’s shaking of the nations would bring about the desired of all nations, and ultimately greater glory.
Who are the desired of all nations? The answer is us─the Church of God! Now do you think that Haggai and the people of his time fully understood the concept of God’s church? Of course not. The vision was greater than they could see. But they were not entirely in the dark. Since the fall of man, God’s desire has always been to restore the broken relationship between God and Man. When one man Abraham had faith to believe God’s plan, God made him into a great nation. To that nation, God gave a vision in Ex 19:5-6. God said, “‘Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation…’” God gave them a vision to be a holy example for others and serve as a priestly intercessor on their behalf. In regard to the temple, God told them through the prophet Isaiah, “7for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." (Isa 56:7b)
God has always been at work to fulfill his deep desire to bring all people into a personal relationship with him. God’s work is still going on. God’s takes our small 1:1 study, our invitation, or testimony sharing, and connects it to himself through Christ our Lord. The last part of verse 7 reads, “’and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty.” If our work is truly connected to Christ, then the evidence is God’s glory! Think about God’s glory for a minute. How can you describe it? Two week ago, I traveled with my brother, to climb a 14,000 ft mountain. After hours and hours of climbing, we finally reached the top. You know what the first thing I did was? I pulled out my cell phone to see if I could get a signal. Then the second thing I did was, call my wife. I said, “This is freakin awesome.” I was overwhelmed with a sense of awe. The splendor and majesty of the scene was just indescribable.
Then, I could not but be overcome by a sense of reverence─of God’s greatness. I wanted to bow down and praise God for creating something so amazing and great. Glory is like that. At first, WOW, then awe. The glory of the mountains is one thing. But here God displays his glory through the desired of all nations, through US! It is through the evidence of his work in our lives. Last night God’s glory was revealed as many testified about God’s work in their lives. Look at verse 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.” In terms of gold and silver and worldly glory, the present house was much less elaborate, but in terms of God’s glory it would be much greater. It was because the new temple would usher in the age of Christ Jesus. The word temple or tabernacle literally means God’s dwelling place. In the Old Testament, God’s presence resided in the temple. Through the work of Christ Jesus, God’s presence is poured out in the hearts of his people through the Holy Spirit. Wherever two or three are gathered in his name, God is there also. In this sense, we are the temple God is building. Through our devotion and work God is brining peoples of every language and nation into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Through us God is filling his house with glory. In return, we are granted God’s peace as verse 9 states, “’And in this place I will grant peace.’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Now do you know what it means, when God says, “I will fill this house with glory?” It means I will use you–the desired of all nations–for God’s greater work of world salvation. Amen!
Third, From This Day On I Will Bless You. (10-23)
In verses, 10-14, two months later, Haggai gives another message to the people. He asks two questions to the Jewish priests about holiness and ritual purity. Then what was the point of these questions? Look at verse 14: “Then Haggai said, 'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,' declares the LORD. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.’”
The people of Haggai’s generation may have thought that because they were rebuilding God’s holy temple, that automatically made them holy in God’s sight. At this, Haggai reminds them that holiness doesn’t work that way. Rather, just the opposite. As when a person who touches a dead body, becomes unclean, the impure hearts or motives of those building the temple defiled God’s holy work. Working hard for the Lord, first and foremost starts from within. We may work hard, but if we do so for impure or selfish motives God is neither honored nor glorified. Hearts that are full of un-confessed sin or bitterness, render our work as defiled in God’s sight.
Therefore we should constantly examine our heart before God. We must give careful thought to our actions and motives. This was Haggai’s message as well. Beginning with verse 15, three times Haggai repeats the words, “Give careful thought.” In particular, he asks them to consider how things were before one stone was laid on another, and when the foundation of the temple was laid. Why? In the days of Solomon when the foundation was laid, the people of Israel truly loved the Lord with all their heart and mind. Their devotion was pure and lovely as when we first meet Christ. But now after many years, they had lost their first love. Their passion and devotion to the Lord, had been replaced by the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth. Sometimes, I feel my first love has faded like a distant dream. What can I do? First, go back to my foundation of spiritual basics such as daily bread and testimony writing. Then turn back as to when I first meet Christ, when my devotion and zeal for the Lord were new and pure. There is something else we must do as well. In these same verses there is another phrase repeated three times. Do you know what it is? Yes, “From this day on.” It was God’s challenge, not to repeat the sins of the past, but from this day on to recommit their hearts and minds to the Lord and his work.
We, too, may be standing at a crossroad in our lives. Our hearts may have been stirred through this conference. God’s word may have spoken to us. But what will we do with it from this day on? Our sins may have held us in captivity for so long, that we are afraid to change. But now, a choice has been put before us. As we return home today, will we just go back and do the same things as before, keep struggling with the same old things? We must carefully consider our lives, where we were, where we are now, then turn our hearts to God and make a conscious commitment. From this day on, I will leave my old life behind and allow God to make me into a new creation.
Personally, I have made a decision, from this day on to once again take up the cross of campus mission and serve the Lord as in the days of my youth. King David in his old age, renewed his commitment to the Lord and declared in Psalm 103:2-5, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Wouldn’t you like to be crowned with love and compassion, for the desires of your heart to be satisfied, and for your youth to be renewed like the eagle? Then from this day on, serve the Lord and fear him. “From this day on I will bless” is God’s promise to those who fear the Lord and obey God’s command to be strong and work.
One person who took God’s word to heart was Zerubbabel. How would like to have the name Zerubbabel? Let’s just call him Mr. Z. not Mr. T. Through him we see God’s personal blessing and assurance in the last 3 verses of this passage. Through him the people would know that God’s blessings were real. Look at verse 23: "'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Mr. Z son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty." The signet ring was the ring used by kings to stamp and seal documents. The ring represented their power, authority, and commitment. When God says, to Mr. Z, I will make you like my signet ring; it meant that God would display his power and authority through Mr. Z. His life would be as a seal of God’s promise to come. Not only did Zerubbabel overcome all the challenges of his day and complete the temple work, but God included him in the direct line of Christ Jesus. Both Mary and Joseph the parents of Jesus, were direct descendents of Zerubbabel.
We can be modern day Mr. and Mrs. Zs. Like him God can use us as a signet ring. Like him, we too can be part of God’s redemptive work. Beginning with obedience to God’s word, then holding to God’s vision for our lives, we will experience God’s personal blessings in ways we could not imagine. Through our small work and personal devotion, God connects us to his plan of world salvation. For the last three years, Toledo ministry has been praying for 24 world class leaders to be raised. Already through this conference we have begun to see that prayer come to fruition. In time, God will use the prayers of his people to shake the nations. Through prayer, God will shake North Korea, China, and the Muslim world. The door will be opened to the gospel, and God will fill his house with glory.
In conclusion, God WILL fill this house with Glory, therefore, let’s be strong and get to work to rebuild our nation as a kingdom of priests and holy nation one disciple at a time.
Shepherd Russell Kille
Great Lakes Region
Summer Bible Conference
7/18/2010
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
