The final 3 prophecies

• 1^st – The Prediction – doing the impossible… vs. 1-9
  • 1^st – Weeping for the Temple… vs. 1-3
    • In the seventh month (October) – on the twenty-first day Haggai gave another prophecy…
      • The Lord again spoke to Zerubbabel / Joshua / and the remnant of Judah…
      • He asked them who had seen the first Temple – and how did it compare to this new one…
      • The Jews had been working on the Temple for almost two months…
      • But things were not going well – the new Temple was a shadow of its former glory!
    • Ezra 3:12 – when the first foundation of the Temple was laid – the old men began to weep…
      • For those who had never seen Jerusalem – the Temple of Solomon – they did not know…
      • But for those who had seen the splendor of the 1^st Temple – this was a sad sight…
      • Not only was the magnitude of the 1^st Temple lost – the gold / silver / bronze…
      • But this Temple lacked the most important things of all – the Ark of the Covenant…
      • Lost to history – either buried under the Temple / in Ethiopia / or taken to heaven!
    • No doubt the people were discouraged – it was impossible…
      • There was no way the Temple would ever be as glorious as in the days of Solomon…
      • It seemed pointless – it would have been easier to just give up and walk away!
      • I can be very temping to give up because things are not going the way we expect….
      • Yet a key aspect of our faith is being persistent in stepping out – not giving up!
      • I have noted two characteristics in the people God uses…
      • They have humility – realizing it is not about us – it is all about Jesus…
      • They do not give up – BE STONG – do not quit hanging onto Jesus – John 15:4-5 
  • 2^nd – In spite of the discouragement – the Lord encouraged Israel… vs. 4-5
    • To BE STRONG (x3) – use the gifts God has given to you…
      • Zechariah / Joshua / and the remnant were encourage to be strong – chazaq 
      • An interesting word – famously used in Exodus to describe Pharaoh hardening his heart …
      • It carries the idea of being resolute – almost impossibly stubborn – determined!
      • There was no doubt Israel was a stubborn people – strong headed!
      • Judges 2:19 – “[Israel] did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way.”
      • But God was asking them to use that same stubbornness to finish the work on the Temple!
      • He wanted them to use the gifts He had given to them – for HIS purpose!
      • I do not give up easily – when I use that selfishly you would call me stubborn…
      • That same trait when used for God – becomes perseverance – not willing to give up…
      • Same gift – but when used for the purpose it was given – it becomes a blessing!
      • God has given each of us special talents / abilities…
      • Areas where we excel and do better than others – music / finances / technology…
      • We do not choose these gifts – they are given to us by God – Romans 12:6
      • But often we use these gifts for selfish reasons – rather than for God…
      • Out gifts will never become all God intended them to be until we use them for God!
    • To NOT FEAR – because God can do the impossible…
      • While it was true that finishing the Temple seemed and impossible task…
      • God wanted Israel to remember He had done impossible things for them before…
      • The same Spirit of God that had promised to bring Israel out of the bondage in Egypt…
      • Taking a group of slaves and giving them victory over the Superpower of the day…
      • By parting an ocean so His people could walk through on dry ground!
      • Still remained with Israel – and would empower them to do the impossible again!
      • Israel was looking at the problem – rather than the solution – the God of the Impossible!
      • The solution to a dark room is not to focus on how dark the room is…
      • Turning on the light – that is the only solution to the darkness…
      • The moment we turn on the light – the darkness is no longer a problem!
      • In the same way if we focus on our problems – we find we are still in darkness…
      • It is easy to be afraid when we look at the overwhelming circumstances facing us…
      • Because when we focus on the problem – we are not looking at the solution!
      • But the moment we look to Jesus – the light comes on – because He is the only solution!
      • It does not matter what the problem is – He is the God of the impossible!
  • 3^rd – What makes the Temple glorious … vs. 6-9
    • Once more – in a little while – the Lord would again shake up the heavens and the earth…
      • Hebrews 12:26 – “When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth…”
      • God shook the earth once before – when He gave the Law on mount Sinai…
      • He shook the earth because for the first time men had a record of the requirements of God…
      • There was no longer any excuse – the Law told us what God expected!
      • But in a ‘little while’ – God would shake the earth again – this time with Jesus…
      • Matthew 27:50-51 – “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook…”
      • Because where the Law established the righteousness requirements of God…
      • Only through the cross of Jesus could men be saved – and receive the righteousness of God!
    • Jesus would shake ALL nations – and they would come up to the Desire of ALL nations…
      • Jesus will become the Desire of ALL Nations – Philippians 2:10-11
      • And God will fill the Temple with Glory – not the glory of the Temple of Solomon…
      • That Temple was filled with silver and gold – glorious on the outside…
      • But God was not interested in silver and gold – that all was His anyways – Haggai 2:8
      • What God desired was the nations – ALL MEN – to come to the Temple and believe!
      • It was not about the outside – the glory came from the Gospel transforming lives!
      • We often affectionately call Bible Fellowship – the Barn…
      • But the reason it got that name is because when we first purchased it – it was a BARN!
      • It used to be when it rained people need umbrellas – on the inside!
      • People would walk into the church – gawk at the rustic features – and walk back out!
      • But God is not impressed by the outside – the Lord looks at the heart – I Samuel 16:7
      • No matter how fancy a building looks – the real question is what is on the inside…
      • Some of the most regal churches in the world – glorious magnificent buildings…
      • Are dead on the inside – some have even begun to be converted into bars!
      • A building that is full of the Glory of the Lord – is a building full of people sold out for Jesus!
    • A place of peace…
      • God made a promise – the 2^nd Temple would be greater than the Temple of Solomon!
      • Not because it would be grander with more gold or silver – though it would…
      • Herod would add onto the Temple and turn it into one of the wonders of the world…
      • But this Temple would be great – because one day Jesus would be there!
      • And He would bring peace between God and man – He would bring salvation!
      • The Jews were looking back – rather than looking forward to what God wanted to do!
      • Often we miss the work of God in our lives – because we are caught up in the past…
      • Or because cause we are looking for something else – assuming what God will do…
      • Rather than coming to God with expectations – we need to come with an open heart!

• 2^nd – The Promise… vs. 10-19
  • 1^st – The Law of uncleanness… vs. 10-13
    • On the 24^th day of the ninth month (December) – in the 2^nd year of Darius…
      • Two months after the Lord gave the prophecy about doing the impossible…
      • And only three months since they restated construction on the Temple…
      • God asked a question of the priests about the laws of uncleanness – Leviticus 6:27 / 19:22
      • If a priest carried ‘holy meat’ and brushed up against other food – it did not make it holy…
      • But if a priest had become unclean – and touched anything – that did become unclean!
    • The point was simple – uncleanness is more easily passed on than holiness!
      • If I stand on a chair – it is easier to pull me off – then for me to pull you up…
      • Because you have the law of gravity on your side – where I am fighting gravity!
      • In the same way it is far easier for the world to pull us down – then for us to pick them up!
      • Because they have sinful nature on their side – where we fight our sinful nature…
      • We need to be interacting with those who do not know Jesus…
      • Because if we are not out in the world – we cannot show the world the hope of Jesus!
      • But though we are in the world – we need to be careful not to get too close – John 17:15
  • 2^nd – An unclean people … vs. 14-19
    • The people of Israel were unclean – because their heart had not been right…
      • They had build luxurious houses – while the Temple of God sat in ruins…
      • They had been more interested in serving themselves – then living for God…
      • As a result they were under a curse – everything they touched became unclean!
      • Even the offerings the put on the altar – built when they returned from Babylon – unclean!
        
    • As a result – before they laid the new foundation of the Temple – nothing went right…
      • If people hoped to harvest 20 bushels of wheat – they would only end up with 10!
      • If they expected to gather 50 gallon of wine – they would only get 20!
      • God struck their crops with disease / mildew / and hail – devastating their harvests…
      • All in an attempt to get them to listen – look up – and yet they had not turned to the Lord!
      • Leviticus 26:19 – “I will break down your arrogant spirit by making the skies above as unyielding as iron and the earth beneath as hard as bronze.”
    • God knows how to get our attention – one of the best ways is food…
      • When we are full/in need nothing – we tend to forget and ignore God…
      • So God allows everything we touch to be cursed – money gets tight!
      • People who used to help us – banks / credit cards – no longer want to lend us money…
      • People who we owe money to – demand we pay them right now!
      • And we wonder is the whole world against us – no God is just getting our attention!
  • 3^rd – The promise of blessings… vs. 18-19
    • BUT – God tells them to carefully CONSIDER from this day forward (3x)…
      • The word – CONSIDER – is a compound word in the Hebrew – sum levav…
      • It literally means to ‘place in your heart’ – we might say – learn this lesson well!
    • From the 24^th day of the ninth month – the day the Temple foundation was finished…
      • Even though the seeds were still in the barn – no one had planted the fields yet…
      • The vines / figs / olives / and pomegranates had no fruit yet on their branches…
      • So no one could say whether it would be a ‘good harvest’ the following year…
      • Yet God promised from this day forward – He would bless them!
      • Because they had invested in the Lord – they would now receive from the Lord!
    • Blessing from the Lord are a direct result of investing in the Lord!
      • God has a strange version of math – it is not the same as our math…
      • If I have $100 – and I give $20 to God – that means I have $80 left…
      • In the same thought – if I have $100 and do not give anything – then I have $100…
      • So it would seem to be better for us in the end – not to give anything to God!
      • But in reality if we invest in the Lord – we will end up with more than we stared with!
      • We cannot out give God – He will always bless us far beyond what we give to Him…
      • But if we try and keep all our money/time for ourselves – we always seem to be lacking!
      • CONSIDER those who give to the Lord – and see if they are lacking anything they need…
      • Look at those who strive to get/ hold onto things – and see what they are lacking!
      • It is not a matter of asking if we can afford to invest to God – can we afford not to!
      • Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Instead invest in the things of the Lord – and watch amazed as we are used by God!

3^rd – The Man… vs. 20-23

1^st – The signet ring of God… vs. 20-23

That same day – the 24^th day of the ninth month – Haggai gave his final prophecy…

God would shake heaven and earth – He would overthrow the throne of Kingdoms – Kings…

He would destroy the strength of Gentile Kingdoms – their chariots and horses…

Every one by the sword of his own brother – they would be destroyed from within!

Likely referencing the fall of subsequent empires – Medo-Persia / Greece / Rome…

Empires – that even if conquered – ultimately crumbled from within before their fall!

Yet in spite of the fall of all these gentile kingdoms…

God would take Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel – and make him a signet ring…

A signet ring was used in antiquity as proof of identity – pressed into wax seals…

The idea being God would make His mark with Zerubbabel – because He had chosen Him…

To do the impossible – resurrect a forsaken people / rebuild the Temple of God…

Continue the Davidic line of kings – that would eventually lead to the Messiah…

Who would one day make the Temple glorious – and become the Desire of ALL nations!

I have heard a lot of people talk about leaving a MARK on this world…

But the truth is there is nothing we do – in of ourselves – that has any lasting impact…

If we want to leave a mark – do the impossible – we need to become a ‘signet ring’ of God…

Because HIS mark never fades away – what God does through us has eternal impact!

But the question become how – like Zerubbabel – do we get chosen…

The answer is simple – do not get caught up in this world – compromise…