Haggai 2:20-23
Notes
Transcript
The Israelites were obedient
The Israelites were obedient
They began to build the temple
God promised to provide
Remember their original problem
forgot their purpose
forgot their true allegiance
Being obedient to Darius and the Lord was practically the same
both wanted the temple
but only One was worthy of obedience
Likewise, we can appear obedient
But who truly has the authority in our life?
This is the point of Haggai
This is the point of Haggai
One more message
This one is personal
The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month,
This message came at the same time as the last
It is meant for one person
“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Zerubbabel is the governor
This message has an apocalyptic tone
The Lord will cause these things
The Judeans have no way of realizing these promises
Only the Lord has the power for these promises
Zerubbabel must remember who has the ultimate authority
On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
What is a signet ring?
sing of authority
the authority of the wearer
Zerubbabel’s obedience includes him in the promise
Unlike his ancestors
“As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet ring on my right hand, yet I would tear you off
Zerubbabel is now an instrument of God’s will
Zerubbabel is now an instrument of God’s will
Did this happen?
We don’t see immediate fulfillment
But we do see Zerubbabel’s name again
and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor,
the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
The Lord’s prophecies were fulfilled through the incarnation, death, and ressurection of Jesus
As we close out Haggai, we relate in multiple ways
As we close out Haggai, we relate in multiple ways
We are Zerubbabel
so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
We are the temple
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
We are the fulfillment
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
But like Zerubbabel, we can experience the power of God
But like Zerubbabel, we can experience the power of God
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
God’s power was demonstrated through obedience in the small things
We can also experience His power
because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
Obedience to the simple Gospel is our pathway to God’s power
But you have to decide:
who do you work for?
What is your purpose?
Whose power are you expecting?