Filling the House with Glory
Haggai: Restoring the Home • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Haggai 2:1-9
Discouraged in the Work of the Lord
Discouraged in the Work of the Lord
Discouragements we face
Discouragements we face
Monday Morning Preaching
Agonizing over a stinker of a sermon
In evangelism and discipleship
People just don’t seem to hear, or to change
In Spiritual growth
Wrestling with the same old things, progress toward holiness is slow
Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Things just seem small.
Is it not as nothing in your eyes? Things just seem small.
Discouragement in the work
The old and the new building - weeping and cheering.
Was there any point in the work, it would never be what it was, if it ever got finished.
Haggai - didn’t disagree -
God speaks a word to the discouraged.
He doesn’t disagree with their assessment - God deals in reality.
Real Spiritual growth begins with a recognition of our true state of affairs: we’re not fine.
In the midst of the mess, God calls us to be renewed in our work as we rest in His promise and look for His glory.
A Word to the Discouraged
A Word to the Discouraged
Act upon the promise of God
Act upon the promise of God
Be strong, work, and do not be afraid; taken apart from the promise, this can seem heartless.
Not: Grit your teeth, and give it your all…
Good advice to an athlete, but not in spiritual things, because we are not equal to the task. Like Moses we are weak, like Joshua the odds are overwhelming - but in every case the answer was: I am with you.
This is God’s Promise: I am with you… according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt
The 21st day of the 7th month - The feast of tabernacles: Remembering their time after leaving Egypt, in the wilderness for 40 years. God provided for their every need, and strengthened them for the journey.
When discouraged, the beginning is to stop listening to your own voice of doubt, and start listening to the voice of God; to stop looking to your own weakness, and to look to the strength of God who is with you.
Isaiah 41:13 - I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I say to you, fear not, I am the one who helps you.
Be Strong
Be Strong
Be strengthened and take courage! Knowing that God is with us, we can be strong and we can be equal to the task. In his strength we are strong, even when we seem weak.
Zech 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts
Eph 6:10 Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Work
Work
The day of small things and the work seems insignificant
What is the work God has given -
To believe in the Son - Faith To grow in grace - sanctification
To make the Son known - Witness
The Lord is with us, therefore our labor will not be in vain
There is no excuse for inactivity.
Motyer, “the presence of God is not replacement therapy but a recruiting sergeant.”
Our duty is to trust in his promise and engage in the work he has given.
Fear Not
Fear Not
Do not fear -
We fear our failures
We fear letting down, not living up to the past
We fear the critique of others
The gospel settles our every fear:
We have no fear of judgment - all judgment was put on Christ when he went to the cross on our behalf.
We know His work is sufficient - he who has begun a good work in you is faithful to bring it to completion
We know He will approve - well done, good and faithful servant.
The Glory God Brings
The Glory God Brings
Shaking the heavens, bringing the treasures
Shaking the heavens, bringing the treasures
Turning things upside down - the kings will bring in the treasure -
The silver, the gold, belong to the Lord. He does not lack anything needed to accomplish his purpose
The treasures brought in from the nations
The chosen, the elect, from every tribe and tongue
This is fulfilled in Christ
Rending the heavens - baptism
Shaking the earth - death
Drawing in all nations - pentecost
Hebrews 12 - shaking of the nations in his coming again
Filling with the House with Glory
Filling with the House with Glory
God routinely filled the temple with glory
Exodus
Solomon’s temple
These are shadows of the real glory
He comes full of the glory of the Father
Something greater than the temple is here - in Jesus
The transfiguration
Rev 21 - no need of Sun or Moon, or Temple, the Lord dwells in our midst
Bringing Peace
Bringing Peace
He himself is our peace through his death and resurrection
He has reconciled us to God
There is no fear of coming judgment because of his peace
Conclusion
Conclusion
Stop looking at yourself, and look to God who is with you
Don’t look at your own work, your own resources, your own failures and accomplishments - look to God, His Work, His gracious resources, His victory
Be strong, work hard, do not be afraid - because God has already brought a greater glory in Christ
The gospel doesn’t replace us, it motivates us - because of what He has already accomplished, I will be strong, I will work, and I will not be afraid