Part 8: Patient Perseverance

INTRO

Haggai 2:1–5 ESV

1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet: 2 “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, 3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? 4 Yet 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. Work, for I am with you, declares the Lord of hosts, 5 according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

1) Encouragement Through Presence (vs. 1-5)

The people are discouraged about work of the temple (vs. 1-3)

It’s just not the same...

It could never be better than the good ole’ days

It’s never gonna be that good again...

What the people were longing for was a time when the temple was a place of pride and symbol of power.

It was also during this time that people turned to other false gods, and even when the temple stood, their hearts were not where they should have been.

Too often when we think about the good ole days, we remember the good but are naive to the reality of where we stood in God’s economy.

What we really want is the pride and comforts, but what we had were distractions of complacency or apathy towards God.

The only thing good is God and His presence should be more than enough!

God encourages them by reminding them of His presence (vs. 4-5)

God is telling the people, don’t give up doing what is truly good!

Don’t get discouraged by the hard work.

Don’t get discouraged by the mirage of the past.

Be encouraged because I am with you!

God’s presence alone needs to be our driving motivation.

The world may be falling apart all around you…but keep taking the next right steps with God because He is with you.

Keep doing the hard things inwardly and outwardly because God’s Spirit remains in your midst

In fact, as God’s child, you are also His temple and His Spirit is not just in your midst…it’s in you!

2) Encouragement Through Promise (vs. 6-9)

Haggai 2:6–9 ESV

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’ ”

God reaffirms the encouragement of His presence by with the declaration of His promises.

God promises that in His timing, He will shake things up. (vs. 6-7)

God promises that everything is His. (vs. 8)

God promises a future glory filled with peace. (vs. 9)

When we are faithful to God, He is going to provide moments in our lives that will set our lives on a new direction and a new course.

At the right time for your best, God will do works in your life that will be unbelievable.

Don’t think that He can’t because He can!

All the turmoil that’s in your life presently, will have no anxiousness you as you keeping walking with God and persevere!

3) Encouragement to Persevere (vs. 10-19)

Haggai 2:10–19 ESV

10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, 11 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: 12 ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’ ” The priests answered and said, “No.” 13 Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” 14 Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. 15 Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, 16 how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. 18 Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider: 19 Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”

Perseverance isn’t easy but there is nothing that is worthwhile that is.

Warning from God: Holiness is deliberate. Defilement is careless. (vs. 10-14)

Warning from their past (vs. 15-18)

Perseverance of Heart will be rewarded (vs. 19)

Perseverance is a daily walk that is filled with intentionality.

We must be active in seeking holiness and righteousness by walking with God through living out His Word.

We need to be aware that when we take our eyes off of God, our lives get trapped in ruts.

We need to remember that perseverance is hard…but it is worth it.

CLOSING

How is your walk with God?

Do you need to be reassured of His presence?

Do you need to be reassured by His promises?

Do you need to be reminded to Persevere?

We can count on God’s presence and His promises. We must be intentional to pursue holiness and righteousness and persevere in our daily walk with Jesus.

Do you need to begin a relationship with God?

God’s encouragement and blessings all stem from His presence. Sin separates us from God’s presence. As a person who is a sinner, you are separated from God.

God wants you to be His. He loves you so much that He made a way for you to be a part of His future glory.

God sent His one and only Son to be the payment for your sin debt against Him.

The only way to can come to God is through Jesus, who died for you and then was raised back to life 3 days later sealing His triumph over sin and death and declaring that He has accomplished hope for you.

If you will repent from sin and turn to Jesus you will be saved and the hope of Christ in you will be yours.