Major Messages from the Minor Prophets: God is in Control—Haggai

Text: Haggai 2:20-23

Theme: There are many things in this world that we have absolutely no control over, but there is nothing that God does not have control over.

Date: 01/22/2017 File name: MinorProphets_15b.wpd ID Number: 236

There are many things in this world that we have absolutely no control over. The stock market frequently bounces up and down like a pogo stick, the economy has been stagnant for eight years, and old state rivals are posing new threats. Our national debt is over 19 trillion dollars, and they tell us that social security is going bankrupt. Healthcare is unaffordable and jobs are scarce. ISIS is on the march, North Korea is testing missiles and Iran is building nuclear weapons. Our country is becoming increasingly divided.

We live in a world filled with trouble, turmoil, difficulty and uncertainty. As Christians we deal with the same personal issues everyone — lost or saved — deals with ... a wayward child, bills that you can't pay, problems at work, health issues or any of a host of other situations and problems that consume your life. This weekend, Linda and I learned afresh the truth of Ecclesiastes ... “[As] no man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. “ (Ecclesiastes 8:8, NIV84)

Many times we are blinded by circumstance and often we forget who is really in control. When this happens, doubt enters our minds and fear begins to consume our lives. If that is the case for you, Haggai comes bearing good news. God Almighty is, always has been and always will be in control!

When you are tempted to fear remember that your Heavenly Father is sovereign in His authority! He is Omniscient, which means that He knows all. He is Omnipotent, which means He is all powerful. He is Omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at all times.

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 10:29-30 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

What a comforting promise form our Savior. As we conclude our study of the Book of Haggai we come to a passage of scripture that reminds us just Who is in control. God sends Haggai to speak to Zerubbabel and deliver a message of great encouragement. In His message to His servant we see that God Has A Sovereign Plan, God Possesses Supreme Power and God in His infinite wisdom has Selected some Special People. I invite you to join me as we examine abundant evidence that "God Is In Control". The first piece of evidence that proves that God Is In Control is:

I. GOD'S SOVEREIGN PLAN

“The word of the LORD came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth.” (Haggai 2:20–21, NIV84)

1. sovereignty is defined as supreme power or authority

a. God is the supreme authority over creation, He is the supreme authority over History, and, He is the supreme authority over our lives

2. through His prophet, God sent a direct message to His servant Zerubbabel

a. remember, at this point the rebuilding process of the Temple was in it's infancy

1) there were a lot of unknowns

b. perhaps Zerubbabel was dealing with some uncertainty concerning the future

1) he was God's chosen man to lead this rebuilding process

2) imagine the great responsibility that rested upon his shoulders

A. GOD REMINDS ZERUBBABEL THAT HE IS IN CONTROL

1. Zerubbabel was the head of the tribe of Judah during the time of the return from the Babylon exile

a. he was the prime builder of the second Temple, which was later re-constructed by King Herod

b. he led the first group of captives back to Jerusalem and began rebuilding the Temple on the old site

c. but after the foundation was laid, opposition and other distractions took their mind and effort away from the Temple, and it construction lagged for 19-long years

2. urged by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-2), Zerubbabel resumed work on the Temple and the work was finished four years later, and dedicated with great pomp and rejoicing

a. Zerubbabel discovered that God was in control

1) God thunders, I will shake the heavens and the earth

2) the shaking would especially include the political world. “I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms”

b. God is still in control today and He still has a sovereign plan

1) God has a sovereign plan for this world, for the Bride of Christ, for the future, and for eternity

2) God has a sovereign plan for this church and God has a sovereign plan for each of you

3. Zerubbabel was simply a willing vessel that God would use to carry out His sovereign plan

a. that is what we must be! — willing vessels that God can use to carry out His sovereign plan

4. a legitimate question is, "how can we know God's sovereign plan for our lives?"

a. Zerubbabel learned of that plan through THE WORD OF THE LORD

b. Haggai went to him with a direct message from the Father

c. and we will learn of His plan for us the very same way... on the pages of HIS HOLY WORD!

5. when you search the scriptures you will hear the words that come from your Heavenly Father!

a. perhaps God has already revealed His plan for your life to you

1) maybe the task seems impossible

2) you look at what He has called you to do and you think that there is no way that you will ever be able to accomplish His purpose for you

b. if you will simply be a willing vessel and trust in Him... He will use you to fulfill His sovereign plan!

c. we are able to put our faith in God because He has the power and ability to do anything that He pleases — GOD IS IN CONTROL!

6. a sovereign plan is great, but it would mean nothing were it not for God's power to accomplish that plan

a. I am glad to report that God has the power to accomplish anything that He desires

II. GOD'S SUPREME POWER

“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.” (Haggai 2:21–22, NIV84)

1. in these verses we get a glimpse of God's sovereign plan

a. He tells Zerubbabel that the time is coming when He would shake the heavens and the earth, overthrow royal thrones and destroy the kingdoms of the heathen

b. He would overturn their chariots, the horses would fall and the riders will kill one another

2. there has been much debate over what specific conflict God is referring to in this text

a. many look at it as an eschatological passage telescoping to the end times

b. but what I would like for us to take away from this discourse is the fact that God retains supreme power

c. in every battle and conflict throughout history, God is, always has been and always will be in control!

3. He is so powerful in fact that He can even use His enemies to accomplish His sovereign will

A. BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL We Can Be Confident in God's Supreme Power

1. no matter what comes our way... no matter how bad things get, God's power will never fail

a. consider the scope of God's Supreme Power ...

1) He Has Power Over Nature - He can "shake the heavens and the earth".

2) He Has Power Over Rulers - Our God is able to "overthrow royal thrones" and "destroy the kingdoms of the heathen"

3) He Has Power Over Our Enemies - Romans 8:31 ... If God be for us, who can be against us?

b. we have no need to fear anything in nature... for God is more powerful!

c. we have no need to fear Governments and rulers... for God is more powerful!

d. we have no need to fear those who would come against us and persecute us... for God is more powerful!

2. whatever comes our way we can be confident in God's supreme power!

a. we can trust Him to see us through no matter how difficult the circumstance!

B. BECAUSE GOD IS IN CONTROL We Can Be Comforted By God's Supreme Power

1. when you truly grasp that God is in control there is no need to fear anyone or anything

a. many of our brethren have walked away from serving God because of fear

b. some have determined the task impossible and not even attempted to move forward

2. when you come to the realization that the One Who has called you to the task has the power to see you through then there is nothing that can stop you from reaching your goal

a. there is an old adage that states "If God brought you to it, He will see you through it"

b. we can be comforted in God's Supreme Power! We can trust that GOD IS IN CONTROL!

3. God has a sovereign plan and He possesses supreme power...there is nothing that He can't do

a. but in His infinite wisdom, God chooses to use us to accomplish His sovereign plan

b. this brings us to the last point that I would like to consider and that is

III. GOD'S SELECTED PEOPLE

“ ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” (Haggai 2:23, NIV84)

1. in this discourse God reveals His plan for Zerubbabel — consider ...

A. THE PURPOSE INVOLVED - God Chose Zerubbabel to Accomplish a Specific Task

1. he had a job for him to do

a. God used him to help the captives in returning to Jerusalem

b. He used him to reestablish the temple worship and He used him to lead the building program for the Second Temple

2. through the Word we find that God was pleased with Zerubbabel's service

a. God had a remnant of people to choose from and He chose Zerubbabel

b. in fact, there were more prominent people that God could have used, but He chose Zerubbabel

c. could it be that he was chosen because he was a willing vessel that the Lord could use

3. if you are a child of God then He has a specific purpose for your life as well

a. you have a calling ... you have a purpose

b. but like Zerubbabel you must be a willing vessel

c. if you will make yourself available to the Lord, He can use you to accomplish what seems impossible

4. not only is there a purpose for those that God selects, it is also a privilege to be selected — consider ...

B. THE PRIVILEGE INVOLVED

1. God says to him "On that day,' declares the Lord of hosts, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel ... My servant ... and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you."

ILLUS. A signet was worn on the finger or on a cord fastened round the neck. A signet was equivalent to a signature in a world where most people did not write. Thus Zerubbabel would be God’s signature, his authoritative leader among the remnant.

a. God had made a promise made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob concerning the Messiah

b. there were promises to Judah concerning the coming King

c. there were promises made to David that one of his descendants would rule from the throne of Israel

2. Zerubbabel was a descendant of David

a. the lineage of Christ (the Messiah) is traced back to David through Zerubbabel

“After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, ... 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” (Matthew 1:12, 16, NIV84)

3. Zerubbabel would be a part of something great long after his death

a. the fact that God chose him to accomplish what he did concerning the temple was a great privilege in itself

1) the Christ, the Son of the living God, would physically walk in the Temple he has rebuilt

We must never forget that we will be held accountable for our service. Paul says in - 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:10, NIV)

At the Judgment Seat, after our works will be put to the fire....there is the potential for some of what we did in this life to remain. What will remain? What we did for Jesus is what will endure the fire of his judgment. What remains will be the basis for rewards. Jesus will honor us by giving us rewards for the things we do for Him.

The Bible tells us five crowns that are available as rewards to the faithful saint of God.

1) The Incorruptible Crown

2) The Crown Of Life

3) The Crown Of Rejoicing

4) The Crown Of Righteousness

5) The Crown Of Glory

Every deed done in the name of Jesus will be blessed and rewarded by our Christ. We are chosen by God to fulfill His purpose and it is a privilege to be chosen. To know that we will be rewarded for simply being willing vessels is simply amazing to me. The best part about these rewards is the fact that we will then be able to offer them to our King. Revelation 4:10 “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

When it seems that accomplishing what God has called you to do is impossible... remember Zerubbabel, and what he learned about God ... God Has A Sovereign Plan, God Possesses Supreme Power and God in His infinite wisdom has Selected some Special People to accomplish His purposes.