We Still Have Work to Do

God has to remind them that the success of the project is depending on their willingness to get to work themselves. When it comes to seeing change in the kingdom of God, in your church, and in your life it must begin with “your” work. Zerubbabel is the government he can’t do it alone, Joshua is the high priest and he can’t do it alone, the people can’t do it alone. It’s going to take a group effort if they are going to work it out. The results that you hope for are not going to be the result of God doing it for you.

You wan’t to see revival in this city we can’t leave it to our religious leaders, we sho can’t leave it to our governor. Its going to take our own community to build what is in ruins. Are you not satisfied with the way your church is going or you wan’t to see the church change and grow, the pastor can’t do it alone, the deacons and ministry leaders can’t do it. Its going to take all hands on deck.

Work Regardless of What Was

memory of the past

people who where there

resourses

Work Remembering the Presence of the Spirit

God then reassures them that he is present with them. And the translation can’t really do it justice, because its trying to say no only am i with with you, but “abiding” or “remains” indication that His presence has never left them. He takes them back to Exodus 29:46 where he told them he’d be with them.

He made a promise to them then and he intends on keeping it. When you were in Egypt I was with you…Red Sea...wilderness…Jericho...

The work can carry one because God is with them.

The Spirit empowers us.

Work Reassured that what will be is greater than what was.

Besides the lack of effort and the memory of what the temple used to be the people of God had another problem. They lacked resources. They did not have the furnishings of old. They are newly freed from captivity and they don’t have much. So, fear of some sort has crept in. They began to feel uneasy about the possibilities of doing a good job because they didn’t have in their possession what they needed. And truth be told sometimes we look at our present condition, we look at our goals and realistically acknowledge that we might not have in the moment all that we need. And you might be thinking, “but didn’t Jesus say to count the cost”? Yes. He did. And you should. But even when you count the cost leave a little room for God’s provision. Especially when it is God who gave the directive to build.