"The Prophet Haggai-Pt 2," 12/31/2025, Wed. PM Bible Study, Haggai 2, Pastor Jerry N. Thrower

Описание: A PDF Copy of FULL BIBLE STUDY NOTES ON PT 1 and PT 2 is at:
https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermons/1...
B. The ENCOURAGEMENT To Complete The TEMPLE. (2:1-23)
1. The MESSAGE Of ENCOURAGEMENT. (2:1-9)
HAGGAI’S THIRD MESSAGE came during the FEAST OF TABERNACLES (which would have been in October of 520 B.C.)
The older PEOPLE could remember the incredible BEAUTY and GLORY of SOLOMON’S TEMPLE which had been destroyed.
Many of the PEOPLE were discouraged because they viewed the TEMPLE that they were building as being inferior to SOLOMON’S.
But we see that HAGGAI ENCOURAGED them with GOD’S MESSAGE that the SPLENDOR of this TEMPLE would surpass that of its predecessor.
The most important part of the TEMPLE was GOD’S PRESENCE. 500 years later, JESUS CHRIST would walk in this TEMPLE COURTS.
Notice the LORD’S ENCOURAGEMENT was for them to BE STRONG and WORK!
GOD’S WORD also ENCOURAGES us to BE STRONG and WORK!
Ephesians 6:10–“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”
1 Corinthians 15:58–“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
GOD wants to change the world through us. HE has given us a job to do for HIM! The time has come for us to get our PRIORITIES straight and then to BE STRONG and WORK, for GOD IS WITH US!
No matter the difficulties we face or how frustrating our work for HIM gets, GOD’s SPIRIT is with us!
2. The MESSAGE Of CLEANSING And BLESSING. (2:10-19)
This MESSAGE was given in December in 520 B.C. The MESSAGE here is clear. HOLINESS does not rub off on others, but contamination will!
Now that the PEOPLE were beginning to OBEY GOD, HE PROMISED to ENCOURAGE and PROSPER them, but they needed to understand that activities in the TEMPLE would not clean up their SIN.
Only REPENTANCE and a return to OBEDIENCE could do that!
If we insist on harboring WRONG ATTITUDES and SINS or on maintaining close relationships with SINFUL people, we will be contaminated.
SIN and SELFISH ATTITUDES stain everything they touch. Even GOOD WORKS done for GOD can be tainted by SINFUL ATTITUDES. The only remedy is GOD’S CLEANSING!
HOLY LIVING will come only when we are EMPOWERED BY GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT!
In verses 18 and 19 we see that the PEOPLE relaid the TEMPLE FOUNDATION, but the drought of DIVINE JUDGMENT from previous disobedience had already affected the year’s harvest so that their barns were already emptied of the sparse harvest.
They didn’t have their staples or luxuries. They were to give careful thought to this. But the LORD PROMISED them that things would be different.
HE would now BLESS them. Their FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE in continuing to rebuild would enable them to experience GOD’S BLESSING.
Often GOD sends HIS ENCOURAGEMENT and APPROVAL with our first few OBEDIENT STEPS. HE is eager to BLESS us!
3. The MESSAGE Of ASSURANCE. (2:20-23)
HAGGAI’S final MESSAGE was to ZERUBBABEL, the governor of JUDAH. It was a MESSIANIC PROPHECY concerning ZERUBBABEL.
Just as the PEOPLE had needed ENCOURAGEMENT to rebuild the TEMPLE, ZERUBBABEL needed ENCOURAGEMENT to lead this PEOPLE.
In verses 21 and 22, the LORD spoke of the FUTURE JUDGMENT of the GENTILE NATIONS to come.
In verse 23, the LORD says that HE will take ZERUBBABEL and make him as a SIGNET.
A SIGNET ring was used to GUARANTEE the AUTHORITY and AUTHENTICITY of a letter. It served as a SIGNATURE when pressed in soft wax on a written document.
GOD was REAFFIRMING/GUARANTEEING HIS PROMISE of a MESSIAH through DAVID’S LINE. (Matthew 1:12)
GOD closes HIS MESSAGE to ZERUBBABEL with this MESSAGE, “I have chosen thee!”
Such a proclamation is ours as well! Those of us who are SAVED are CHOSEN OF GOD!
Ephesians 1:4–“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
The fact that we have been CHOSEN BY GOD should make us see our VALUE in GOD’S EYES and MOTIVATE us to WORK FOR HIM!
When Satan gets you down, remind yourself that GOD HAS CHOSEN YOU!
Conclusion
There are several lessons that we can glean from this book:
1. We must see the danger of lapsing into self-contentment!
We can BEGIN RIGHT in the LORD, but we must KEEP RIGHT to experience HIS BLESSING!
2. We must see that the time of doing for GOD is always at hand!
3. We must see that GOD’S BLESSING is contingent upon our being OBEDIENT to GOD!
4. We must see that GOD will fulfill all HIS PROMISES concerning the LORD JESUS CHRIST! GOD IS FAITHFUL!
Central Baptist Church of Orange Park Florida
Independent Fundamental King James Bible Believing Teaching Preaching
‪@pastorjerryn.thrower‬