Be Strong

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ March 14, 2010

Be Strong!

Haggai 2… (page 668 pew bible)

Review… the people were:

  • Going through the motions… making little difference spiritually/eternally (like many believers today)
  • Give careful thought to your ways…  God used this phrase four times, In these two short chapters!
  • Fear and obey the Lord… Reverential fear of the Lord, humble surrender/repentance, then obedience

Step Up, Sell Out, Soar High!”  This morning as we finish Haggai chpt 2… we see the exhortation to be strong

 

“Be Strong”

Ephesians 6:10-11 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

  • “Strong” – the Greek word is ‘en-dynamo’: to make strong, strengthened… (from God’s Power within) power to overcome resistance… to move mountains, defeat giants
  • Our Creator God knows we are powerless without Him… We saw last week the people’s indifference
  • The Jews returned to their homeland, laid the foundation to the temple… then quit for 16 years…
  • God sent His prophet Haggai to kick em in the butt, stir them up to righteousness again… get busy
  • The people feared the Lord, They obeyed His Word, They began to work on the Lord’s House 1:14

 

God asks the people a question:  Haggai 2:3 'Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?

  1. As the temple was being built… some of the older people could remember (50yrs) the former glory of Solomon’s temple… that Nebuchadnezzar destroyed… Now in rebuilding the temple, some of the “old timers” wept seeing how small and plain this one was… seemingly insignificant in “scope of reality”, the people began to become depressed and discouraged in their works of service for the Lord… building…
  2. I believe we sometimes ask ourselves this same question… Our task in serving Christ today is GREAT…
  3. People with cold hard hearts to the Gospel… Seemingly “surrounded” by pagan “Samaritans”…
  4. What “little” I do for the Lord… “Does it not seem to you like nothing?”… Overwhelmed, why do it?
  5. “Scope of our task”, we sometimes find ourselves slipping away from the firm foundation of Christ… 

 

When Life “seems” empty, overwhelming, feeling discouraged & perhaps even becoming depressed…

When running on “Empty” spiritually…

I.   Be Courageous in the Lord (and work)!

Haggai 2:4-5 4 But 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, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the Lord Almighty. 5 'This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.'

  • 3X repeated word “Be Strong” means “take courage” and followed by a single command “to work”
  • Be courageous Zerubbabel, Be courageous Joshua, Be courageous all you people…
  • Be courageous in me and work… God’s Promise: I am with you as with the Israelites Exodus from Egypt
  • Depression, emptiness brings the doldrums (dull, listless mood, inactivity or stagnation)…
  • The secret for escape is Be Courageous in the Lord and get and stay busy working for Him… servant

 

Courage – to show oneself strong… to venture by faith, to persevere in the face of danger, fear, or difficulty knowing God is with you no matter what!

  1. Standing strong for the Lord, Building and Battling for Christ… Missionaries, witnessing, working…

 

“I pray that when I die, all of hell will rejoice that I am no longer in the fight.”---C.T. Studd

We have many examples… Be courageous in the Lord…

  • David & Goliath – King   

1 Samuel 17:45-46 45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.

 

  1. Courage for the cause of righteousness in Christ will quickly get the worlds attention…
  2. David went on to become the greatest King in the history of Israel… at the end of his life…

1 Kings 2:2 David about to die, he gives a charge to his son Solomon… "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what God requires… obedience to His Word…  Be strong and work

 

  1. David died, His son Solomon went on to build the most magnificent temple in Jerusalem
  2. Taking 153,600 laborers… imported wood… Estimated at $56 Billion in today’s currency

At the dedication… 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; his love endures forever."

 

  • Moses & Pharaoh – Deliverance           
  1. God spoke to Moses from within a burning bush… Holy Ground… “I AM WHO I AM”…

Exodus 4:10-12 10 Moses said to the Lord, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." 11 The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."

  1. God granted courage to a weak vessel named Moses to deliver 2 million people… bondage

 

  • You & Me – I can do all things (everything) through Christ who gives me strength Phil 4:13
  1. I wonder what area of your life do you need courage?  We’re promised God’s Power
  2. You may be beaten down with discouragement… lengthy illness, difficult divorce, wayward children, coming clean from bad habits, maybe it’s a fear to tell someone about your faith, failure to get involved serving in church… ushers, greeters, parkers, teachers, Jr Church,etc…

 

  1. God’s NOT calling the “superjocks” but the regular, weak people & powerfully using them
  2. Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”… 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
  3. Whether it was Zerubbabel, Joshua, the people of God, David, Moses, Paul… they were all courageous in the Lord and made their eternal mark by serving Him (God’s fingerprint)

 

 

Psalms 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

2 Chronicles 15:7 But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

 

  • The task ahead of you is never as great as the power behind you… trust in the Lord!

 

A Probing question to you… Write it out, be specific

Specifically, how am I serving the Lord… What am I doing to advance God’s Kingdom here on earth?

 

 

We must be courageous in the Lord… secondly

When running on “Empty” spiritually…

 

II.   Be Clean in your Lifestyle!

Haggai 2:11-14, 18-19 11 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'Ask the priests what the law says: 12 If a person carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, oil or other food, does it become consecrated?'" The priests answered, "No." 13 Then Haggai said, "If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?" "Yes," the priests replied, "it becomes defiled." 14 Then Haggai said, "'So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,' declares the Lord. 'Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled… 18-19 “give careful thought to your ways… I will bless you.”

  1. Through an illustration God is trying to teach His people about the corrupting power of sin
  2. Sin is like a transferable contagious disease… It’s generationally passed on to every person

 

Cleanness cannot be transferred, but defilement can (illustration with piece of glass a clean & a dirty rag)

  • Holiness cannot be rubbed on others, but contamination/sin can… (bad apple in a basket)

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 

1Co 5:6 “…a little leaven leavens the whole lump”

 

  • The rebuilt temple will not make the people holy… BUT an unholy people will make the temple unholy
  • The temple would not make Judah a holy community. But their obedience in building it, their demonstration of readiness to put God first, freed God to give them gracious, unmerited blessings.
  • You will never fly with the eagles if you run with the turkeys… Choose friends wisely… Sell out to Jesus!
  • Living a clean lifestyle in reverential fear & obedience… Be Holy as I am Holy…
  • A clean lifestyle is God’s requirement for His blessings… “I will bless you”… He graces us with blessings

 

Specifically, Describe how God is blessing your life…

 

 

When running on “Empty” spiritually…

  1. 1.)    We must be courageous in the Lord…   2.)  We must be clean in your lifestyle…

 

III.   Be Confident in your Future!

Haggai 2:6-7 6 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.

  1. God assures the people of ultimate success because of the future glory of the millennial temple
  2. “In a little while” – imminent, it could occur at any moment… The shaking, the filling…
  3. Even though this temple is not as significant as Solomon’s… there is coming a new AWESOME One!
  4. In this future temple, God says He will fill it with His Glory!  Guaranteed by the Lord ALMIGHTY!
  5. He will “Shake the heavens & the earth & the nations”… earthquakes is a symbol of divine judgment and God’s supernatural intervention in the affairs of man that will be poured out in His wrath
  6. Feeling overwhelmed?  Be confident in your future!  Many recent earthquakes, massive takeover by BIG Gov’t programs, spending out of control, Biometric National identity cards, false religions, apostasy, what is going on?  Crisis-crisis-crisis…  Jesus is coming!
  7. Step up… Sell out… Soar High!  Be courageous… Be clean… Be confident!  Jesus is coming soon!

 

Haggai 2:23 "'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."  (520 years before Christ)

  1. Solid truths to understand:  The Lord will fulfill this prophecy soon… The Lord will make Zerubbabel like His signet ring (seal/guarantee of royal authority & personal ownership – what God says, God will accomplish)… God tells Zerubbabel (whose in Christ’s lineage Mt 1:12), “I have chosen you”

 

  1. We too have been chosen and set apart for God, we’re in His family, Born again by His Spirit!  
  2. The Lord Almighty will accomplish what He has promised… the temple will be filled with the glory of the Lord, there will be peace and righteousness throughout the earth… Therefore God’s people (you and me today) are to be faithful to the task to which He has called us! 
  3. “Making Disciples” as we serve together here at Cross Creek!

 

Jesus is coming soon, am I ready?  Are my friends saved and ready?

I KNOW I’m saved because…

 

Who could I pray for and invite to Friend Day March 21st?

 

 

Lord help us not become weary in well doing.  Oh God, encourage us as we endeavor as a church family to reach a lost world before it’s eternally too late.  Oh God, allow us, your children to walk clean in our lifestyle, so others would see Christ in us.  Oh God, help us all to live in confident expectation that someday soon we will be in your very presence… and hear your words, “well done my faithful servant”.

Father speak to those here who don’t know you in a personal way, draw them into a new relationship with you by your Spirit.  Open the eyes of their hearts to see their sin and your Holiness.  Do a supernatural work in all our hearts, that you may be glorified.  This week, help us to invite our friends to next Sunday’s Friend Day as we look at the subject entitled, “HOPE”.

We thank you for hearing us, we thank you for speaking to us, we thank you for what you are doing and are going to do… keep us faithful to you as we wait for your Son, our Savior – Our Lord Jesus Christ