7-22-17 Ben Mauldin III
Haggai
Has a past mean, current and future mean. The rebuilding of the Temple
We are the Temple of God.
As was Christ. God is building his temple in us. Not a corporate entity
or building. It is the body of believers called out to do his work. We
are a part time of his temple. We are not only a part of
the building but working on it.
Everyday we need to ask am I building on to Gods temple.
Temple representing Jesus Christ.
“And He said to those who
sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a
house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was
written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered
and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these
things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in
three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken
forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise
it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered
that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the
word which Jesus had said.”
John 2:16-22 NKJV
“Or do you not know that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have
from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price;
therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which
are God’s.”
I Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
“Now, therefore, you are
no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being
the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are
being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV
We are being built
together by the master builder with Jesus Christ as the corner stone. Or
the cap stone. You have to have a good fountain but also a good
covering. Bout as a spiritual dwelling place of God.
Reference timeline.
“In the second year of
King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word
of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak,
the high priest, saying, “Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying: ‘This
people says, “The time has not come, the time that the LORD’s house
should be built.” ’ ””
Haggai 1:1-2 NKJV
Do we feel this way sometimes?
That our house is not being built?
“Then the word of the
LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “ Is it time for you yourselves
to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Now
therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways!”
Haggai 1:3-5 NKJV
Get your ways right.
““You have sown much, and
bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you
are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the
mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure
in it and be glorified,” says the LORD. “ You looked for much, but
indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home,
I blew it away. Why?” says the LORD of hosts. “Because of My house that
is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore
the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its
fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and
the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever
the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of
your hands.””
Haggai 1:6-11 NKJV
If we're not working on the right things it can be a drought to us
“Then Zerubbabel the son
of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all
the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and
the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had
sent him; and the people feared the presence of the LORD. Then Haggai,
the LORD’s messenger, spoke the LORD’s message to the people, saying, “I
am with you, says the LORD.” So the LORD stirred up the spirit of
Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah,
and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the
spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on
the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of
the sixth month, in the second year of King
Darius.”
Haggai 1:12-15 NKJV
““If you love Me, keep My
commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another
Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom
the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows
Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I
will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:15-18 NKJV
““I do not pray for these
alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that
they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that
You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that
they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they
may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have
sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved
Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me
where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for
You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The
world has not known You, but I have known You;
and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your
name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be
in them, and I in them.””
John 17:20-26 NKJV
If we follow Jesus Christ he will dwell with us as well the Father
“In the seventh month, on
the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the
prophet, saying: “Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor
of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest,
and to the remnant of the people, saying: ‘Who is left among you who
saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In
comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”
Haggai 2:1-3 NKJV
Some of them had seen the
original Temple. Maybe not in the same Glory as when first built by
King Solomon. Now they are seeing the burnt out frame.
We can see this in
another way. We once saw a beautiful Church with buildings, TV shows and
corporate jets. Back to those at the temple, some who had seem before
saw it differently than God.
“Yet now be strong,
Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak,
the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the
LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘ According
to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so
My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ “For thus says the LORD of
hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth,
the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations,
and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this
temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘The silver is Mine, and the
gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘The glory of this latter temple
shall be greater than the former,’ says
the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD
of hosts.””
Haggai 2:4-9 NKJV
Why it might not seem as big or important in the past, all hat matters is how God sees it.
“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, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Now,
ask the priests concerning the law, saying, “If one carries
holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches
bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ’ ” Then
the priests answered and said, “No.” And Haggai said, “If one who is
unclean because of a dead body touches any of these,
will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be
unclean.” Then Haggai answered and said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is
this nation before Me,’ says the LORD, ‘and so is every work of their
hands; and what they offer there is unclean.”
Haggai 2:10-14 NKJV
You can't make something Holy by touching it but you can make something unclean.
“Then Haggai answered and
said, “ ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the
LORD, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is
unclean. ‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward:
from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the LORD — since
those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but
ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the
press, there were but twenty. I struck you with
blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did
not turn to Me,’ says the LORD. ‘Consider now from this day forward,
from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the
foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid—consider
it: Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the
pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this
day I will bless you. ’ ” And again the word of the LORD came to Haggai
on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying,
“Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven
and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the
strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And
those who ride in them; The horses and their riders
shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother. ‘In that day,’
says the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son
of Shealtiel,’ says the LORD, ‘and will make you like a signet ring;
for I have chosen you,’ says the LORD of hosts.””
Haggai 2:14-23 NKJV
Zerubbabel and Joshua both represent Christ.
“For we are God’s fellow
workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the
grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid
the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one
take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay
than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on
this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day
will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will
test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has
built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will
be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the
temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone
defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God
is holy, which temple you are.”
I Corinthians 3:9-17 NKJV
We have a responsibility to not defile this temple. We need to build on it through study.
“And He Himself gave some
to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the
unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we
should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with
every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of
men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the
truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the
head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
every joint supplies, according to the effective working
by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the
edifying of itself in love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
Edifying is building up. That's the goal.
“For I say, through the
grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has
dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members
in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we,
being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one
another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us
prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our
ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in
exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with
diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be
without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving
preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit,
serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in
tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the
needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute
you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one
another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the
humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible,
as much as depends on you, live peaceably with
all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to
wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the
Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty,
give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap
coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome
evil with good.”
Romans 12:3-21 NKJV
“There are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the
same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the
word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge
through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another
gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these
things, distributing to each one individually as He
wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members
of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by
one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free—and have all been made
to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but
many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the
body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say,
“Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,”
is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where
would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the
smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body
just as He pleased. And if they were all one
member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members,
yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of
you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much
rather, those members of the body which seem
to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we
think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our
unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have
no need. But God composed the body, having given
greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no
schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for
one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;
or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice
with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And
God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets,
third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do
all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a
more excellent way.”
I Corinthians 12:4-31 NKJV
Everyone has his work, his job and it's not the same job.
“Therefore, laying aside
all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as
newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow
thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming
to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God
and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual
house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable
to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it
is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief
cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no
means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious;
but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which
the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone
of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to
the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His
own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a
people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now
have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners
and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak
against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they
observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Therefore
submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake,
whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those
who do good. For this is the will of God, that by
doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as
free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of
God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
I Peter 2:1-17 NKJV
“Then he showed me Joshua
the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan
standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the LORD said to Satan,
“The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke
you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed
with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He
answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the
filthy garments from him.” And to him He said,
“See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with
rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So
they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him.
And the Angel of the LORD stood by. Then the
Angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the LORD of
hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My
courts; I will give you places to walk Among these
who stand here. ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your
companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold,
I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I
have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven
eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ Says the LORD of hosts,
‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,’
says the LORD of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his
vine and under his fig tree.’ ””
Zechariah 3:1-10 NKJV
“Now the angel who talked
with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his
sleep. And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking,
and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of
it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps.
Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at
its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me,
saying, “What are these, my lord?” Then the angel
who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these
are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” So he answered and said to me: “This
is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but
by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts. ‘Who
are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to
it!” ’ ” Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: “The hands of
Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this
temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the
LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small
things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of
Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which
scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” Then I answered and said
to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand
and at its left?” And I further answered and said to him, “What are
these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles
of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” Then he
answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are? ” And I said,
“No, my lord.” So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand
beside the Lord of the whole earth.””
Zechariah 4:1-14 NKJV
Sometimes we think anything we do is a small thing. God sees it amplified by Gods Spirit.
God sees the plumb line in the hands of his King.
“Even those from afar
shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that
the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you
diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.””
Zechariah 6:15 NKJV
If we are following his plan it's no small thing.
