The Lord says,
"Remain faithful in Me, and stay focused on what I've called you to be and to do! Remain faithful to your covenant with Me, and keep your eyes and ears on My words! Do not allow your priorities to be misplaced, and do not allow your assignments to be diluted by those who do not understand what I'm doing in your life!"
The Lord says further,
"The enemy is trying to do whatever to upset My works and plans for your life. But do not allow yourself to get out of focus and be distracted from what I have called you to be and to do!"
How does the enemy 'upset' God's works/plans for your life?
- by sowing the seed of discouragement against you
- by sowing the seed of accusations against you
- by using people to gossip/character-assassinate against you
- by attacking your health and well-being
*However, please differentiate the above from constructive criticism or advice, because we should always be humble enough to let people correct us or improve us. At the same time, we should also learn to be good stewards of our lives, be it in thoughts, words, or deeds, and of course, in taking care of our health. We can't possibly claim the enemy is attacking our health when we become couch potatoes and eat potato chips all day long!
Let's go straight now to the book of Haggai. At that time, God's people had become complacent and had forgotten their priority, i.e. to put God's kingdom first above all else. And through prophet Haggai, the Lord conveyed these messages to His people:
- A call to remain faithful and remember His plans
- A call not to get distracted from building His plans
- A call for His people to rise up from the 'ashes' and humiliation of Babylonian exile
- A call for His people to reclaim their rightful place and shine for Him
*From historical timeline, Haggai's prophecy came at a time when God's people were extremely vulnerable. They had been humbled by their 70-year exile in Babylon, and were so discouraged by the opposition against them in rebuilding God's temple that they quit! (see Ezra 4:24) Haggai thus encouraged them to complete what they have started!
In Haggai 2:2-5 (NLT), the Lord spoke these words through prophet Haggai, "Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land: 'Does anyone remember this house - this Temple - in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.'"
People of God, prophetically-speaking, we too are currently at a crucial time when the Lord is speaking the same to us! Be strong! Don't get distracted! Stay focused on your God-given calling and purposes in life! The truth is, as believers, each of us has a specific God-given calling in life (no two persons are exactly the same), each of us has been endowed with spiritual gifts and talents (for us to use for His glory), and therefore, each of us is a ministering Christian - being salt and light to this world! (see Matthew 5:13-16)
Here in the book of Haggai, the message to rebuild God's temple was simple and straightforward. Very interestingly, after thousands of years, the book of Haggai remains unique and special among the books of Old Testament prophets for one key reason: The people actually listened! :) It was indeed a 'kairos' moment in the history of God's people, and when the Lord spoke through prophet Haggai, a 'paradigm shift' in God's people happened! Their lives shifted from 'devotion to self' to 'devotion to God'! Their lives shifted from 'self-interest' to 'God-interest'! Their lives shifted from 'building own things' to 'building God's things'!
In Haggai 2:6-9 (NLT), the Lord spoke, "In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!"
In Haggai 2:21-23 (NLT), the Lord spoke further, "Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other. But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!"
People of God, your time for the above has come too! You and I are now that Temple, filled with His greater glory! 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT) says, 'Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple'.
Indeed, greater glory of the Lord is coming upon your life, and a new authority in Him has been given to you! By the way, 'signet ring' here is 'khothawm' in Hebrew, and it simply means 'signature', which speaks of you having the authority in Christ to 'sign' something, and whatever you 'sign' becomes a decree! In other words, no word (or work) of the enemy can overturn this decree that you make!
As God's people, are you building your own 'empire' for own selfish ambitions? Or are you building God's kingdom, leaving a legacy that will stand the test of time and test of fire? Choose ye this day! As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord! (Joshua 24:15) Keep building lives, keep equipping lives, keep 'adding value' to others, keep bringing God's heart to people, and keep pointing people to Jesus! The Lord who sees these will know how to honor you, just as prophet Haggai had spoken those days! Amen!
