Haggai 2:7-9
With the worsening of economies, the rising prices and the instability in the markets, the world feels a level of insecurity that it is unfamiliar with. Believers rest in their Savior, knowing that God has it all under control, but the unbeliever has no such faith. What can be shaken, is being shaken, as God said that He would do (verse 7). The things that are of Him, namely the gospel of His grace and goodness, cannot be shaken so they will remain in this final hour (Hebrews 12:25-28).
The thing that every believer looks forward to, and most unbelievers think is a joke, is the arrival of Jesus Christ. Haggai called Him, “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7). What a wonderful description of our Lord Jesus. Even those who do not realize that they are seeking for Jesus are doing so every time that they try to find happiness in the things of this world. All of these things shake and fade away, and man must replace the joy that went with them. They are seeking after what Jesus offers, whether they realize it or not. As Simon said to Jesus, “All men seek for thee” (Mark 1:37).
God gives a further promise in the next verse of Haggai, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (2:8). Everything belongs to the Lord. This world has its system of finances and government, but it all belongs to God. Even the silver and the gold, which is the monetary system of this world, is all in the hands of God. His desire is not only to bless His people with spiritual things, but to bless us financially as well. Some try to argue that this silver and gold is symbolic, but there was actual silver and gold in the temple and it is the temple that God is speaking of.
Finally, a great promise that is being fulfilled even now: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:9). Paul declared that as believers, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The glory of the great temples of yesterday cannot compare to the glory of having the Holy Spirit reside within the heart and life of a child of God.
You do not find the presence of God in a church building, you find Him in your heart. The desire of all nations is Jesus, and He lives within each believer. The latter is better than the former because in the past, prior to Calvary, the only place where God could be approached was within the walls of the physical temple. Now, because Jesus has provided a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), we can draw near to God because of His residence within our own body. We are not “little god’s”, but we belong to a “big God”!
If you find yourself lonely today, or bogged down with the cares of this life, remember that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives and dwells within you and He is ready to provide His temple with whatever it takes to bring it glory and honor.
With the worsening of economies, the rising prices and the instability in the markets, the world feels a level of insecurity that it is unfamiliar with. Believers rest in their Savior, knowing that God has it all under control, but the unbeliever has no such faith. What can be shaken, is being shaken, as God said that He would do (verse 7). The things that are of Him, namely the gospel of His grace and goodness, cannot be shaken so they will remain in this final hour (Hebrews 12:25-28).
The thing that every believer looks forward to, and most unbelievers think is a joke, is the arrival of Jesus Christ. Haggai called Him, “the desire of all nations” (Haggai 2:7). What a wonderful description of our Lord Jesus. Even those who do not realize that they are seeking for Jesus are doing so every time that they try to find happiness in the things of this world. All of these things shake and fade away, and man must replace the joy that went with them. They are seeking after what Jesus offers, whether they realize it or not. As Simon said to Jesus, “All men seek for thee” (Mark 1:37).
God gives a further promise in the next verse of Haggai, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts” (2:8). Everything belongs to the Lord. This world has its system of finances and government, but it all belongs to God. Even the silver and the gold, which is the monetary system of this world, is all in the hands of God. His desire is not only to bless His people with spiritual things, but to bless us financially as well. Some try to argue that this silver and gold is symbolic, but there was actual silver and gold in the temple and it is the temple that God is speaking of.
Finally, a great promise that is being fulfilled even now: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:9). Paul declared that as believers, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). The glory of the great temples of yesterday cannot compare to the glory of having the Holy Spirit reside within the heart and life of a child of God.
You do not find the presence of God in a church building, you find Him in your heart. The desire of all nations is Jesus, and He lives within each believer. The latter is better than the former because in the past, prior to Calvary, the only place where God could be approached was within the walls of the physical temple. Now, because Jesus has provided a new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), we can draw near to God because of His residence within our own body. We are not “little god’s”, but we belong to a “big God”!
If you find yourself lonely today, or bogged down with the cares of this life, remember that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He lives and dwells within you and He is ready to provide His temple with whatever it takes to bring it glory and honor.
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