Grace Community Church
Big Idea: Anything worth building in life will come with challenges and demand something of us. When we face setbacks, our past experiences are the building blocks for the future.
Haggai 1:14 (NLT)
So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies...
Haggai 2:1-9 (NLT)
2 Then on October 17 of that same year,[a] the Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai. 2 “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land: 3 ‘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! 4 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. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’ 6 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 7 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. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 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!”
We are all in the process of building something, and there will come times when our hopes, our dreams for the future seem to be stuck, and we wonder what we are missing or if we should just give up.
What do you do in those times when the obstacles seem to become insurmountable?
1. Remember the past.
Haggai 2:3 (NLT)
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!
Haggai 2:9 (NLT)
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!
We are all in the process of building something, and there will come times when our hopes, our dreams for the future seem to be stuck, and we wonder what we are missing or if we should just give up.
What do you do in those times when the obstacles seem to become insurmountable?
1. Remember the past.
2. Remembering makes us courageous.
Haggai 2:4 (NLT)
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.
Haggai 2:5 (NLT)
My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.
Joshua 1:9 (NLT)
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Ezra 6:7-8 (NLT)
7 Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work. 8 “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.
We are all in the process of building something, and there will come times when our hopes, our dreams for the future seem to be stuck, and we wonder what we are missing or if we should just give up.
What do you do in those times when the obstacles seem to become insurmountable?
1. Remember the past.
2. Remembering makes us courageous.
3. Courage motivates us to get to work.
Haggai 2:4-5 (NLT)
4 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. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.
Haggai 2:9 (NLT)
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!
For My Personal Time With God This Week:
[#1] Read Haggai and see the work God was calling His people then to do. Pay special attention to Haggai 2:1-9. Why do you think God’s people doubted his promises and his faithfulness? What are the different promises God makes to his people?
[#2] Take some time to remember — God’s promises, and stories of God’s faithfulness to walk with you through them. What are some promises that God has made to you? Why is remembering God’s promises and resting in his faithfulness essential? What happens in your life when you forget God’s promises and doubt God’s faithfulness?
[#3] Read Deuteronomy 31 & Joshua 1 and consider the seemingly insurmountable obstacles that laid before Joshua when he was called to lead in kingdom work. Are there times when you have struggle to obey God because you fear that you would not have the necessary resources?
[#4] Pray about the decision laying ahead of us as a community this month, to expand and improve our campus here for future ministry. Ask God to give you clarity and peace, even if it means strength and courage, and perhaps personal sacrifice, will be involved. Speak to leaders at Grace about any questions or concerns you might have that they could answer.