Haggai 2:4-5
Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
Never shrink back in fear!
This is not the time to shrink back in fear even when it looks like things are becoming more and more difficult. Or when your enemies are surrounding you expecting your work to fail. Many people are facing tremendous situations of all sorts, but rest assured that God will not let you fail. He sees where you are and has already designed a plan to move you forward. The enemy’s plan is to hinder or stop the work of God in progress. He will do anything to frustrate and discourage you from moving on with the plan of God.
It was important for the prophet Haggai to deliver the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to Joshua the High Priest and to the remnant of people returning after the exile. Some of the people knew about the former glory of the temple of God. Upon their return, they first re-established the religious observances of the nation as God had ordained. Then their next move was to rebuild the temple of the Lord and this was no easy job. Zerubbabel was stirred by the Spirit of the Lord to rebuild Solomon’s temple, this was an assignment that Zerubbabel decided to carry out regardless. It was difficult but he knew God told him to do it. You know, sometimes, God places things on your heart to do and in many cases it seems extremely difficult. How many times have we aborted the plan of God because it appears to be impossible or too difficult, so we shrink back in fear because we feel we cannot accomplish the task ahead? This is exactly the enemy’s plan. He will use fear to intimidate us. His plan to magnify the problem and diminish the solutions.
Rely God’s history- He never fails
Whatever God did before, he can do it again and even greater. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says “What has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Zerubbabel had history to rely on. There was a great testimony of a magnificent temple, Built by King Solomon. This amazing work was deemed glorious; it was a splendid temple established to house the Glory of God.
David told Solomon his son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord (1Chronicles 28:20).” If David’s encouragement was so important to Solomon, how much more did Zerubbabel needed encouragement? Zerubabbel knew that the same God who empowered Solomon to start and finish all the work of the temple, will also empower him to finish this great work. God who started the work in Zerubbabel was well able to complete it. God spoke through several prophets concerning the rebuilding of the temple, which would be undertaken by Zerubbabel and others, assuring him that the work he would now start, would be completed (Zech.4:9).
We also have the word of God to totally trust and rely on. God’s track records follow his name throughout the Bible and in real life. Why not trust God to accomplish his word in your life today. The same God who began the work in you is also faithful to bring it to completion.
“BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM (Heb.10:38 NASB).”
Advancing the kingdom of God in the earth!