Israel has been destroyed because of their disobedience and they are captives in Babylon, after 70 years, God is calling them to leave, return to Israel and rebuild the temple of God.

Glory means having a clearer picture of who God is

1. Zerubbabel was called to build a temple in the midst of a destroyed Jerusalem

Philippians 1: 18 – 21 …I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body..

Spirit of God came upon Zerubbabel to empower him to accomplish what God was calling him to do.

Haggai 1: 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel …. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God

Haggai 2: 4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD… Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty

this meant…

  • Paul had a trust in God
  • Paul knew God loved him

God is with us today through the Holy Spirit (John 14: 18)

We are not going to accomplish anything in our own power anyway because only God can accomplish building his temple. (Zechariah 4: 6)

2. Zerubbabel was in a battle of faith

Zechariah 4: 7 “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground

Matthew 17: 20 I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Key Point: The whole battle is a battle of our faith

3. Zerubbabel starts building and opposition shows up

Ezra 4: 1 – 3 opposition to the building of the temple shows up

Our words can be true, but it is the spirit that is behind them that makes them acceptable to God.

  • Luke 4: 41 Demon leaving you are the Christ the Son of God. Shut up.
  • Luke 9: 20 Peter You are the Christ sent from God. Holy Spirit told you this

4. Building stops because of the battle

Haggai 1: 2 is it not the time to build the House of God?

The people got lazy and forgot about God as they made their own lives more comfortable.

There was no satisfaction Haggai 1: 6 you plant a lot and harvest a little.

Temple we build may not look like much but the glory of it is going to be greater than the glory of the old temple. That glory was so powerful that the priest could not work, but glory means a clearer picture of who Jesus is so the new temple had Jesus himself come into it. You can’t get a clearer picture than seeing Him face to face.