Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Questions, Scripture, Sin

QUESTION NUMBER TWO

HAGGAI 2:13

“Then Haggai said, If one who is unclean from a corpse touches any of these things, will the latter become unclean?’ And the priests answered, ‘It will become unclean.’”

I was driving down a back country road recently when I started smelling this horrible smell. I instantly looked around in my truck, wondering if I had left something in there that had spoiled. Then I saw it. There was a dead animal beside the road that had obviously been there a few days. The stench from that carcass was wafting up and down that road for miles. I felt unclean just driving past it.

So, the second question gets asked of the priests. This time about passing uncleanness onto something. Remember, yesterday’s verse asked about transferring holiness which the priests answered in the negative. But here, the same action can transfer uncleanness, according to them. The teaching moment – it is a lot easier to transfer your sins. Only God can make something holy, but we can affect others through our actions.

APPLICATION

I want to ask you a personal question. Have you ever caused someone else to sin because of your own sin? Have you influenced others negatively? It is so easy to do that. Our actions have consequences, not only on ourselves, but potentially on others. I saw that far too often when I was working with children. Their parents’ choices influenced the children to follow the same sinful patterns.

In Matthew 18:6, Jesus tells us, “‘but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.’” That is pretty harsh, isn’t it? But I believe Jesus meant that. You see, our uncleanness can affect others.

Now, you can’t transfer your sins onto someone else. Everyone is responsible for their own sins. We are all born sinners (Romans 3:23). But our lesson for today is to be careful how we walk so that we do not influence anyone towards sin. That would be sin for us.

Lord, keep me focused on living for You so that I can influence others to live holy lives.

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Bible, Blessing, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Obedience, Offering, Sacrifice, Scripture

QUESTION NUMBER ONE

HAGGAI 2:12

“‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and touches bread with this fold, or touches cooked food, wine, oil, or any other food, will it become holy?’” And the priests answered, ‘No.’”

Have you ever wondered what makes something holy? We have the Holy Bible (that one is understandable). We have holy water (which is used by some). We even have holy smoke, lol. A question is poised by the Lord to the priests about how things become holy. This may seem like a foreign concept for us today. We’ll dig into that a little further in a minute.

In today’s verse the priests are asked if a certain action would cause something to be holy. Can meat, that has been blessed by the priests, transfer holiness from it to another object if it touches it? You can read about this transfer of holiness in Exodus 29:37 and Leviticus 6:27, 29; 7:6. It was the meat given to the priests as part of their provisions. This meat was a portion of the meat given by the people for sacrifice. This meat belonged to the Lord.

APPLICATION

Ahh! So, there it is! That is what makes something holy. We have the answer to the question. Holiness is only transferrable by the Lord. He makes something or someone holy. There is nothing we can do on purpose or accidentally that can confer holiness. Our holiness cannot be passed on. Each person must become holy on their own through the blood of Jesus.

You see that meat that was holy was only holy because it was part of the offering to God, a blood sacrifice. We are made holy through the blood of the Lamb. We are made more like Him (more holy) by surrendering more and more of ourselves on that altar of sacrifice. As we die to our flesh each day, the Lord allows us to experience more and more of His holiness.

Holiness is not something to be grabbed and obtained through a touch. Holiness comes through righteousness given to us by Jesus. Do you long to live holy? Do you want to be known as someone who lives holy? Then lay your life on that altar. Die to your will and live according to His will. Holiness will be poured upon you through His Spirit.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty…Only Thou art holy
There is none beside Thee, Perfect in power, in love and purity

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Commands, Obedience, Rules, Scripture

A RULING

HAGGAI 2:11

“The LORD of armies says this: ‘Now ask the priests for a ruling:’”

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a football fan, especially Georgia Bulldog football. But the one thing I don’t like about the game now are all the pauses in play for the official review of a play. In this scenario, the head umpire goes to the sideline to watch an instant replay of the play in question. This can take a few minutes to several minutes. All the while, the players are cooling down on the field and perhaps losing their momentum at that point in the game. But an official ruling is necessary before the game can continue.

It’s interesting to me that here in verse 11 of Haggai 2, we see God telling Haggai to ask the priests for a ruling. We will see that over the next couple of days. But why does God need the priests to make a ruling. He is not asking them for advice. No! He is just wanting them to take a closer look at His law, not their laws. Just like the head umpire, they need to look very close at what they are doing, at their rulings over people. God is always precise and perfect in His rulings. They weren’t.

APPLICATION

What do you need to take a closer look at? James tells us in James 1:25, “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.” “To look intently” means to stoop down and look, to really look. The same word is used in John when John and Peter went to the tomb after the resurrection of Jesus. It says John stooped and looked.

Take a few minutes today and “stoop and look” at how you are following Jesus. If you find yourself not following Him at all, stop whatever you are doing and come to Him. If for salvation, make today the day your surrender to Him. If for correction, let Jesus guide you back as you look intently at your walk.

We are all at different places in our walk with Jesus. But we all need to look intently and make a ruling about our journey. Make sure you are making the right ones. Only His Word can show you that. Take the time today. I promise it will be time worth taking.

I trust Your rulings in my life, O God. You are always right and true.

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Accountability, Advocate, Appointed, Bible, Bosses, Commands, Scripture, Testimony, Witnessing

GOD KEEPS SPEAKING

HAGGAI 2:10

“On the twenty-fourth of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Haggai the prophet, saying,”

I have a lot of bosses or supervisors during my ministry years. There were many times when they sent me to represent them in a meeting somewhere. I was usually given a message to deliver for them. When I delivered that message, I was careful to make sure the people in the meeting knew the words I shared were from my boss and not mine personally.

Haggai is a short book. Take a few minutes and read the whole book. As you are reading it, take note (if you want, use a highlighter) of every time the word of the Lord comes to Haggai or when it says “the Lord says” or something similar. You will see very quickly that Haggai is only speaking what the Lord told Him to say. He is only doing what the Lord has told him to do.

APPLICATION

We read something similar in John 15:49-50. “49 ‘For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.’”

Even Jesus spoke only what the Father told Him to say. If that is true of the Son of God, shouldn’t we practice the same? We are too quick to give “godly” advice to people that we have no business giving. We tell people what God says they should do without first asking the Lord about it. Yes, we should share the Word with others. Yes, we should talk about Jesus to others. But let’s be careful to speak only the words the Lord has given us.

I pray just about every morning for the Lord to give me the opportunity to share Jesus with someone. I want to witness. I want to testify to our risen Savior, but I only want to do that when it is clear the Lord has opened that door. I don’t want to kick the door open before it is time. The Spirit in me (which is the Spirit of God, will direct when, to whom and how to do that. So, listen intently to Him. He will tell you what to say.

I love to tell the story, ‘Twill be my theme in glory, To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

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Bible, Following, God's Will, Holiness, Modeling, Scripture

BIGGER AND BETTER

HAGGAI 2:9

 “‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of armies, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of armies.”

Everyone wants things bigger and better. Isn’t that right? If a two-bedroom house is good, a three-bedroom house is better. If you have earned $1 million, $2 million is better. Get the picture? We tend to think that way, but is it right? Is it God’s way? Let’s take a look at today’s verse and see.

God tells the Israelites that the new temple “will be greater than the former.” Was He declaring that it would be bigger and better? I don’t think so. You see, this new temple would be the very temple in which Jesus, His Son, would walk. The Messiah would enter it, bringing in His peace. That would make it better, not the adornments.

APPLICATION

So, what can you expect from your Heavenly Father? Will He make your life “bigger and better”? He may or He may not. What we can expect is that God wants us to be more like Him. He wants us to be holy. In Leviticus 19:2 God tells us, “‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.’” Peter shares this again in 1 Peter 1:14-16, “14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written: ‘YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.’”

Being holy is bigger and better. Walking with Him is being bigger and better. Now, the world will tell you just the opposite. It focuses on material gains or fame. Those things do not make you bigger or better. Who you are in Christ is all that matters. What do you want others to see in you? That is the real question.

For me, I just want them to see Jesus. That begins with my wife. I want her to see Jesus in me every day as we pray. I want my children and grandchildren to see Jesus in their dad or poppy. That is what will make me bigger and better. After all, there is nobody any bigger or better than Jesus. Right?

Make me like You, Lord. Help me to be holy, just as You are holy.

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Bible, Blessing, Gifts, Giving, Offering, Scripture

NOTHING TO GOD

HAGGAI 2:8

“‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of armies.”

What do you have so much of that you consider it worthless or of no value? For me, it’s socks. Yep, I bet I have 30 pair. Why? I don’t know. Some I only wear when it’s cold. Others, the short white or black ones, are worn when it’s warmer and with tennis shoes. I like my socks and probably would not want to give any up, but they are a valueless thing in my drawer.

God is telling the people in Haggai 2:8 that He is not concerned with silver or gold being a part of the temple they are repairing. Perhaps the older people were upset because Solomon’s temple had been covered with gold. They may have been wondering how they were going to compete with that. God is saying He does not need that. He owns it all anyway.

APPLICATION

God tells us in Psalm 50:10-12, “10 ‘For every animal of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. 11 “I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is Mine, and everything it contains.’”

God doesn’t need our offerings. He does not depend on our wealth to exist. Like He said, He owns it all. That does not excuse us from giving, though. We should give of our blessings. God gives it to us through whatever source He chooses, and we should give it back to Him. But God doesn’t depend on it.

Giving should be a joy for us, right? The Word tells us that in 2 Corinthians where Paul says God loves a cheerful giver. Are you a cheerful giver? You should be. Everything you give to God belonged to Him first. He is the creator of all. Remember – don’t give because someone tells you to. Give to honor the One who has given so much for you.

Thank You, Lord, for the gifts You give to me. May my offerings back to You be a reflection of that gratitude.

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Abiding, Bible, Glorify, Glory, Holy Spirit, Indwelling, Scripture, Temple

FILL THE HOUSE

HAGGAI 2:7

“‘I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of armies.”

One of my fondest memories as a child was going to my Grandma Carter’s farm for Thanksgiving or Christmas. She lived about 10 miles from our home in the city (I guess you can call my hometown a city, lol), but it seemed like a different world. She had acres to explore. But the distinct memory is of her house filled to overflowing with my kin. Uncles, aunts and cousins were everywhere. There was literally no room to spare.

God tells the people that He will “fill this house with glory.” Now, when God does something, He doesn’t do it half-way. He meant He was going to fill that place full. Every nook and cranny would be filled with His Spirit. He would make it His place. Can you imagine the pride the people must have felt to hear that God was going to indwell the building they were repairing for Him. He was saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

APPLICATION

Has God filled your heart with His glory? So many believers are looking for another “filling.” Listen, beloved, when Christ sends His Holy Spirit to you at salvation, you are filled. Listen to the words of John in 1 John 2:27. “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you,…” And when the Holy Spirit comes in, He indwells every nook and cranny.

So, why isn’t God’s glory shining forth in your life or my life? Because we let our old self get in the way. The Spirit is there, ready to burst forth, but we keep it shielded from exhibition by our own choices. Let me give you an example. Every morning when I wake up (and I get up earl), it is dark in our bedroom. I don’t want to wake my dear bride, so I try to walk in the darkness with little to no light. I usually have my cell phone in my hand, so I touch the screen for it to light up a little. I hold that close to my chest so only a little light illuminates the darkness to keep me from stumbling. Too much light and I risk disturbing my wife’s sleep. Too little and I might bump into something and hurt myself or even fall.

Hmmm! Are you shielding the light of the Spirit by cloaking it with darkness in your life? Be warned! If you let the Spirit in you shine forth, it may disturb those around you who are “sleeping.” But when you let it shine, your path is brighter. You can see where you are walking. The Spirit is there. Your house is full. Let Him shine!

Hide it (Him) under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it (Him) shine!

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Abiding, Battles, Bible, Foundation, Scripture, Shaken, Trust

SHAKE IT UP

HAGGAI 2:6

“For this is what the LORD of armies says: ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.’”

When I was a little boy, a new cooking product called “Shake and Bake” came out. It was a seasoned bread crumb coating originally marketed to mimic the flavor and texture of Southern fried chicken. It was introduced in 1965 by General Foods. I have got to tell you, it did NOT mimic Southern fried chicken. My mama’s fried chicken was the best. She tried that new product, but quickly went back to her recipe.

Now, how does that story tie in with our verse today? There is only One who can truly shake the heavens and the earth. Others may try to “shake things up,” but only God has that power. This shaking wasn’t about a physical shaking by earthquakes or volcanoes. This was a shaking of all that existed so that the shaken things would be dissolved and only what was solid would remain. Only what was of God was firm and unshaken. That was the message to the people. Get grounded. Stay firmly planted.

APPLICATION

I vividly remember a video I took of a woman in Liberia shaking off the chaff from the rice she had just pounded to break it up. She poured the pounded rice into a shallow wicker tray and would shake it and toss it into the air. The wind would blow away the husks and only the rice grain would remain. It was fascinating to watch.

That is the image I want you to see today as you read this verse. What are you – the rice or the husk? Will the winds of discontent blow you away? In Matthew 7 we are told the story of the two houses that were built on sand and a firm foundation. When the winds came in the storm, one house remained – the one built on a solid foundation.

How firm is your foundation? Shakings occur in our life. There are times when it seems everything around us will fall. But if we remain firmly rooted in Him, we can weather any storm. Dig deep. Pour a firm foundation. And when the shakings come, trust in Him. Only He can get you through.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow; For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

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Abiding, Bible, Holy Spirit, Scripture

MY SPIRIT REMAINS WITH YOU

HAGGAI 2:5

“‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit remains in your midst; do not fear!’”

The Spirit of God is a real Person, the third Person of the Trinity. Many of us in the West don’t put much emphasis on the Spirit. We downplay any movement of the Spirit that does not fit into our little man-made box. We think we need to control every aspect of our spiritual life. We certainly can’t afford to be labeled as “one of them.” You know who I am talking about. Well, let’s see what happens to the people Haggai is prophesying to.

God continues His message through Haggai in verse 5 of chapter 2. This verse could be a whole sermon series. It is not a long verse, but it so full of images of God’s movement in their lives. Promises, the exodus, His Spirit, in their midst and no fear. Wow! But look again. God says so clearly, “My Spirit remains in your midst.” That must have been so encouraging to them at this time. God is still there. They may not see Him, but He is.

APPLICATION

Listen up! God’s Spirit is still moving in the lives of His children. Unlike the children of Israel who only experienced God’s spirit during a special indwelling, we get to have Him living inside of us. He comes in at salvation and never leaves, until we move on to our heavenly reward. So, God’s admonition to us is the same as it was to the Israelites. Keep reading.

God finishes this statement by saying, “do not fear!” He is telling us the same thing – Do Not Fear! Why should we fear His workings in our life? Why should we fear the Spirit moving in ways we are not accustomed? When we surrender more and more of our flesh to the Spirit, the Spirit can reveal more and more of Himself through us.

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” So, it is really our choice. Which do you want? Destruction or eternal life?

I am thankful I have surrendered my flesh to Your Spirit, O God. Eternity with You is my reward.

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Battles, Bible, Courage, Encouragement, Labor, Mentoring, Modeling, Scripture

TAKE COURAGE

HAGGAI 2:4

“‘But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of armies.”

We all need encouragement from time to time. We all need people in our lives who can do that. I am so blessed that I have several people who serve in that role. There are a few, trusted friends who will come alongside me come thick or thin. They will tell me to take courage and keep fighting. I don’t get down very often, but when I do, I know I can turn to them for comfort.

Haggai pens these words of the Lord and tells Zerubbabel, Joshua and the people to take courage. He uses that phrase three times. But look at the end of the verse. He adds, “and work.” Similar words are used two other places. David tells his son, Solomon, these same words twice in 1 Chronicles.

1 Chronicles 28:10 reads, “‘Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be courageous and act.’” Verse 20 says, “Then David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.’” 

APPLICATION

God will give us the courage to act. Courage demands action. What is the purpose of courage unless we are stepping up to a challenge? Courage is not the absence of fear. It is the ability to act in the face of fear. If the Lord has given us the courage we asked for, then we need to step out in faith and believe He will continue to encourage us in the process.

The people of Israel probably needed constant encouragement as they repaired the temple. It is hard to see results when you are working on it day by day. I love to see before and after pictures of projects. What you don’t see is the daily grind. That daily grind requires someone to say, “Take courage and work.”

There are many times I have the privilege to tell someone to take courage. I may not use those exact words, but that is the message. Encouragement comes in all forms. How has God gifted you to show that to someone? Ask the Lord today if there is someone in your life who needs to hear those words – take courage and work.

Be strong and take courage. Do not fear or be dismayed.

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