Author Archives: gonelikeashadowatevening

Bible, Church, Reverence, Scripture, Worship

NO COMPARISON

HAGGAI 2:3

“‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?’”

The problem with comparing things is there is always something that is bigger and better. My family has lived in several homes. Each of them had their strengths and well…their weaknesses. We have never been about buying bigger and better. It was more about just meeting our needs. Most of these houses were provided to us as part of my job, so we really could not complain. But there is always that lure of something better, right?

The Israelites were mixed in their emotions about this newly renovated temple. Some of the older people had seen the original temple built by Solomon in all its glory, everything overlaid with gold. Fifty-nine years after its destruction, here they were, looking at an “inferior” temple – or so they thought. They were comparing the old and the new. Why? Because they had their own idea of what the temple should look like, not what it was – the house of God.

APPLICATION

Don’t be harsh with them. Their perception was their reality. We are the same, aren’t we? I have heard too many people complain about the color of the carpet in church. Others don’t like the chairs. The pews were holier. The stained glass windows are replaced. How dare they do that! And I haven’t even mentioned the lighting or the sound system.

You see, we also compare our image of what we think church should look like. Don’t get me wrong. I like the stained glass and pews. I prefer a well-lit service and a lower decibel of sound. But it is not about that. We are in God’s house. We don’t go to church to worship a building. We go to church to worship the occupant.

I have probably ruffled some feathers with this post. If I have offended you, I apologize. That was not my intention. I did intend, however, to get you to think. What are you comparing? What is your reason for doing that? God’s house is God’s house, whether it is a tarp with plastic chairs or a cathedral. It’s what happens inside that counts. Next Sunday, go to worship. Don’t just go to church. There’s a big difference.

Father, I worship You, no matter the setting. Help me keep my eyes looking up, not around at my surroundings.

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Bible, Commands, Glory, God's Will, Hearing, Listening, Messages, Scripture, Witnessing

JUST GOD’S WORDS

HAGGAI 2:2

 “‘Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,’”

There’s a game I used to play a lot with children. You line the kids up and then give the first one in the line a message to pass down the line. The message should be clear but perhaps a little challenging. Let the children pass it down the line very quietly so only the person they are talking to can hear it. The only rule is they can only tell it once to the person they are passing it to. At the end of the line the last child will say what they heard out loud. Normally, the last message is nothing like the one you told the first child. The game is called Rumors.

Haggai is not playing a game with the Israelites. God isn’t whispering in his ear and asking him to pass it along to see how wrong they can get it. No! God speaks clearly. His words are precise. He is giving Haggai a message to deliver to His people. Why? Well, we will see that in the coming days. Come back to this blog site and watch how God’s message can bring peace and comfort.

APPLICATION

When God speaks, we must share. His message to us is never meant just for us. Now, it may be a very personal message. But God wants His words known to the world. You may ask How do I know that it is God speaking to me? Simple. Does the message glorify Him? Does it agree with Scripture. You can be assured that any message you get from the devil will do neither.

What is the message God has given you? What! You haven’t heard from Him? Are you listening? You can’t hear God unless you have your ears tuned in to hear His voice. God normally isn’t going to shout it to you in claps of thunder. His message will come to you as you study His Word or meditate on a passage. Perhaps in the quietness of your prayer time He will speak.

Once you hear the message, though, tell everyone. They may think you are a little “off,” but that is okay. Tell them how God loves them. Tell them how they can experience that love. Tell them they have a Savior in Christ. You see, God is still proclaiming that message. We have work that needs to be done. Let’s go.

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.

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Affection, Bible, Bitterness, Brokenness, Comfort, Despair, Encouragement, God's Will, Healing, Kindness, Love, Scripture

A NEW MESSAGE

HAGGAI 2:1

“On the twenty-first of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying,”

Have you ever tried to encourage someone who was intent on feeling sorry for themselves? It is difficult to get them to see beyond themselves. All they see is what they don’t have, who has hurt them or how unfortunate they are. All the coaxing in the world will not get them out of their funk. Sometimes, you just have to be like Job’s friends who showed up and just sat with him (Job 2:13).

In the second chapter of Haggai, he is going to deliver a message of encouragement to the people. The date he mentions, the 21st day of the seventh month, happens to be the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles when Israel is supposed to be dwelling in structures outside and praising God for all He has done for them. It was the time to gather in the harvest and celebrate it. For the Israelites, however, they were discouraged due to the lack of the harvest and no temple in which to celebrate. Haggai has his work cut out for him.

APPLICATION

So, how do you encourage someone? Well, all I know to do is to point them to Jesus. We do have instructions in His Word. I am thinking of 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.”

You see, it’s not our words that do anything. We just have to be present and show His comfort. His comfort is always perfect. We can’t force this on anyone, but we can be there when the time is right. Just as Haggai was given a message from God to deliver to the people, He will give us the words to say at just the right time. He promises that.

I am thankful that God can use me like that. One of the greatest opportunities of ministry for me has been to comfort friends and family in the loss of loved ones. I have been there. I have lost both my parents, a child and a brother. I have grieved with my wife in the loss of her parents. Just be there. You don’t have to go with a prepared speech. Let the Spirit guide you in the words He has for you. You have a message for them. It’s one of grace and mercy in Jesus Christ.

Father of compassion and God of all comfort, comfort those around me who are in need of mercy right now.

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Accountability, Belief, Bible, Born, Decisions, Following, God's Will, Obedience, Salvation, Scripture

KNOW THE DAY

HAGGAI 1:15

“on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of Darius the king.”

You are probably saying, Carl, what in the world can you get out of this verse? Let me start by saying that there are a couple of dates that are important to me. My birthdate is important – November 18. My wedding date – December 7. My children’s birthdates – June 11 and December 12. And most importantly, my spiritual birthdate – July 31, 1977. I remember those dates. I have them marked on my calendar.

For some reason, the Lord inspired Haggai to mark down this date of the 24th day of the 6th month. Why? I think he wanted us to realize something. If you look back at Haggai 1:1, you will see Haggai delivered God’s message on the first day of the sixth month. Now we are on the 24th day. Why did it take them 23 days to obey God’s command? Hmmm? Over three weeks had elapsed. But when they did obey, Haggai marked it down. Finally! Let’s celebrate this day.

APPLICATION

Okay, before you judge the Israelites for waiting three weeks to obey, let me ask you something. How long have you been waiting to obey something the Lord has clearly told you to do? We all do that. We hear the Lord speak through His Word or in our prayer time or in a message we hear at church. We know God is speaking, and we still put off obeying. Yes, we have all done that. The Israelites mulled this decision over in their minds for three weeks.

Let me ask you another question. What dates in your life have you marked as milestones? What dates impacted your life? They might be dates that I mentioned earlier – birthdates, marriage dates, maybe even the date someone died. Whatever the dates you have down, ask the Lord how you should remember them. Ask the Lord to show you the importance in His eyes. He sees time differently than we do.

It is so important to remember that. God sees the past, present and future all at once. Time has no meaning to Him. He is eternal, and He sees things eternally. What we think is an important date may mean nothing eternally. There is one date that is still unknown but it the most important date – the date of His Son’s return. That date is only known to the Father. One day that date will occur. Are you ready for it?

This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

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Abiding, Belief, Bible, Glory, God's Will, Holy Spirit, Praise, Scripture, Worship

A STIRRED UP SPIRIT

HAGGAI 1:14

“So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of armies, their God,”

There has been a stirring of the Spirit in the past month at some colleges and universities, which started at Asbury College in Kentucky. What began as a regular chapel service grew into a movement of God with literally thousands from around the country coming to experience this non-stop service. Some people have questioned what was happening there. That is not our right. God will reveal whether this was real or not. The stirring of the Spirit is not for us to question.

Finally, the spirit of the people is stirred by the Lord here in Haggai 1:14. Notice that this began with the leaders, Zerubbabel and Joshua. Then the people were stirred. And this stirring of their spirit resulted in putting their feet into action. They began to work on the temple, God’s house, the LORD of armies. They didn’t just sit around and enjoy the stirring. They obeyed God’s call to action. Glory!

APPLICATION

I truly believe the reason God’s work has not been accomplished sooner is because our leaders have not been receptive of God’s stirring. The event that is described in today’s verse is also mentioned in Ezra 1:5. “Then the heads of fathers’ households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites rose up, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.”

It is important to mention that no one should try to accomplish what they think God wants until He stirs their heart to do so. But our leaders have to be ready and able to hear God’s voice. This is only through prayer and time in His Word. So much ministry is done without the first thought of what God wants. Good can get in the way of what is best if we are not careful.

I know in my own life I could stay very busy doing “stuff” for God. There is no end to the lists I could make to keep my calendar full. I have to ask the Lord each day what He would have me do. It is not about what I want to do. It is all about what He would have me do. How about you? Check out your motives for ministry. Make sure you have heard God and let Him stir your spirit with His Spirit.

Please stir my heart
Take me back to the fire
And bring to me recollections of joy
And renew my first desire

source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/s/saragroveslyrics/stirmyheartlyrics.html

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Abiding, Bible, Faithfulness, Promises, Salvation, Scripture

I AM WITH YOU

HAGGAI 1:13

“Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke by the commission of the LORD to the people, saying, ‘“I am with you,” declares the LORD.’”

There is nothing quite like having close friends or allies who you can depend on. I am fortunate to say that I have some whom I call at 3 a.m., and they would come running. They are true friends who have my back. They are not only friends. They are also brothers and sisters in Christ. That common bond links us together not just here but for eternity.

Oh wow! Look at today’s verse. Knowing God was with them must have cheered their hearts. They had felt so alone for so long. Now God was saying to them “I am with you.” Did you catch that phrase? “I am – with you.” Who is with them? I AM is with them. The same I AM who was with Moses when he was told to go to Pharoah and demand the release of His people. That I AM was now declaring He was with them.

APPLICATION

There are so many verses that back up this thought of God being with us. How about Psalm 23:4? “When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” Or how about Matthew 28:20. “‘Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world.’” We could cite dozens of verses that remind us of God’s promise to be with us.

Probably the greatest reminder, however, is Immanuel. God with us. He chose to come in the form a baby to die for us. His whole earthly life was lived for that purpose. He lived so He could die. That doesn’t make sense to us, does it? I mean, who does that? No one, except a loving God. He gave it all for us.

So, if God is with us like He declared through Haggai, why are we depressed? Why are we forlorn? Why are we seeking for other things to bring us joy? God is with us! We should be shouting that from every mountain top. God is with us! Rejoice! God is with us! Praise His name! GOD IS WITH US!!!!

O Lord, my God, You are with me in the darkest hours and You are with me in my greatest joy. I praise Your holy name.

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Bible, Majesty, Reverence, Scripture, Worship

SHOWING REVERENCE

HAGGAI 1:12

“Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the words of Haggai the prophet, just as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people showed reverence for the LORD.”

You know, as a child the idea of showing reverence is a foreign concept. Do you bow down to someone or something? Are you a slave to them? Just what does it mean? Kids have no clue, but neither do adults, really. We think we do, but we don’t show it. Speaking in King James English does not make you reverent.

The governor, the high priest and the remnant of people finally obeyed the Lord, which led to repentance and the show of reverence. The Hebrew word for “reverence” means to fear or be afraid, to fear. In fact, one translation reads “put in fearful reverence.” After all God’s judgment, they were now ready to show Him reverence.

APPLICATION

I do not think any of us know how to truly show God the reverence that is due Him. We try but fall short. Listen to how Proverbs 1:7a uses this word. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” That’s pretty good, isn’t it? As believers, our fear of the Lord isn’t a scary thing. It is a reverent thing. We acknowledge Who He is and who we are not.

Next Sunday, when you go to church (you are going, right?), walk into your place of worship with a new attitude – an attitude of reverence. You don’t have to crawl in with your head bowed, but you should walk in knowing that you are going to be entering into a time of worship. Prepare your heart before you arrive. Confess your sins and be prepared to enter the throne room of heaven.

Reverence! Awe! We get to behold the King. We get to come before the Creator of the universe. We are called His children (read 1 John 1:12). We have the right to worship. And we worship with reverence. We worship with appreciation for all He has done for us. I think that is exactly what the people of Israel were feeling in Haggai 1:12.

We bow down. We lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus.

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Bible, Drought, Faithfulness, Idols, Judgment, Rain, Scripture

DRIED UP

HAGGAI 1:11

“‘And I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on mankind, on cattle, and on all the products of the labor of your hands.’”

My brothers and sisters in Kenya are experiencing a severe drought. One missionary friend wrote me last week stating just how bad is right now there. People and livestock are suffering severely due to the lack of water. Fires have broken out in their area resulting in thousands of acres being devastated by the flames. It will take years to recover from this drought if things don’t change soon.

God called for a drought on the land of Israel to wake up the people. He was the one who controlled the rain, not some idol. He was the one who could deliver the life-sustaining water needed by all. In verse 11 today, we see that this drought was all inclusive. It was on the land, the mountains, the grain, the vineyards, all the harvest, and on every man and beast. Nothing was exempt from God’s judgment.

APPLICATION

Let me ask you how dry you are? Are you experiencing a spiritual drought? I have heard people express to me how they felt they were in a dry spell with God. Well, whose fault is that? God hasn’t changed. He is still the One who gives us what we need for life and health. He is still the One who fills our spiritual cups with the water of His Word.

In John 7:37-38 we see Jesus referring to this. “37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 The one who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, “From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.”’” Jesus may have been referring to Isaiah 58:11 which reads, “Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.”

I think you get the picture. Our thirst can only be quenched by Jesus. If you are thirsty, come to Jesus. If you are parched spiritually, go to His Word. It will never run dry. If you are in His Word, you will have your need met. Don’t run dry. Stay hydrated by Jesus. And let your cup overflow into the lives of others.

Fill my cup, Lord. I lift it up, Lord, Come and quench the thirsting of my soul.

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Abiding, Accountability, Bible, Blessing, Consequences, Dependence, God's Will, Obedience, Scripture, Thanksgiving

WITHHOLDINGS

HAGGAI 1:10

“‘Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.’”

It’s that time of year again in the U.S. – tax time. Every year about this time, people are preparing to file their federal income tax returns. Most people have tax withheld from their salary during the year to hopefully not have to pay any additional tax. A little at a time is not so painful, but when you have to write that big check on a quarterly basis or at the end of the year, that “withholding” hurts.

The people of Israel were experiencing a different kind of withholding. There was no dew or rain which meant there was no produce, no harvest. God was withholding this from them because of their rebellion and disobedience. It was all to get their attention, to get them to repent and return to Him. When God withholds anything from us, it is for a reason. He always has a purpose behind His actions.

APPLICATION

Have you felt like God was withholding something from you? Many of us have felt that way. Maybe you think He is withholding answered prayers. Maybe you have asked for physical healing, but it has not come. Maybe you have prayed for a husband or a wife, but you are still single. Stop right there. Ask the Lord why He is withholding that thing from you. I guarantee He has a reason.

You see, if we are living according to His will, God does not withhold His blessings to punish us. Psalm 40:11 tells us, “You, LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me; Your mercy and Your truth will continually watch over me.” God is not in the withholding business (unlike the U.S. Treasury). God wants to give to us.

I have to admit there have been times when I was disappointed that God withheld something from me. But looking back, I realized He knew exactly what I needed. I saw it as a bad thing, but He knew what was best for me. Look back at your own life and see how He has done the same for you.

Lord, Your way is always the best way. Thank You for withholding what is not good for me.

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Accountability, Battles, Bible, Commands, Danger, Destruction, God's Will, Scripture

I HUFF AND I PUFF

HAGGAI 1:9

“‘You start an ambitious project, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away. Why?’ declares the LORD of armies. ‘It is because of My house which remains desolate, while each of you runs to his own house.’”

Call me weird (many people have), but when I read this verse, I immediately thought of the children’s story about the big, bad wolf who huffed and puffed and blew down the houses of the little piggies. Their houses fell, of course, because they were built of inferior products (straw and sticks). But even the little piggie house built out of brick could not have withstood the breath of God.

We may think we are building something, but if it is not according to God’s will, it will not last. Here in verse 9, we see that. Because they had neglected God’s house, their houses would not stand. Because they had been disobedient, He would “blow it away.” They were so concerned about their own stuff and had no regard for the things of God.

APPLICATION

Look at these words from James 4:13-15. “13 Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’” 

Get the picture? Our plans don’t matter. I heard a quote this weekend which is worth repeating. “God doesn’t care if you make Him part of your plan. He wants to make you part of His.” Are you part of His plan? Are you focusing on Him and not you? He has such great plans for your life. Believe that! He wants to use you.

So, how do we neglect God’s house today? By not giving. By not serving. By not obeying. All those are signs of neglect. And just like a physical house will fall down from lack of care, our spiritual house will collapse also if it is not properly cared for. Watch out for those signs of spiritual rot and decay. Be proactive, not reactive.

O Lord, I want to care for Your house. I want to be that servant who is diligent and faithful.

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