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PROPHETIC PARALLELS FOR TODAY FROM HAGGAI
The Lord is prompting his people and calling us to make a decision. I recently read Haggai, a word of the Lord that came to him after the exile of Israel. In Haggai, the Lord’s rebuke calls people to a decision and then offers a promise for their obedience. While reading this I felt very strongly that the Lord is calling us to make a decision today.
Why is everyone saying it is not the right time for rebuilding my Temple?” asks the Lord.
His reply to them is this: “Is it then the right time for you to live in luxurious homes, when the Temple lies in ruins? Look at the result: You plant much but harvest little. You have scarcely enough to eat or drink and not enough clothes to keep you warm. Your income disappears, as though you were putting it into pockets filled with holes!
“Think it over,” says the Lord Almighty. “Consider how you have acted and what has happened as a result! Then go up into the mountains, bring down timber, and rebuild my Temple, and I will be pleased with it and appear there in my glory,” says the Lord. (Haggai 1:2-9 TLB)
The people had been given the task to rebuild the Lord’s house. However, they stalled, insisting it wasn’t God’s timing. The Lord sent Haggai with a rebuke, not for living in nice homes, but for abandoning the work He called them to do. They chose their own personal prosperity over God’s house. He then provoked them, “Consider your ways.” Consider why you aren’t harvesting. Consider why you work so hard, but never have enough. It was their disobedience that led to this. In the following verses, the Lord tells them it’s not an enemy who is doing this to them, but it’s the Lord’s doing. Their continual disobedience brought God’s judgment.
Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce. And I have called for a drought upon the land and the hill country, upon the grain, the fresh wine, the oil, upon what the ground brings forth, upon men and cattle, and upon all the [wearisome] toil of [men’s] hands. (Haggai 1:9-11 AMP-C)
The Prophets’ Task
Haggai was a prophet. He did what the Lord asked and brought a word. It was a hard message and a rebuke; however, the word of the Lord never returns void. The heart of the prophetic always seeks to honor the Lord first. It always calls God’s people back to Him when they have veered off. Prophetic words also call for a decision or bring you to a course of action as prompted by the Lord. This is what Haggai did and the leaders recognized the word of the Lord and chose to be obedient.
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people [who had returned from captivity], listened to and obeyed the voice of the Lord their God [not vaguely or partly, but completely, according to] the words of Haggai the prophet, since the Lord their God had sent him, and the people [reverently] feared and [worshipfully] turned to the Lord. (Haggai 1:12 AMP-C)
Rebuilding God’s House
I firmly believe that for some time God has been trying to get the attention of the Church.
I sense that like His message to Haggai, He is saying, “Consider your ways.” Many prophetic voices and pastors used Covid and the events following to bring the word of the Lord to the people. Those words were heartfelt pleas to the Church to humble ourselves through repentance, fasting, and seeking His face.
I believe God is calling us to rebuild His house once more, repairing the ruins.
A year ago I had a continual series of dreams about different leaders in my church. The common theme in each dream was that they were rebuilding the house (church) literally. Everything was torn down from the inside out. All the church was working together to rebuild it. The only piece that remained intact was the altar. Everything else was being rebuilt.
Remember that we are God’s temple. Much that has happened has exposed our hearts and foundation. Everything that is not founded on Christ must go. He is and has been dealing with us personally, but I believe He wants to deal with the Body corporately. He is cleansing both His people and His house. I believe He is saying, “It’s time to rebuild,” but the obedience is entirely up to us.
After praying over those dreams, I wondered why the altar was still intact and nothing else.
The altar is significant to the Lord.
The altar is a place of sacrifice or death. We are called to be living sacrifices. We are called to a lifestyle of death to self. Our old self has been crucified with Christ, but unfortunately much of the Church has walked away from these truths. The Church must come back to this place. We are called to be set apart (Lk 9:23, Rom 6:6, Rom 12:1, 2 Cor 5:17).
The altar is where many of us made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Even if you never physically made the walk, you probably bowed your head to pray. In the New Testament we are called temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:9). Every temple has an altar. If our bodies are the temples, I believe our hearts are God’s altars. It’s where we first made that decision to give our lives to Jesus Christ. I believe He wants the altar call back. The Lord wants our leaders issuing heartfelt pleas for salvation by way of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Rom 10:8-14).
The altar represents a place of prayer and worship. Remember we are the temple. Worship and prayer are a choice we make that flows from our relationship with the Lord. Everything else was torn down except the altar. Worship is the key to our breakthrough. When we worship the Lord, we exalt Him and He sits enthroned over all. The Lord is seeking true worship in spirit and in truth, not just entertainment and feelings.
God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (Jn 4:24)
The Heart of the Prophetic
Even though a rebuke was given, the Lord is merciful and compassionate. Even prophetic words of judgment should have a redemptive message. That’s exactly what Haggai does.
As the people chose to be obedient, the Lord was pleased and reminded them of His promise.
Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people saying, I am with you, says the Lord. And the Lord aroused the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people, so that they came and labored on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God . . . (Haggai 1:13,14)
Why Rebuilding Matters
But take courage, O Zerubbabel and Joshua and all the people; take courage and work, for I am with you, says the Lord Almighty. For I promised when you left Egypt that my Spirit would remain among you; so don’t be afraid.’ 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. 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. (Haggai 2:4-7 LBT)
This verse is shared after Haggai prophesied to the people to be strong and finish the work.
This verse about shaking can come across as a scary verse to many believers, but the shaking is necessary.
Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. (Heb 12:27 NKJV)
The shaking serves a twofold purpose. It removes that which cannot remain. I believe it’s already begun. This is not a punishment, but a wake up call. If God has been highlighting things to you, if His Spirit has been convicting you, if you have felt His hand heavy on you at times, if you feel as if everything around you is being shaken, then praise the Lord. He is not only doing a deeper work within you, He is removing what must go, so that what remains is all Him. Nothing and no one else can get that glory. He is building you into an unshakeable church that can withstand the tempest. (Mt 7:24,25)
The second reason for shaking (according to the Matthew Henry commentary) is that the shaking is also the Lord’s deliverance. “God will once again do for his church as he did when he brought them out of Egypt. He shook the heavens and earth at Mt. Sinai, with thunder, lightning, and earthquakes.” This is the reason Haggai reminds the people the God’s Spirit would be with them as He was when they left Egypt.
The final verses of Haggai leave God’s people with a promise. After the shaking comes the greater glory. The Lord declares the silver and gold are His.(The wealth of the world is really the Lord’s. We are called to steward it wisely.) He promises to bless the leaders and the people for their obedience. He again repeats the phrase, ” I will shake the heavens and earth.” However this time He addresses the nations. He promises to deal with evil rulers and kingdoms. God will not be mocked.
This book is rich with meaning for us today, but I want to highlight just a few points for prayer and response.
- Turn back. If God called you to something or gave you a specific assignment and you stopped out of discouragement, fear, or hopelessness, take heart and turn back from where you left off. It’s time to rebuild.
- Consider your ways. If you feel like you are hitting the wall and nothing seems to be working, really think about it, pray, and seek the Lord. Maybe He is calling you to take a different course of action. Maybe He is asking you to lay something down. Maybe you didn’t do what he asked you to do the first time. (See #1)
- Pray for God’s prophets and leaders. Being God’s leader is never an easy task. Pray for pastors who need strength and encouragement. Pray for prophets to be the mouthpieces that God has called them to be. Let them boldly speak forth the word of God, bringing correction, exhortation, edification, comfort, and encouragement.
- Pray for unity in the church. God gave the word to His leaders and people. However, He told the leaders to get to work and called all the people to work together. We cannot give all responsibility to our pastors and sit back and do nothing. We have work to do. Everyone has a part.
- Pray for godly leadership/partnerships. Zerrubabel was a governor and a godly one. He worked alongside Jeshua the high priest. How wonderful would it be to see godly leaders in office, working with spiritual leaders? This is something we can pray about.
- Worship. Remember how crucial worship is to us. Worship is like fuel. When we feel like our fire is dwindling, it means we need to fix our gaze afresh on the Lord and worship. However that looks to you, let’s worship the Lord!
Father,
I thank You for Your words. They are a light to my feet and light to my path. I know that despite how it looks, You are working. Lord, breathe on those whose hearts have grown weary in waiting. Let Your words bring fresh hope. I pray for weary pastors and leaders–impart strength to continue the work You have called them to do. Strengthen their weary hands. I pray for prophets to be the mouthpieces You’ve called them to be and to share what You’ve asked them to share. Purify the prophetic from people pleasing, fear of man, pride, lust, and anything that is not of You. Bring restoration to the prophetic movement.
I pray that leaders in governmental offices find salvation in Jesus Christ. I pray for divine partnerships to emerge. I pray that national leaders would seek out spiritual leaders and begin to work together. It seems impossible, but You’re the only one who could make it happen, Lord.
I pray for Your church to have our eyes fixed and our foundation in Jesus, so that no matter what may come we are securely planted. Thank You that even in hard words, You still leave us with Your promises. Thank You for all of them, especially the promise of Your presence. We know that You are with us through it all. In Jesus’ name, amen.
What are your thoughts? What do you feel God is speaking to his people?
Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share.
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Comments
Thank you, Gloria, for a very thought-provoking article. It definitely bears witness to my spirit. It is truly a “call to arms”. The battle belongs to the Lord, and as His ambassadors, we definitely have a part to play. Help us to stay focused on You and Your principles. The way things appear in the natural, it would be east to say, Woe is me”. I get a strong nudging from Holy Spirit that this is not a time for giving up or giving in to despair and hopelessness. Thank You, Lord, for this reminder of the part that we play in these Last Days. In Jesus’ name.
Blessings
Yes, Gloria, I agree with you, we need to fix our eyes upon Jesus. And pray for revival in our land!
Thank you, Gloria, for a beautiful and encouraging word. It bears witness in my spirit. Something that you brought up was the connection between Zerubbabel and Joshua and how they worked together. You prayed for a divine partnership between national and spiritual leaders. That is a wonderful insight and one I will take to heart in my prayers. Blessings to you.
Thank you Nancy
Gloria – this whole blog is amazing and wonderful. Thank you for writing this! Yes we have work to do and YES Praise/Worship is crucial and YES the battle is the Lord’s and He will give them into our hands….as long as we are operating in His will and authority in a matter.
This week I was studying the word wisdom because of something my son brought up. The first place it is used is in the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness. The Spirit of Wisdom rested on two individuals to inspire them to create the holy tabernacle where God would dwell with His people. The primary individual was from the Tribe of Judah – which means praise or thanksgiving, or even better “a praise of thanksgiving.” His assistant was from the Tribe of Dan – which means judgment, but more of a discernment type of judgment than a shaking finger of blame and shame.
I was struck by how simple it really all is: Our praise and thanksgiving, and discernment, rooted in Wisdom that comes from above (James 3:17) that is: “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” provide a tabernacle prepared for the Holy Spirit to dwell in today – as we continue through this current wilderness on our way to the Promised Land to Come.
The Bible contains hundreds of songs inspired by the Holy Spirit to praise our Holy Father. He rejoices over us with singing and those words He sings over us do not return void…at some point either we sing them back to Him or the rocks break out.
Singing is housed in a different part of the brain than typical speech or communication. This is why individuals with autism or Alzheimer’s who cannot speak or have forgotten items can clearly sing or recall things they sung in their childhood. Songs are incredibly powerful and attach us to memories and thoughts and actions we took in our past. We renew our minds by singing His words and because they bypass our traditional communication center, I’m convinced that is another way He writes His word directly on our hearts.
So yes – singing is a HUGE HUGE weapon of our warfare that Paul identifies as well in Ephesians 5.
All throughout scripture one particular line seems to tear down strongholds and punch out the blasphemers: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever.”
May He find us singing when He returns no matter what is happening all around us – singing our way through the tribulation.
Acts 16 lets us know that praising Him especially in times of trouble can shake the earth, break our chains and give us the opportunity to then spread the gospel to our captors. So sing sing sing and let the earth shake, shake, shake once more! 🙂
So powerful and beautiful Shelley!
Blessings to you and your family.
Yes..God has been putting songs in my heart to sing back to Him for the last couple of years..some I learned in church as a child but still so powerful!
He told me “praise” is the answer to my healing ..So I sing praises🎶🎶
Shelly,
Thank you for these lovely, loving, insightful, and discerning comments which truly direct all THANKSGIVING and GLORY back to GOD! Together you and Gloria have given gentle instruction that is easily and readily put into practice — so like our beautiful FATHER. Again, thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you Mrs. D! I just loved this piece by Gloria so much. Sing. Sing. Sing!!!
Shelly,
Your prompting by the Holy Spirit to search the Word for wisdom reminds me of an ex[erience I had 30 years ago.On a hot summer Texas day in 1991 I went out on the porch to read my Bible. We were in a drought and needed rain. I was led to Proverbs three. Proverbs 3:19 ESV “The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding the heavens: 20 by His knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew” As I read “the clouds drop down the dew” I felt a covenential Rhema assurance that God would provide me rain (although there was no rain in the forecast and there were no clouds in the sky). As I sat and watched the Western Horizon a small cloud appeared.We had rain barrels under the corners of the roof to catch the runoff and 5 gallon buckets and old ice coolers to catch water from the eaves. I went in the house and asked my sons Kevin and Brian to help me set out the buckets under the eaves. When they asked me why, I told them it was going to rain. They looked puzzled as they helped set out the buckets…
We sat and watched as a line of rain clouds formed clear across the horizon and started moving toward us. We could feel the freshness approaching and then the wind stopped, turned, and started moving 90% to the North. I started singing the song “No other name but the name of Jesus.”
The wind stopped, turned 90% back toward us, and delivered several inches of rain as I kept singing the song.
After the rain the boys went back in the house and God “spoke” to me again. He said that He would give me 1 year of rain for each day I would fast. It was not a back and forth nor “let”s make a deal” but a silent “mind meld” sort of encounter. I sensed that He expected an estimate of what I thought I could do right at that moment. My offering of 3 days was accepted and He blessed my farm with 3 years of rain….
Mr. Beck. I LOVE THIS STORY MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. Well done putting faith into action. Well done listening to His guidance so that you could tell this testimony over and over to people who need it. It reminds me of when Elijah was looking for that tiny cloud of rain. 🙂 I love this.
He provides us with these little tests to grow our faith so we respond even more quickly to what we heard (which honestly might sound odd and usually looks odd to other people). But when we do it, He does respond. Even more so when we obey the instructions He gave us in His Word to do. It all grows our faith, and our loyalty, to Him – it removes our fear and helps us make a Declaration of Dependence to our true King rather than assert our independence from Him. Have the BEST day ever. 🙂
Shelly,
Your response reminds me of the message preached from the pulpit in the Revolutionary War – “no king but King Jesus.” Also so true that obedience is all that our God asks for and is our real tribute to Him.
Really appreciate your gift of putting scripture to action. BEST day back at ya 🙂
God the Father has assured mre 5his day that I am called to work out my thesis.. by being available for a Word to the Remnant but to also know the Lord created beauty That includes wealth and beautiful THINGS to be used in the world to promote the Gospel. Good Stewardship can be learned while you enjoy driving your “new” car. A gift for both yourself and God the Father. Recall: God isn’t cheap or stingy. He just want’s the Body to do things His way for Maximum Effect…PRAISE WORKS
Thank you Karen, praise absolutely works!
Thank you for this encouraging message.
You’re welcome.
God has been pressing me. He is calling me out to be a mouthpiece for His Word to seek parents to help them stand up in Faith. He is calling me to help save our Children from the evils in society.
You can do it Denise!
Thank you Gloria for sharing.
Several years ago the Lord revealed to me that man was walking around with holes in his pockets losing his most valuable possessions.
Pockets with holes can be mended.
Lord as we come together mending our pockets may we see the value of Your 👑 Kingdom work. Give each of us the wisdom, strength and courage to do the work that you have called us to do especially in difficult times. You are ever present and by our side, never leaving or forsaking us. Your Holy Spirit dwells in us. Lord increase our faith. Soften hearts and give revelation to reveal the need for repentance and obedience. Direct our paths. Thank You for who You are.
Beautiful analogy, that’s actually the verse used in the king James and new king James version. “Putting money in bags with holes.” Very beautiful prayer. In full agreement with you.
We must give thanks “for the Lord disciplines those He loves…that we may share in holiness…No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are trained by it…therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled but rather healed.”{Hebrews 12} May we set up altars of prayer and worship that His presence will rest upon His Church. ” Thus says the Lord: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest.” May He find rest in our temples, our homes and our churches.
Amen! I love this Toni! Blessings
We have a “rebuilding the temple” event happening in my own hometown of Fountain Colorado right now. Except instead of rebuilding a temple, we are constructing the Gateway Prayer Garden. The founder of the project firmly believes that, in these last days, God will raise up cities that will become a place of refuge for Godly people, and that the very Spirit of God will reside there. These places will become a source of protection, and a mighty move of the Spirit will emanate from these places. That is why she is building the Gateway Prayer Garden. This project was begun in 2017, but has experienced many regulatory hurtles and permit process delays in the 4 years since then (reminiscent of the delays from Haggai’s time). All during this time I personally have noticed that many of our trees have died or are in the process of dying. Recently, I have noticed that my own business in town is in the process of dying. Is this just coincidence? Perhaps not, so I have spent much time personally walking the prayer path, praying over my city, rebuking any unclean spirit that may be causing delays, and walking the Prayer Garden property personally inviting the Holy Spirit to come and reside within our city, and to make Fountain CO a city of refuge and a place of rest and revival and healing.
How exciting is that. Keep pressing in. Gateways on earth are established at altars. Godly altars open a portal to heaven allowing interaction between heaven and earth. Abraham established an altar at Bethel which Jacob discovered years later. The devil is constantly attempting to have his human dupes set up altars to him so he can have access to earth. In addition, he tries to defile godly altars so they are no longer accessible to heaven. Think of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and all the battles that have taken place over that little piece of ground. Worship is the key. The accuser of the brethren is always trying to cause people, including Jesus, to worship him because that is what gives him power and access to earth. But we must respond as Jesus did, Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’ ” (Matthew 4:10)
I love this! I I’ve in Castle Rock and have not heard of the Gateway Prayer Garden, but will look it up and visit. Thank you for sharing about it. What an opportunity this prayer garden represents. May God put it on hearts all over the nation to establish prayer gardens where people can go and prayer to tear down strongholds and rebuild their cities and communities for his glory.
Wow may God bless you for your faithfulness. Delay is not denial.
Nathan,
Your willingness to allow Holy Spirit to do an intervening work through you is more evidence of the gentle way in which our Father desires to teach and use each of us to provide that Place of refuge (through manifestation of His Presence through His saints) for the lost and broken. Such a beautiful inspiration for the rest of us. Thank you.
The word that stood out to me was “worship”
That is what The Lord has been saying to me ….
For your healing of body ( I have a kidney issue & adrenal issue..born with 1 of each)
It keeps us focused on Him who is the answer for everything…
“One day at a time” Also He has shown me..
I am learning to “rest” in Him..(easier if you take 1 day at a time)
The enemy seems to be throwing everything he can at us right now so all of these things are crucial🎶🎶
Amen, worship is a powerful weapon. See Shelley’s comment on this thread, she expounds beautifully. Believing with you for your healing Karen.
Blessings to you.
Thank you so much Gloria…
I do appreciate it..💕
Amen. Thanks for much needed word
Blessings To you.
May it Be Lord!!!
Amen!
The word that stood out to me was “worship”
That is what The Lord has been saying to me ….
For your healing of body ( I have a kidney issue & adrenal issue..born with 1 of each)
It keeps us focused on Him who is the answer for everything…
“One day at a time” Also He has shown me..
I am learning to “rest” in Him..(easier if you take 1 day at a time)
The enemy seems to be throwing everything he can at us right now so all of these things are crucial🎶🎶