12/03/2022
*NBC DAILY ENCOUNTER WITH GOD*
*Saturday, March 12, 2022*
*TOPIC: THE TEMPLE'S FOUNDATION LAID*
*Text: Haggai 2:1-9, 15-19*
*Hymn: BH 264: There Shall Be Showers of Blessings*
*RBT Passage: Joshua 23-24*
From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid. Give careful thought...from this day on, I will bless you. Haggai 2:18-19, NIV.
*Haggai 2:1-9,15-19*
2:1 on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai:
2:2 "Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,
2:3 ’Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?
2:4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD. ’Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ’and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
2:5 ’This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
2:6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: ’In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.
2:7 I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty.
2:8 ’The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.
2:9 ’The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ’And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty."
*15-19*
2:15 "’Now give careful thought to this from this day on —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in the LORD’s temple.
2:16 When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.
2:17 I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the LORD.
2:18 ’From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the LORD’s temple was laid. Give careful thought:
2:19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. "’From this day on I will bless you.’"
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If we want to look backward then let's use it as a catalyst to look forward. Let's be convinced that what God did in our hey day He is still doing today.
In our text today, it is likely enough had been accomplished to notice a general idea of what the temple would look like once it was completed and some were discouraged at the prospects of their work.
Their focus had been diverted from the Lord unto the daunting task that lay ahead. Offering a word from the Lord,Haggai challenged them to focus on God instead of the getting caught up in discouragement and losing faith.
Haggai relay that the Lord promised to be with them. What else could they possibly ask for or need? If God was in their midst, He would equip them to fulfil the task ahead.
Along with the call for resilience, a call to remain steadfast in thework,God extended the callto rely on Him to meet theirneeds(vv. 5-9).
There is no doubt, we too face a daunting task. lnfact, we are responsible to accomplish more than we can possibly do alone. If we focus solely on the task ahead,dwelling on the number of resources required, we will grow discouraged as well.
We can never accomplish the work of the Lord in our abilities, but through Him we can. And since God promised to be with us and bless us,we have all we need to be productive. We can rely upon the Lord's provision, power and promise.
*Perceive:* Unfaithfulness to God through giving positions you at a disadvantage from receiving blessing from God.
*Ponder:* What is disturbing your good harvest from the Lord?
*Practice:* Do not give into discouragement and stop doing God's work.
*Prayer:* Lord. forgive me of my past unfaithfulness in giving and help me to be faithful as from today.
*Prayer:* Spirit of the living God. speak to our heart and soul through Your word to meet our needs.
*Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches:*
Solo 0. Ayoola. Ogbomoso: AdekoluSunday, lbadan: Amao T. Adekunle, Ogbomoso;0luwayemi E. K. . Lagos: Oluyeba P. Oluwadamilare,lkere-Ekiti: Lamide E. Kabiru, Lagos: E. B. Akinnade.Lagos: Adeyanju M. Olujinmi, Abuja;Ezekiel D. Hyal, Kaduna: Unugar 0. Sunday. Abraka:Emmanuel D. , Gombe: Oyedokun Sunday 0. . Nembe.