Stir Us Up!
When a big event occurs, whether global, personal, or spiritual, I am of the belief that if it directly affects us then it needs to directly change us! So, Covid19 was/is big and I want to come out of it changed. I’m re-thinking a lot of things.
*But, these riots and violent protests are totally out of hand.
Thus, Haggai.
The Priority
In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: ‘This people says, “The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built.” ’ ”
3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” Haggai 1.1-4
What is my priority? Doing God’s work or my own? I must honor Him with both my time and my money.
Understand
For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2.6-9
What exactly produces glory? Only the presence of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Corinthians 3.18)
The temple, my body IS the temple of Holy Spirit – so, “technically” I am the latter temple because Jesus fulfilled this prophecy and Jesus lives in me. (1 Corinthians 6.19)
Do I honor His presence inside of me? Does my life, my writing, my testimony bring Jesus glory? Does yours?
Know Who The Enemy Is
Here is the pertinent message. We must take the blinders off of our physical and spiritual eyes and identify the enemy. And, today my message is this… the devil is having a field day using a good truth for evil purposes. He is raging. I say today that the most important thing to God is LIFE. ALL LIFE.
God loves LIFE. God hates SIN.
Period.
Pay attention to Haggai 2.21-22
Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying:
‘I will shake heaven and earth.
22 I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms;
I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms.
I will overthrow the chariots
And those who ride in them;
The horses and their riders shall come down,
Every one by the sword of his brother.
The footnote in my Bible says this, “Sword of his brother”: God will turn the powers opposing HIS people against each other so that they end up destroying themselves.
I am seeing this happen even now during these horrendous protests. People killing people. Anyone?
The enemy is Satan himself. We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood but with powers and principalities of darkness. Satan has an army of minions. Get armed and fight the battle with THE WORD. If you don’t know how? Learn. (Ephesians 6.12)
Choose & Reckon
‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord— 16 since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17 I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. 18 ‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid—consider it: 19 Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ ” Haggai 2.15-19
It is time to choose, and reckon! We all have to answer for ourselves. I can’t answer for you and you cannot answer for me.
I am turning away from my own selfish ambition and personal agenda to focusing on advancing God’s Kingdom. Why? Because I want to be blessed.
Do you?
To Sum It All Up
The Word of the Lord is loud in 2020. Are our ears open? Are our eyes open? I believe the rubber is meeting the road. In spiritual talk? Our faith must get feet – ready and willing to choose and reckon. There are so many things to reckon with. Seek truth. Consider motive. Advance the Kingdom.
Stir us up, O Lord!
*I realize and am grateful for the peaceful, Kingdom-advancing protests.
Excellent, excellent post!
Amen!
Thank you for sharing.
Karen, thank you for reading!
Amen. I truly feel Him shaking everything that can be shaken! I am back reading blogs for this week again, in the middle of my pause. So, I’m glad to join with you, and say, yes, Lord, open my own heart in the midst of this shaking too.
We must be responsive to the shakings!
Powerful word. God’s people need to pay attention, get out of their church buildings and open their ears, eyes and see what is happening. Pray, pray, pray…God has asked us to PRAY! Elijah stopped the rain and started the rain again with his prayers! And it was at God’s request. He waits to hear our prayers.
I need to pray more.
This post makes me want to turn on the Messiah at full volume: “And I will shaaaaaaaaaaaaaake the heavens, the earth, the sea, the dry lands, all nations!”
And that sure seems to be what’s going on in the world. I know I need a regular sound shaking, just to remind me that I live in the strong and unshakeable kingdom of God!
AMEN, MM. Full volume!
Love Haggai! Great post!
XO
How’s my theology? xo
Yes, the Lord is shaking us up. We need to stand for the truth. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12.
This nation needs a revival. It’s not the time to turn away. Great reminder.
It is certainly not the time to turn away. He is our Only Hope.
Great post, Susan! I’m 100% in agreement with you!
God is shaking things up. I want to be available, listening, and ready to move when I get my “orders!”
Yes ma’am!!! I’ll be marching with you. Tho He slay me yet will I praise Him!!!
As you shake, do you quiver, too? or just shake the heavens with your cries for help? The news is terrifying. But God is much bigger. thanks for using your voice to shake us up to trust Him more!
I’ve been known to rock, but not quiver!!!
Read and will re-read. This is where we as His people, as nations of the earth are. He always fights for his people. But does his people always fight for him? That’s the question.
For months now, I’ve been reading Revelation, The prophecy books have become very important. I’m looking East. How about you?
OH YES.
Amen! Definitely agree, time for the people of God to prayerfully advance and regain ground – I pray that this shaking will bring about a new awe and reverence for God, in all nations. Encouraged by your article, thank you!
Sharon, I too pray for revival and new converts.
Amen!
Great granny, amen!
Great post! The time is now!!! I said that in my post and I believe it. Haggai teaches us so much about our current world. May we stand up and let the shaking begin. Come, Lord Jesus!
Amen!