Alva Review-Courier -

I have been preaching a series from the book of Haggai. I thought that I would share some of my thoughts from the message I shared this past Sunday. Especially since no one could hear what I had to say.

I am going to talk about Haggai 2:4-5. “’Even so, be strong Zerubbabel’ – this is the Lord’s declaration. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jehozadak, high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land’ – this is the Lord’s declaration. ‘Work! For I am with you’ – the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. ‘This is the promise I made to you when you came out of Egypt, and My Spirit is present among you; don’t be afraid.’”

There is a lot to think about in these two verses. The Israelites had returned from exile and were in the process of rebuilding the temple after letting it deteriorate. Some remembered what the temple was before and complained about what it is like now. They became discouraged again. God tells them, through the prophet Haggai, to be strong, to be courageous. God wanted them to continue the work that He commanded them to do. Part of being courageous is to work. We do not see that much in the world today. People want courage without the work. It does not happen that way.

God reminds them that the Holy Spirit is with them just like He was with them when they came out of Egypt. God’s Spirit is with us as well. When we follow God’s will for our lives and obey His command (read the Great Commission at the end of Matthew), the Holy Spirit will provide the courage and strength to accomplish what we set out to do. Sometimes that may seem outrageous but that is where we see God’s power the most.

Do not fear what God wants you to do. Even if that goes against what you are being told you should do by the world. Be strong and courageous. Take the first step and see what God will do. If that first step, which it should be, is accepting Christ as Savior then do it and tell someone what you did. Answer the call to courage.