Haggai 2:1-5

Haggai 2:1-5 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, (2) "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, (3) 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes? (4) Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, (5) according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

Three points:

1. Remember: What it was like.

Sometimes when we look back in our lives, we think "Everything was good; what went wrong"? In turning to the Lord Jesus to help, he can take the most terrible situation and turn into something beautiful.

2. Encouragement: Again; do we encourage one another?

I need to be encouraged sometimes. It is a blessing when someone comes up to me and says, "I'm praying for you." Are we mindful of others, praying for them, and helping them?

3. Fear: It is common. There IS a reason not to fear--I am with you.

Everyone has fear sometimes. If things are bad and continue day after day, we are to be encouraged; God says, "Fear not". God is in control. The Lord Jesus suffered, Job suffered, others have suffered, but after wards there was a blessing. We shouldn't give up.