Haggai Mediation

The Practical Prophet

Comparing to Zechariah, they're both contemporary prophetic voices of the day, but Haggai is a man of practicality. His prophesies are filled with the now and how the people of God can improve in the now. His prophesies are filled with encouragement and comfort with human dimension and practicality in them. Zechariah is a visionary prophet, He's in the glory seeing the spiritual realm prophesying things yet to come. But the two of them have the same job to encourage the Jews of the time to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple because of the greater glory that is to come.

Building God's House

At the beginning Haggai receives the word of God concerning the state of Israel. The reason why you are not prospering is because each of you mind your own business and leaving the house of God desolate. That's why everything you do will not prosper, and you cannot hold on to any wealth. You are building your own nice houses, worrying about your own survival, but you totally forgot about Me!! Where is the David of the time? One that cries it is not right when I can dwell in nice houses, yet the Lord has no dwelling place. I will not go to my bed nor rest my eyelids until I build a resting place for my God. It is in such times, when people run after the affairs of the world caring their own success or survival that God begin to raise up mighty men like David on the earth. A heart that is broken and sensitive to the Lord, what God desires not what self wants. The same cry go on in our time. God is crying out for builder like David that will once again build a house for the Lord.

Haggai's prophecies are a success confirming what God has been speaking to the governor and the high priest at the time. And all the people respond to prophet's beckoning and return to the land to rebuild the temple. Haggai continues to encourages them, "I am with you, says the Lord" (v13)

The Kingdom Builders Must Team Up

As we position ourselves and align to the prophets' voice, we must understand we need to teamwork in order to succeed in God's words. God's prophecies are only to provoke you in a certain direction, but to get success we need people in right positions working together toward the same goal.

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 laboured on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God （Haggai 1:14)

Here we can clearly see when God has a work He wants to get done, He begin to stir up people with different mantles and working together as one team. Here we have the Prophet (Haggai), who receives from heaven and points out a direction for us to follow. Then we have the Governor/King (Zerubbabel) the leader of the nation, who is a skilled leader to lead people in team work to get the job planned out positioned and planned out. The King also supports provide the funding, making important decisions, and take cares of the administration part of the planning. Then we have the High Priest (Joshua) the great intercessor/spiritual leader. It is not enough to have a direction, now we need a spiritual leader to continue to teach and equip spiritual babes. The spiritual leader also settle conflicts, disputes between the people and do lots of pastoral jobs. Then He is the one who prays for the people of God. One who through spiritual power to pave the way for the Kingdom material to be materialised in the natural way. He prepares the spiritual path for people to walk upon. And lastly we have a great congregation, a team of people with one desire that is to build the temple. Just remember that these are weak people. People prone to doubts and frustration.

God of Encouragement

If I'd give a title for the book of Haggai it would be "GOD OF ENCOURAGEMENT!" We see weak people trying to follow God's leading, and they are so prone to discouragement and frustration. When they build up the temple, they still feel discouraged because it is not as glorious as before. But God is there to give them hope, and certain hope that all He says will come to past because it is His inheritance it is His temple. Maybe many times you get discouraged following after God, when you trying to follow God's leading building a small project, writing songs, breaking into new territory, starting your dream business, etc. Whatever that may be, many times you get discourage after your first few product right? I get that a lot. I'm just frustrated because it's not as perfect and glorious as what God has promised or what I imaged, and I rather just quite and stop. But here the people of God has the exact problem:

Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that? (Haggai 2:3)

You now humans we all get that, but what amazing is how tender God responds to us. He truly is the great Shepherd that carries us through our low seasons. His rod and staff truly comforts us, even in small beginnings. He encourages us by pressing forward and pulling out the best out of us, but also putting the pressure upon Himself because we are His workmanship. If we vow faithfully follow Him, then it is His temple, His story to write, His zeal and passion will accomplish this, so He takes all the credits. You see, when people criticise our works, they are judging God.

Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of Hosts. According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not. (Haggai 2:4-5)

Wow God is telling the people don't be afraid. Remember the time when they are rebuilding the temple, many mockers and enemies arise in the land to confront them. To question them and to seek the cease their effort. Sometimes your friends and even leaders could be speaking to you out of good intention but not careful enough letting the enemy to throw just one phrase in and it became an arrow of accusation to you. You see no matter what people say, we must come back to what God says. Be strong, alert and courageous! I am with you! I am in your mist do not back down, do not doubt yourselves, do not think negatively at all. I am in the mist of your situation, I am standing beside you. When the enemy is against you he is against me.

The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9)

You see God not only encourages you in the now, then He pulls out a promise and a vision for you to believe in. He's saying, no matter how hard it is now, no matter how much opposition rise against you. You see I am determined to bless you. I'll bless you so much more than what you are building now. Much more that you could dream of. Because it is the glory of nations that will come upon you. These are such high promises not just for the nation Israel again, but we can apply it to ourselves! God has a great plan and destiny for us. We must continue to put out whole hearts and souls into the realm he has called us to go, and trusting His promise will come to pass!

Feast Time & Financial Blessing

Much of the church still live in the faith arena and lacking understand of the timings of God. For more teaching on that please check out Dr. Renny McLean. He has excellent teachings and revelation on that. Jews prosper not for no reasons, besides God's favour upon their lives. You see the rise in wealth because they understood original intent of how to be blessed, the purpose of blessings, and how to position themselves for wealth. Feast time is a mystery and a revelation for our time, I believe God is calling the church back to our Jewish roots and to live like the One New Man God is talking about because much mystery and blessings are hidden in the Jewish roots. (please hear me in right ear). One of the thing is Feast Time which means appointed time for encounter. God does thing in seasons and require us in seasons. That's why in Jewish times they know the law of sowing and when to sow. Haggai here again demonstrate that principle. God gave the very promise of the transfer of wealth coming through a violent shaking of the whole world (possibly financial shakings) and what's amazing is the timings which message was given. You see when you give out a prophetic word, it needs to be accompanied by actions, so the timings it is given it is important. And guess what? Haggai is the clearest dated book in the Old Testament. God left in the dates for a purpose and more than one time here. "IN THE SEVENTH MONTH ON THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH" That is Tishri, which is the timings of God a season of new birth. It is Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Feast of the Tabernacle seasons. It is then God is requiring a trust and a sacrifice from the people of God. I am amazed by the times. Anyways, I'll close this topic for some other time.

For I Have Chosen You

Haggai reminds Zerubbabel yet again that God has chosen Him and promise to raise him up in due time. When God called us and places His hand upon us we do go through many trials, many hardships. It is needed for us to be grounded in this revelation that we go through what we go through because God has chosen us. God has handpicked us for the job for the glory, therefore we will undergo special trainings and treatments to make us fit for the job. When we are in a dark hard season, it is not because God has abandoned us, it is because He love so much, that He'll work deeper in our lives. People that God will not walk with are those who are free to do anything and many times whatever they do good or bad they prosper and are easy and comfortable. These people are scary to me because they could be what the bible talks about. They are being fattened for the day of slaughter. I don't want to go my own ways, I want to embrace difficulties, trials before me. I want to be like Paul knowing the call on my life and embracing the challenges. I want to say that I have not disobey the revelation that has given to me from above even if prophets will point out the severity of the trials. I want to be able to say  I am ready to die. To die is gain, to live is Christ. And that I've chosen to live this life totally completely surrendered to the Master. We must know that we are chosen by God to endure these things!