‘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? 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. –Haggai 2:3 & 4, NIV 2010
God prepared their hearts to receive a greater blessing; however, they had to work for it. But their hearts have grown tired and complacent. What they were doing, rebuilding their own houses before the Lord’s!? (Although it’s really important to have somewhere to lay our heads…) Didn’t God promise them He would provide a home? Didn’t God promise them He would clothe them, and didn’t God promise them He would show everything?
I’ll give you one point, though: the second temple wasn’t as grand as Solomon’s temple (this point provided by the confusion of tears and joy from those working and passing by), but God promised that that house will be His honoring place. Didn’t He stirred the hearts of generations of Israelites to return and start building Himself!?!?
God stirred the spirit of the people. And do you know what God said to them? “I am with you.” That’s it. “I am with you.” That was the prompt that the nation needed to rebuild God’s meeting place.
Didn’t God say that to you when He gave you that ministry? Or you started that job? Or you picked that college and the Enemy’s trying to twist your mind? Or that church you see it’s running on a corporate mess behind the curtains of worship? Or when you don’t think God’s presence is with you because there’s no fire?
I am with YOU… What more do you need?