Build the Temple

4 But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord, ‘take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ declares the Lord of hosts. 5 ‘As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ 6 For thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the Lord of hosts.”

Haggai 2: 4-9

The prophet Haggai comes to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest, and commands them to rebuild the house of the Lord. He admonishes them for being busy with their own homes while the house of the Lord remains in ruin. “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” Haggai explains their misfortunes are a direct result of focusing on their own homes while disregarding the house of the Lord. We are guilty of the same sin. As Haggai urges, we must focus our efforts and attention to building God’s temple. While Haggai refers to a physical temple made of stone, our “temple” is our spirit and body. We are God’s temple.

We spend our lives constructing different kinds of temples. We build a sturdy temple where our thirst for money can thrive. We build a temple to house all our desires and wishes. We build temples that having nothing to do with God. For this reason, we fail in life. We plant a lot but harvest a little. We eat but never have enough. We put on clothes but are never warm. We make money “only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” We are cursed because God’s blessing can never reach us. Being a temple of God is the only way He can bless us and shower us with His infinite blessings because God blesses and curses us according to the temple we build.

Once we make up our minds to rebuild the temple of God, we must not retreat or be afraid. We will confront obstacles and setbacks in our quest to build His temple, but Haggai says to “be strong” and “do not fear” because His spirit remains with us and He is with us. We must think of the alternative. If we fail to build His temple, God cannot reside inside of us. If He does not live inside of us, we can only thirst for His blessings. We have no choice but to fail in life and perish.

How do we become a temple of God? How can we create an environment where God lives inside of us?

First, we must eliminate and repent all those things that will make it less conducive for God to reside inside of us. In other words, we must repent all our sins. God leaves us once we sin, and He will not enter a place filled with sin.

Second, we must prepare a temple that is clean and welcoming to God. Not only must we clear the house of sin, but also we must strive to create a welcoming home for God. A welcoming and clean home is a place that moves according to the word of God.

Third, we construct a home where God has no choice but to reside. We call Him to service by fulfilling our part of the covenant. We execute our part of the contract, and God has no choice but to fulfill His end.

We must recognize and acknowledge that we are God’s temples! We must build a home welcoming to God. It must be free of sin. Whether we are studying, working, or living our day to day life, we must be a temple of God in all facets. Let’s create a business where God can reside. Let’s create a workplace where God can reside. Let’s create a family where God can reside.

Let’s make it our top priority to recognize we are God’s temple!

Let’s take the necessary steps to welcome and keep God in our hearts!

Summary