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Black Church News in Virginia

Inspirational Message: Haggai, A Minor Prophet Obeyed God!

The word of God let Haggai know that blessings existed for a defiled people! God continued with a Messianic promise when He spoke in verse 9: “In a little while I will once more shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory of the former house – and in this house I will grant peace, declares the Lord Almighty.” Here Jesus Christ was promised hundreds of years before. His actual birth!

Haggai was sometimes called the one year prophet because God gave him a specific mission that required the deliverance of four known messages during a simple year. By 520 BC Haggai spoke to the Jews who had been home from their Babylonian exile for several years. They were severely criticized for securing their own comfort while leaving the rebuilding of the temple unfinished. Haggai wanted them to put God first.

Spiritual conditions were compared to the incomplete temple. Their relationship with God was in shambles and needed restoration. Haggai assured the people that a healed relationship with God would result in outstanding benefits that had been forgotten during the time of neglect. What does this information tell us? What may be the benefit(s) of obeying God (Haggai 2)? According to Haggai 1:13, this message was given to the people: “I am with you” declares the Lord. A whole remnant of people obeyed God. Their spirits were stirred and they began to work immediately on the house of the Lord!

With God’s help, great and mighty things can be done through His people. This temple would have more glory because Jesus Christ would preach in it Himself! The people believed the truth of the prophetic message of Haggai from God.

There is no doubt that God saw their problems vanish after He said, “From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:18-19). How did Haggai describe a defiled people? Verses 13-17 tell us how consideration can be given to previous conditions before stones were laid, all hand work was met with disasters of blight and mildew and other problems, but they did not turn to God. Now, there is no guarantee that if you make a habit of responding to what God says all your problems will disappear. There is one thing promised, if we put our belief in God’s word and reposition ourselves so that He can bless us and it will happen. Let us turn to God and His plans for our everlasting blessings!

Mrs. Gladys R. McElmore, a resident of Norfolk’s Middle Town Arch Community, is a New Journal and Guide Freelance Contributor on religion. She is a native of Essex County, Va.

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