HAGGAI

Ellie, I thank our God and Christ that people may be feeling what they are expressing as an 'urgency'.I'd like to think of it or call it, being suddenly "AWAKENED",(or shakened awake), by the Holy Spirit of God.Many verses you see there and others from O.T. and New should be jumping off the pages at us now with this 'awakening' and a "spirit of prophecy" spoken of in Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. When Old or New Testament prophecies, as what you're mentioning, start coming to life to you, you can know that is "the spirit of prophecy", that the Lord promised in Daniel chpt. 12, would be "unsealed" to those who live in "those days".God Bless you for being so sensitive to the Lord and for Geraldine and the other's posts too.These things 'are' the beginning of the promises to the Remnant, when they are given "understanding" of the times as spoken of in Daniel, etc. Pray we don't fall back to sleep.P.S. I've felt led to read many of the writings on the Article page of this sister below and this one article hit me tonite, that I post here.https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=832Love to you Ellie and Thank you.Pray one for another. Dan 11:32 .... but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Praise God !!!Love, Annie

I have just read the article you put up a link for Annie and my heart was pounding by the end of it. It really spoke to me. How foolish have i been!!!!So everything depends upon whether we really bear our crosses. But how can we get free when we are bound by fear of the cross? The first "must" is to recognize the reason for trying to avoid the cross! We need the insight of truth for our unredeemed, sinful nature. We need to repent of this sinful trait, which makes us guilty again and again. Whoever has recognized how contaminated he is with sin, and is really sorry about it and wants to be freed no matter what it costs, will willingly accept discipline and suffering of all sorts from God. For he tells himself soberly, "I need the crosses to purify and transfigure me into the image of Jesus and so reach the goal of heavenly glory." For many years i have looked at all sorts of reason why i should move. I hate it here where i live, it's not where i would choose to live but it's where The Lord would have me until He say's otherwise. You could say it's my cross because it seems it has brought me to many other crosses being here!!! Oh Lord forgive me. The next thing on the list of Geraldines foolishness would have to be this fear i have/had (God is dealing with this in me) is dying. All my life i have been a hypochondriac and i guess the root of that fear is death. So the naturally the cross for me meant fear. But NO....i will not be bound by that fear any longer. I want so desperatly to be brought closer to "Him who loves us more than anyone else.""Yes, if we bear our cross with Jesus, we will come closer to Him than ever before and experience His joy." Amen!These are all things i am learning to actually surrender to Him in order that i may take up my cross and follow Him. Follow Him......that means moving forwards doesnt it? Well because of my sin and foolishness i guess i havent been able to move at all, i've been stuck. But if i actually begin now to take up my cross i can move....i can follow Him, be moved into His will.Also...."He hides a wonderful treasure in our cross. We are to discover it: wonderful fruit, transfiguration, victory, eternal joy, oneness with Jesus. And we must tell ourselves again and again, "Because God is love, suffering is never the end of the story. God always has a way out of suffering; He always has comfort and aid, for He is my Father." Faith in the Father's love, which has given us this cross, will make difficult things easy and bitter things sweet."I will discover the wonderfull treasure that is hidden in my cross. Oh God is so good. This is not what any unsaved man would deem as treasure but to one who loves the Lord dearly this is more than treasure. Words cannot possibly describe what it means to be able to repent and turn from wretched sin and to be washed and made more like our Lord everyday. It is such an honour to been GIVEN A CROSS TO CARRY in the first place.Hallelujah!!!Ellie I have not forgotten the title of this post..forgive me i have read through Haggai and continue to meditate on it.Bless you all mightily, In His LoveGeraldine

Hia Geraldine,I enjoyed your post and honesty. I think we all feel this way.I think we all have our limits and only the Lord can get us past those points of fear or whatever causes them.Actually, Dorcas was the first who mentioned this lady author to me. I had never heard of her, so I checked out her page here ...https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=category&cid=53Then put it as a shortcut on my Desktop, till I finish going through her articles. I seem to go to the one that 'sticks out' at me, that particular day.There was one I REALLY liked, that I copied over to a friend up north and she loved it too.She and I both like books, that folks do, on The Song of Solomon (Jesus & us, His Bride), so I figured she'd like the one called "Bridal Love" by Basilea Schlink.Seems each day, one of the topics on her list hit me, about my own "attitudes".Appreciate your post and appreciate that we can pray for each other.God Bless you ~Annie

Well I finally have read Haggai a few times, and the simple message that God wants to build His temple, was what stood out to me the most, followed closely by the clear link He makes to the lack of blessing which was experienced by the people when they allowed the Lord's house to take second place to their own.I think this raises an interesting question for today, when each elder in his own house can gather around his family an extended family of believers, without leaving home, as it were. The principle in Haggai of the testimony being external, has changed under the New Covenant.Nevertheless, Peter links the 'stone' picture in Haggai to the church. There is also another picture of 'the church' in Haggai 18 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. The mountain - the place where God dwells - the ultimate authority. This is where the wood would be found - the cross - the means by which us people can come into God's house at all. And then the house itself being build, for His pleasure and glory.12 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. 13 Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.14 And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,Then in Haggai 2 the Lord promises peace and greater glory than previously. Do we believe we're part of that?7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.8 The silver [us] is mine, and the gold [God's glory] is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. 'The Lord of hosts' is the God who commands an army of fighters (like David). But, His intention is to bring peace (like Solomon). Jesus fulfilled both roles. And by His Spirit, we also war against principalities and powers, until we experience 'peace' from our agressors. Then the thing that caught my eye most of all was the reference to the stones being put one upon another. I suddenly saw that as time has gone on since the Church began, that the 'stones' in each succeeding generation of believers, have been being laid upon that foundation. And while it may be good for us to consider the foundation and what we are building upon it, we are a long way from the foundation, as walls go (after 2000 years of building) if you see what I mean. This is some edifice and do we really 'see' either it, or what God is after in His design?15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD: 18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it. I underlined 'day' because it reminded me of the day Jesus died on the cross - the veil in the temple being rent - and the beginning of fellowship between God and man was assured.Lastly, I'm not sure what to make of the reference to the 'the sword of his brother'. Is this a good thing? Is is figuarative only?I will shake the heavens and the earth; 22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.What is 'the throne' of kingdoms? What is 'the strength' of kingdoms? Who are the 'riders' in 'the chariots' who will be brought down with their vehicles?