Open—D. Perry
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Right, let's God and love his Father. We thank thee for it. That hope, that's all.
And we read the Got through the 1St chapter and.
What I have in my heart is.
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Caution in the second chapter of the book.
2nd chapter of the Book of Haggai.
Perhaps from the we should for continuity we should read from the 13th verse of the first chapter.
Then Spike Haggai, the Lord's messenger, in the Lord's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the Lord.
And the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shelter, governor of Judah.
And the spirit of Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnants of the people.
And they came and did work in the House of the Lord of hosts, dear God, in the four and 20th day of the sixth month, in the second year of Doras the King.
And in the seventh month, in the while, and 20th day of the month, came the word of the Lord by the Prophet Hager. I saying, Speak now to Zerubbabel the Sol, the governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory?
And how do you see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
Now, yet now, be strong, Ozur rubber, saith the Lord. And be strong, O Joshua the son of Joseph the high priest, and be strong, all you people of the land, said the Lord, and work.
For I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts.
According to the word that I covenant it with you when I when you came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you. Fear you not.
But that, saith the Lord of Hosts, yet once it is a little while, and I will shake the heaven and the earth and the sea and the dry land, 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. The silver is mine, the gold is mine.
The Lord of Hosts and the glory of this latter house, or perhaps it should be the latter glory of this house, shall be greater than the former, saith the Lord of Hosts. And in this place I will give peace, saith the Lord of House.
And in the four and 20th day of the ninth month, in the second year of Doras, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Ask now the priest concerning the law, saying, If one be a holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt to touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said No.
Then said Haggai, if one is unclean by a dead body, such any of these things shall it be unclean? And the priest answered and said It shall be unclean.
Well, the first thing I'd like you to notice.
Is that this prophet Haggai? We don't know much about him, doesn't even say who he was the son of.
But He is speaking to a remnant. A remnant or a residue? And what was that remnant?
Well, the children of Israel have been taken away in captivity to Babylon.
And there comes a time.
When the king of Babylon at that time, Cyrus, I believe.
Has it put in his heart by God?
To allow the people got to go back to Jerusalem.
I think we can say there wasn't a mad rush to go back to Jerusalem.
That's sad, isn't it?
Because there was, but there were those whose heart was exercised by the place where the Lord's glory was.
Jerusalem.
Anorem.
A pretty insignificant remnant.
By man's reckoning.
Had a desire in their hearts.
To go back to Jerusalem.
To build that temple for the honor and glory of God.
They, I believe, had in their hearts to be a collective testimony.
To the glory of God, just like the apostle that scripture that was read to us this morning.
What did the apostle cry?
Let's read it from that last verse of the third chapter of Ephesians.
Unto him that is God himself, of course, be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
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And there are those whose God stirred up their hearts.
They wanted to see God glorified in that place that he had chosen for his people, and they returned to Jerusalem.
They put the altar on its face.
They built the foundation of the temple.
And then they quit.
And so, Aguilastic sigh. You're building your own houses, you're busy with your own things. They've built some fancy property there.
And God says my house laid waste.
Well, I think that's what we had in the chapter that we had before us. All seek their own.
Not the things there of Jesus Christ. And so in this ministry.
That we get and I think I would include the book of Zechariah and Malachi 2.
Ministry to this little Roman.
We get much that would encourage us, but much that would speak to our conscience too.
And so Haggy I.
Through the word of God exhorts them to build the house.
God says my house is waste.
When we look at the church, the House of God in its outward manifestation now.
Much division, much would I unstable?
Can't we emphasize with Haggai as he looked at that remnant making themselves comfortable in Jerusalem? I think they'd learnt the soft light in Babylon.
And God's house being waste.
When we look at the church today.
Why do we see it in such a state outwardly?
Well, I believe of course we see the work of Satan to discredit anything that would be to the glory of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
But I think we also see.
That Christians have found in their responsibility they failed to build or they built wood high and stubble. Our brother in his dress yesterday mentioned what I think with wood high and stubble the foundation is laid.
The gospel goes forth.
Souls are saved.
But then they're told to go to the Church of their choice, would pay and stumble.
We soon choose the path, the way, whatever seems to be. O Lord the best.
How can we then say, Lord, stay out of this decision I want to make? I want to go where I want to remember them?
That's the wood high and stubble.
That we see around us.
But we find that Haggai exhorts these to build.
Each one of us as we had this afternoon as a gift.
We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
That can exercise in the use of that gift for the honor and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and for building that which is for its glory even in the time.
Of declension even in a time of much weakness, even in a time.
When the testimony of those gallant to the Lord's name is just so feeble.
He would encourage us to continue to build.
So we get the verses where we started, and the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the son of Shallotteal, the governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua, of of Joe's son, of Joseph the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. This is precious, you know.
Sir Rubable particularly has taken up in Zechariah. It introduces the branch, a type of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What did he say on this rock? I will build my church. Oh, that's precious. In spite of all our failure, the Lord Jesus Christ is building his church, and he's going to pretend it to himself without sprout or wrinkle or any such thing as glorious church. And we look for that time, don't we?
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But mean as well as gathered to the Lord's name is left us here and given us responsibilities.
And may we be faithful in those responsibilities that He has given us. And so we see here that all the people, they came and did work in the House of the Lord of hosts, Dear God.
That was precious to see, wasn't it?
But now we have two other things I think specifically addressed to this remnant.
And they bring out what you might call remnant truth. Truth for us in the last days.
And Aguilar continues.
Verse three. Who is left among you that saw this house?
First glory.
He takes them right back.
And gives them to think about Solomon's temple.
It takes us back to, I think it's the third of Ezra.
Where?
They laid the foundation of the house.
And they surely for joy that this house was begun to the honor and glory of God.
But the older ones cried. Why did the older ones cry?
While I cried because I knew it would only be a power shadow, it would be nothing as compared.
To that temple of Solomon.
You know.
As we look at the state of the church and of course it that includes every Christian, everyone that knows the Lord Jesus Christ of their Savior and it's divided state in these the last days. I I do believe if we compare it with the power and the energy.
The devotion.
That was evident in those days of Pentecost.
We will indeed mourn.
I even felt it personally.
And there this meeting is. Pine Grove.
There used to be a meeting there in Schaumburg.
That is gathered to the Lord's name there, and we often have to enjoy fellowship with them. And I've only got to get on that Hwy. 400 and turn north. And I think of the times when we used to visit those in Schaumburg and enjoy fellowship there around the Lord's Table. It is impossible anymore.
And leave them should grieve us.
And Hagel, it takes them. He rubs it in here. You can say, well.
I wonder why I don't think Hagley. I wanted them to give get thoughts above themselves.
You know it's not because of superior spirituality.
That we in these last days are gathered to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This be upon His grace.
By as grace he preserves us. It's not by superior knowledge. It's not that we are more faithful than other Christians.
But in His grace He has given us the inestimable privilege, have been gathered to His precious name in these the last days. Or may we not have high thoughts of concerning ourselves?
As we enjoy the privilege of being gathered around himself for the remembrance of him.
But he goes on to say some very precious things.
This was only a remnant. The temple that they were building was really going to be nothing as compared to Solomon's temple. But he says 2.
Very important things.
Let's read them.
The end of the four verse.
And be strong, all you people of the land, saith the Lord, And work, For I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts, according to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. So my spirit remaineth with you. Fear you not.
What did he say?
He says my spirit still there.
And what's more, I'm there.
My spirit's still there and I'm there, even though it might be just a remnant and the house might be nothing. Compared to what?
Solomon's house was.
So I've not until they didn't have the Ark of the Covenant.
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But there were others there that desired.
To glorify Him.
By working.
To His praise and to His glory in the building of that house.
He says I'm with you, I'm there.
You know I read that 13th verse then spake Haggai the Lords messenger in the Lords message under the people saying I am with you, Seth the Lord.
Specially marked out to be the Lord's messenger. I know all scripture is given by inspiration of God.
But I think alone amongst the Old Testament prophets, Haggai is called the Lord's messenger.
That reminds me of one in the New Testament, I believe, who delivered a special message.
1St Corinthians 11.
Verse 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you. Do you think this is a special message?
Well, I think that's how the apostle would have us read it.
A special message.
The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he'd break and said take he, this is my body which is broken for you, this doing remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup when he had supped saying this cup is the New Testament in by blood. This do you as often you drink it in remembrance of Maine. We had that before us this morning, didn't we?
If we want to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in these last days.
Let's do it.
It's off to 320.
In remembrance of Maine.
Verse 26 I had particularly before me for as often as ye is spread and drink this cup, you do show the Lords death until he comes.
Until he comes.
Right up two days of weakness.
Two days of failure. Our failure, not just the failure of other Christians.
I believe this is a promise to us that right up until the time when the Lord comes.
It will be possible for us to continue to remember.
The Lord Jesus Himself according to His Word. We never have to compromise scripture to keep it.
And so the fact that the apostle said.
Says here until he come.
Would be a promise to me.
That it would be possible for me to continue to remember the Lord Jesus Christ in his death fully according to the Word of God, just as much in accordance to the Word of God if I remembered Him the day after Pentecost, the Lord's day after Pentecost, right up until that time.
When the Lord Jesus Christ will come to take his own, to be with himself.
For everything, I think this is the first aspect.
Of remnant truth.
A remnant.
Do they ever so insignificant?
Desiring to carry on according to the word of God.
Are in the enjoyment of all the promises as though they were the whole.
Is the Holy Spirit still indwelling Christians, energizing him in the service of the Lord? Sure is. If the Holy Spirit still gathering around the person of the Lord Jesus Christ? Sure is.
Is the Lord Himself?
Present where two or three gathered to his name sure is and will be so right up to that time when he comes to plagues to be with himself.
But then there's the responsibility side of that too. And that's why.
I read the.
Other few verses in the chapter.
But some other some of the other verses in the chapter.
If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread or pottage or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priest answered no. Well, they've only got to read the law.
The law has represented the will of God for his people, I believe.
And they know what the answer was.
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You may think that perhaps in these last days.
Maybe we could be cut a little flat.
Maybe we don't have to be quite as diligent as to that which is for the honour and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I believe this scripture.
As it's put in juxtaposition of that other one.
Would remind us.
That as we have the privilege of being gathered to the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ in this last days, we enjoy all the blessings.
And bear all the responsibilities.
As if we were the whole church. We are far from the whole church. We are just a tiny, insignificant remnant.
Shall I believe God in His grace?
Has provided us all the privileges.
And it is wisdom has given us all the responsibilities.
As though we were the whole church.
I believe, brethren, that this encapsulates.
Remnant truth.
So we do prior that we might have that desire, like the apostle Paul to see God glorified in the church through Christ Jesus even in these the last days, even though that testimony might be a remnant testimony.
We do pray that the Holy Spirit might exercise each individual of us.
As to the use of that whatever gift he's given us?
For the building up of his church.
That we might be found by his grace.
Gathered to his precious name that time when He comes to take him home to be with himself. Being faithful in the exercises of those responsibilities has given us as gathered to His precious name.