A Call to Build the house of the Lord

Day XI

Friends today we will explore the greatness of God when we have him in us. In the old testament in the book of Haggai one of the prophet our Lord Almighty utter these word.

Haggai 1



5 Here then is what the LORD who rules over all says: ‘Think carefully about what you are doing. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.’”


 7 “Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says: ‘Pay close attention to these things also. 8 Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored, says the LORD. 9 ‘You expected a large harvest, but instead1 there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?’ asks the LORD who rules over all. ‘Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house! 10 This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce.11 Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.’”

In the old testament people are commanded to worship God in certain places (i.e. holy places, altars or house of God). In the book of Haggai the people were commanded to built the second temple in Jerusalem when people were being diverted to idolatry and wickedness. In the passage we can see that the Lord is instructing people that all their labor and hard work in relying in their own would result to little or nothing. Our God like us to depend on him, follow his command and please him. There are numbers of stories in the bible that would show God's favor to the obedient like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and many more. The Lord just want us to follow him and depend on him.

In the same book the Lord Promised Glory of the New House of God and blessings to the people.

Haggai 2


 3 ‘Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple?1 How does it look to you now? Isn’t it nothing by comparison? 4 Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD. ‘Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you citizens of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and begin to work. For I am with you,’ says the LORD who rules over all.note 5 ‘Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit even now testifies to you.’ 6 Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says: ‘In just a little while I will once again shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry ground. 7 I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD who rules over all. 8 ‘The silver and gold will be mine,’ says the LORD who rules over all. 9 ‘The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,’ the LORD who rules over all declares, ‘and in this place I will give peace.’”

God is a generous God and he would give as much as he can beyond our need. He is a Great God before, today and forever.

In the new testament, Lord Jesus Christ refer HOUSE of God/Residence to another thing.

John 14


23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.

Here God said our body is now the house of God that we should keep clean and holy. We should make the house of God (in other verses House of the Holy Spirit) be pleasing to our God. He said if anyone loves me HE WILL OBEY MY WORD or teaching.

We have been talking about righteousness in the past and consistently I always use that word because that is  what God want us to be. Friends, we are commanded to keep this body holy and make it favorable in the sight of God and the promise Glory is beyond our understanding. Let us continue to pray for strength and focus on being right in the sight of God. Let us always remember that our body should ONLY be use for the Glory of God. So before we go to places, take in something or use this body for anything WE should STOP and THINK. Would our God be please when we do such thing? Just like in old testament, we lived our lives the way we want it because we thought we are good enough - see what happen? Are we completely happy? Without worries? Fully Satisfied? In this fallen world we would not be able to get that peace and achievement if God is not with us.

In the name of our Heavenly Father, The Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit may we have all the strength and wisdom to take care of this body. May we always listen to the voice of truth given by the Holy Spirit from God. May Lords protection and guidance be with us always in Jesus name. Amen.