Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 48
1 The Lord is great and highly praised in the city of our God.
His holy mountain, 2 rising splendidly, is the joy of the whole earth.
Mount Zion—the summit of Zaphon— is the city of the great King.
3 God is known as a stronghold in its citadels.
4 Look! The kings assembled; they advanced together.
5 They looked and froze with fear; they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there, agony like that of a woman in labor,
7 as you wrecked the ships of Tarshish with the east wind.
8 Just as we heard, so we have seen in the city of the Lord of Armies,
in the city of our God; God will establish it forever.Selah
9 God, within your temple, we contemplate your faithful love.
10 Like your name, God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with justice.
11 Mount Zion is glad. Judah’s villages rejoice because of your judgments.
12 Go around Zion, encircle it; count its towers,
13 note its ramparts; tour its citadels so that you can tell a future generation:
14 “This God, our God forever and ever— he will always lead us.”
This God, our God forever and ever— he will always lead us. Trusting in God, letting Him be a place of refuge, protection, and provision is the best plan for flourishing life. This city that the Psalmist is singing about is the city protected by God. He is our protector. One day, if you have trusted Christ, you will be at home with Him. Praise Him now for His greatness. Ask Him to use you to tell a future generation that He is faithful.
SCRIPTURE READING:
Haggai 2:1-9 – The Message
This Temple Will End Up Better Than It Started Out
2 1-3 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of God came through the prophet Haggai: “Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: ‘Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?
4-5 “‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—God is speaking.
“‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’
“‘Get to work, all you people!’—God is speaking.
“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.’
6-7 “This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: ‘Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.
8 ‘I own the silver,
I own the gold.’
Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
9 “‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanksgiving to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for many seeds that were planted through the four teams we sent out from River this summer. Ask God to bear fruit through the seeds planted. Pray for those who came to faith through the mission teams. Pray that those who came to faith would grow in their walk with God.
Living as God’s People by applying the Bible
Scripture Reflection from the Sermon
Haggai 2:6-9 is fulfilled by Christ Jesus, but in two stages. The first stage of fulfillment was Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on earth. The second stage is future, to be completed at Christ’s return. Where does that leave us? It leaves us in the in-between; in the “already, not yet.” Worshipping and weeping is our weird normal. We worship at what God has done, but weep at what remains unfinished, dysfunctional, and incomplete in our own lives and the world around us. We experience some benefits of salvation now, but we will not experience all the benefits of salvation until later.
In what ways are you experiencing the “already” salvation of Christ in your life (the fruit of the Spirit, victory over sin, restored relationships, devotion for God, etc.)? In what ways are you experiencing the “not yet” aspect of salvation in your life (physical/mental/emotional pain, broken relationships, dissatisfaction, incompleteness, insecurity, fear, etc.)? Thank God for the foretaste of salvation He has given you. Trust Him with the benefits of your salvation that remain hidden and unattainable in this life.