“It’s Time to Fear the Lord” Sunday, 30 January 2022 10:00 a.m.
We began a new series for 2022 from the book of Haggai entitled: “Bring Back the Glory.” It highlights the life of the nation of Judah 500 years B.C. God’s people had gone from enjoying the grandeur, the fame, might, the Glory of being a superpower. But because of disobedience and idolatry she had gone into captivity for 70 years and now was returning to the Holy Land. The glory had departed; could she once again attain to glory of yesteryear?
Last week we talked about the fact that the people had been home for 18 years but still had not engaged in rebuilding the temple… The word of the Lord challenges the people to take a candid look at reality: they were living in comfort, ease and relative extravagance while the house of God was lying in ruins. Last week we looked at God’s command; to Begin… go up to the mountains; Bring wood…have an attitude of obedience and humility; and Build the temple…restore the place of worship.
This week, the Lord is challenging the people through the prophet to learn to live in the fear of the Lord. What exactly does that mean? I describe it as awe and reverence for God that leads us to live in humility and obedience. It’s an attitude of the heart that we learn in our spiritual walk. The command of God that leads them to spiritual restoration is as follows:
Haggai 1:12 Then …. 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 feared the presence of the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord.” 14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God…
They were challenged by the word of God to act in obedience, and when they did they learned to fear the Lord; to have an attitude of reverence and awe for God which leads to humility and further obedience. And when they did that, they experienced the ongoing presence of God and knew that He was with them. Then…God began to stir their hearts… and then, at last they began to do the will of God.
And as they did all these things, God was well pleased, and He received the glory.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “It’s Time to Fear the Lord.”
(Social distancing and face covering requirements are in effect)
Kevin