“On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 11“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Now, ask the priests concerning the law, saying, 12If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy?” ‘ “Then the priests answered and said, “No.” 13And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.” 14Then Haggai answered and said, ” ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. 15‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord– 16since those days, when one came to a heap of twenty ephahs, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty baths from the press, there were but twenty. 17I struck you with blight and mildew and hail in all the labors of your hands; yet you did not turn to Me,’ says the Lord. 18‘Consider now from this day forward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid, consider it: 18Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you.’ “” Haggai 2:10-19 NKJV
Holy God,
Faithful God, even though Your chosen people continually defied You and mocked You by making and worshipping other Gods. Or just ignored You. You never gave up on them. Back in their own land free to return and rebuild Jerusalem and their Temple they still need reminding of their relationship with You.
And You simply and clearly remind them that they cannot make themselves holy. It is You who is their source of forgiveness, cleanliness and faithfulness. And now they should remember You God are graciously enabling them to start again with You and You are providing all and more than they need. But will they just rebuild the Temple or will they rebuild a relationship with You? Will they remember that You are God and they need You?
Taking communion, the wafer and wine, do not make us Holy. It ensures we humble ourselves and remember that You are God and provided all we needed for holiness through the death of Jesus. Every breath we take reminds us that we live in You, have Your total forgiveness, Your absolute holiness, and Your eternal faithfulness. You called Your people to rebuild, trust You and be faithful. Here today as we help build the Kingdom of God we commit to holiness and faithfulness a serious business. And Jesus doesn’t just touch us to keep us clean but lives in us by Your Holy Spirit. And He keeps us when we slip, falter or fail.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Tuesday 23rd September 2025
This is my desire to honor You
Lord, with all my heart I worship You
All I have within me I give You praise
All that I adore is in You
Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soul I live for you alone
Every breath that I take every moment I’m awake
Lord, have Your way in me
This is my desire to honor You
Lord, with all my heart I worship You
All I have within me I give You praise
All that I adore Is in You
Lord, I give You my heart
I give You my soulI live for you alone
Every breath that I take every moment I’m awake
Lord, have Your way in me
Repeat Chorus twice . . .
Lyrics: Reuben Timothy Morgan