Then the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying, "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses while this house lies desolate?" Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD. "You look for much, but behold, it comes to little; when you bring it home, I blow it away Why?" declares the LORD of hosts, "Because of My house which lies desolate, while each of you runs to his own house. Therefore, because of you the sky has withheld its dew and the earth has withheld its produce. I called for a drought on the land, on the mountains, on the grain, on the new wine, on the oil, on what the ground produces, on men, on cattle, and on all the labor of your hands." Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all 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 showed reverence for the LORD. (Haggai 1:3-12)
It's on us again! It is very obvious that we have a return of drought conditions in the State of Texas. You can study the conditions at http://drought.unl.edu/DM/DM_state.htm?TX,S It is settling in through all of South Central United States.
"But Lord, have we not done everything You required of us? Have we not faithfully divorced and dismantled Baal structures throughout the State and region? Have we not continually sought to hear Your voice and obediently carry out Your instructions?"
I believe we have, but the Lord is speaking a clear word to us this season through Haggai. Let me paraphrase the passage above: "I need you to think clearly regarding your plans and motivations. I need you to clear away some junk from your hearts. You are thinking only of yourselves and how you are doing - whether good or bad. In the meantime, My Presence and Glory have not been fully invited into your life, into your city or into your state or region. Go to the high places in your own life as well as in your city and region. Build My place of habitation there! Until you do I will need to withhold even the rain. It is time that I, the Lord, am shown proper reverence."
We need to pray for rain. We need to continue to battle the forces of iniquitous structures that have been established in our state. That war, as it was for Israel of old, will never end. BUT most importantly the Lord is requiring us to build His temple - to establish His presence. We love tearing things down - but in each of those places the throne of God must be thoroughly established.
Last night I was able to clearly see the blood red moon. It is an especially important time for the forces of evil to be at work. It is the winter solstice. BUT lest we forget, a similar "red moon" was present on the day of our Lord's crucifixion and was a testimony of the power of His redemption. He marked His ascent to the throne! A great presentation can be viewed of this at http://www.bethlehemstar.net/day/day.htm#dirge
'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. 'AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.' (Acts 2:20-21)
Let us, especially as we enter into this season of remembering the Lord's birth, pursue Him fully. Let us obediently establish His presence wherever we go. Let us repent of "seeking our own houses" and seek after the establishment of His. I intend to obey Him. I know that He will return rain to us as we seek His face and bring Him proper reverence!CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!
Posts
