The Prophet Haggai: Getting Your Priorities Straight Part 3

I begin writing this blog post in May 2020, but did not complete it. I’m updating and posting it today because it speaks to the significance of the Ekkelsia getting out priorities straight and rising up to build what Christ intended His church to become. The prophet Haggai recorded four messages to the Jewish people of Jerusalem, eighteen years after their return from exile in Babylon. He was more than seventy years old by the time he delivered his prophecies. From these facts, the picture of Haggai begins to come into focus. He was an older man looking back on the glories of his nation, a prophet inspired with a passionate desire to see his people rise up from the ashes of exile and reclaim their rightful place as God’s light to the nations.

In parts 1 and 2 of The Prophet Haggai: Getting Our Priorities Straight, we saw that Haggai, a prophet imbued with a passionate desire to see his people rise up from the ashes of exile and reclaim their rightful place as God’s light to the nations recorded four messages to the Jewish people of Jerusalem after their return from exile in Babylon (538 BC). —Haggai 2:3

Haggai was God’s spokesman sent to awaken and arouse the post-captivity Jews from their lethargy, with determined focus, pursued one major goal: to complete the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. He was a “get-it-done” leader, a highly motivated man who attacked indifference as the enemy it was. Haggai (and later Zechariah) was used by the Lord to afflict the comfortable, convincing them there was no excuse for delay.

Haggai’s message is greatly needed in our “me-first” day of selfishness and indolence. Often the Church can be so focused on building projects and church growth that it neglects Paul’s exhortation to teach and disciple believers to build their lives upon the Rock of Christ.

The Jews had forgotten their God, choosing instead to focus on their own interests, so it was time for them to “consider [their] ways” —Haggai 1:5, 7 God’s set of authority is based upon righteousness and justice. There is a great deal of talk about America’s founding and founding fathers, but there is a greater foundation that is rarely discussed. That is the foundation of God’s throne and the foundation the church was founded on, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, n whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:20-21). The place where God manifests His power and glory.

If the church is to serve as an equipping center to reach all of the mountains of culture, then she needs to be more concerned with sending people into the world as salt and light than merely getting people to attend Sunday Services.

Joseph Mattera, Understanding the Wineskin of the Kingdom

Haggai 2:6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will o more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.”

Hebrews 12:26, NASB: “And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN. ‘

Greater shaking is coming …

I believe this is a prophetic call to the church and America to return to its spiritual roots. In Haggai’s day God rebukes the returning remnant for their misplaced priorities. Gone was the glory of the former kingdom and temple.

I often say this and reiterate it here: we must discern and understand  the times and seasons we are living so that we know what to do.  There is a shaking and unsettling taking place throughout the Church and around the world. God is preparing to reform and restore divine order to His Church. Through the voice of His prophets, He is calling His people — the Ekkelsia to realign with His Kingdom purposes.

It is high time for the Church of Jesus Christ to awaken from her slumber, arise and take her place as God’s light to the nations!

In His Service,

Minister A. Francine Green

Notes: All Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard Version (NASB) unless otherwise noted.