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HAGGAI 2:5-9
’According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’
“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land;
and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.
‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts.
The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
The Lord says through His Prophet Haggai (festive), that His Almighty Holy Spirit remains in the midst of us. Therefore… and this must be our conclusion… there is no reason (absolutely none whatsoever) to fear! Furthermore, we have the reassurance… and in this place I will give peace! This reminded me of this passage from Joel 2:28-29…
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
JOEL 2:28-29
A few verses earlier The Lord says Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! The connection between the Holy Spirit and ‘Fear not’ is again established. There is repeated reassurance in this manner. ‘My Spirit remains among you.’ It continues to be so, although we often persist in living in fear and anxiety. Surely we should have learned by now to trust Him implicitly; casting fear aside? For myself, I know that I should but I am assailed by doubts, even when I tell myself otherwise. Will I ever learn? The Lord says I can, becoming an overcomer in His service in this way… The matter is one of faith and trust and growing in that walk with Holy Spirit guidance.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 JOHN 5:1-5
This is the life of an overcomer, the life of faith — by faith we are saved. That and consciously turning to seek Him over and over again until it becomes second nature. This is made plain in this passage from Psalm 103…
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
PSALM 103:1-5
Our focus needs to be overwhelmingly on Jesus and Him crucified, meaning everything that we each manifest as life within us should be focussed on Him, letting the cares of the world fall away. We are assured that this is so, because He says My Spirit remains among you.
GOD OF GRACE AND HOLINESS — Robin Mark, the New Irish Choir and Orchestra
A CLOSING WORD from GARRISON KEILLOR
Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough.