CityLight Church’s One Year Bible Reading Plan
Sunday, December 20th, 2015
Haggai 1:1-2:23
Revelation 11:1-19
Psalm 139:1-24
Proverbs 30:15-16
For full text click here: http://bit.ly/1w650zr
Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
‘According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!’ – Hag 2:5
The people of Judah had a monumental task ahead of them. God asked them to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem to its former glory. They didn’t have the time, or the resources, to make it happen. But God made a promise: His Holy Spirit would help them get the work done.
In Haggai 2, God encourages His people to “be strong” three times. The Hebrew word for “strong” has multiple meanings. On the one hand, the word can be translated as “be strong”: this was clearly divine encouragement for the people of Israel to get their act together. On the other hand, the word might properly be translated as “be strengthened.” The people of Israel were to understand that the only way they could ever do what God was asking was to be strengthened by His Holy Spirit!
Don’t try and live out your destiny alone. Be strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit. Be strong in faith, knowing that God calls you friend. If we try and do anything in our own strength, we will fail; but when the Spirit of God strengthens us, we cannot help but succeed!
Prayer:
Father, I will rely on Your Holy Spirit for strength! Fill me with Your power. Help me to do all the things You have called me to do, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2015. All rights reserved.