Soon after the Babylonian exile, God directed the prophet Haggai to prophesy and command Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, and Joshua, the high priest, and the remnant people of Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple of God, which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar about of 66 years earlier.

Haggai 1:8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. 9 You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why? declares the LORD Almighty. Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house.

The governor, the high priest and the people obeyed the voice of the Lord and began to rebuild the temple of God.

Haggai 1:14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God.

But many elders who knew Solomon's temple before its destruction by the Babylonians shed tears when they saw the foundations of the new temple so small compared with the sumptuousness of Solomon's temple, and compared it as nothing.

Then the Lord commanded the prophet Haggai to prophesy:

​​Haggai 2:3 Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? 4 But now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD, and work. For I am with you, declares the LORD Almighty. 5 This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.

Haggai 2:9 The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the LORD Almighty. And in this place I will grant peace, declares the LORD Almighty.

That is, although the second temple was much inferior to the temple of Solomon, God made it clear that the most important thing was not the size of the temple, but THE GOD'S PRESENCE IN THE TEMPLE.

TODAY, THE TEMPLE OF GOD IS US.

God is our greatest treasure, and the more He is present in your life, the more His glory will be manifested in you.

Don't think that we can please God just by believing that He exists, or by practicing rituals that don't have a true sense of worship and praise, as that will never please God.

James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.

God will never receive an offering like Cain's offering.

Genesis 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Give your best to God, worship him in spirit and in truth, be faithful, seek him and he will manifest himself to you and his glory will always be greater in your life every day.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

Pastor Val Martins