TOPIC: Success Through Fortitude (DCLM Daily Manna 29 September 2022)
TEXT: Haggai 2:4-9 (KJV)
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you, saith the Lord of hosts:
5 According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.
6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
KEY VERSE: “Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:4).
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
When Henry Ford, the car manufacturer, told his engineers he wanted an engine with eight cylinders cast into one block, it looked like an impossible idea. The engineers told him it was not possible. But he insisted and said they were free to take as much time as they needed but they had to produce it “anyway, anyhow”. With courage, determination and perseverance, “the impossible” became possible and they were able to produce it eventually. That gave rise to the famous “V-8” motors.
The children of Judah had just returned to Jerusalem after seventy years of Babylonian exile. They were to rebuild the temple, which was destroyed. There were enemies all around who never wanted the task to be done and had applied various forms of intimidation to stop the work. The Lord, through Prophet Haggai, encouraged the people and the leaders in particular to “be strong… and work”. In line with the covenant He made with Israel, He assured them that His Spirit was with them.
Satan’s strategy has always been to weaken God’s people through his messengers and prevent them from carrying out the will of God. This is evidenced in the oppositions Nehemiah faced in the hands of Sanballat, Tobiah and others when he came to rebuild the broken wall of Jerusalem.
No matter the opposition of Satan and his agents, God’s people, like Nehemiah, must remain resolute, focused and undeterred in preaching the gospel to every creature. The patriarchs of old obeyed and God worked with them, confirming their words with signs and wonders. The same assurance that Christ gave them of His ever abiding presence is with us today. Hence, there is no better time to do it than now.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Courage and complete obedience always accomplish God’s mandate.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 John 1-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.