Jesus is not only the better message, but has come in the flesh as the better human. He fully inhabits humanity and lives out what we were meant for and created to be. But he not only shows us how to be human — he also made a way for us to become more fully human through the power of his Spirit.

In the past, God spoke to His creation through various methods and messengers. But now He has spoken fully through His own Son, Jesus. Jesus is not only the better messenger, but the message of God himself, come to us in the flesh fully revealing who God is and what He is up to in His world. Are you listening to His message?

The Lord is good and His faithful love endures forever!

A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.

This is the only psalm of 150 that is directly meant to be sung on the sabbath day. And yet, nowhere in the psalm does it give a command to rest, nor is the word rest even mentioned. What we do see in this psalm is a reminder of the works God has already accomplished. It is out of God’s work that we find rest, not our own. This psalm is an invitation to look to the works of God and rest in Him.

God gives a promise through Haggai to Zerubbabel: the other nations’ kingdoms will be destroyed one day and God’s kingdom will reign, and Zerubbabel will be the sign of this coming kingdom shaking the heavens and earth.

But we know historically that Zerubbabel never sat on the throne crowned as king. He died. And Israel remained under the power of other nations long after he passed. What message was God giving to his people? What could this prophetic word be pointing us to? And what does it look like for us to live in that promised kingdom now?

God is very clear about how unclean hands defile and the Israelites were not consecrated to build the temple. And yet, He promises to bless their work and their land anyway. What must take place in order for them to be made clean and set apart for this work? How can what is defiled be made pure?

God’s people were disheartened by how the new temple was shaping up compared to the splendor of the former temple Solomon had built. God spoke through Haggai to encourage them and remind them that this temple did not require fine silver and gold to be glorious, and if it did, He could surely provide it! But God’s own glory would come and fill that place and His presence would make it more glorious than the first. The second temple would later be visited by Jesus himself. The second temple would also eventually crumble, but the temple of Jesus’ body, where the fullness of God’s glory was present, rose again and remains forever!

God’s people were supposed to rebuild the temple once they were released from Babylon. But they got caught up building extravagant homes for themselves. Of course, God didn’t need a home built from human hands, but the temple was about God’s presence and glory being near His people. What are you building? Are you building up a life that is far or near from God’s glory and presence?

An invitation to pray, as our King Jesus modeled for us to pray. These are not just ritual words spoken but a posture which transforms us and unites us with the kingdom work of Jesus.

What does it mean to pray, “Your Kingdom come”? What is it we are actually asking for to take place on earth, as it is in heaven? What was Jesus proclaiming as he announced the Kingdom of God was at hand and in our midst? In this message we explore seven realities we see about the Kingdom Jesus brought with him and what it means to live in those realities.

1. The Kingdom has a King.

2. The Kingdom has a way.

3. The Kingdom has a physical place.

4. The Kingdom has a united people.

5. The Kingdom has a diverse people.

6. The Kingdom has a movement.

7. The Kingdom will be victorious.