He Will Spark Your Enthusiasm for His Work (Haggai 1:12-14)
Many people who have said “yes” to God’s call can testify to the truth that, if they went by their own feelings or calculations, they might not have said “yes” at all. They know without a shadow of a doubt that it was by God’s grace they were able to say “yes” in the first place. And if that grace enabled them to say “yes,” then that same grace is more than capable of empowering them to follow through. Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”
When we say “yes” to God’s call, He provides the strength, passion, and desire to carry out His will. Philippians 1:6 also says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” You can say, the One who enabled you to say yes will also give you the strength to fulfill what you said yes to.
God is not like those seniors in secondary school we’ve heard about, who send people off with little to no money, yet expect them to return with a bag of riches. Those He calls, He equips and enables for the work to which He has called them.
For many, when they finally feel ready to step out, they wait for a spark or some supernatural, roof-shaking sign. But here’s what I truly believe about God’s call: you have to say “yes” first. Then, God does His part by giving you the zeal and passion to get the work done. After all, why would He give zeal to someone who isn’t already interested in doing His work? He would rather give this “currency” to someone who has already said “yes” and simply needs the passion to begin.
Think of zeal as a currency necessary for doing God’s work. Why would He give you this currency if you’re not committed to using it? Instead, He waits for your willingness. Once you’ve stepped forward, trusting in Him, He provides everything you need to carry out the mission.
In Haggai 1:12-14, after the people responded to God’s call to rebuild the temple and put Him first, He stirred their hearts and gave them the zeal to get the job done. As they obeyed, God promised to be with them and filled Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and all the people with enthusiasm to start the work. When I came across this scripture, I understood firsthand what it means for God to strengthen us both to will and to act according to His good pleasure. This passage taught me that when we step out in obedience, God provides the strength and passion we need to fulfill His purpose, just as He did for the people of Judah.
When God called the people to build the temple, He equipped them with the skills, willingness, and resources to carry out the work He had called them to do. Exodus 36:1-2 says, “So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work, proceeded to do the work. They were given the materials they needed to complete the work, and they worked with enthusiasm.”
God Places Honor on Those He Sends
Sometimes, God makes you accepted and places honor upon you, so that those you are sent to will listen to you and receive the message of God you carry. He did this with Joshua when He exalted him in the sight of Israel (Joshua 4:14) and with Moses, when He made him as a god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1).
God has done the same for us, as He promised that “these signs will follow those who believe”, with emphasis on the word believe (Mark 16:17-18). These signs are not for boasting; they serve as keys that grant you access to places and people you wouldn’t have reached otherwise. I often say that healing one blind man doesn’t just restore his sight, it opens the door to his entire family, creating an opportunity for their salvation. Right within the message God has sent you to proclaim is all the power and authority you need.
Sometimes, God Guides Through Prophetic Insights
God will sometimes encourage you with prophetic insight into His plans, just as He did with Zerubbabel and the people of Judah through the prophet Haggai. Haggai 1:13 says: “Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: ‘I am with you,’ says the Lord!” This reminder of God’s presence was a source of strength for the people. In Haggai 2:4, God calls His people to action, saying: “But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
However, it’s important to note that while prophetic words are a powerful source of encouragement, we should not go seeking them recklessly, jumping from one prophet to another in search of guidance. When prophetic messages come, we must exercise discernment. The Bible tells us to ‘test the spirits’ (1 John 4:1) and ‘test everything’ (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21), meaning we should weigh the word against Scripture and seek confirmation from the Holy Spirit. Don’t despise prophecy, but also, don’t act impulsively on every word you hear. Some have been led astray by false prophets, or even by well-meaning but carnally motivated ones. It is essential to ensure that what you hear aligns with God’s truth and timing. Always seek confirmation from God before taking action on prophetic words.”
He Will Strengthen you:
He will strengthen you, fortify you, and make you stronger than those who may seek to oppose you, just as He did with Jeremiah, Zerubbabel, and Ezekiel. Jeremiah 1:18-19, Haggai 2:20-23, Zechariah 4:6-9, Ezekiel 3:8-9
He Will Make You Worthy of the Assignment
He will make you worthy of the assignment, no matter how bad your past may be. Just as He cleansed Jeshua (Zechariah 3:1-8), He will purify you. In fact, before He even called you, He was fully aware of your mistakes and shortcomings, but He called you anyway. He called you not based on where you are now or who you’ve been, but on who He knows you can become.
In Zechariah 3:1-8 (NLT), Zechariah has a vision where Jeshua, the high priest, is standing before the Lord, and Satan is accusing him. But God steps in and rebukes Satan, saying that Jeshua is chosen, like a brand pulled from the fire, meaning he’s saved from destruction. Even though Jeshua’s clothes are filthy, which symbolizes his sin, God has the angel give him new, clean clothes to show that he’s forgiven and restored. God then tells Jeshua that if he and the priests follow His ways, He’ll give them authority over His house.
What assignment has He placed in your heart? Don’t wait for the perfect conditions or a supernatural sign before you take action. Say “yes” in obedience, and trust that He will provide the zeal, strength, and resources to accomplish His purpose.
Remember, He who called you is faithful. He will equip you, strengthen you, and make you worthy of the task ahead. Step forward in obedience today, knowing that His grace will sustain you every step of the way.
