TEXT: Hag.

2:1-9

(Hag 2:9 KJV)

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.

SUBJECT: The Glory

THEME: The Glory of the latter house
PROPOSITION: The Glory of the latter house shall be greater than of the former
house.
TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE:
• Historical Background
• Intended audience/Occasion for writing
• Rebuilding of the temple/sanctuary
• the glory of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ
• A word to the men – rise and lead the charge – rise and rebuild
• the judgement of God on the enemy of His people
• Conclusion - the blessings awaiting those that will return to God

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Before the destruction and captivity of Jerusalem in about 586 B.C., Jeremiah the
prophet, prophesied about its fall (the Judean Kingdom) to the new Babylonian Empire
(Jer. 21:1 – 10). It was also revealed that after seventy years the Lord would restore His
people to their homeland (Jer. 29:10; Dan. 9:2). When Cyrus the Persian destroyed the
Babylonian power, he favoured the Jews’ return to the Land of Promise to rebuild the
sanctuary in Jerusalem. The foundation of the new Temple was laid and work was begun.
Soon hostile neighbours employed their devices to stop the work. The work was halted,
but outward opposition was only part of the problem. Indifference seized the fifty
thousand exiles who had returned with a resolution to rebuild the house of God. When
Darius came to the Persian throne, the temple had been untouched for sixteen years.
Haggai (and later Zechariah) was sent by God to awaken the people and bestir them from
their weariness to undertake the restoration of the temple. Haggai spoke about five things
in his writings. He spoke about the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple; the glory of the
presence of the Lord Jesus Christ; the future establishment of God’s earthly kingdom; the
judgement of God on the enemy of His people and the blessings awaiting the nations that
will return to God.

INTENDED AUDIENCE/OCCASION FOR WRITING

Tonight I strongly believe that this is a word from God to His people for now. Jesus the
author and finisher of your faith (Heb 12:2 KJV); He which hath begun a good work in
you, and who, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Php 1:6 KJV): He said, my
thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways; For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your
thoughts (Isa. 55:8 – 9); tonight he wants you to know and understand that the thoughts
that He thinks towards you, are thoughts of peace, and not of evil, His thoughts towards
you is to give you an expected end. You might be troubled on every side; you might be
perplexed; you might be persecuted; you might be cast down. It does not matter the cause
of your present dilemma, you might be wounded; beaten; battered; broken; scattered; and
in captivity; whether because of the sins of your forefathers or because of your own sins.

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Tonight He sent me to let you know that your latter glory will not be because of your
efforts. Your redemption, justification, and glorification has nothing to do with who you
are and what you have done; God said to tell you, that what he has started in you, He will
finish it. Tonight He wants you to understand that your latter glory has been prophesied,
and that no devil in hell can stop that. You are destined to be restored; you are destined to
be revived; you are destined to be reconciled; and tonight He sent me to let you know that
your latter glory will be greater than your pass.

Tonight this word is sent to the Heads of this house; to every auxiliary leader; to every
president; every executive member; it is sent to the mediators and intercessors; it is sent
to every Christian who have remained; to every backslider who have been reclaimed; to
every sinner who has been saved and joined to this congregation; tonight this word is sent
to the remnant. To the remnant who had set out to rebuild the house of God; but have
grown weary because of the adversary; tonight this word is to the people of God who
have not only grown weary because of the enemy; but to those who have stop working
because they have lost their joy; they have lost their peace; they have lost their praise;
they have lost their zeal; they have lost their hope and expectation in God. Tonight this
word is sent to those who have lost their focus; to those who have drawn the wrong
conclusion by saying our obstacles are a sign that God is not ready for us to rebuild His
house, to rebuild His temple; and have therefore gotten too busy with their own affairs;
their own houses; their own businesses; their own success and plans. Don’t get me
wrong, I’m not telling you not to fix your houses; I’m not telling you not to invest your
time and money into your businesses; I’m not telling you not to pursue your degree or
doctorate; tonight what I’m trying to tell you is that, God wants you to apply the Mat.
6:33 principle, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all
these things shall be added unto you.” In this time and season God wants you to
experience the latter glory and therefore He sent His word to you; tonight God is saying
rebuild my house so that my glory can fill this place like never before.

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REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE/SANCTUARY
Before I get to the rebuilding of the sanctuary, I just want to give you a brief description
of the tabernacle’s structure and its purpose. The command to build a sanctuary was first
mentioned in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 25: 1-8, Moses was given an instruction; an
instruction to gather offerings of wood, precious metals and fine cloth and to have the
children of Israel build a sanctuary so that God would dwell among His people. God gave
to Moses a revelation of the pattern after which the sanctuary was to be built. The
wilderness tabernacle, or sanctuary, was built to face the easterly direction; it was divided
into three sections: the court which contained the altar of burnt offerings; the holy place
which contained the lamp stands, tables of shewbread and incense altar and finally the
Most holy place, which contained the ark of the covenant also referred to as the ark of the
testament which contained the ten commandments and above the ark was the mercy seat
from which God would meet with the high priest to communicate His instructions
regarding the children of Israel (Exo 25:22 KJV).

The earthly temple/sanctuary was not just symbolic of God’s omnipresence, Him being
everywhere at the same time, but it was a representation of His Shekina Glory. This is
where we meet with God; this is where we commune with God; this is where we get
directions and instructions from God; this is where our prayers are heard and answered. I
don’t know if you know what the word sanctuary means, but please allow me to enlighten
you, the word sanctuary means: refuge; it means shelter; it means safe haven; it means a
place of safety. The bible states in Pro 18:10 (KJV) “The name of the LORD is a strong
tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” God’s presence is a place of refuge; no
wonder why the psalmist David said in Ps. 46:1, that He is my refuge and strength, a very
present help in times of trouble; he went further to say in Ps. 61:3, He has been a shelter
for me, and a strong tower from the enemy; when my heart is overwhelmed; don’t take
me to madda, don’t take me to fadda, it’s not a bath I need; but lead me to the Rock, that
is higher than I. The sanctuary, the temple is an asylum, and I’m not talking about a place
for mad people, it is a place of deliverance from captivity or slavery. The bible states that
where the presence/Spirit of The Lord is there is liberty (2Co 3:17), there is healing; there
is salvation; there is freedom from the power and penalty of your sins. A song writer

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states that when He is here the tempters powers are broken; when Jesus is here; our issues
are dried up; when Jesus is here; our dead are resurrected; our demon possessed are
delivered; our blind begins to see; our lame begins to walk; I don’t know if you know
about the power of the presence of God, and what can happen, or is likely to happen
when is glory falls. Tonight God sent me to tell you to rebuild his temple; don’t be
discourage; don’t be dismayed; Danvers Pen tonight thus sayeth Jehovah, “rebuild my
temple for I am with you.”

In the Old Testament the temple/sanctuary was a physical structure or building made by
the hands of men. The bible states in the book of Hebrews chapters 9 and 10 that this was
a figure; this was a shadow of things to come. In the Old Testament it was a physical
building, but in the New Testament it is our bodies, according to the Apostle Paul in

(1Co 6:19 KJV) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy
Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Tonight I want us to know and understand what God meant, or what he was referring to
when He said, rebuild my temple. Then, in the Old Testament (Haggai to the Israelites)
He was talking about the physical temple at Jerusalem (Solomon’s Temple) which was
destroyed by the Babylonian Empire; but now He is talking about our bodies which has
been defiled and desecrated by sin. I want to point out that the reconstruction of the
temple was not started in Haggai’s time, but it was started in the time of Ezra and
Nehemiah which was before Haggai’s time; the foundation of the temple was already
laid, but the work was ceased because of external and internal oppositions. Haggai was
sent to stir the people to rise up out of their complacency and continue the work; continue
the rebuilding process. Tonight I want to remind you that the foundations has already
been laid, it was the duty/responsibility of your forefathers to do so; but tonight I am here
to tell you that the continuation to completion of the temple’s reconstruction has been
committed to you, this generation; our mandate is to continue; our mandate is to pursue
until completion. No matter the external forces that fights against you; continue to build.
The bible states that a city divided against itself cannot stand, the enemy wants us to
bight and devour one another as to be consumed one of another; but in the name of Jesus

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Christ, we come against every spirit of division and confusion; tonight we declare, unity,
and togetherness; tonight we rebirth the vision; tonight we reignite the flames; tonight we
stand united to the cause, to rebuild the temple of the Most High God.
Rebuilding the temple means restoring the believers; it means reclaiming the
backsliders; it means saving the sinners. We rebuild our temples through studying the
word; we rebuild the temple through prayer, supplication, repentance and intercession;
we rebuild the temple through fasting and tarrying. We rebuild the temple when we get
back our lives in order with the Word of God. We rebuild the temple when we get back to
holiness; when we get back to righteousness; when we get back to consecration and
sanctification. Tonight believers rebuild; rebuild, rebuild, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Rebuild for your sons; rebuild for your daughters; rebuild for your fathers; rebuild for
your mothers; rebuild for your friends rebuild for your neighbours; rebuild for your
community; rebuild, rebuild for your sakes and for the sake of this generation and the
generation to come.

THE GLORY OF THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

It was not the mere temple that brought healing and deliverance, but it was the presence
of God that inhabited the temple. After Solomon completed the building of the first
temple and its dedication, the bible states in 2nd Chr 7 that fire came down from heaven,
and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the
house, in so much that the priest could not enter in, but they all had to bowed themselves
with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshiped, and praised the Lord,
saying, for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever. In the 2 nd Cor. 4:7 the bible states
that we have this treasure in earthen vessels; the power is not yours, we are just the
carriers, the power belongs to the Lord, we are his instruments; we are vessels of power;
we are His image; we are His representative; we are His ambassadors; and He said, “And
I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind
on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be
loosed in heaven” (Mat 16:19). He also said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on
serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any

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means hurt you” (Luk 10:19). Tonight I don’t know if you have been following me, but
let me just put things into focus for you. God said to rebuild because He wants to dwell
among you; He wants His fire to fall; He wants His glory to fill your lives; he wants His
glory to fill this House; to fill this church; to fill this temple. He said in the gospel of (Joh
14:12) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall
he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”. I
don’t know if you understand what the latter glory is about. He said in (Joe 2:28) And it
shall come to pass afterward, (after we rebuild) that I will pour out my spirit upon all
flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions: God wants you to begin to experience the
fulfilment of this prophetic word; he wants you to begin to experience the Acts of the
Apostles; where you under the power of the Holy Ghost speak to the lame to rise up and
walk; where your very shadow heals the sick; the very kerchief you use becomes a cloth
for healing; I’m not talking about the former glory, I’m talking about the latter glory;
according to the song writer, “your latter will be greater than your pass, you will be
blessed more than you can ask, despite all that have been done, the best is yet to come,
your latter will be greater, your latter will be greater that your pass” (Martha Munizzi).
In your theme text Haggai 2:9, God said thru the prophet that, “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.” In this house there shall be deliverance; in this
house there shall be healing; in this house there shall be salvation; in this house sinners
shall find refuge; those who are bruise, broken hearted, in distressed, oppressed, cast
down; in this house they shall find peace and comfort, they shall find rest for their souls;
they shall find healing for their sorrows, healing for their pain, healing for their spirits,
shelter from the storms of life, not because of anyone of us in this place tonight, but
because the fire of the Lord has fallen, and the glory of the Lord has filled this place.

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A WORD TO THE MEN – RISE AND LEAD THE CHARGE – RISE AND REBUILD
After we have rebuild and the fire has fallen and the glory has filled; God wants to re-
establish us to our rightful position. Your theme, “Restoring the former glory”, speaks not
of the glory of God, but of the glory of us his creation, it speaks of us been restored to our
rightful place and position. Right now I just want to apply these scripture to the men only,
excuse me for awhile ladies. In the book of Ps. 8:4 – 9, men! You were made a little
lower than the angels, and were crowned with glory and honour. You were given
dominion over the works of the hands of God; all things were put under your feet: All
sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the
sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. Men! God said that you were
created in His image and likeness. In the beginning you were given dominion; you were
created to rule; you were created to reign; you were created to subdue and conquer. But
because of sin, as men we have lost our position, we have lost our dominion, we have lost
our authority, but tonight God wants us as men to reposition ourselves to our rightful
position; God wants us to lead the charge in the rebuilding process, we were first made,
therefore we should be the initiators, we are the trend setters, we are the pace makers, the
bibles state in 1st Pet. 3:7 that the woman is the weaker vessel, therefore we are the
stronger, and has the stronger vessels, we must rise to the challenge, we must run with the
vision, we must strengthen and encourage the congregation. As men we are the fathers,
we are the protectors, we are the providers, we are the defenders; we are the back bone of
the church. As men, when we rebuild, the fire will fall, the glory will filled, we will be re-
establish, then the church will be complete, the women has been holding their positions,
but we have been found wanting. We were called and appointed to bring stability,
consistency and maturity to the house of God. Men rise to the occasion; stand and be
counted; let that which is within you be stirred to life; let the anointing on your life be
seen in this place; the power of the Holy Ghost within you, be experienced in this house;
men, it’s time to let go and let God. God wants to establish His kingdom, and He wants to
do so in you. He wants to make you an heir to His throne; He wants you to rule and reign
with Him for ever and ever; He’s the God of the heavens; God of the universe; God of the
earth and He has assigned and commissioned you men to be His ambassadors to earth. He

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said of the increase of His kingdom there shall be no end. Men in the name of Jesus
Christ rise and lead the charge rise and rebuild.

THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD ON THE ENEMY OF HIS PEOPLE

Tonight I don’t want you to be concerned about your enemies; your objective is to rise
and build, your focus should be rebuilding the temple. God said, “… . ., Hearken ye, all
Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the
LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the
battle is not yours, but God's (2Ch 20:15). Tonight Danvers Pen, the battle is not yours
it’s the Lord’s. In the book of Ps. 91:7 – 16, God said; “A thousand shall fall at thy side,
and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes
shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” He said, “There shall no evil befall
thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling, for he shall give his angels charge
over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.” Tonight Danvers Pen, be encouraged, because the
Lord of Host is with you and the God of Jacob is your refuge; just rebuild, and He will be
in the midst of thee; and therefore ye shall not be moved. Though the heathen rage, and
the kingdoms move; just at the utterance of His voice the earth melteth. He maketh wars
to cease; He breaketh the bow, He cutteth the spear in sunder, He burneth the chariot in
fire. Tonight Danvers Pen, when the enemy comes upon you like a flood, just be still;
because you serve a God, that is a mountain movers, a red sea parter, a Jericho wall
demolisher, a giant slayer, a fire quencher. Just be still and know that God is God.

CONCLUSION - THE BLESSINGS AWAITING THOSE THAT WILL RETURN TO

GOD
I want you to understand that God is the centre/core of your life; every area/aspects of
your life revolves around Him. In Haggai chapter 1, God said, “ Ye have sown much, and
bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink;
ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put
it into a bag with holes. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; consider your ways. Ye looked
for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it.
Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every

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man unto his own house. Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the
earth is stayed from her fruit. And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the
mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that
which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the
labour of the hands.” Regardless of what you might think; your success, healing,
deliverance and prosperity lies only in the hands of God. You might be wondering, why
your marriages are failing; you might be wondering why your businesses are not
progressing; you might be wondering why you are struggling in school. Tonight God said
to tell you, because my house is in ruins; your life is out of order; your life is out of sync
with God; your life needs to be put in order; you don’t pray as you use to; you don’t fast
as you use to; you don’t study the word has you use to; you don’t praise as you use to;
you don’t worship as you use to; you zeal and desire for the things of God is not there as
before; your temple needs reconstruction; your life needs rebuilding. Sanctify yourself -
confess your sins; get back into the word; get back to prayer and fasting; get back to
praise; get back to worship; and God said from this day forth will I bless you. “And all
these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice
of the LORD thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the
field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy
cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket
and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when
thou goest out. The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be
smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee
seven ways. The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in
all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD
thy God giveth thee. The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he
hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and
walk in his ways” (Deu 28:2-9). Tonight Danvers Pen the word is to you, rise and rebuild
to experience the glory of the latter house.

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