The Desire Of The Ages Has Come!

"For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry
land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with
glory,' says the LORD of hosts. - Hag 2:6-7

In all ages, in every culture, in every nation, since the fall of man in the Garden, men have tried EVERYTHING
to solve their problems without success.

• We tried building of infrastructure and construction – like the tower of babel – and we found that the
things we built further divided us and turned brother against brother, friends into enemies, nations against
each other – as principle of scarcity kicks in and we killed each other to grab more than the other.

• We tried religion – men began to call on gods – gods of iron, gods of sun, gods of water, gods of land –
and the gods turned us against each other – and we killed each other in the name of the gods we
worshipped.

• We turned to leadership – to kings and rulers and powerful people – and we found that the person we gave
power over us, turns around and uses the power we gave them to hurt us – and kill us and divide us.

So in every place, in every nation – humanity has come to the conclusion – that unless God – this all knowing,
all powerful, all just, all good, and all kind God – SHOWS UP HIMSELF – humanity has no HOPE.

• If you ask people in Nigeria for example now – they will tell you that the only solution for that nations
problem is GOD Himself. When the nature of the solution is described – you conclude ONLY GOD CAN
SOLVE this problem.

• Here in America – when we look at how the rich get richer and poor get poorer - see what is happening
in minority communities, level of incarceration of black men – when we see the struggle with drugs, sexual
immorality – we know that the solution is not a DEMOCRAT or a REPUBLICAN – GOD Himself must
show up.

• Every where you go - every nation - every continent – we see and we have GOD-SIZED problems
everywhere bedeviling us humans.

• In your own life – your health, your children, your relationship – in your own small way – you need a
GOD SIZE solution – God NEEDS TO COME!

And so this is what this prophecy of Haggai is speaking to – that God - the Desire of ALL NATIONS, in ALL
AGES – will COME! And the Nations – will COME TO HIM.

This prophecy of Haggai was fulfilled when Jesus came. When Jesus came, God, the Desire of all Nations –
CAME!

John1:1-2, 14, 17 - 18
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in
the beginning. …. [14] The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the
glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth… [17] For the law was given
through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has ever seen God, but the one and
only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
The Prophet Haggai was echoing the same point the Prophet Isaiah had made almost 200 years earlier when Isaiah
was announcing the good news to Israel:

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not
fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then
will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and
the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning
sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and
reeds and papyrus will grow. And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for
those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will
be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those
the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.- Isa 35:3-10

So what is the GOSPEL [Good News]?

That because GOD has come - my life, your life, our lives, the life of our nations
- can and must be radically different!
[repeat]
Let me share at least 3 ways from Isaiah’s prophecy that our lives MUST radically change and be different –
because GOD, the DESIRE OF THE AGES, has COME!

1. Those of us who are lost because we have been blind shall see again and we
can make our way home.

Joh 9:1-11 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned,
this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" [3] "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but
this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. [4] As long as it is day, we must do the works
of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the
world." [6] After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's
eyes. [7] "Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means "Sent"). So the man went and washed,
and came home seeing. [8] His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, "Isn't this the
same man who used to sit and beg?" [9] Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him."
But he himself insisted, "I am the man." [10] "How then were your eyes opened?" they asked. [11] He replied,
"The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went
and washed, and then I could see."

• Like this man we are all born blind – born into darkness.
• Completely confused about how to do life. Up is down and down is up. Red, yellow and blue mean nothing
to us!
• We are totally confused about how to do life – how to choose whom to marry, where to work, where to
live, how to live.
• But because God has come - we can now figure out how to do life properly
• Because God has come – we are now enabled to do life properly
• Our lives can now have purpose and meaning. God has come so our lives have meaning.
Do you feel lost and blind today – God has come! And your life can and must be radically different! In the name
of Jesus!

Jesus said “I have come to seek and save ALL who are LOST” Luke 19:10

If you feel lost, if you are lost – God has COME for YOU!

Every place, every area, you have been blind and confused – I decree and declare – LIGHT HAS COME FOR
YOU TO SEE! In the Name of Jesus!

2. Those of us who have been sick, afflicted of the devil can be healed
Mattew 8:1-17 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. [2] A man with
leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." [3] Jesus reached
out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his
leprosy. [4] Then Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer
the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." [5] When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came
to him, asking for help. [6] "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." [7] Jesus
said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?" [8] The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come
under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. [9] For I myself am a man under authority,
with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant,
'Do this,' and he does it." [10] When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I
tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. [11] I say to you that many will come from the
east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven. [12] But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth." [13] Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed
it would." And his servant was healed at that moment. [14] When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's
mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. [15] He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and
began to wait on him. [16] When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and
he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken through
the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."

• For this purpose was the Son of man made manifest - to destroy every work of the devil – (1 John 3:8)
• How Jesus went about doing Good and healing the sick and all who were afflicted of the devil....for God
was with Him (Acts 10:38)
• He came and brought justice to the oppressed, provision to the poor and impoverished - he fed 5000 people
and gave them food.

Are you afflicted in your body? Are you afflicted in your mind? Are you one of those that they have said “too
bad to be helped”?

I have GOOD NEWS for you today – God Has COME – and Because God Has come – You will be healed and
delivered in every place you are being afflicted!

God HAS COME – and so I decree and declare that EVERY MANIFESTATION of the work of the devil in you
life, in your health, in your finances, in your business – HAS BEEN DESTROYED!

In the Name of Jesus!

3. Those of us who have been dead shall experience life again. For there is
salvation in no other.
Luke 7:11-17 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples
went with Him, and a large crowd. [12] And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was
being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with
her. [13] When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." [14] Then
He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to
you, arise." [15] So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. [16] Then
fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has
visited His people." [17] And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

These people in Jesus day recognized that this was GOD HAS COME!

Luke 7:16 [MSG] They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They
were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the
needs of his people!"

Luke 7:16 [NIV] They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they
said. "God has come to help his people."

• When sin entered this world, death came along with it. (Romans 5:12)
• We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are sinners. We are not dead (or die) because we
sin, we sin because we are dead.
• But like this young man – we who were dead – being taken to be buried and thrown way – lost forever –
God HAS COME – to make us ALIVE AGAIN!
• Because God has come sin and death can no longer have dominion over you.
• Jesus said “I have come that you may have life and you may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Is your marital life dead? Is your business dead? Is your career dead? Is your family dead? ARE YOU DEAD!

I have GOOD NEWS for you TODAY!

WEEP NOT! I say WEEP NOT! Say to your neighbor “WEEP NOT”

Because God Has COME – I decree and declare – TODAY – Everything dead shall LIVE AGAIN! God is BACK!
God Has COME! In the Name of Jesus!

Conclusion - So now that God has come , what next?

Now when God came the first time, as Haggai prophesied - He shook the heavens and the earth.

And the powers that be - the religious powers and the political powers conspired with spiritual powers to kill
Jesus - to kill God.

Psalm 2:1-4 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, [3] "Let us break
Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." [4] He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The
LORD shall hold them in derision.
And God laughed at them - and God allowed Himself to be killed by these powers.

If they had known they would not have done this because, 3 days later, He rose from the grave - never to die
again.

So now, not only has God come...HE REMAINED! GOD HAS NOT ONLY COME – HE
NEVER LEFT! GOD IS STILL HERE - JEHOVAH SHAMMAH!
He is here right now...alive...wherever you may be! So that:

• If right now you feel lost...God has come, and IS HERE - to open your eyes, and show you the way home!

• If right now you are afflicted...God has come, and IS STILL HERE - to heal you and make you whole!

• If right now, you have experienced death in any area of your life…God has come, and is STILL HERE – to
give you life – in your finances, in your marriage, in your relationships, in your spiritual life, in your walk
with God!

So just as then, even so now....as many as will receive God [Him]...allow Him...give him a chance...come to
him....touch the hem of his garments - YOUR LIFE SHALL BE RADICALLY DIFFERENT!

Because GOD has come, AND IS STILL HERE - my life, your life, our lives, the
life of our nations - can and must be radically different!