Every time I read the Old Testament prophetic books Haggai and Zechariah, I am powerfully reminded anew that God is in total control, and that in spite of many things in the “world” that may seem discouraging and even overwhelming, we will win in the end. We are, after all, God’s “core survivors,” His “good news people”!

Haggai and Zechariah, while prophets, are also intensely practical, talking of the rebuilding of the Temple in their day, and all the problems that arise and have to be overcome. In fact, the Bible talks about how the two prophets actually helped in the rebuilding work, and by their prophesying, played a significant role in ultimately bringing success and fulfillment.

The people had to work—as do we—but the prophetic preaching of Haggai and Zechariah added the “God” element that brought in the all-important miraculous dimension. The lesson is that as we do our part, God can be relied upon to do His part. We mix work and faith, and God steps in and brings heaven down to earth!

As did these ancient people during their Temple rebuilding process, so do we face challenges in our day-to-day lives and work, and we stand back and watch in awed amazement as God always comes through for us as long as we remain faithful and stand in trustful obedience.

The power and majesty of their words never fail to move and excite and encourage me. Many times in my past 25 years as a Christian, I have found them speaking powerfully and precisely into my life, and often into exactly the situation or challenge I was facing at the time.

Powerful Quotes from the Message Bible

Right now, I am reading the very colloquial and freely rendered Message Bible, and have been impacted all over again with the up-to-the-minute relevance of these writings to anyone in the workplace. I felt to share them as prophetic words to any “marketplace ministers” reading this, and hope and pray that you find them as uplifting and encouraging as I do.

I am quoting from the two books without using chapter and verse numbering, and freely editing in a “stream of consciousness” style as I go, so it reads as one flowing message—maybe not a perfect example of Biblical exegesis, but for a few minutes, just let the Word of God flow over and through your mind and spirit, and let it refresh and hearten you in the midst of whatever it is you are going through right now:

So get to work—God is speaking. Yes, get to work, for I am with you! The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back!

Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendour. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

I own the silver! I own the gold! This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out—a glorious beginning, but an even more glorious finish: a place where I will hand out wholeness and holiness.

Now think ahead from when the Temple rebuilding was launched. Has anything in your fields … failed to flourish? From now on, you can count on a blessing!

I am about to shake up everything, to turn everything upside down and start over from top to bottom … I’ve looked over the field, and chosen you for this work.

My cities will prosper again … be back in My favor again. Up on your feet … return from your far exile … and come home—now! Shout and celebrate! Look—I’ve stripped you of your sin, and dressed you up in clean clothes. You can’t force these things—they only come about through My Spirit, says God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

Does anyone dare despise this day of small beginnings? Do the problems of returning and rebuilding by just a few survivors seem too much? But is anything too much for Me? Not if I have My say! They’ll be My people and I’ll be their God. I’ll stick with them and do right by them.

Get a grip on things! Hold tight, you who are listening to what I say through the preaching of the prophets … We’ve come through a hard time. You worked for a pittance and were lucky to get that! The streets were dangerous and you could never let down your guard.

But things have changed! I’m taking the side of My core of surviving people: Sowing and harvesting will resume, vines will grow grapes, gardens will flourish, dew and rain will make everything green!

My core survivors will get everything they need—and more! You’ve gotten a reputation as a bad-news people … but I’m coming to save you. From now on, you’re the GOOD NEWS PEOPLE! Don’t be afraid. Keep a firm grip on what I’m doing … at this time, I’ve decided to bless … don’t be afraid!

And now here’s what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don’t do or say what isn’t so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest.

Come home, hope-filled prisoners! This very day I’m declaring a double-bonus—everything you lost returned twice-over!

Pray to God for rain—it’s time for the spring rain—to God the rain maker, spring thunderstorm maker, maker of grain and barley. God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in and take care of His flock … He’ll revive their spirits, make them proud to be on God’s side. God will use them in His work of rebuilding, use them as foundations and pillars, use them as tools and instruments, use them to oversee His work.

They’ll be a workforce to be proud of, working as one, their heads held high, striding through swamps and mud, courageous and vigorous because God is with them.

I know their pain, and I’ll make them as good as new. They’ll get a fresh start, as if nothing had ever happened. And why? Because I am their very own God. I’ll do what needs to be done for them … their lives brimming with joy. Their children will get in on it too—oh, let them feel blessed by God! Oh, how they’ll flourish!

Even though I’ve scattered them to the far ends of the earth … I’ll bring them back … I’ll bring them back to sweet Gilead. Every square foot of land will be marked by homecoming. They’ll sail through troubled seas, brush aside brash ocean waves. Roaring rivers will turn to a trickle … My people! Oh, I’ll make them strong—God strong! And they’ll live My way … I’ll pour out a spirit of grace and prayer over them … a fountain will be opened.

I’ll refine them as silver is refined, test them for purity as gold is tested. Then they’ll pray to Me by name, and I’ll answer them personally. I’ll say, “That’s My people!” They’ll say, “God – my God!”

God will be King over all the earth, one God and only one. What a day that will be! Treasures from all the nations will be piled high—gold, silver, the latest fashions… holy to God-of-the-Angel-Armies.