Photo credit: macronix (Creative Commons)
The blog post on how God woke Tony and me at 3am to speak to us out of the book of Haggai has produced a wealth of insightful comments. Here's another one:
John wrote:
Don't overlook the significance of the very last verse.
The Lord brought this passage to me some time back. What he helped me to see is that when we are hearing the Father's heart (regarding His house/kingdom matters) and seeking to fulfill the will of the Father, He allows us to operate with the authority of having his "signet."
‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:23 NKJV)
We are only acting as His agents with His "signet ring."
Initially I shrank back from thinking God would vest this authority in his children. But He kept bringing me back to this passage. I'm not talking "name it claim it" stuff here. I'm talking about hearing the Father's heart regarding any kingdom building issue and knowing that we have the full weight of His authority behind us regarding anything the enemy throws at us o/!
Walking in this new reality has been exciting and very humbling. My wife and I are seeing people's hearts change as we are seeking to plant the gospel in the field where the Father has placed us.
What John writes here is key. When we discover what it means to walk in Jesus' authority, we will see hearts changed and lives transformed. After all, the Great Commission begins, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples…"
The signet ring was a symbol of kingship and used to endorse or seal official documents.
The illustration I like is that of an ambassador who speaks and acts on behalf of his government. He is an ordinary person, but when acting in the authority he has been given, he can change the course of nations.
We have been given the right to use Jesus' name in all kinds of circumstance. We can speak and act in the name of the King of kings.