Pastor Ed emphasizes the contrast between the fate of the wicked and the righteous on this day, using vivid imagery of fire and healing. He discusses God’s judgment on the proud and wicked, while also highlighting the hope and restoration for those who fear God’s name. The sermon incorporates various biblical references beyond Malachi, including Psalms, Romans, and New Testament passages, to reinforce its points. Additionally, Pastor Ed touches on contemporary issues, such as changes in school disciplinary problems over time, to provide context and relevance to his audience.
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Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud,
yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn
them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.
Malachi 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles
of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him
in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Malachi 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the
hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with
a curse.”
The Supreme court offered this justification and quoted a psychologist who stated:
“If portions of the New Testament were read without explanation, they could be and
had been psychologically harmful to the child.”
Sixty years ago, the top disciplinary problems in schools were:
Talking in class, chewing gum, making noises, running in the halls, cutting in line
That was then, this is now
Disrespect – students speak and act in a disrespectful way to adults and peers
including verbal abuse of teachers and faculty
Defiance – students openly refusing to listen to adults or follow directions.
Bullying – students consistently trying to intimidate others,
Widespread disorder in classroom, cyberbulling & school shooting possibilities.”
I. WHAT A FIERY DAY OF BURNING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud,
yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn
them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, …”
Romans 2:5 (NLT) But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin,
you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming,
when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
Romans 2:6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.
Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven,…
Psalm 21:9 You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of Your anger;
Isaiah 47:14 Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them;They shall
not deliver themselves from the power of the flame; It shall not be a coal to be
warmed by, nor a fire to sit before!
Malachi 4:1 “… And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of
hosts, That will leave them neither root nor branch.
Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire
of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”
says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
Hebrews 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Malachi 4:3 You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles
of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
II. WHAT A FANTASTIC DAY OF HEALING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
Malachi 1:14 “… For I am a great King,” Says the Lord of hosts, and My name is to
be feared among the nations.
Malachi 2:5 “My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, and I gave them to
him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me and was reverent before My name.
Malachi 3:16 “… So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
fear the Lord
Malachi 4:2 ” …my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise
John 1:4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being …”
John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light,
lest his deeds should be exposed.
John 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly
seen, that they have been done in God.”
Malachi 4:2 ” …my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His
wings, …
Malachi 4:2 “… And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.
III. WHAT A FUTURE DAY OF TESTING THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him
in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Malachi 4:6 And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the
hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with
a curse.”
IV. WHAT A FINAL DAY FOR THE PROUD THAT WILL BE.
Malachi 4:1 ” … All the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. ”
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 15:25 ” The Lord will destroy the house of the proud …”
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God,
on those who know not God, and on those who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1 Peter 5:5 “… God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
This sermon, titled “Does It Pay To Serve The Lord?,” examines the tension between skepticism and faithfulness among God’s people, as depicted in Malachi 3:13-18. The message addresses the cynicism of those who see no benefit in serving God and believe that the wicked prosper without consequence. It contrasts this with the assurance that God hears the faithful, remembers those who fear Him, and distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to trust in God’s justice and faithfulness, reaffirming that God rewards those who honor and serve Him.
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Malachi 3:13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
Malachi 3:15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are
raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the
Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before
Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.
Malachi 3:17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make
them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
II. GOD REMEMBERS THE CYNICAL CRITICS.
Malachi 3:13 “Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say,
‘What have we spoken against You?’
Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we
have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord
of hosts?
You’re gonna have to serve somebody
It may be the Devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody
Job 21:15 ‘Who is the Almighty that we should serve Him? And what profit do we
have if we pray to Him?’.
Malachi 3:15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are
raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
Malachi 3:15 (GNT) As we see it, proud people are the ones who are happy. Evil
people not only prosper, but they test God’s patience with their evil deeds and get
away with it.
Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who
will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not
understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
Isaiah 6:10 “Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,and shut their eyes;
eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with
their heart and return and be healed.”
Isaiah 6:11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid
waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate,
Isaiah 6:12 The Lord has removed men far away, and the forsaken places are many
in the midst of the land.
2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy,
we do not lose heart
Grace is me receiving something I don’t deserve
Mercy is me not receicing something I do deserve.
2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, …
II. GOD REMEMBERS THE RIGHTEOUS REMNANT.
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the
Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before
Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.
Isaiah 6:13 But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a
terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy
seed shall be its stump.”
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,
and there are few who find it.
Jeremiah 23:3 “But I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries where
I have driven them, and bring them back to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and
increase.
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked
it over. God saw what they were doing and listened in. A book was opened in God’s
presence and minutes were taken of the meeting, with the names of the God-fearers
written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name.
God has His book, the Bible.
Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven
God has His book, the Book of Life.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and
books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written
in the books.
God has His book for our tears,
Psalm 56:8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not
in Your book?
Psalm 56:8 (NLT) You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears
in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.
And then, God has His book of remembrance.
Malachi 3:16 “… a book of remembrance was written before him
1. God will remember those who feared Him.
Malachi 3:16 “… So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who
who fear the Lord ….
Romans 3:18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
2. God will remember what you say.
Malachi 3:16 And the Lord listened and heard them
Psalm 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it
altogether
Psalm 139:4 (NLT) You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.
Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has
done for my soul.
3. God will remember your friends.
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) Then those whose lives honored God got together and talked
it over.
4. God will remember those who honor His name.
Malachi 3:16 (MSG) written down, all the names of those who honored God’s name.
Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in
the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”
Malachi 3:16 And who meditate on His name.
Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You,
Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
We sing “His name is wonderful”
Isaiah 9:6 “… And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name, let angels prostrate fall.
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all!”
Malachi 3:17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make
them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
Malachi 3:17 (ESV) “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when
I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son
who serves him.
Malachi 3:18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him
1 Samuel 2:30 “… For those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me
shall be lightly esteemed.
This sermon, titled “Will A Man Rob God?,” explores the unchanging nature of God and the call for His people to return to Him by recognizing His ownership over all things. Based on Malachi 3:6-12, the message emphasizes the consequences of withholding tithes and offerings, which is seen as robbing God. The sermon highlights the blessings promised to those who faithfully give and the curses that come from failing to do so, ultimately encouraging believers to trust in God’s provision and to live generously, reflecting a rich relationship with Him.
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Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed,
O sons of Jacob.
Malachi 3:7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My
ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says
the Lord of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what
way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole
nation.
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in
My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for
you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not
be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not
destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in
the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
Malachi 3:12 “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
1 Corinthians 5:7 “… What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything
you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and the fulness thereof.
Haggai 2:8 (NIV) The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the LORD Almighty
Psalm 50:10 (NLT) “… I own the cattle on a thousand hills.
Psalm 50:12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its
fullness.
Jesus spent 25% of his teaching on stewardship.
Stewardship is how we manage the resources that belong to God that He gives us
God is the owner, and that we are the manager.
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”
Malachi 3:6 “… Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Malachi 3:7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My
ordinances And have not kept them …”
Malachi 3:7 “… Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the Lord of hosts.
“But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’
2 Corinthians 8:5 “… but they first gave themselves to the Lord,
I. If We Don’t Give To God, We Steal From God.
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!
Malachi 3:8 “… But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes
and offerings.
We have two pockets, a tithe is a ten percent reminder that everything belongs to God
An offering is the amount you give over and above your tithe.
Genesis 28:22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house,
and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.
Luke 11:42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner
of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done,
without leaving the others undone.
II. If We Don’t Give To God, We Curse Ourself.
Malachi 3:9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole
nation.
“Everytime someone reaches for my billfold, my mouth flies open.”
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in
My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for
you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not
be room enough to receive it.
All the blessings of life come down from heaven.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes
down from the Father of lights …
III. If We Don’t Give To God, We Rob Ourself.
Malachi 3:11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not
destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in
the field,” Says the Lord of hosts;
Malachi 3:12 “And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Haggai 1:6 (NLT) “… Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in
pockets filled with holes!
IV. If We Don’t Give To God, We Are Not Rich Toward God.
Luke 12:15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for
one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Luke 12:16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain
rich man yielded plentifully.
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have
no room to store my crops?’
Luke 12:18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater,
and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many
years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’
Luke 12:20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you;
then whose will those things be which you have provided?’
Luke 12:21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich
relationship with God.”
Luke 12:21 (PHILLIPS) That is what happens to the man who hoards things for
himself and is not rich where God is concerned.”
Luke 12:21 (MSG) “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not
with God.”
Luke 12:21 (TLB) “Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in heaven.”
Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven …
Luke 16:9 (NLT) Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others
and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you
to an eternal home.
This sermon, titled “A Future Coming, A Full Cleansing, and A Fearful Conclusion,” delves into the prophetic warnings of Malachi, exploring the themes of divine justice, purification, and the impending judgment. Through the lens of Malachi 2:17-3:5, the message highlights God’s weariness with Israel’s complacency, the promise of a refining fire that will cleanse and purify, and the fearsome consequences for those who exploit and deceive others. The sermon underscores the need for repentance and righteousness in anticipation of the Lord’s coming.
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Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, “In what
way have we wearied Him?” In that you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in
the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,” Or, “Where is the God of justice?”
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger
of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when
He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap.
Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of
Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering
in righteousness.
Malachi 3:4 “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord,
as in the days of old, as in former years.
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against
sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage
earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words; Yet you say, “In what
way have we wearied Him?”
Nahum 1:3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit
the wicked.
Malachi 2:17 “… Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord and He
delights in them,”
Malachi 2:17 “… Where is the God of justice?”
Matthew 5:45 “… For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends
rain on the just and on the unjust.”
I. THE FIXED FUTURE COMING.
Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.
Matthew 11:10 For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger
before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’
Matthew 11:11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has
not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom
of heaven is greater than he.
Malachi 3:1 And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even
the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when
He appears?
Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone
around him from heaven.
Acts 9:8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw
no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
Acts 9: 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
1 Timothy 6:15 “… He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and
Lord of lords,
1 Timothy 6:16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom
no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
II. THE FULL FINAL CLEANSING.
Malachi 3:2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when
He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap.
Malachi 3:3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of
Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering
in righteousness.
Proverbs 17:3 (TPT) “In the same way that gold and silver are refined by fire, the
Lord purifies your heart by the tests and trials of life”.
Zechariah 13:9 “And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as
silver is refined”
1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour
and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”
Romans 8:29 “… He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
Malachi 3:2 “…For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap.
Jeremiah 2:22 (ESV) Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the
stain of your guilt is still before me, declares the Lord God.
Ephesians 5:25 “… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water
by the word,
1 John 1:7 ” … and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin”
1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Mark 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
John 13:8 “… Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”
III. THE FITTING FEARFUL CONCLUSION.
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against
sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage
earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.
1. Sorcerers.
If Satan can talk angels out of heaven, he can talk you into hell. Be careful what
voices you listen to
2. Adulterers.
3. Perjurers
4. Exploited Wage Earners
Leviticus 19:13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him
who is hired shall not remain with you …”
1 Timothy 5:18 …The laborer is worthy of his wages.
James 5:4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you
kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears
of the Lord of Sabaoth.
James 5:5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened
your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
5. Exploited Widows and Orphans.
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit
orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
6.Those Who Turn Away Aliens.
Malachi 3:5 “…I will be a swift witness … against those who turn away an alien.”
Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household
of God,”
Malachi 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against …
Because they do not fear Me,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Ephesians 5:15 (NLT) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those
who are wise.
Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
The sermon titled “Holy Hatred and Divine Decisions” delves into Malachi’s message on divine justice and sovereignty. It explores the concept of holy hatred through God’s love for Jacob and hatred for Esau, examining the role of divine hatred in addressing sin and wickedness. The sermon also addresses the theme of divine choice, emphasizing that God’s election and mercy are based on His will and purpose rather than human merit, drawing on passages from Romans and other scriptures to highlight the nature of God’s sovereign decisions and their ultimate goal of glorifying Him
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Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have
You loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. Yet Jacob I have
loved;
Malachi 1:3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”
Malachi 1:4 Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, But we
will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “They
may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
Malachi 1:5 Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, ‘The Lord is magnified
beyond the border of Israel.’
Q #1: How Have You Loved Us?
Q #2. How Have We Shown Contempt For Your Name?
Q #3. Why (Do You Not Accept Our Worship)?
Q #4. How Have We Wearied You?
Q #5. How Are We to Return?
Q #6. How Have We Robbed You?
Q #7. What Have We Said Against You?
I. HOLY HATRED: WE MUST LET GOD HATE BECAUSE HE DOES HATE.
Malachi 1:2 “I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have
You loved us?” Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” Says the Lord. Yet Jacob I have
loved;
Malachi 1:3 But Esau I have hated, …
Is God a hater?
Is all hatred evil?
Is “hate” always negative?
Is hate ever the answer?
Is there ever a positive side to hate?
Is there good hatred and bad hatred?
Is it ever alright to hate?
Is hate ever the answer?
Is it all about hating the right things?
Are there some things we should hate?
Where does hate come from?
Ecclesiastes 3:8 A time to love, And a time to hate;
Psalm 5:5 “. . . You hate all workers of iniquity”
Psalm 5:6 “… The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Psalm 7:11 “… God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 119:163 I hate and abhor lying,
Proverbs 6:16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
Proverbs 6:17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
Proverbs 6:18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
Proverbs 6:19 A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among
brethren.
Proverbs 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord
among brethren.
Leviticus 20:23 “… For they commit all these things, and therefore I abhor them.
Malachi 2:16 “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce …”
God hates what many people love — Sin!!!
Malachi 1:3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”
Malachi 1:4 Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, But we
will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “They
may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
If God be for us who can be against us, but if God be against us who can be for us.
II. DIVINE DECISIONS: WE MUST LET GOD CHOOSE BECAUSE HE DOES CHOOSE.
Romans 9:11 (For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil,
that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him
who calls),
Romans 9:12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”
Romans 9:13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?
Certainly not!
Romans 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have
mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
Romans 1:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God
who shows mercy.
If God chose you because of what you did, then who gets the glory?
You do.
But the purpose of God is to glorify Himself.
John 6:37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes
to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;
John 15:19 “… I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Ephesians 1:5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will,
1 Peter 1:2 “… elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel.”
Acts 15:14 (NLT) Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to
take from them a people for himself.
Why doesn’t the Father get to pick who goes to His house?
Romans 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God
Edgar Bernhard poem
If you go to heaven, You will likely view
Many folks whose presence there,Will be a shock to you.
But just keep very quiet; Don’t even stare.
Doutbless there’ll be many folks, Surprised to see you there.
Since God knows everything, and He knew that when He created people they
wouldn’t choose Him, then why did He go ahead and create them?
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.
O Lord, come!
We’re saved by God, we’re saved from God, we’re saved to God, we’re saved for God.
Jonah 2:9 “… Salvation is of the Lord.”
