“To a fool, foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness. The Bible tells us that fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are! As Proverbs 1:22 asks, ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.'”
Sermon Notes:
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners
delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.
On a hair dryer the warning: Do not use while sleeping.
On an iron the warning: Do not iron clothes on body.
On a chainsaw the warning: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hand.
On a microwave oven a warning label read, “Do not use for drying pets!”
On a wheelbarrow is the warning “not intended for highway use”.
A child’s baby stroller is labeled with the warning “do not fold with baby inside”.
A child’s clothing label reads “wash inside out and remove child before washing”.
On a jet ski: “Never use a lit match or open flame to check fuel level.”
On New Holland’s small tractors warning label: “Avoid death”
An adult Superman costume comes with this disclaimer : “warning this product
does not enable flight or super strength”.
On a bottle of drain opener has a label that says
“Warning: if you cannot read this warning label do not use this product”.
Psalm 14:1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin …
Proverbs 1:32 (CJB) For the aimless wandering of the thoughtless will kill them,
and the smug overconfidence of fools will destroy them;
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of
death.
Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed,….
1. THE SIMPLE OR THE NAIVE.
Proverbs 1:22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
Proverbs 14:15 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his
knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18 The simple inherit foolishness, but the prudent are crowned with
knowledge.
Proverbs 14:18 (VOICE) The naive are heirs to foolishness, but the clever are
are honored with insight.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are
of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Albert Einstein once said, “Only two things are infinite; the universe and human
stupidity. And I’m not sure about the universe.”
Proverbs 19:3 (NLT) People ruin their lives by their own foolishness…
Hosea 4:6 “My people perish from a lack of knowledge.”
Proverbs 1:4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and
discretion —
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple.
2. THE SCORNER OR THE SCOFFER.
Proverbs 1:22 “… For scorners delight in their scorning,
Proverbs 22:10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and
reproach will cease.
It doesn’t say, “Cast him off.” It says, “Cast him out.”
Proverbs 9:7 (VOICE) Whoever tries to discipline a scoffer should expect a hail of
insults in return.
Proverbs 13:1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not
listen to rebuke.
Proverbs 15:12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to
the wise.
Proverbs 21:24 A proud and haughty man— “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with
arrogant pride.
3. THE FOOL.
Proverbs 1:22 “… and fools hate knowledge.”
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
To a fool foolishness is wisdom and wisdom is foolishness.
Proverbs 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.
Proverbs 12:15a The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, …”
Proverbs 19:3 The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against
the Lord.
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, …”
Proverbs 16:22 “… it is pointless to try and instruct a fool.
Fools enjoy their foolishness but don’t know how foolish they are!
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin …
Provebs 14:9 (MSG) The stupid ridicule right and wrong …
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?’
2 Samuel 3:33 And the king sang a lament over Abner and said:”Should Abner
die as a fool dies?
“Old Man” is a song
This is a final farewell to a father, from one atheist to another.
The sun has left the sky, old man
The birds have flown away
And no one came to cry, old man
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
You wanna stay, I know you do
But it ain’t no use to try
‘Cause I’ll be here and I’m just like you
Goodbye, old man, goodbye
Won’t be no God to comfort you
You taught me not to believe that lie
You don’t need anybody, nobody needs you
Don’t cry, old man, don’t cry
Everybody dies
Acts 17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked,
while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”
Acts 17:33 So Paul departed from among them.
Acts 17:34 However, some men joined him and believed,…”
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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Sermon Notes
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.
Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the
humble in spirit.
James 4:6 … God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 5:5 … for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble(KJV)
