2.26.17 ~ Malachi 3:1-7, “Israel Dishonors the LORD.”

2.26.17 ~ Malachi 3:1-7, “Judgement will Come to Israel.”
Read Malachi 3:1... God’s Messenger (John) will announce the Lord’s arrival (Isaiah 40:3; Mark 1:1-4).
Read Malachi 3:2... God is going to refine and purify His people. The coming of God’s messenger is likened to that of two purifying agents: The refiner’s fire, which was used to burn up impurities, i.e., sins; and the laundryman’s soap (alkali) which was used to whiten, i.e., to remove sin’s stain.
Read Malachi 3:3-4... God’s cleansing will begin with the priests (Levites), who have lead Israel astray; only then will the people be able to offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord, as in the days of Solomon.
Solomon, one of the most powerful men in history, sinned against God for many years before he finally repented and set his heart to honor God; after which, God blessed him with great wisdom and wealth.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every
hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Back in Malachi 2:17, the people say, “"All who do evil are good in the eyes of
the LORD, and He is pleased with them,” and they ask, “Where is the God of justice?” God answers them now proclaiming, “I am coming to judge you” (read Malachi 3:5).
Those who do not repent are those who shamelessly commit sinful behaviors, i.e., they “do not fear Me,” says the LORD, and so, they will receive God’s judgment.
Fearing [revering] the Lord, means to place your attitudes, actions, behaviors, and beliefs, in submission to that which pleases and honors God (Proverbs 1:7), “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Reverence for God is the beginning of all wisdom and knowledge, it is also the only way to receive eternal life, and nothing else in all of existence, for all of eternity, will save, sustain and satisfy your soul.
Is God just in rendering judgement upon Israel (see Romans 3:23; 5:8; 6:23)? And yet, God wants everyone to be saved (see 1Timothy 2:3-4; 2Peter 3:9)?
God deserves and demands reverence, and it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing, including your: spouse, parents, friends, neighbors, employer, favorite athletes, musicians, movie stars, or even our government, for we all come to God one by one (see Matthew 7:13-14; John 3:16; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9).
Last week we studied how Solomon finally learned what Ezra and Malachi proclaimed, that God requires both spiritual and marital monogamy among His people.
Christians, likewise, are faithfully to revere God’s glory and honor marriage, only then can we know God’s presence, pleasure and power, as we seek to honor God through the work of our hands, the words of our mouth, the thoughts of our mind, and the intent of out heart, regardless of what anyone else is doing. Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
1John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Read Malachi 3:6-7... God should have wiped the Israelites off the face of the earth long ago because of their irreverence and impudence, expressed in their rebellious acts and rebellious attitudes; but because God is faithful, and is the same yesterday, today and forever, He was merciful to Israel and didn't destroy them.
Israel could have been experiencing the blessings and special relationship they once had with God, if they would just repent and do what is right in the sight of the Lord.
Micah 6:8, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
God declares (Malachi 3:6) “I the Lord do not change.” Israel once honored and worshipped God, but their sinful rebellion through spiritual and marital adultery caused them to be outside of God’s blessings.
God urges Israel again and again (Malachi 3:7) “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” The response in the hearts of the people is stated as, “How are we to return?” Israel had stopped honoring and worshipping God, God called them to repent and to do what was right, if not they would indeed receive God’s wrath.
Pastor Mike <‘(((><