3.12.17 ~ ”Living as God’s People,” Malachi 3:13-18

Read Malachi 3:13-15... God offers forgiveness, salvation, and a growing

personal relationship with Him, to anyone who repents and trusts in Him.
The Israelites should know this above all the other peoples of the earth, for God

came to them first, setting them apart as God’s first covenant people, and yet, we find them here (v. 13) grumbling and openly speaking against God.

The priests and the people of Israel had fallen away from God: They had (2:17) doubted God’s righteous judgment, (2:11) violated God’s covenant, (2:9) disobeyed God’s laws, (1:7, 12) defiled God’s alter, (1:6) despised God’s name, and now they were openly speaking contemptuously against Him.

Last week we read of God’s promise to Israel; if they would just repent and do what was right, acknowledge their sin and give back to God that which is already His.

But instead of responding humbly and honorably to God, the people complain (3:14-15) that obedience to God brings no reward; in fact, Israel says that the arrogant and the wicked of the earth are prospering, not those who do God’s will.

Talk about arrogance! Most of Israel had ceased worshiping God, now they are badmouthing God for not blessing them.

Read Malachi 3:16-18... It would seem that not all of the people were guilty of such arrogant impudence (3:16), for some in Israel reverently worshipped and feared God; it is to these few, this remnant, that God speaks encouragement and hope.

God hasn’t forgotten those who by believing and obeying, show themselves to be were righteous in His sight; in fact, they are listed in the book of remembrance (book of life), where the names of all of God’s true children are forever recorded (Exodus 32:31-33; Psalm 69:28; Daniel 12:1-2; Revelation 20:11-15).

God declares (3:17) that some of Israel are His (Mine, My own possession), they are His special treasure and He will spare them from the impending judgment that is going to come upon all those who treat God’s Word with contempt by rejecting Christ.

God makes it clear (3:18), that there is a major distinction between the godly and the ungodly -- those who serve God and those who do not serve God.

NT believers are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:13-14; 2:4-7; Romans 8:28-39).

God’s admonition to you and to me is very clear: It is not enough to simply be called a child of God, or a Christian. Those who truly belong to God will do more than just site His name; they will be known as those who serve Him in righteousness and truth.

It is not enough for you to just say, “I am a Christian,” your life must express honor and reverence for God. If you are genuinely born of God (cf John 1:12-13), Christ will make a difference in your life right now, right here, as well as forever in heaven.

A personal relationship with God through Christ will do much more than acquit you from the penalty of sin and render a “not guilty” verdict on the day of judgment -- if you truly are saved through Christ, you will seek to know God more intimately and serve Him more obediently (Ephesians 5:1-2, 6-10).

God is not just a loving God. He is a just and loving God. He wants all men to come to repentance and to be saved through Jesus Christ, but we must come agreeing with God concerning our sin and His salvation.

God has provided marvelous and supernatural resources to testify to His Grace, Love and Mercy:
• The Bible testifies to God’s Truth about God’s Son (John 5:39-40), “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me to have life,” (John 14:6), “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
• The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, works through inner conviction and circumstances to reveal God’s Truth (John 16:8-9), “When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin... because men do not believe in Me.” •The Believer humbly, yet boldly, lives and proclaims God’s Truth (1Peter 2:12, 15), “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
“For it is God's will that by doing
good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

God’s people are messengers, Christ is the Message; God’s people are table waiters, Christ is the Bread of Life and the Living Water; God’s people are containers, Christ is the content!

You and I must allow God’s Word to change us internally if we expect the changes to have an effect externally, where people see us. There are no shortcuts, you must earnestly study, understand, agree with, obey and apply God’s Word to your life.

As we grow in the light of His Word, people will notice the changes in our expressed desire to serve Christ by the demonstration of our biblical love for others.

I have two main concerns as a Pastor:
1.) To accurately handle the Word of God as I preach, teach, disciple, counsel, console and confront with God’s revealed truth.

2.) To equip, encourage, and exhort God’s people to live like Christ makes a difference in their life right here and right now, as well as for eternity.

I have one main concern as a Christian, as do you:
To live with distinction as a child of God, so that people will see Christ in us, that we might have the opportunity to tell them how they too can receive forgiveness for sin, eternal life, and an intimate and growing relationship with Almighty God, the Sovereign Creator, Sustainer and Judge over all, Jesus Christ the Lord.

I believe 2017 is a critical year in America for genuine believers and followers of Christ to live as God’s People, in a manner that shows Christ, so that we might have the opportunity to tell others about the Savior who came to earth in the flesh of a baby, grew up in obscurity, and although guilty of no crime, willingly went to the cross to take our punishment for sin, in order that we might be made righteous before God and recipients of God’s grace.
2Corinthians 5:20-21, “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Pastor Mike <‘((((><