Merge

Merge

Merge

  • Please turn to Malachi 4:1, pg. 802
    • 3 lanes. (For a visual see slides below notes)
      • Unbelievers / Nominal Believers / Committed believers
    • As we have walked through the book of Malachi it’s addressing the middle lane 
  • Overview,  Apathetic / Committed
    • God says, “I have loved you.” “How?” “Because I choose you” God.
      • Show Video.            Calloused / Soft-hearted 
    •  God says, “You have despised my name”. People ask “How?”, “Your offerings to me are not even fit for a human guest, yet I am God”
      • Half-Hearted / All-in
    • God says, “I do not accept your offerings”, “why not?” “Because you have been unfaithful with you wife and family”
      • Unfaithful / Faithful
    • God says, “You have wearied me”, “How?” “By making wrong right and then asking to justice”.
      • Disobedient / Obedient  
    • God says, Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
      • Greedy / Generous
  • Context, Read 3:17-18
  • Vs. 4:1 “the day”, judgement is coming. 
    • Hyperlink to the prophets- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, all spoke of a great and dreadful day. 
    • “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth shall be consumed. Zephaniah 3:8
      • Justice is coming and along with it, the wrath of God. There is no escape. 
      • For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14
    • Judged and destroyed
  • Vs. 2-3
    • God fearing / healing / New life / joy
  • Vs. 4
    • “Remember”, in the meantime, do this… 
      • Read through “Committed believer list” Love God, love others
  • vs. 5-6
    • Here’s a sign so that you may have hope.  Which is another benefit to the committed believer. 
    • And he (John) will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Luke 1:16–17
  • John the Baptist fulfills this and Jesus comes. GOSPEL, remember judgment is still coming… 
    • The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:41–43
      • All causes of sin, Law Breakers / Shine like the sun
  • Review list. 
    • Where are you? 
    • The message of Malachi ends with a contrast. Those of the left and those to the right. The problem is that in the judgement, OT, the prophets, Gospels, Epistles, Revelation, the middle lane does NOT exist. 
  • The second coming is hope to those on the right, a great joy! BUT, to those on the left, a great and dreadful judgment. 
    • The book of Malachi has been teaching us, LANE ENDING, MERGE RIGHT
  • Read Matthew 25:31-46
    • Do you “know” Jesus? Then he will know you and you will find yourself merging to the right. Look forward to the coming of Jesus faithful servant! 
    • Are you not sure? Come to Jesus and know that his death is sufficient, repent of your apathy, and ask for forgiveness and may the Spirit aid you to live your life for him. 
    • Have you never believed? Believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, be born again, for he is in the business of giving life to the dead. I too was dead, but by God’s grace, I am alive.  
      • READ SPURGEONS NOTES
    • COMMUNION

Jeff Frazee, Missionary to Mali

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