Latest revision as of 03:06, 22 July 2023

Theological Proposition/Focus: God is to be revered!

Homiletical Proposition/Application: We must humbly acknowledge that God alone is worthy of our complete respect and devotion

Introduction: (Memory verser Col. 3:23)

Image: Running is a lot of fun, except when it is not.

I enjoy running. In fact, in June I averaged 3 miles a day. Some days I ran more than three miles, and some days I took a day off, but my average was three miles. However, there were some days that I ran, not because I wanted to, but because I knew that I needed to keep up my conditioning. On these days running was a chore, it was hard to find the motivation.

Sometimes in our Christian walk it can be hard. We know what we are supposed to do, we know that God is good, but we just don't feel it. In times like this we need to make sure we revere God. Yes, the walk is hard, but still God is worthy of our reverence and paying our complete respect to God is worthwhile.

Need: We must humbly acknowledge that God alone is worthy of our complete respect and devotion

Preview: Today we will look at our struggle, a solution, and how we should view the future.

Text: Malachi 3:13-18

Setting the Stage:

In 539 BC Cyrus gave the decree allowing the Jews to return to Judah and begin rebuilding the temple.

In 520 BC Haggai entered the scene and called upon the Jews to resume building the temple after 16 years of stagnation.

The work on the temple was completed in 515 BC.

Life was not easy, Persia dominated the political scene, hearts were indifferent, even resentful to God, and the people's hope in God had waned.

Sometime between 450 BC and 430 BC a prophet, Malachi appeared on the scene.

Last week we learned of God's justice.

This week we will focus on our need to revere God.

We skipped Malachi 3:7-12 because we covered that just over a year ago in our Together We Grow series on tithing.

However, it is important to notice that in 3:12 God had promised that all nations would take note of the blessings God bestowed on Israel. Verse 13 comes right on the tails of that statement.

Body

The Struggle: At times, serving God may feel futile (13-15).

Reality: We are fallen creatures (13).

In verse 13 we see that the Jews spoke arrogant, harsh, or strong words against God.

The word for arrogant or strong is חזק and here really carries the tone of combative words.

The people were really accusing God of injustice and doing so in a pretty aggressive, combative way.

Despite the reality of who God is, the people were boldly speaking against God.

The reality we all face is that we are sinners and as sinners we are inclined toward sin!

Image: One Seminary professors's attempt to live perfect.

Erickson describes one seminary professors attempts at overcoming the reality are all face.

One seminary professor described his personal attempt. He listed thirty characteristics of the Christian life. Then he assigned each one to a different day of the month. On the first day, he worked very hard on the first attribute. With a great deal of concentration, he managed to live up to his goal the entire day. On the second day of the month, he shifted to the second area, and mastered it. Then he moved on to the other areas, successively mastering each in turn, until on the final day he perfectly realized the characteristic assigned to it. But just as he was reveling in the sense of victory, he looked back at the first day’s goal to see how he was doing. To his chagrin, he discovered that he had completely lost sight of the goal of the first day—and of the second, third, and fourth days. While he had been concentrating on other areas, his former failures and shortcomings had simply crept back in. His experience is an empirical study of what the Bible teaches us: “there is no one who does good, not even one (Pss. 14:3b; 53:3b; Rom. 3:12). The Bible also gives the reason for this: “everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt [depraved]” (Pss. 14:3a; 53:3a). We are totally unable to do genuinely meritorious works sufficient to qualify for God’s favor. ^[1]

Our fallenness is not an excuse for sin, but it is a good explanation for our sin.

Let us never excuse our sin, but also, in not excusing our sin, let us also acknowledge that we sin because we are fallen.

Reality: There are times when serving God is hard (14).

Let's be honest

Sometimes serving God requires more of us than we want to give.

Sometimes we are asked to give up things for God which might bring us pleasure.

Sometimes God's rules seem to work against our nature.

Let's be more honest

If you are following God's written requirements in hope of immediate personal gain, you will be disappointed.

If you mourn for sin because you got caught instead of because it is wrong you will quickly fall back into sin.

1 Cor. 15:19 "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."

The truth is we are aiming for a future reward.

1 Cor. 9:25 "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

2 Cor. 4:17 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Reality: Sometimes evil people prosper (15).

Israel, at the time of Malachi was focussed on what others were getting!

We have what I would call a finite joy culture.

We tend to think that there is only so much joy and happiness in the world, if someone else is getting it then I am getting less.

We serve the God of the infinite.

Stop focussing on what others are getting and instead focus on your God!

MTR: Confess your fallenness and struggles to God.

The Solution: Corporate reminders of what God has done (16).

Reality: You are not in this alone.

There always seem to be faithful remnants. Example. Elijah in 1 Kings 19:9-18

In 1 Kings 19:9-18 Elijah has a great victory over the priests of Baal but almost immediately enters a state of great anxiety because he feel like he is the only one left who is zealous for God. God takes Elijah on a field trip and on that field trip reveals a little of his plan. Part of what God tells Elijah is that in fact there are 7000 individuals who God has reserved, a remnant. Elijah was not alone.

We should draw on others in acts of remembrance of what God has done and dedication to God.

God created us for relationship, it seems to be literally part of who we are. Hence, we should take time, with others, to dedicate ourselves to God and remember what he has done. Our reverence for God should be a corporate act.

Verse 16 does not tell us what these God fearers were saying all we know is that God listened.

Perhaps they publicly repented of sin.

Perhaps they offered words of encouragement.

Perhaps they were words of edification

Perhaps they were simply speaking the truth go God to each other.

We don't know what they said, what we do know is that they did it together, in community.

Reality: God's notices acts of reverence.

I love that verse 16 describes God as listening to the conversations and hearing them.

Think about that for just a second, the God of the universe listens and hears you! I think that at times we can forget that the transcendence of God and the imminence of God. Only God can take these two seemingly opposites and combine them. Only God can take time to care about your small acts of reverence while ruling all of creation.

God is both transcendent and imminent.

Reality: God has a record of those who revere God.

This is probably a reference to God taking note of those who are committing themselves to revering God.

The scroll is a permanent remembrance of the people's faithful response to God.

There is something about putting things in writing that sort of seals it.

This act by God in recording the people's reverent response signifies that God is declaring that He will not forget the people's response.

One application that we can take away is that we can keep written records of God's blessing and our reverence.

MTR: Record a memory from Together We Grow.

https://forms.gle/whei7zNSwwxDbRB49

The Future: God will bless those who serve Him (17-18).

Verses 17 and 18 actually begin with a strong implication. The implication is that God will take action. At times we forget that God will ultimately take action.

The "day" is a reference to the day of the Lord. This day is mentioned throughout Malachi (3:2, 4:1, and 4:5) and throughout Scripture. The Day of the Lord is coming day of God’s judgment on the wicked and the deliverance of the righteous. A significant aspect of the Day of the Lord is the fact that by its very nature, God will distinguish between the righteous and the wicked on the Day of the Lord. We must realize that the day is coming when God justly rights the wrongs of the world.

Reality: If you are a Christ follower then you are a treasured possession of the God of the universe!

The word we translate as “treasured possession” is the Hebrew word סְגֻלָּ֑ה.

This word appears 8 times in the OT appearing first in Exodus 19:4-6.

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

God desire was for Israel to obey and in their obedience, God would give them a special place.

God still has a special place for Israel. However, as Christians we reap the blessings of Christ’s obedience and as such become a treasured possession of God.

Image: Owning a lot but some things are special the example of baseball cards.

Growing up my brothers and I collected a lot of baseball and football cards. We had piles of cards. However, some were special. These special cards were placed in their own special sleeves and kept in special notebooks. They were treasured possessions. If you were a king who owned the entire land, there would be some things that were treasured above others. You might choose to keep these in your royal chambers. Similarly, it seems that God has set apart some of what he owns as uniquely chosen to be special, treasured.

Take a second to reflect on this fact: you are a treasured possession of the God of the universe!

Reality: If you are a Christ follower then you are a child of God!

Have you ever won an award but had to wait to receive the reward?

When I was teaching at UNL I recieved the college distinguished teaching award. I learned in an email that I had been nominated, then in an email I learned I had been selected. However, I had to wait a month for the award money to be deposited into my bank account. I will tell you, I didn’t mind waiting. I knew I had the award. We need to realize that the day of the Lord is coming. God is going to reward us but now we patiently wait.

One reward we await is revelation as sons of God. Romans 8:18-19; 8:23-25

“18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”

“23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

We have something amazing to which we can look forward. Being revealed as sons of God.

Reality: If you are a Christ follower then you await a future dwelling with God!

The whole point of verse 18 is that God is going to make a clear distinction. In fact, the rest of Scripture speaks to this!

Matthew 13:41-43 graphically describes the distinction that will be made between the unrighteous and those who follow Christ.

"41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."

2 Peter 3:9-13 describes the Day of the Lord as a day in which wickedness is done away with.

"9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells."

We can confidently revere God because we know that God is working and the time is coming in which He will bountifully reward those who have revered Him.

MTR: Take some time to praise God for His gift of Salvation.

The Promise: The Day of the Lord will be like fire to the wicked and sunshine to the revenant. Which will you choose? (4:1-6)

The Day of the Lord will consume and destroy the wicked. (1)

The picture of a burning furnace stresses both intensity and judgmental purpose.

A furnace does not burn out of control but rather in complete control.

God's coming judgement in the Day of the Lord is an act of complete control.

God's judgement will be complete, not a root or branch will remain.

The Day of the Lord will heal and energize those who revere God. (2-3)

In the Day of the Lord righteousness will pervade like sunshine.

Righteousness will heal like the rays of the sun renewing and restoring the saints.

As a well-fed calf frolics in the light of the sun so those who revere God will be free to live in the Day of the Lord.

In 3:14 the people asked "what do we gain" here the answer is giving, complete victory over the wicked and blessing.

The Day of the Lord is coming so make sure you are ready. (4-6)

For the Jews in Malachi's day the key to revering God was remembering the Law of Moses.

For the Christian today, the key to revering God is by embracing, accepting the victory Christ secured.

There is a lot of hard theology to unpack in exactly what it means that Elijah comes before the Day of the Lord, instead of unpacking that I want to simply remind you. It is time to revere God!

MTR: Determine here and now to revere God.

1. ↑ Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 574–575.