All For A Quarter

All For A Quarter

Sunday Morning, 07-30-11

Text: Mal. 3:1-12

Intro:

Most of you know we had a garage sale Fri. and Sat. It was a fairly typical garage sale, people looking, asking how much, and maybe a little haggling over a price. That’s what garage selling is all about, getting what you think you need at the best price, and that’s ok. All of that was typical as I said, but there was something else that in my years of holding sales usually happens, and that is someone changes the price tag on an item. I believe the items were some cups that had no price tag but were quoted at one price to this individual, but when it came time to check out one of the cups had a tag that said 25 cents. When asked about it, this person said “well it says a quarter”. Rather than cause an argument, my wife let them go for a quarter apiece.

Now some of you may say. “Preacher, it’s only a quarter...let it go, what does it hurt?” To some extent you are right, it isn’t about whether we “lost” or “gained” anything, it goes beyond that. As soon as Lisa told me what happened a thought came to me, “what if a quarter is all that separates you from Heaven or Hell?” Is it worth it, is one, or for that matter millions of quarters worth going to Hell? By now some of you may think I’m putting a lot on just 25cents. You know what? I am, because when we read our text this morning I believe you’ll see where I’m coming from.

(Turn with me please to Mal. 3: 1-12)

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

(1)

Mal 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightful land, saith the LORD of hosts.

I. Why Was The Quarter Important?

A. Because The Day of The Lord Is Coming

1. Verse 1 says He is coming

2. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world is coming

B. Who can stand it? (v2)

1. Because He is coming as “refiners fire and fullers soap”

a. Why? To cleanse and purify His Bride...the Church...You and I

C. Unless we are purged or cleansed we can’t take the heat

1. None of us like going thru trials(heat) but we must

a. It gets all the junk out of our lives...so Jesus can fill the void with Himself