“THE CRITICAL ELEMENT OF FAITH”
Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
MALACHI 2:17-3:6
The theme of these verses is found in 2:17. They were having faith problems, that due to lack of attention, had gotten out of hand. The sad thing is they were unaware of just how bad it was, what they were thinking and doing as a result of their weakened faith. At first appearance, this passage seems to be about the revelation of Jesus; but the revelation of Jesus is an example of the ultimate answer to their questioning of God’s judgment on the wicked and sin. The people had come to a point where they did not believe God judged sin or sinners - that it made no difference if you served God or not.
Let’s consider three aspects of faith: The:
I. UNIVERSAL STRUGGLE OF FAITH 2:17 “Where is the God of Justice?”
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, “Jump! I’ll catch you.” He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: “Jump! I will catch you.” But the boy protested, “Daddy, I can’t see you.” The father replied, “But I can see you and that’s all that matters.”
They were suffering from spiritual myopia (short sightedness).
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
This passage (2:17) clearly helps us to understand the urgency of tending our faith. Neglecting our faith can have serious threatening repercussions. They:
A. Doubted God 2:17 “where is the God of justice?”
2Pe 3:1-4 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in [both] which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.
B. Criticized God 2:17 “Every on who doeth evil is good in the sight of God”
Ps 73:3 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Ps 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.
Jer 12:1 Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
C. Wearied God 2:17 “Ye have wearied the Lord”
Heb 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
“I am sick and tired of your whining. You have exasperated me with your words. I am exhausted listening to you over and over. Your complaining is bugging the tar out of me.” (David Miller)
Some Scholars would call this an Anthropomorpha (Attribution of human motivation, characteristics, or behavior to God) I would just take it at face value.
II. URGENT STRENGTHENING OF FAITH 3:1 “behold”
It is strengthened by (The first revelation of Jesus and the second revelation of Jesus) being:
Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence.
Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event.
A. Challenged 3:1 “Behold”
Mr 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Lu 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Ac 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
B. Required 3:1 “I will send my messenger” (400 years later)
It was required by them:
“My Messenger” (John the Baptist) the imagery: The messenger would get the roadway or pathway ready by preceding the Royal Monarch and clearing out any obstacles that would hinder His arrival. John the Baptist did this by preaching repentance
Mt 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
It is required by us (Accountability):
2Co 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Ro 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
1Jo 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
2Pe 3:8-10 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
C. Nurtured 3:1 “the Lord whom ye seek”
Ro 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw [it] bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
III. ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF FAITH 3:1 “behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts”
Heb 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
The ultimate experience of faith’s fulfillment will be best experienced when we keep our mind on three things:
A. Our relationship with God 3:6 “I am the Lord”
Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Ps 71:5 For thou [art] my hope, O Lord GOD: [thou art] my trust from my youth.
B. Our reverence for God 3:5 “fear not me”
Jer 17:7 Blessed [is] the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Ps 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the health of my countenance, and my God.
C. Our reward from God 3:6 “are not consumed”
“Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand.” Augustine
Mt 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Conclusion:
“I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation; a faith that paddles about the edge of the water is poor faith at best. It is little better than a dry-land faith, and is not good for much.” - C. H. Spurgeon
Faith And Doubt
Doubt sees the obstacles.
Faith sees the way!
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day!
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”
Faith answers, “I!”
