A Message of Love
Introduction:
Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. And between the Old Testament and the New Testament there was a period of 400 years these are called the silent years, because it was a time that no one heard from God. No prophet, no new revelation from the Lord. Now they still had the scriptures so they still had the word of God. But no new revelation was given in those silent years, Until God spoke to Zacharias through Gabriel announcing the birth of the last prophet John the Baptist.
Has there been times in your life that it seems that God has just stopped talking.
Malachi means “My Messenger or the messenger of Jehovah”
Historical Context:
The people had begun to engage in Idolatry, in mixed marriages, they had ceased to tithe, they were offering blemished sacrifices, they were giving God what was left, not what was right. There was a form of worship but it had become just a ritual did not mean anything; but none of this sounds like today does it?
Malachi is a call to repentance and of Judgment. We see that by the dialogue that takes place.
Malachi is a dialogue between Israel and God.
All through Malachi we see God speaking and the people questioning God. Some examples of this is found in…Malachi 1:2; Malachi 1:6; Malachi 1:7; Malachi 2:17; Malachi 3:8; Malachi 3:13.
But God’s Judgment is always based upon LOVE. Even though He is Just. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. Did God ever bend the law so that we could go free? No the penalty stayed the same. The person who paid the penalty changed.
Illustration: Our Dailey Bread January 31, 2003 Tells us about this story “During his years as mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia sometimes presided as judge in a night court. In one case, a man was found guilty of stealing a loaf of bread. He pleaded that he had committed that theft to feed his starving family. "The law is the law," La Guardia declared. "I must therefore fine you $10." When the man sadly confessed that he had no money, the judge took $10 out of his wallet and paid the fine. He also asked each person in the courtroom to contribute 50 cents to help the man.”
Lets look at three ways that God had shown His love to us.
1. God shows His love to us through election. (Verse 2)
A. God is telling Israel I choose you.
a. God has never changed; if you are a born again believer then GOD choose you!
b. Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people
B. I hated Esau. This phrase has caused many problems with a lot of people saying that God hates. However the word hate is the use of a Hebrew idiom. If a father had two sons and gave one the inheritance it was said that he loved one and hated the other. It was not a reference to the emotion but rather to the will of God. We see this same word used in Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
1. God shows His love to us by His protection. (Verses 3-4)
A. When Edom (Esau’s descendents) said we were destroyed but we will rebuild. God said NO you won’t.
B. Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
C. Psalms 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
D. God always show us His protection. Lets turn to John 10:10-16
3. God showed His love in fulfilling His promises. (Verse 5)
A. The scripture is full of Gods promises.
B. James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
C. Another promise in the Scriptures is Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Closing…
Maybe you’re here this morning and have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior…
We talked about Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. And how God is just and never bends the law so that we could go free? No the penalty stays the same. The person who paid the penalty is Jesus Christ so all we have to do is accept His payment for our sins.
