“The Day of the Lord” - Malachi Part 5
Thesis: The Day of Lord is a time when God intervenes in the history of mankind in a tangible way which brings either blessing or judgment.
Scripture Text: Malachi 4:1-6
1“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty.
4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
5“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Humor Illustrations:
A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing the opening. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus’ first words when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?" A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. Attached to it was the arm of a little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly "I know, I know!" "Good" said the teacher, "Tell us, what were Jesus first words." And Extending her arms high into the air she said: "TA-DA!"
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Ken Kersten
A Sunday School teacher was attempting to teach her young students the true meaning of Easter. "Why do we celebrate Easter?" she asked. When the children replied ’because of the Easter bunny,’ Easter eggs, candy, spring, etc., she said, "No, those are Easter traditions and symbols, but what is the REASON why we celebrate Easter? What happened at the very first Easter?" A little girl raised her hand and said, "Easter celebrates Jesus coming out of the tomb." "Yes!" said the teacher, excited and relieved that finally the correct answer had surfaced. Encouraged, she prompted, "Jesus arose from the tomb, and what does He do for us?" The youngster replied, "He looks to see if he can see his shadow, and if He can, he goes back in for another six weeks."
Contributed to Sermon Central by: Abraham Shanklin, Jr.
Introduction:
Malachi prophecies that the day of the Lord is coming and it will be a day filled with a burning away of all that is evil and corrupt in this world. This day will be filled with joy for the one’s who revere the name of the Lord. But there will also be a time of judgment for those who have arrogantly rejected the LORD. This time frame is called the Day of the Lord!
The Day of the LORD is a special term in the Bible used to refer to a period of time when God directly intervenes in human affairs either in judgment or in blessing.
According to Walvoord, "the Day of the Lord refers to any special period where God intervenes supernaturally, bringing judgment on the world."
Benware defines the "Day of the Lord" as "A phrase used in the Bible to emphasize special interventions of God in human history, including the future time when He will intervene to judge the nations, discipline Israel, and establish His rule in the Messianic Kingdom."
I believe that when Jesus came the first time 2005 years ago this was a Day of the Lord. Jesus came to bring a blessing to His people. Jesus came to deliver us from evil and to also warn against the coming judgment of God on sin and on arrogant evil doers.
In Jesus ministry here on earth we see Him blessing people and even warning people about the way of God. Jesus’ earthly ministry was a time of blessing and hope for the lost people of the earth. I do believe that there is another Day of the Lord fast approaching when Jesus will return a second time to intervene in the history of mankind. This time period though will be a day of blessing for the believer and a day of wrath for the sinner.
T.S. - Let’s explore The Day of the Lord when Jesus first came 2005 years ago.
I. Jesus 1st coming was “The Day of the Lord!” Jesus earthly ministry as described in the Gospels demonstrated a servant leadership style to the people of the earth.
a. We know that Malachi was written prior to Jesus 1st coming. This Prophetic Word in chapter 4 has a two fold meaning - first it points to the characteristics of Jesus first coming and also to His second.
i. The first Day of the Lord sought to reconcile the sinners to God – In this time frame we see that Jesus came and dealt with the lost and He rebuked the arrogant Pharisees and the corrupt religious rulers of Israel for not leading the people to God.
1. Jesus warned them of the impending fire to come. He told them to repent and to change their ways.
a. They responded by becoming angry and plotting his death and even carried it out.
2. Jesus warned them that there is a day coming that will judge them by fire. This day will send them through the refining fire of God so they better be pure in the eyes of the Lord.
3. Jesus spoke of a future judgment day for all who reside on this earth and He stressed the importance of following Him and believing in Him so as to avoid this horrible time of judgment.
ii. Jesus warned those original hearers and readers of His message and He is still warning us today to make sure that we are ready.
1. I can tell you today that His warnings were valid and realistic and all the people in His day have had to face blessings or curses at the time of their deaths.
a. Each one of those individuals who was alive during Jesus day have had to face the Lord and they have been judged for their lives.
b. So the question to ponder today is “Are you ready?”
2. They went through the fire upon their deaths because of what they did to Jesus on the cross.
3. Today their arrogance has been dealt with by the Lord.
4. Today they have received their punishment for their rejection of the Lord and for their sins.
b. Then we are told in verse 2 that He will rise with healing in His wings.
i. Jesus first coming brought us the benefit of healing.
1. Just read John 20:1-31 which we listened to last week.
2. Last week we celebrated Resurrection Sunday and understood what it means that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.
a. Read the e-mail from Pakistan:
b. We k-----Original Message-----
From: Sermon Central [mailto:starisjesus@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 1:59 AM
To: mm1@amerytel.net
Subject: A Visitor of SermonCentral.com:hello i am basim idris from pakistan i came to a website and found your sermon on i am the resurection and the life when i read it my life was changed i am a muslim but this seermon has open my eyes can you please send me some books to read more about jesus christ please give me reply my address is basim idris p.o.box 7231 saddar karachi 74400 pakistan
c. We see the power of the Resurrection is still impacting people’s lives today. Why? It has the power to heal people and to minister to people.
3. We can also note the passage of Scripture in Isaiah 53:1-12 which foretold of this Messiah to come:
a. Isaiah Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the LORD’S will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
b. Isaiah prophesied about what Jesus would do on the cross.
i. How He would suffer for the sins of us all.
ii. But also how He would make intercession with us to the Father which would redeem us to God.
iii. He also notes how by His stripes we are healed.
4. With Jesus death and resurrection came the blessing of healing into our lives.
a. Thoughts on healing – is it’s meaning only physical or is it spiritual too?
i. We know that Jesus did physical miracles for the people to demonstrate His divinity as revealed in the New Testament.
ii. Holman Bible Dictionary notes: HEALING, DIVINE God’s work through instruments and ways He chooses to bring health to persons sick physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The Bible not only tells of people’s spiritual status but is also concerned about their physical condition. This concern appears in the emphasis on healing, particularly in the ministry of Jesus and in the early church. Nearly one-fifth of the Gospels report Jesus’ miracles and the discussions they occasioned. The gospels record fourteen distinct instances of physical and mental healing. Jesus commissioned His disciples to continue His basic ministry, including healing (Matt. 10:5-10; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6). In the Book of Acts the healing ministry continued. Psychosomatic is a word which literally means “soul and body,” referring to the close relationship of body and spirit. The soul affects the body, and the health of the soul may be an indication of the health of the body. In the Bible John wished for his friend Gaius, “above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). This was an anticipation of the emphasis of psychosomatic medicine: a person is a unity; body and soul cannot be separated. Christianity and health are inextricably intertwined.
iii. So when I read about healing I am often reminded that healing is not just about the physical dimension of life. This healing that Jesus brings impacts our minds and also our spirits.
iv. This healing comes to us by His rising – and it’s in His wings.
1. Truth is when we get under His wings a wave of healing floods into our lives and into our being.
ii. Another benefit that we are to receive today from the “Day of the Lord” and Jesus first coming is joy. Malachi said He would rise and therefore we would be rejoicing -- even jumping for joy.
1. Remember Jesus brought the refining fire and His crushing defeat of evil on the cross should motivate us to be leaping for joy today.
2. Joy is defined by Brainy Dictionary as: The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.
3. The http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/joy explains joy this way:
a. Happiness, pleasure or joy is the emotional state of being happy. The definition of happiness is one of the greatest philosophical quandaries. Proposed definitions include freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one’s place in the universe or society, inner peace, and so forth. More generally, though, it can be defined as the state which humans and animals are behaviorally driven towards, to counter external forces which would otherwise lead to unhappiness (and presumably eventual death). Associated emotions include joy, exultation, delight, bliss, and love.
4. The emphasis here by Malachi is that we should be filled with joy-with merriment. Why? Because He arose and He defeated evil and gave us the power and ability to do the same.
a. The problem I see in the church is the attitude of the doomie-gloomies today.
i. Where is the joy the laughter the excitement in the Christian of today?
1. He has risen!
2. He defeated death and evil on the cross.
3. He delivered us from it!
4. He paid the price so that we could have a personal relationship with the Father.
ii. In my view too many Christians seem depressed and beaten down.
1. Have they missed the point that they are children of the Lord and heirs to Heaven?
2. Have they forgotten that He won and so have we?
b. Malachi tells us that we should be leaping for joy like a calf set free from a stall.
i. Have you been leaping around lately?
ii. Maybe you have not because you are missing out on joy in your life because you are legalistic.
iii. Paul talks about in Galatians how legalism robs people of their joy in life.
1. Galatians 5: 16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
5. John W. Ritenbaugh writes: Since love is a fruit, a product, of God’s Holy Spirit, could its companion—joy—be produced in us differently? Like love, joy is not the product of the natural mind but the product of the supernatural Holy Spirit of God. If it is not a product of the natural mind, then pursuing it apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit will produce only very limited and pale imitations of what God experiences by nature and greatly desires to be in us.
a. David writes, "You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:11).
b. John adds, “God Himself and our relationship with Him are the source and cause of any real joy we might have.”
6. The Christians of today more than any others should have joy in their hearts. Why? Because they have experienced healing in their lives from a risen Messiah.
a. Malachi also points out how that those who have a relationship with the Lord will trample down the wicked.
i. Winning against evil should make you happy and joyful.
ii. Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
c. Another benefit of the past and future “Day of the Lord” was that the Lord will use Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and then the children to the fathers.
i. There is a condition added to this: If they turn from sin and turn to the Lord then they will be blessed but if not they will be cursed.
ii. But this thought of turning the hearts toward one another is pointing toward a family being united together with a heart of love toward one another.
iii. It promises a mending of the family unit in the future and I even believe today when we discover the wonderful love of Jesus this happens.
T.S. – We have discovered some of the benefits to the 1st Day of the Lord which Jesus brought to us 2005 years ago.
II. The Day of the Lord in the future – This time Jesus will come as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords but He will bring the sword of judgment.
a. Thoughts and quotes taken from http://www.gotquestions.org/day-of-the-Lord.html
i. Question: "What is the day of the Lord?"
1. “Answer: The phrase “day of the Lord” usually identifies events that take place at the end of history (Isaiah 7:18-25) and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day” One of the keys to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly, to accomplish some specific aspect His plan.”
2. “Most people associate “the day of the Lord” with a period of time or a special day that will occur at the end of time when God’s will and purpose for mankind and His world will be fulfilled. Some scholars believe that “the day of the Lord” will be a longer period of time rather than a single day—a period of time when Christ will reign throughout the world before He cleanses heaven and earth in preparation for the eternal state of all mankind. Yet other scholars believe the Day of the Lord will be an instantaneous event when Christ will return to earth to redeem His faithful believers and send unbelievers to eternal damnation.”
3. “The phrase “the day of the Lord” is used nineteen times in the Old Testament (Isaiah. 2:12; 13:6: 13:9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 [2 times], Amos 5:20; Obadiah. 15; Zephaniah. 1:7; 1:14 [2 times]; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5) and four times in the New Testament (Acts 2:20; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10). It is also alluded to in other passages (Rev. 6:17; 16:14).
4. “The Old Testament passages dealing with the Day of the Lord often convey a sense of imminence, nearness, and expectation: “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!” (Isaiah 13:6); “For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near” (Ezekiel 30:3); “For the day of the Lord is near” (Joel 1:15); “Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; surely it is near” (Joel 2:1); “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14); “For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations” (Obadiah 15); “Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near” (Zephaniah 1:7); “Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming very quickly” (Zephaniah1:14). This is because the Old Testament “day of the Lord” passages often have both a near and a far fulfillment, as does much of Old Testament prophecy. There are times in the Old Testament that “the day of the Lord” is used to describe historical judgments that have already been fulfilled in at least some sense (Isaiah 13:6–22; Ezekiel 30:2–19; Joel 1:15; 3:14; Amos 5:18–20; Zephaniah 1:14–18) while at other times it refers to divine judgments that will take place towards the end of the age (Joel 2:30–32; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:1,5).”
5. “The New Testament calls it a day of “wrath,” a day of “visitation,” and the “Great Day of God Almighty” (Rev. 16:4) and refers to a still future fulfillment when God’s wrath is poured out on unbelieving Israel (Isaiah 22: Jeremiah 30:1-17; Joel 1-2; Amos 5; Zephaniah 1) and on the unbelieving world (Ezekiel 38-39; Zechariah 14). The Scriptures indicate that “the day of the Lord” will come quickly, like a thief in the night. (Zephaniah 1:14-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:2) and therefore we as Christians must be watchful and ready for the Coming of Christ at any moment.”
a. “However besides being a time of judgment it will also be a time of salvation as God will deliver the remnant of Israel, fulfilling His promise that “all of Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:26), forgiving their sins and restoring His chosen people to the land He promised to Abraham (Isaiah 10:27; Jeremiah 30:19-31:40; Micah 4; Zechariah 13). The final outcome of the day of the Lord will be that “The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.” (Isaiah 2:17) The ultimate or final fulfillment of the prophecies concerning “the day of the Lord” will come at the end of history when with wondrous power God will punish evil and fulfill all His promises.”
b. Recommended Resource: Understanding End Times Prophesy by Paul Benware.
b. Day of the Lord by Dr. David R. Nicholas
i. “The phrase "Day of the Lord," is used throughout Scripture and is vital to the believer’s understanding of future events. A review of its use in the Old Testament reveals that it was often employed by the prophets to designate both near historical and future eschatological events. Also, the New Testament writers use of the phrase, "Day of the Lord," was based on their understanding of the Old Testament prophets. Mayhue points out, "The New Testament writers picked up on the eschatological use and applied the phrase both to the judgment which will climax the Tribulation period and the judgment which will usher in the new earth." Thus, a clear understanding of "Day of the Lord" is necessary for a proper perspective on God’s plan for the future.”
c. Jesus second coming will be very different from the first one. But it still will be wonderful for the believer. (Hebrews 9:28).
i. Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote: May we be among the number of those who "love his appearing", who are "looking for that blessed hope", and who are "waiting for his Son from heaven, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come". Surely they have but cold love to Jesus that do not burn with desire to see the fair brow that was crowned with thorns. Christ’s coming will be terrible as lightning to His enemies. Nothing is more terrific than the lightning. It is so powerful, so sudden, so deadly in its stroke. The strongest man is like a straw before it. Much more terrible will Christ’s appearing be to all unbelievers. To His own dear people it will be like the approach of summer. When they see the signs of His coming, they will say to one another, "the summer is nigh" (verse 32). "He shall come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth" (Psalm 72:6). To poor waiting believers "He shall be as the light of the morning when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds" (2 Samuel 23:4). To those that fear God’s name in this dark world, "The Sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in his wings" (Malachi 4:2). The cry shall be one of ineffable joy to them, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh". How different that day shall be to unconverted souls! "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord. To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light" (Amos 5:18). That day shall burn as an oven to you. "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel" (2 Thessalonians 1: 7-8). Then will be fulfilled that awful word, "All kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him" (Revelation 1:7), O! thou that obeyest not the gospel, where wilt thou hide from the lightning of His eye? Thou wilt say, Ah! there He is – the crucified One – whom I lightly esteemed. O! mountains and rocks fall on me and hide me from Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.
d. Jesus is going to return a second time and it will be a glorious day for His people but the sad news is it will be a horrible day for the one’s who have rejected His way and will in their lives.
T.S. – We see and discover that at the second coming of The Day of the Lord the believer will be blessed but the unrepentant will suffer the judgment of the Lord. I see that this second coming is all about God’s timing.
III. The timing of the Lord and “The Day of the Lord!”
a. I see that the Lord is a God of timing through our passage of Scripture today.
i. There is a right time for Him to return and He alone knows when the day will occur.
1. 2 Peter 3:8-10: 8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10But 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 in it will be laid bare.
2. We need to remember God’s concept of time and ours are very different.
a. This is why the book of Revelation tells us to “Be Ready!”
b. This section of Scripture in Malachi speaks to me about the timing of the Lord.
i. We know Jesus fulfilled some of the characteristics spoken about in this passage and yet I believe He will fulfill it all at His Second Coming.
ii. God’s timing is always complete and with out flaw so when He appears to fulfill what is written the questions will be answered and the enlightenment will begin.
c. Greg Laurie stated, “I have discovered that just as important as God’s will is God’s timing. In fact, the Bible talks a lot about timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”
i. “God’s timing is always the right timing and we need to learn to trust it and keep in pace with it” says John Piper.
ii. Albert Einstein put it this way, "God doesn’t play dice."
iii. Blaine Smith stated, “He exercises providential oversight in our lives which vastly exceeds our awareness.”
iv. Time is not hapless throwing of the dice to see what number comes up. No God is orchestrating this time for a specific purpose.
v. Here is the best part and we can be a part of His plan. We are not an accident but a well orchestrated part of the plan of God id we want to get on board with it. Our part is the willingness to say “Yes to the Lord!”
1. Then God writes us into the plan!
d. Smith notes, “We instinctively mistrust the timing of God, and this lack of trust accounts for much of our anxiety. Yet a close look at our experience shows how flawless His timing actually is. With the benefit of hindsight, we often recognize how remarkably advantageous his timing has been in the events of our lives.”
i. You see a lot of times we miss the hand of God at work in our lives because we are so busy or so distracted with the things of life.
ii. We so often think that God is late or not listening or even not caring but the truth is He has a plan and a timing for this part of the plan to be fulfilled.
e. John Piper, Pastor - Copyright ©1987, 1996 John Piper "THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL RISE"notes this about God’s timing and the impact of Jesus 1st coming:
i. “Sometimes we need to step back and take stock of the obvious. Sometimes the most important things in the world pass before our eyes, and we don’t see them. And so they don’t have the impact on our thought and our emotions the way they could if we just stopped and pondered for a moment.”
1. Piper notes, “…the impact of Jesus Christ on this world has been so immense that even before we turn to the Bible we are confronted with a staggering choice this morning in relation to the man Jesus Christ.”
a. “First, because Jesus Christ was born, one third of the world’s population today calls itself Christian. That is, 1.6 billion people of the world’s 5 billion have come under the sway of this man Jesus to the extent that they would say Christianity is their religion.”
i. “Not only that, Christianity is the most extensive and universal religion in history. There are Christians and Christian churches in every inhabited country in the world. And in two-thirds of the worlds 223 countries the population is over 50% Christian.”
ii. “So the first indisputable significance of the birth of Jesus Christ is that the life of this man has influenced more people over the course of human history than any other single man. Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, or even Moses do not compare in the extent of their influence on history and the world.”
b. “Second, virtually every person in the modern western, and most of the non-western, world call this year 1987. But the reason bankers and butchers, and car dealers and doctors, and teachers and attorneys, and computer programmers and presidents date their checks "1987" is because Jesus Christ was born 1987 years ago.”
i. “No other man in history has been accorded the almost universal honor of dividing history in half -- and with such definitive influence that millions who do not call him Lord are forced to bear witness daily to his tremendous on-going importance in the world by using the date 1987.”
c. “Third, all over the western world, and a large part of the non-western world Sunday is recognized as a holiday, and most of these western cultures recognize a difference even between Saturday and Sunday. The historical reason for this is that Jesus Christ was born and that he died and that he rose from the dead on Sunday.”
d. “In other words the religious, historical, and cultural significance of Christmas -- the birth of Jesus Christ -- is so huge that no one can begin to give it an adequate description.”
e. “Now that fact, in and of itself, before we even turn to the Bible confronts you and me with a profound choice: will we ignore this man and take him lightly in spite of his being the most influential man whoever lived, or will we inquire earnestly into who this man was and why he has changed the world so deeply?”
f. Kimberly Chastain stated: In our fast paced society we often want everything done quickly or your boss wants it done yesterday. In your spiritual life are you a Microwave or Crock Pot? I think often we want God to answer our prayers in Microwave fashion. I prayed a specific request today and I want it answered today. If our prayers are not answered quickly, we often wonder, "What is God doing?" We also decide to go it on our own and not wait for God’s direction. Often it is difficult to wait on God’s timing. When we are in Crock pot mode we pray and rest in the knowledge that God’s timing is best. Often, God may have to let several things simmer in our life before he answers our prayer. Many times in my life I have seen God’s handiwork after the situation is over. If God had answered my prayer the way I wanted him to, it would not have gone well at all. God knows what is best for us and when it is best for something to happen. I look at Scripture and see God works in Microwave and Crock Pot mode. When Daniel was in the lion’s den God worked immediately to shut the mouths of the lions. I have to admit if I was Daniel I would want to know why God didn’t act before I got thrown in the lion’s den. Daniel being thrown in the lion’s den was used to reflect God’s glory and power. God also works in Crock Pot mode. Do you remember Joshua and the battle of Jericho? The people of Israel were marching around a wall for 7 days. Don’t you imagine they asked God, "Why?" During that time Rahab was getting her family ready to leave Jericho. Could it be that God took seven days of marching around Jericho, to save one woman and her family? Could it be that God took that time for one woman who was faithful to God in spite of her lifestyle, in spite of her whole community being against God to show his glory? Most of the Israelites did not know about Rahab, but God did. In God’s perfect timing he rescued the Israelites and Rahab, not in the way the Israelites would have wanted. God gave them victory in the battle in Crock pot mode. So, I ask you are you in Microwave mode or Crock Pot mode in your spiritual life? Please remember God is always in control even when it feels everything is out of control. Trust God’s timing and know he only wants what is best for you. About the Author: © 2004 Kimberly Chastain kimberly@jerpat.org
i. So are we trusting the Lord to allow Him to work it out in His time?
Conclusion:
Malachi informs us about the first Day of the Lord and the coming of Jesus and we today have the benefit to see how that all came about. We have been blessed today because we are on the other side of the resurrection of Jesus. Therefore we receive the benefits of:
1. Of Joy in our lives as a result of evil being defeated
2. We receive the benefit of Healing from His wings
3. We receive and will receive a restoration of the family unit when we look to Jesus
We also briefly looked to the future at the next Day of the Lord and foresaw that Jesus is coming back to get His followers. This will be a great day of rejoicing for us as believers in Jesus. But yet He also coming back to judge this fallen and corrupt world.
We also are reminded that God has His perfect timing and all we need to do is be ready today if he chooses to return today.
So are you ready?
