Prophecy To Our Age Series

2. The people were to maintain a marriage relationship between themselves and God by observing His laws and obeying His commandments.

3. Jeremiah 31:33, “I will write my law upon your heart and upon your mind.”

a. The relationship has changed between God and His people from an old covenant to a new covenant.

b. No longer is there a need for only an outward observance of the laws of God but an inward union with the spirit of God, which is written on their minds and hearts.

4. This covenant has been corrupted through and through.

a. Men and women talk about inward cleansing and baptism of the Holy Spirit but fail to live pure and holy lives.

b. People talk of walking in the Spirit of God and at the same time argues vehemently against the doctrine of entire sanctification.

c. As long as we who preach and teach corrupt the covenant of God we lower the supreme requirements of the new birth and spiritual union.

d. We hold a form of truth yet we deny the power from where it came.

5. So here we see a terrible application in Malachi’s day of living holy lives, pleasing to the Father in heaven.

a. The spirit of this age closely resembles the spirit of our present age.

b. There was a lowering of the standards for the priests in their form and function as teachers of the people.

c. The people boasted of their piety yet in actuality they “deny the power” of God.

D. Only when we cease to be content with conventional religion will we find the power of the almighty, a vibrant influential aspect of our being. We should humble ourselves and examine our own spirit asking God to correct and reprove our lives to make us living sanctuaries for Him.

On Christmas Eve of 1822, Clement Moore composed his famous poem A Visit from St. Nicholas.

“Twas the night before Jesus came, and all through the house

Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.

Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care

In hopes that Jesus wouldn’t come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed

Not once ever knelling or bowing a head.

And mom in her rocker with a baby on her lap

Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,

I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.

With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray

I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light form his face made me cover my head

It was Jesus returning just like he said.

And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth

I cried when I saw him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which he held in his hand

Was written the name of every saved man.

He spoke not a word when he searched for my name

When he said, “It’s not here” my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written in love

He gathered to take to his Father above.

With those who were ready he rose without a sound

While all the rest were left standing around.