The Day Of The Lord - Malachi Pt. 5 Series

“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.