Malachi Sermons by Rev. Mike Jones [Revised October 29, 2021]
4 THINGS THAT ANGER GOD in Malachi
INTRO TO MALACHI
Malachi (“My Messenger”) was the last of the OT Prophets. His message was a reassurance of God’s Love for His chosen People and a revelation of God’s displeasure over the sins of the People.
Malachi’s message is important because it shows us the state of the Returned Remnant after the Temple and the Walls were rebuilt and it is the last picture we have before Christ comes. (One writer said that Malachi’s Message was 4 basic things: Remember, Repent, Return, and Rehearse).
Malachi used a form of Debate in his Discourse.
I. THE PEOPLE HAD FORGOTTEN GOD 1
A) They doubted His Love 1:1-5 (Why haven’t we regained our Glory?).
GOD’S ANSWER– I Chose you instead of Esau
B) They Despised His Name 1:6-14 (Violate 3rd Commandment)
1. By offering Polluted Sacrifices- Offer them to your Governor!
2. By seeking Profit for God’s Work- Wouldn’t close door without pay.
3. By Profaning God’s altar thru hypocrisy (Behold what a weariness it is to serve God but we must keep up the forms!)
GOD’S ANSWER- I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. If YOU won’t worship me the GENTILES will; which is exactly what has happened!!]
II. THE PRIESTS HAD BECOME POLLUTED 2
A) God compares the Polluted Priest with the Perfect Priest 2:1-9 [Note the “Perfect Priest”- “Fears” (Respects) God, Preaches the Word and not the World, Fellowships with God, and is a Soul Winner.]
B) God condemns them because of their unfaithfulness to their wives 2:10-16 [Satan’s way to corrupt the Holy Seed].
[GOD’S ANSWER– I am tired of people questioning me!!]
III. THE PROPHECY FROM AN ANGRY GOD 3
A) The Purifying Messenger 3:1-6
B) The Plea for Repentance 3:7
C) The Pronouncement of a Curse on those who rob God 3:8-12
D) The Profit of Serving God compared to Rebellion 3:13-18
[GOD’S PROMISE– You’ll be mine in the day when I make up my Jewels. Your Testimony will be part of God’s “Remembrance Book”.]
IV. THE PROMISE OF BLESSING IN THE DAY OF THE LORD. 4
A) God’s People will be Blessed 4:1-3 ye shall tread down the wicked;
B) God’s Prophet will Come 4:4-6 (Malachi predicted the return of Elijah before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Our Lord indicated that John the Baptist could have fulfilled this prophecy IF he would have been received [Matt 11:14]. However, like the One whom he announced, he was rejected. Our Lord declared after John’s death that Elijah would come and restore all things [Matt 17:11]. Therefore, this prophecy of the coming of Elijah must yet be fulfilled. Some believe that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses [Rev 11] who will appear during the Tribulation).
4 THINGS THAT ANGER GOD in Malachi
Four times in Malachi God tells His people that He will “Curse” certain things they are doing. If these things anger God so much then we need to know them and correct them. (Sadly they are a common problems in TODAY’S CHURCH.)
1. PEOPLE GIVING THEIR “LEFTOVERS” INSTEAD OF THEIR BEST Malachi 1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the Lord of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. see vs 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.
What do we give to God that is not our best?? Do we give God our best time or our spare time?? Rom 12:1-2 Says to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2. PREACHERS REFUSING TO HEAR AND HEED GOD’S VOICE 2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
Are we willing to listen to God’s voice and obey His commands? Who are we looking to glorify? God or self. Do Preachers Preach what God says or what the people want to hear?? Are sermons simply times to learn about God– or Messages from a Holy God on how we are to live??
3. FAILURE IN YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 3:9-10 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Do we honor God with our money?? Does God get the “first fruits” of your income- or do you think your needs are more important than God’s work?
4. FAMILY PROBLEMS 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Do we recognize the importance of the Family? What do we do to build it up??
The Four Things that anger God-
1. People who “Play” Religion,
2. Preachers who “Play” Church,
3. Tithers who “Rob” God, and
4. Families who are more interested in building a House than in building a Home.
If God is “angry” at you then you need to correct the situation–TODAY.
Mal 03:10 HEAVENLY WINDOWS
WINDOWS OF:
- Judgement: In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11).
- Provision: Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. (2 Kings 7:2).
- Wrath: And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. (Isaiah 24:18).
- Blessing: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10).
Mal 03:16 17 REMEMBERING
It’s good to have a time to look back and remember past events that have been a Blessing to us because God does the same thing- Mal 3:16 17 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Just as we have “Remembrance Books” in our homes to remind us of past events, so God keeps records of our talk and thoughts about Him. (There is something about us that the Lord doesn’t remember- Sins under the Blood: Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrightousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Praise the Lord!)
Not only does God remember what we do but He also wants us to remember what He did. So He made Memorials for us:
a. Rainbow- to remember that there would be no more Flood
b. Passover- to remember deliverance from Egypt
c. Rock Monument- to remember crossing Jordan river
d. Last Supper- Remember the Lord’s Death until He come
Men are like that also, they remember Birthdays, Anniversaries, the “Fourth of July”, etc. but the Lord says they are some things we need to remember in our spiritual life:
1. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY- Too many Church members do not attend Church regularly on Sunday and Sunday has become a day of Recreation instead of Reflection.
2. REMEMBER NOW THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH- Young people need to get their priorities in order and keep God’s will first in their life. What a say thing it is to look back on life and see only wasted days and missed opportunities.
3. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE- Here was a woman who had escaped the wrath of God and yet she turned back and became an everlasting memorial to the dangers of putting your hands to the plow and looking back. How often do we look around at Church and remember people who used to be faithful!!
4. REMEMBER TO TRUST IN GOD AND NOT IN YOUR MATERIAL THINGS- Our text tells us to beware that we don’t trust in Physical Equipment instead of Spiritual Enablement.
There are some things the Church needs to remember- Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. God expects a Church to have Faith but He also expects it to be Faithful.
But the main thing we want to do today is here Lost sinners cry out to God, “Remember me when thou comest to thy Kingdom” instead of hearing God say to them one day, “Remember that thou in thy life time received good things but now thou art tormented.
Mal 4:1-6 A BABY CRIED
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:1-6).
For 400 Years God remained Silent as kingdoms rose and fell. Israel once again came under the bondage of foreign powers where their self-guided thinking led to the Maccabees rebellion and the “Abomination of Desolation”. (Antiochus Epiphanes offered a Hog on the Temple Altar). {Jesus used this illustration and a version of it was enacted before the generation who had witnessed His death died: After the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD the worship overseen by the High Priest ceased. The Temple Mount was covered over with rubble and a pagan temple dedicated to Jupiter was built when Hadrian became Caesar (117-138 AD). Hadrian installed two statues on the mount: one of Jupiter and another of himself; this was seen by the Jews as idolatry. Eventually, when Muslims ruled Jerusalem, they built the al-Aqsa Mosque (Dome of the rock), which stands on the site today}.
What a horrible time this was- God was silent, the enemy was winning, life was hard, Hope seemed hopeless. But one day a Baby cried in Bethlehem and the world changed!
Shepherds became aware of this baby’s cry by angelic announcement and it changed them from sheep herders into savior seekers and salvation sharers.
Wise men “heard” this baby’s cry via a star message which compelled them across thousands of miles to worship and adore Him. A baby cried and it moved men.
This baby’s cry has echoed through the halls of time and brought hope to hearts, meaning to life, and peace to multitudes of people. His birth became the reference point for time, the driving force for world exploration, and the foundation stone for countries and colleges. Just as a baby changes the life of a couple so this baby changed everything.
No longer do we feel isolated: God became flesh and dwelt among men
No longer do we feel helpless: In that He has suffered being tempted He is able to succor (Give aid to) those who are tempted.
No longer are we powerless: The Holy Spirit now lives and abides in believers Luke 11:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
World leaders still wreak havoc and men still work wickedness but now there is hope and help because a baby cried and God opened His arms to invite mankind into His family. It is indeed a time to celebrate!
Cry out to God in repentance and faith and become children of God today. (Predicting Ice and maybe snow this coming Friday. Why would you prepare for that and not prepare to meet God?)
THE CAPTIVITY
There were at least Five Blessings that came out of Israel’s captivity:
1. The nation lost its “Love for Idols”. The Jews (as a nation) never again had a problem with Idol worship.
2. The institution of the synagogue was born. With the Temple destroyed the Jews came to worship together with the Priest and the Synagogue was born.
3. The Scriptures were gathered together and the Bible began to take a united form instead of scattered Books.
4. The Remnant that returned were the most dedicated of the Jews. They returned to Jerusalem with a new love for God, His Holy City, and the Temple.
5. The Nations of the world came to hear about God thru His dealings with and thru His People. He is no longer the isolated God of the Jews but a God known in all nations.
What have YOU learned at you observed God’s Dealings with His chosen people?? Did you see how He HAD to chasten them for continuing to rebel against His will and go their own way? Did you see His heartache as He continually called His people back to repentance and FELLOWSHIP?
Can you see that God is not after a Religion we observe; He longs for a Relationship we enjoy. Oh, how the heart of God calls you today to come to Him for rest, refreshment, and Fellowship. Don’t allow the idols of this world to steal your time and affection. They will only leave you, as they left Israel, empty, destitute, and destroyed.
I beg of you today, look beyond the facts of this study and seek the Face of a loving Heavenly Father. He is not so much interested that you know the History of Israel as He is in drawing you to Himself.
The entire Old Testament was written to show you the need of, and reveal the promises of, a coming Savior. This Savior has now come and we know His name was Jesus. There is nothing left for you to wait on. Come to Christ for pardon and life today. Preacher Mike Ps 16:11