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The Coming of the Lord… (3 things)
- 1st – Robbing God… vs. 7-12
- 1st – Return to the Lord… vs. 7
- Since the days of your Fathers…
- God made it clear that He never changes – He did not approved of their sinful ways…
- But the people of Israel ALSO had not changed – they were just like their fathers!
- And like their fathers they walked away – and rejected the commands of the Lord!
- But God gave them hope – if they came back to Him – He would return to them!
- Often I hear people complain where is God – as if He is the one who left them…
- God did not go anywhere – when we choose sin – we walk away from God!
- The good news is He is never far away – but He is a gentleman and will wait for us…
- The moment we turn around – He is always ready to receive us again…
- No matter how far we have run – or how many times we make mistakes!
- James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
- Since the days of your Fathers…
- 2nd – Will a man rob God… vs. 8-9
- Question – How could they return to the Lord…
- Answer – by not robbing Him – by not withholding their TITHES and OFFERINGS!
- The whole nation was under a curse because they ROBBED God!
- This has to be one of the more infamous verses of the Bible – pastor love it / people fear it!
- But we miss the key question – why was the key to returning to the Lord – giving to God!
- Certainly God does not need our money – He is the creator of all heaven and earth!
- But God does want us to invest in Him / His work – Luke 12:34
- If you have $1 in a bank account you never think about it – but if you have $1 million!
- We do not choose where are heart is – we do choose where we put our treasures…
- Wherever we put our money / time / talents – is where our heart will also be!
- We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us – ‘on our heart’…
- But our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!
- That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9
- Instead we need to be wise were we choose to invest our time and treasures!
- How much should we invest in the Lord…
- The word tithe is the Hebrew word for a tenth – we would say 10%
- But according to the Law there were 3 different TITHES people were required to give…
- Numbers 18:21-24 – the Levitical tithe to provide for those who served the Lord…
- Deuteronomy 14:22-26 – the feast tithe – 10% of the harvest – eaten before the Lord…
- Deuteronomy 14:28-29 – the poor tithe – to take care of those less fortunate
- The poor tithe was only once every 3 years…
- So in all the people were required to TITHE about 23% of their income each year!
- And that did not include offerings – which were free will gifts above the TITHE!
- Question – How could they return to the Lord…
- 1st – Return to the Lord… vs. 7
- I am always amused by those who teach giving 10% to the church (should be 23%)…
- They take this one Law from the OT and teach it like it belongs in the NT…
- The Law is not a buffet line – you cannot pick and choose what laws you like…
- Those who teach giving 10% to the church – must also teach the rest of the Law!
- The New Covenant command is to give because we want to – II Corinthians 9:7…
- Often today people give out of a sense of obligation – they give but do not want to!
- It may even be taught that if we do not give – God will not bless us…
- As if we are steeling from God if we do not give to the church!
- But God says to give whatever we want – as little or as much as is on our heart…
- But whatever we give – we are to do it with a hilarious heart – a cheerful giver…
- If we give out of obligation – it counts for nothing – God does not want it!
- Churches do not have to tell people to give…
- Exodus 36:4-7 – the building of the Tabernacle – Moses had to stop the people…
- To often in the church – money is the focus – tithes / offerings – the reason…
- The church is trying to do something that is their idea – new building…
- If it is our idea we have to pay for it – if God has the idea He will pay for it!
- When God is the one doing the work – He will stir the hearts of His people…
- He will provide so much – they will end up having to tell the people to STOP giving!
- 3rd – Test the Lord… vs. 10-12
- Bring the tithes into the storehouse – so there may be food…
- Because the people had not given their tithes – the Levites had no food to eat…
- Many of them had to leave the ‘ministry’ and go back to work – Nehemiah 13:10
- Bring the tithes into the storehouse – so there may be food…
- It is a blessing to the church to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister…
- If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
- But a pastor should NEVER demand/even ask – for money – I Corinthians 9:15
- Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…
- They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – take advantage of the people…
- The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message become tainted…
- Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
- Test me in this – see if I will not open the windows of heaven!
- God promised to bless Israel so much they would not be able to contain it…
- He would guard their crops from insects (devourer) and disease…
- And all the nations of the world would call them blessed – a delightful Land!
- If we do not have to give – we might think – then why would I want to give!
- It would seem to be better for me to keep my money – not to give anything away…
- But in reality if we give to others – we will end up with more than I stared with!
- Luke 6:38 – “With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
- The Law of sowing and reaping…
- Some of us might be familiar with the rules for farming – investing in a crop…
- It can be expensive to plow a field with a tractor / buy good seed / fertilizer…
- But in the end – the more a farmer invests into a crop – the more they get back!
- Turn out this principal of sowing and reaping is just as true with giving…
- Our gifts to God – whether given to the church / or those in need – are like seeds…
- The more we plant – the more of a harvest of blessing we will reap from God…
- If we are ‘cheap’ and choose to only plant a couple of seeds – a little harvest…
- But if we sow bountifully – we will also reap bountifully!
- We will never out give the Lord – the more we give / the more we will be given!
- Side note: God knows the motives of our heart – you cannot give to try and get…
- If you have a friend who only ‘gives’ to you expecting ‘more’ back in return…
- It will not take long before you try and avoid that ‘friend’!
- If we only give to the Lord expecting back – we will be disappointed!
- 2nd – Harsh words… vs. 13-17
- 1st – Why serve the Lord… vs. 13-15
- God accused the people of using HASH WORDS – but they asked – what had they said!
- It is useless to serve God – what have we gained by obeying His commands / sorry for sin…
- Better to call the proud blessed because those who do evil get rich!
- And those who dare God to punish them – face no consequence – and go free!
- The people recognized it was easier to live for this world / than for the Lord!
- When we look at the evil world around us – it can be very disheartening…
- We see people living immoral lives – rejecting the truth of God…
- And the worst part is they seem to be getting away with it…
- They are not suffering – they may even prosper – and it seems unfair!
- It can make a person wonder if it is really worth it to live for Jesus!
- God accused the people of using HASH WORDS – but they asked – what had they said!
- 2nd – The Remnant… vs. 16
- There were still a few who followed the Lord – and they did three things…
- They feared the Lord…
- Psalm 111:10 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”
- Much of the world today scoffs at the Bible – because they do not fear the Lord…
- They do not fear the judgment seat – they do not fear the Lake of Fire…
- But there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
- Wise sinners who feared the Lord and see their need for Jesus – and those who did not!
- Hebrews 10:31 – “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God…”
- They fellowshipped with one another…
- Going to church does not save us – but it does keep us from getting off track…
- It is easy to do the wrong things and convince ourselves we right…
- That is why God call us to fellowship together in church – Hebrews 10:25…
- We help keep each other in check – we are stronger together!
- They mediated on His name…
- Our thoughts guide our actions – our actions define our character…
- We do not just wake up one day and decide to go and sin – James 1:14-15
- If we allow our mind to dwell on a desire – when that desire turns to action – sin…
- If we are full of this world – think about sin – then we are going to sin!
- But if we are full of Jesus – think about Jesus – we are going to act like Jesus!
- 3rd – Book of Remembrance… vs. 16-17
- The Lord did two things for the faithful remnant…
- The Lord listened to them…
- Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear…”
- Unrepentant sin keeps the Lord from hearing us – leaves prayers unanswered…
- Our prayers hit the ceiling of our sin – and we end up talking to ourselves!
- But the moment we repent – turn back to Jesus – we will find He is eager to listen / act!
- I Peter 3:12 – “The Lords… ears are open to the prayers of those who do right.”
- The Lord wrote them down in the Book of Remembrance…
- These days we have cell phones – to record every cute things our kids EVERY do…
- Hallel has only been around for 2.5 years – we have 14,000 pictures and over 1,000 videos!
- That is an average of 14 pictures EVERY day of her life – cell phone of remembrance!
- That is the heart that God has for HIS kids who love Him…
- He does not want to miss a single moment – and He makes sure to record them all!
- Because we are HIS Jewels – HIS treasure – that HE values more than anything else!
- And because we are HIS kids – God plans to spare us from the Judgment to come!
- I Peter 2:9 – “You are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession.”
- 1st – Why serve the Lord… vs. 13-15
As we look to Jesus – the CURSE is lifted – we are changed from the inside out!
3rd – The day of judgement… 3:18 – 4:6
1st – Discerning between the righteous and wicked… vs. 18-3
On the day when God spares HIS kids – but judges those who reject Him – it will be obvious…
It is FOOLISH to call the proud blessed – dare God to punish – they WILL BE judged!
They will be like STUBLE – the Lord will burn them up – leaving neither root nor branch!
It is NOT useless to serve God – there is MUCH gained by obeying His commands!
Because the SUN of righteousness will rise with healing in HIS wings…
I love the illustration of the rising SUN – because like the rising of the sun…
We can be absolutely certain the day is coming when the SON will rise!
And in that day He will make the difference extremely clear…
Those who fear the Lord will be like fat cows (compliment) – well fed and cared for!
We will TRAMPLE the wicked that HAD prospered – as if they were dust under our feet!
They key is it may not happen TODAY – but it will most definitely happen ONE day!
Therefore for those who desire to live for TODAY – serving God seems foolish…
But for those who live with their eyes on eternity – it is FOOLISH NOT to serve God!
Luke 16:19-20 – we are given the story of two men – the RICH man and Lazarus…
And anyone with a lick of common sense would want to be the rick man…
Who would not want wealth / comfort / prosperity / lots of friends – the easy life…
No one wants to be sick / poor / hungry / void of any friends!
IF – this life was all there was – IF we did not have to think about eternity!
But both men died – the same fate that all men share – ONLY Lazarus was saved!
Life is not about how much stuff we can buy – or how many people like us…
Life is a gift – with only one purpose – it gives us the opportunity to make a choice…
Where will we go when our time here on earth is up – where will we spend eternity!
2nd – Elijah the prophet… vs. 4-6
Therefore – in light of the difference between the fate of the righteous an wicked…
Remember the Law of Moses – that GOD gave to Israel on Mt. Horeb / Sinai…
It was critical to remember the Law – because God was about to be silent…
For the next 400 years there would be no prophet in Israel to speak for God!
It may not be accurate to call these the years of silence – because God did speak…
He had given His word to Israel – all they need to do was open it and listen!
God still speaks to His people through His Word – but the question is who is listening…
From the moment we get up – to the moment we go to bed we are busy…
We tend to be so busy in life we rarely have a moment to open our Bibles…
And then we wonder why God is silent – He is not silent / we are not listening!
Until God would send Elijah the prophet…
He would come before the GREAT (saints) and DREADFUL (sinners) Day of the Lord…
For those who believe – John the Baptist came in the Spirit of Elijah – Matthew 11:14
For those who do not believe in Jesus Elijah has yet to come…
Revelation 11:3 – One of the two witnesses who stand to judge the world!
Moses wrote the 1st 5 books of the Bible – represents the Law of God
Elijah represents the Prophets – he never died – II Kings 2:11
They represent the testimony of the Law and Prophets – pointing people to Jesus!
For 2,400 years the Jews have been looking for the coming of Elijah…
Every year at Passover (Holy Friday) they set a place at the table for him!
Elijah will turn the hearts of the fathers – lest God strike the earth with a curse…
This verse is bit controversial and difficult to interpret…
It is possible that it is talking about restoring harmony to broken families…
But based on Luke 1:17 – it would appear it may have a different meaning…
Luke 1:17 – “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom.”
God will restore the hearts of the father (Abraham / Isaac / Jacob) to the sons of Israel…
Changing their disobedient minds so that they will accept Godly wisdom…
In other words He will save Israel – so He does not have to strike them with a CURSE!
Interesting that the last verse of the OT is ‘curse’ – because the Law could not save…
The only hope for Israel was a change of heart – their disobedient mind…
Which is where the next verse comes in – Matthew 1:1 – the arrival of Jesus Christ!
Jeremiah 31:31 – “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant… I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
The New Covenant is not about what we have to do – but what God does for us!
Only Jesus can bring lasting change – a transformed heart and new life…
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