THE GREATEST NEED IN THE DAY WE LIVE
Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Malachi 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.
Psalm 99: 9 Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
1. Disrespect for God.
Insult to divinity
Mercenary attitude
Israel was at low ebb.
They became slaves to formalism.
Very self righteous
Satisfied with themselves
Did not hesitate to blaspheme God’s holy name.
2. They were warned of coming judgment.
Giving only lip service to God.
Lip service will not atone your sins.
God’s plea was for Israel to repent.
3. There was dishonesty among them.
Malachi 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
4. He has a challenge to all.
Malachi 3: 10 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.
5.We must have right attitudes.
Malachi 3: 16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17 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.
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
5. Destruction of the wicked.
Malachi 4: 1 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.
6. Exaltation of righteous.
Malachi 4: 2 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.
Repent for the things of God is an important part of our witness to the lost.
True reverence is exhibited in a life of righteousness.
