1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,680 All right, everyone, good morning again. 2 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,160 So glad you all are here with us. 3 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:05,800 My name is Josh. If we have not had the chance to 4 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,039 meet, I'm also one of the pastors here at Vita Springs. 5 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,640 Another warm welcome to you if you're visiting with us for the 6 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:13,240 first or second or third time. We're very glad you guys are 7 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:17,120 here with us. We are on our penultimate week 8 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:19,720 in the book of Malachi, second to last week. 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,280 Go ahead and open up your Bibles to page 8, O2. 10 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,360 If you're using one of the Bibles under the seat in front 11 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,760 of you, if you don't have a Bible, please take that one home 12 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:28,640 with you. It's our gift to you. 13 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,080 We would love for you to have a Bible you can read and enjoy 14 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:32,520 God's Word. So that is a gift to you. 15 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:37,360 If you do not have a Bible. We are in Malachi chapter 3 and 16 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,240 we'll be reading verses 13 to 18 here in a moment. 17 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,560 But to give us a little bit of context, particularly for those 18 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,920 who have not been with us so far in the book of Malachi, Book of 19 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,080 Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. 20 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:54,240 The Israelites are have had a history of waiting on God by 21 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,440 this point, 400 years in slavery in Egypt. 22 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,440 This is long before the book of Malachi, 70 years in captivity 23 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,959 in Babylon shortly before this. Presently they're waiting for 24 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:07,760 things to be made right as the Persian Empire now has their 25 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,400 thumb over them or their rule over them. 26 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,800 And little did they know it was it would be another 400 years 27 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,160 until their Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem. 28 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,240 And I don't know about you, but waiting is difficult. 29 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,840 We've got one light as you leave our, our development, our 30 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,920 neighborhood, some of you know, it well, feels like as you're 31 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,000 approaching it, it's green. And so you know that as you get 32 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:30,640 to it, it's going to turn red. And it's kind of bumpy on the 33 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,640 way out. And it's, it would be dangerous 34 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:34,840 to speed right through. But sometimes I gun it because 35 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:36,320 I, I got to try to make that green light. 36 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:38,720 Maybe some of you do that when you're leaving the church. 37 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:41,400 Don't lie. I've seen some of you do it. 38 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,520 Waiting is difficult. Waiting is also revealing, like 39 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,720 a like when you squeeze a sponge and outcomes the contents of the 40 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,880 sponge. When we're squeezed by waiting, 41 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:55,800 you'll see what the contents of our hearts contain. 42 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,560 We might be surprised at some of the things we think while we 43 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,600 wait. We might be surprised by some of 44 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:04,320 the things that we say or feel that might be untrue. 45 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,960 We can be tempted to despair or doubt or give up. 46 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,960 Might say things to yourself like is it really worth it to 47 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,440 wait for that promotion? Maybe I'll just change companies 48 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,000 or switch fields entirely. Is it worth it? 49 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:21,880 Do you think we can we should really wait till we can afford 50 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,400 this or that. Maybe we'll put it on credit, 51 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,120 maybe the raise will come. Is it really worth it to 52 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,480 persevere with God? Heaven feels so far away. 53 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,480 I'm not sure I'm going to have the strength to persevere with 54 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:38,480 him to the end. Might think things like does God 55 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,480 even care about me or see me or what I'm going through? 56 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:45,840 Is following God even worth it? My friend, I'm curious, where 57 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,520 are you waiting right now and how is it going? 58 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:52,960 What is God revealing in you as you wait? 59 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:57,880 The Israelites, as I mentioned, had a history of waiting and by 60 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,720 this point in their history they had grown tired of waiting. 61 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,160 It LED them to breaking covenant with God, as we've seen through 62 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,240 Malachi in all sorts of ways. The book constructed in the form 63 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:10,920 of arguments they make with God. God had prescribed how he was to 64 00:03:10,920 --> 00:03:12,880 be worshipped and he's God, he gets to do that. 65 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:14,760 And they had said, I don't know why bother? 66 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,840 God doesn't love us, we're still poor, our enemies still prosper. 67 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,880 We don't have the things God promised to us. 68 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,120 What difference is it going to make? 69 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,520 I think I'd rather go marry women who worship other gods. 70 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:27,960 Maybe I'd rather divorce my wife. 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,200 Maybe I would rather just bring polluted sacrifices to God or 72 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:33,240 not give him at all what he deserves. 73 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:37,000 Or, and as we'll see today, speak distrusting words to God, 74 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,480 we'll see how waiting revealed the contents of their hearts of 75 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:44,040 a few different groups of people. 76 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:47,280 The ungodly speak and reveal their distrust. 77 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,360 The godly speak and reveal repentance. 78 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,040 God listens and he pays attention, and then God speaks 79 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:57,920 and he reveals his mercy. That's our outline for today. 80 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,440 The ungodly speak, the godly speak. 81 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:05,760 God listens and then God speaks. But before we go to God in His 82 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,000 word and in prayer, it is our practice here to take a moment 83 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,600 of silence, to prepare our hearts, to ask God to give a 84 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:13,680 softness of heart and readiness to listen to him. 85 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,480 So would you join me in silence for a time and then I'll pray 86 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:39,440 for us and read from Malachi. God, you said at the beginning 87 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:43,040 of Malachi that from the rising of the sun to its setting, your 88 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,760 name will be great among the nations, and in every place a 89 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,720 pure offering would be offered to your name. 90 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,120 You said your name would be great among the nations and God, 91 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:54,000 that is true while we gather here this morning. 92 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:56,480 God, your name is surely great here. 93 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:00,280 We want to offer ourselves to you today as a pure offering. 94 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,520 God, we want to offer ourselves to you every day in service to 95 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,480 you, because there's none more worthy than you, God. 96 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:11,320 And yet, God, we confess that daily we need Your grace to 97 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,240 cover our sins even despite our best efforts, God, we are still 98 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,640 hindered by the sin in our own hearts and in our own minds. 99 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,200 Got some of these sins we've been fighting against for 100 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:24,200 decades? Some we may continue to fight 101 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:29,280 against for decades more. God, we thank you that when we 102 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:32,080 confess our sins, you are faithful, You are just. 103 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:34,920 You will forgive us our sins and purify us from all 104 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:37,680 unrighteousness. God, what Amazing Grace you have 105 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,160 for us. I thank you, God, for the peace 106 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,200 that we can have with you through Jesus. 107 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:46,840 God, as challenging as our sufferings can be, just as we 108 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:49,800 see, we'll see today in this passage, the Israelites, we're 109 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,200 in the middle of so much suffering. 110 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,160 God, we choose today to give you thanks for our suffering and to 111 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,000 rejoice in them. You said that suffering produces 112 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,560 endurance and endurance would produce character and character 113 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,760 would produce hope and hope would not put us to shame 114 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,320 because you've poured your love into our hearts. 115 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,800 And so God, we know and we believe that you are able to 116 00:06:09,800 --> 00:06:11,840 keep us. You are able to keep us. 117 00:06:11,840 --> 00:06:15,200 And you will present us blameless before you one day and 118 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,720 you will fill us with never ending joy in your presence. 119 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,080 So God, give us the endurance and the perseverance we need to 120 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:24,600 make it to the end. We praise you, we love you. 121 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:27,280 God, to you be all the glory this morning in Christ's 122 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:28,840 wonderful name. Amen. 123 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,120 Well, would you join me as I read from Malachi 3 verses 13 to 124 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,240 18, and then we'll take a look at the first few verses. 125 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,320 Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. 126 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,320 But you say, how have we spoken against you? 127 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,720 You have said it is vain to serve God. 128 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,720 What is the profit of our keeping His charge, or of 129 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,280 walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 130 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:01,760 And now we call the arrogant blessed evil doers not only 131 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:04,880 prosper, but they put God to the test, and they escape. 132 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:08,920 And then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. 133 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,400 The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of 134 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:15,480 remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord 135 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,800 and esteemed His name. They shall be mine, says the 136 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:23,560 Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, 137 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,120 and I will spare them as a man spares his Son who serves him. 138 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,400 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the 139 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,760 righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and 140 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:39,080 one who does not serve him. The first group we see to speak 141 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,200 up in the midst of their waiting are the ungodly. 142 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:45,640 They speak up saying things like it's vain to serve God or what a 143 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,640 waste, it's useless. What's the profit of our keeping 144 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,640 his charge or walking in mourning before the Lord of 145 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:54,920 hosts walking in mourning. Probably just meaning they had 146 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,240 taken up this practice in a somewhat of a ritualistic way. 147 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,000 Or they're kind of like sackcloth and ashes, making 148 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,840 themselves look all distraught. But it was just a show, you 149 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,080 know, there was there was no, there was no substance to it In 150 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:10,240 this final dispute or argument between the Israelites and God, 151 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,400 It seems the the peak of the argument. 152 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,880 It's reached its climax. God says your words have been 153 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:21,080 hard against me, literally grew strong. 154 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,520 They were firm, arrogant, bold. They're hardened like like the 155 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:26,640 peak of an argument that's growing heated and you start to 156 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,560 say ridiculous things. They don't look like godly 157 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:32,679 people right now. These are God's chosen people, 158 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:35,919 at least by race or nationality, but they don't look like God's 159 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:37,840 people right now. They're speaking the words of 160 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:41,320 ungodly people, saying things like it's it's vain to serve God 161 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,880 or what a waste. Evildoers prosper and they 162 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:48,720 escape God's wrath. In Job 21, Job would say that 163 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:50,160 they're speaking like wicked people. 164 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,080 He says of the wicked. The wicked say to God, what is 165 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:55,600 the Almighty that we should serve him? 166 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:57,840 What prophet do we get if we pray to him? 167 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:02,240 Squeezed by their years of waiting, their speeches starting 168 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:05,160 to reveal some deep beliefs that they had in their own hearts. 169 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,320 First of all, they thought they were doing just fine in their 170 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,760 own obedience. When they say What's the prophet 171 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,200 of keeping God's charge, they're essentially saying, God, we've 172 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,320 kept your charge and what's the benefit? 173 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:18,200 We're not, we're not getting any of the goodies. 174 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:20,480 We're not getting the blessings we thought we were going to get. 175 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,760 They clearly thought they were doing just fine. 176 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,080 They were convinced of their own righteousness. 177 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:31,840 They believe that God owed them blessing for their supposed 178 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:35,160 righteousness. Now, we don't think you've kept 179 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:37,480 up your end of the deal. They don't think they're getting 180 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,080 what they're owed. And so they believe as well that 181 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:43,360 God doesn't show any distinction between the righteous and the 182 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:45,560 wicked. The end of these first section 183 00:09:45,560 --> 00:09:48,400 we looked at the arrogant are blessed, they say actually it 184 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,200 seems like they're the ones who you prefer God. 185 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,000 The arrogant are blessed. And in the end they conclude 186 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:56,800 there's no prophet in serving the Lord. 187 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:00,120 It's vain, it's useless, no reward is coming. 188 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:05,000 That's a sad conclusion, terribly sad conclusion they 189 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,320 reach. But truthfully, they're only 190 00:10:07,320 --> 00:10:10,640 asking out loud some things that we've all sometimes thought 191 00:10:10,640 --> 00:10:13,800 about in our own minds. They see the quiet part out 192 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,960 loud. You might say, what's the profit 193 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:18,680 in following God? Is it really worth it? 194 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,800 God, my circumstances sure don't look like you're in control. 195 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,080 He definitely brown nosed his way to that promotion. 196 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:28,960 She definitely put herself out there a little bit to get that 197 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,040 guy's attention. That company's cutting corners 198 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,360 so they can get higher profits. And I'm just trying to be honest 199 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,760 in my work. It actually looks like the 200 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,040 arrogant are better off and the evil doers prosper. 201 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:43,360 Why am I still following God? Is it even worth it? 202 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,880 The Israelites answered it's in vain, it's useless. 203 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,360 God has left us. But like we are all prone to do, 204 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:56,320 they were just fixating on their temporary circumstances. 205 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,040 We do the same. We ask the same questions and we 206 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,520 come to the same conclusions when we look at our own 207 00:11:01,680 --> 00:11:05,440 temporary circumstances. But our lives are much longer 208 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,920 than the 7080 or years that God gives us here or bless us to 209 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:12,280 give us more. The best things in life always 210 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,160 involve trials, struggles of various kinds. 211 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:17,800 Think about it. If you failed the test, would 212 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,880 you give up on that major or on that career? 213 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:23,320 Just because you had one rough go on a test, your child 214 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:25,280 disobeys. You wouldn't say she's a 215 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,920 hoodlum, she's gone forever. Give up on her. 216 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:31,960 If you had a conflict with a friend, would you really just 217 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:34,800 move on from that friendship because it was your first time 218 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,120 having conflict with that friend? 219 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,680 Vita Springs is was particularly slow growing at the beginning. 220 00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:43,720 Was it worth it? Might answer that question, Lee, 221 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,040 if you left after year one versus sticking around till year 222 00:11:46,040 --> 00:11:50,680 10, was it worth it? If I is following God worth it? 223 00:11:50,680 --> 00:11:53,000 We're really asking, well, is following God going to get in 224 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,560 the way of my vision for a comfortable middle class life 225 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:59,160 where I get most of the things I want with little suffering, and 226 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:01,680 I get it all at least as fast as my peers, and preferably a 227 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:04,920 little bit faster. And if God won't get in the way 228 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,080 of that, then great, sign me up. I would like that. 229 00:12:07,160 --> 00:12:10,200 And God. But that's not the life that God 230 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:11,440 promised for those who follow him. 231 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:15,920 For valuable things, for priceless things, we endure. 232 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:20,680 We expect suffering when we're pursuing something worthwhile. 233 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:22,400 It's the same in our following after God. 234 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:26,720 Some of the promises in Scripture which are not the ones 235 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:29,640 we might first go to to quote to ourselves. 236 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:33,000 Paul writing to Timothy, all who desire to live a godly life in 237 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,840 Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Jesus saying to his disciples in 238 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:42,280 this life you will have trials, but take heart, I have overcome 239 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:45,560 the evil one else we're saying through many trials. 240 00:12:45,560 --> 00:12:49,200 The Christian must enter the Kingdom of God through many 241 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:51,840 trials. And why would he on earth would 242 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:53,960 he put us through so many trials? 243 00:12:54,960 --> 00:12:56,120 We'll see by the end of this chapter. 244 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:59,760 It's because He has something glorious in store for those who 245 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:03,760 fear Him, something even greater than this good world that He has 246 00:13:03,760 --> 00:13:07,560 made with all of its goodness. Right now we just have a little 247 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:09,520 taste of God's glory and His goodness. 248 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:14,120 But the full glory is coming, my friend. 249 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,120 What is God revealing in your heart? 250 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,120 And you're waiting. What is He revealing in you? 251 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,720 Is there a part of you that feels like God owes you 252 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,760 something for your obedience? Is there a part of your heart 253 00:13:26,760 --> 00:13:27,760 where you might say you know God? 254 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,160 I think I've done a pretty good job at either going to church or 255 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,520 small group or giving or whatever it may be. 256 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:38,280 So why am I still struggling to pay my bills or find a spouse or 257 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,840 reconcile with my kids or make new friends here in Gainesville? 258 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,400 Is there waiting? Revealing any sins that you need 259 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:49,280 to repent of or turn away from? Self righteousness or pride, 260 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:55,160 impatience, anger, lack of hospitality, unkind speech, 261 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:59,800 whatever God might be revealing in you, just like we'll see in 262 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:02,920 verse 16, which we'll get to here in a moment. 263 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:06,080 If you have oxygen in your lungs, it's never too late to 264 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,800 repent. Confess those things to God. 265 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,320 Ask Him to forgive you. He delights to forgive. 266 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:15,640 He knows our frame. He remembers that we are dust to 267 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:18,240 comfort as well. Obedience or obedience to God 268 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,880 doesn't make us right before God. 269 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:23,920 We look to the finished work of Jesus on the cross, risen from 270 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:26,480 the and risen from the grave and we say God, I receive your 271 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:29,520 forgiveness because Jesus said it is finished. 272 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:35,320 So take comfort. He loves to forgive the 273 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:39,840 Israelites in their waiting. Some of the godless Israelites 274 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,400 that is spoke and revealed their distrust of God. 275 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,920 God has forgotten us. They said to themselves, it's 276 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,640 not worth it. Whatever. 16 we see that when 277 00:14:49,640 --> 00:14:52,840 the righteous speak, they reveal repentant hearts. 278 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,720 Look at just the first half of verse 16. 279 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:59,640 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. 280 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,680 Those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. 281 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,680 Just 10 words, but some pretty important things to note. 282 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:12,560 First of all, the word, then this point in time where it 283 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:15,240 seems that even the ones who had feared the Lord had been a part 284 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:18,400 of all the disputes and arguments against God that we've 285 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:19,960 looked at so far throughout Malachi. 286 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,560 But then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another so 287 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,320 their hearts did not remain stone cold and hardened to God. 288 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:30,360 They were softened, they were cut to the heart when they heard 289 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,880 the words of God through the prophet Malachi and they 290 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:36,200 repented. It would seem that's this is 291 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:37,840 very good news. And you should know as well, if 292 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:40,560 you're not a follower of Jesus, you wouldn't call yourself a 293 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,520 Christian. Please know the church is not 294 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,360 full of perfect people. Far from it. 295 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,240 You won't find a single perfect person here at Vita Springs. 296 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,480 It's true. Even Christians can be prone to 297 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,560 forgetfulness or tempted to despair or apathy in the midst 298 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,480 of trials. Even Christians could be tempted 299 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,480 to approach God with entitlement rather than trembling. 300 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:07,280 If you want a reference for this, just go read Psalm chapter 301 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:11,440 73 and listen to the kinds of things the psalmist is praying 302 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,440 to God to. Pay special attention to how the 303 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:19,480 Psalm shifts on its head. In verse 16 of that Psalm, the 304 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:22,200 attention changes. No, the church is full of 305 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,800 sinners, but by God's grace, the church is full of repentant 306 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:29,600 sinners, as we saw. It's not. 307 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,280 The second observation I might make from this first part of 308 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,640 verse 16 is that it's not too late to repent. 309 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:37,600 You can turn to God. People can change. 310 00:16:37,920 --> 00:16:40,400 Thank the Lord for that. That is amazingly good news. 311 00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:43,680 Even with heart and hearts, they, the hearts, our hearts can 312 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:46,240 be softened. And what is it that 313 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,040 characterizes this group of repentant sinners? 314 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,480 It's this phrase. They feared the Lord. 315 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,640 Those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. 316 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:58,320 Now that's an interesting phrase we're fleshing out for a little 317 00:16:58,320 --> 00:16:59,880 bit. Maybe you've heard it before. 318 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,599 Fear of the Lord simply means to stand in awe of or be awed by 319 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,599 God. It's a heart posture of 320 00:17:07,599 --> 00:17:11,200 reverence, of honor, of respect towards God. 321 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:14,839 But you know what else the word fear means? 322 00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:19,319 It means fear. It's wise and it's right to have 323 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:23,160 a proper fear of God. It's like people who are at the 324 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,800 top of a Cliff or a building without a railing and have No 325 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,160 Fear of falling over the edge have something off in their 326 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,160 noggin. They're missing a right kind of 327 00:17:32,160 --> 00:17:35,160 fear. The fear of the Lord is wise. 328 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:38,080 Proverbs 910 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the 329 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:41,120 beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is 330 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:45,040 insight. Because even though our God is 331 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:49,560 loving, he's not tame. He and His wrath are real and 332 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:54,400 fearsome. Jesus said do not fear those who 333 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,440 kill the body but cannot kill the soul, rather fear him who 334 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,800 can destroy both the soul and the body in hell. 335 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:06,480 And it's the fear of the Lord that changed everything for this 336 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:11,640 group of repentant sinners. They're described. 337 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,600 They're described in contrast to all the folks who spoke evil 338 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:16,720 against God in the first half of this section we've looked at. 339 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,200 So we can presume they gathered with some shared understanding 340 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,000 that they were not essentially good like the first group who 341 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,120 thought God, we're we're in the right, we've obeyed you. 342 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:28,600 Where's our goodies? Where's the blessings? 343 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:31,640 This group seems to understand where we've been in the wrong. 344 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,320 They know they're guilty before God. 345 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:35,960 They see their sin for what it is. 346 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:39,280 They didn't think little of God's holiness. 347 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:41,560 They saw him rightly. They had a right fear of him. 348 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:45,200 They knew he was to be held in honor and reverence. 349 00:18:45,200 --> 00:18:49,560 No, no doubt they're still experiencing the same 350 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:51,880 sufferings, right, and trials and waiting as all the other 351 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:53,800 Israelites. So no doubt they still wanted 352 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,320 those comforts that all the others wanted as well. 353 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,160 They wanted the reliefs. But in their estimation, in 354 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,480 their calculus, it was God himself who was more valuable 355 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:04,680 and all those other things that they were waiting on. 356 00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,880 They could continue to wait for as long as they had right 357 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:13,080 relationship with God. Their humble posture, their 358 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:17,280 repentant posture prompted them, interestingly, to get together. 359 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,360 It's the final observation I'll make on this verse. 360 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,040 This group of repentant sinners who feared the Lord get together 361 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,480 and they speak with one another. We're not told much. 362 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,800 They just find each other and they gather and they speak with 363 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,760 one another. Probably true words or 364 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:36,240 encouragements or maybe even confessions or prayers. 365 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,280 I heard one pastor say recently that he could preach on the 366 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:42,320 importance of church membership from any book in the Bible. 367 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:44,720 If I were to try to do that, I'd probably start here. 368 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:48,840 In the book of Malachi. These God fearing folk gather. 369 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:50,920 They don't. They don't wait to see how God 370 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,320 might respond to their arguments against them. 371 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,320 They just act. They commit to gathering 372 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:00,640 together. It's wise for us to surround 373 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,480 ourselves with other God fearing people, isn't it? 374 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:07,600 It's wise we're protected from going astray when we gather 375 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:10,880 together and when we collectively agree with one 376 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,560 another and proclaim the good news through our singing and 377 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:15,480 preaching and praying and listening. 378 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:20,000 God receives a unique kind of honor when hundreds of people 379 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:23,520 gather together who especially who otherwise wouldn't have 380 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:28,280 anything in common, just Jesus. That gives a unique kind of 381 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,400 honor to God, and it shows how lovely and glorious our God is. 382 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,600 Vita Springs, to quote an author, Michael Lawrence. 383 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,880 He says we should look radically different from the surrounding 384 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:43,240 culture, not just because we are each privately following Christ, 385 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,280 but because we take the witness of the whole quite seriously. 386 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,800 We know that we belong to each other because we belong to 387 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,200 Christ. So a couple potential 388 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,400 applications from this idea. If you have been attending 389 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,960 regularly and not pursuing membership, I would strongly 390 00:20:59,960 --> 00:21:02,560 encourage you to pursue membership at Vita Springs if 391 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:04,800 you've been attending regularly, or another church if you're 392 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:06,640 still looking for a church in Gainesville. 393 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,800 If you're a follower of Jesus, you need to commit to a local 394 00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,160 body of believers. God gave us each other, as 395 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,080 Gordon hinted at earlier, so that we could be built up and so 396 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:17,520 that we could build others up as well. 397 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:20,120 If you are a part of Vita Springs, small groups are 398 00:21:20,120 --> 00:21:23,520 another great way to deepen your relationships here where there's 399 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:25,080 opportunities to build one another up. 400 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,840 It's not the only way to do that, but it's a great way to do 401 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:29,280 that. It doesn't even have to be 402 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:31,480 people that you share things in common with, right? 403 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,400 It could be a group of people completely unlike you. 404 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,800 And I would say even if that's the case, all the better. 405 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:39,360 Gives more glory to Jesus when you surround yourself with 406 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:41,680 people who you have nothing in common with except you love 407 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,040 Jesus and you want to seek Him together. 408 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,800 We're not perfect, my friends. We certainly don't have 409 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,120 everything in common. But those who fear the Lord are 410 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:54,680 wise to surround themselves with others who do the same so they 411 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:57,400 can be built up and encouraged and challenged. 412 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,920 This group of repentant sinners who have a fear of the Lord, 413 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,600 they gather and they speak to one another, and it turns out 414 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:07,920 that their repentance and their trust in God was well warranted 415 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:10,520 because God is listening and He takes note. 416 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:13,360 Look at the second-half of verse 16. 417 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:19,400 The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of 418 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:23,560 remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord 419 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,920 and esteemed His name. Look at how much detail is given 420 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,760 to God's attentiveness, described in three different 421 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:32,680 ways. God paid attention and he heard 422 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:36,960 them and a book of remembrance was written for them and how 423 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:39,720 little these repentant ones have even done so far. 424 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:43,680 They just kind of got together and spoke to one another and God 425 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:50,720 says, I'm sorry, we got to write this down in real time. 426 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:54,240 God is ensuring that their names are written down, that it's 427 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,880 documented by name. Who are the ones who will be 428 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,760 blessed? Remember, the ungodly had 429 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:03,640 believed that God was perhaps absent or uninvolved or 430 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,000 detached, that He preferred the wicked. 431 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:10,160 But God is not apathetic or disinterested in you or your 432 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:11,680 lot. God is attentive. 433 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,240 The Lord paid attention and He heard them. 434 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,840 Elsewhere in Scripture, we see God is paying special attention 435 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:24,200 to the humble. Second Chronicle is 16/9. 436 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,360 An incredibly encouraging verse says that the eyes of the Lord 437 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:31,640 run to and fro throughout the whole earth to give strong 438 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,320 support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. 439 00:23:35,280 --> 00:23:39,480 He is looking to help and support those who fear Him and 440 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:43,680 esteem His name. The first group we looked at 441 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,480 believe there's no prophet in obedience. 442 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,600 It's all a sham. God said a book of remembrance 443 00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:52,040 would be written before him of those who feared the Lord and 444 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:54,680 esteemed his name. God would not forget the ones 445 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:57,400 who feared him. He would reward them generously. 446 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:03,200 Maybe you're familiar with Book of Esther in the Old Testament, 447 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,400 who was a queen, who were her cousin? 448 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:07,960 Mordecai said. Perhaps you've been raised up 449 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:13,600 for such a time as this to help deliver Israel from another time 450 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,280 where his role was oppressed in their history. 451 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:17,400 Perhaps he'd been raised up for such a time as this. 452 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,800 There's this gripping subplot about her cousin Mordecai all 453 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:22,560 throughout the book, and I just want to summarize it a little 454 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:25,560 bit for us. Mordecai overheard in Chapter 2 455 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:28,520 overheard a couple guys who were making a plan against the King 456 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,400 Xerxes to kill him. Mordecai takes that news to his 457 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,280 cousin Esther, who is the queen, and informs her. 458 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:38,160 She takes that to the king, and after it's discovered or sought 459 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:39,960 out, it's found to be true. Those men were hanged. 460 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,480 And what happens gets written down. 461 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,400 Write that down in the words of the book for the Chronicles in 462 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,560 the presence of the king. What Mordecai did doesn't get 463 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,560 his blessing immediately. But write that down five years 464 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:56,400 later, still no recognition for Mordecai's life saving work. 465 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,760 It actually looks like Mount Mordecai is going to die because 466 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:02,880 the antagonist of this story, Haman, can't stand Mordecai. 467 00:25:03,160 --> 00:25:05,440 He's the King's right hand man. He wants him dead because 468 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,920 Mordecai would not honor him. It says he planned to have 469 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:12,680 Mordecai hung this the very next day on some new gallows that he 470 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,240 had constructed. Wouldn't you know that very 471 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,920 night that Haman is making plans to kill Mordecai? 472 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:20,920 By God's Providence, the king was an insomniac. 473 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:24,160 He couldn't sleep. And you know what he asked for? 474 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,560 As he's lying in his bed trying to fall asleep, he says, bring 475 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:31,120 to me the book of memorable deeds, the Chronicles, and they 476 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:33,680 were read before him. And he reads Mordecai's story. 477 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:37,040 He says, has anything done for that guy who saved my life five 478 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:39,480 years ago? Well, no Sir, the scribes say 479 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,520 nothing's been done for him. What did you know? 480 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:45,400 Haman walks in to the King's court, all proud of himself, 481 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,000 feeling self-righteous. The king says what should be 482 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,360 done? He says to Haman, what should be 483 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:51,480 done for the man in whom the king delights to honor. 484 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:53,400 I'm going to read for us a few verses. 485 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,640 Haman said to himself, Whom would the king delight to honor 486 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,360 more than me? This is chapter 6, verse seven 487 00:26:01,120 --> 00:26:03,800 of the book of Esther. And Haman said to the king, 488 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:07,640 Haman speaking For the man whom the king delights to honor, let 489 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,440 royal robes be brought which the king has worn, and the horse 490 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:15,800 that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set, 491 00:26:16,080 --> 00:26:18,920 and let the robes and the horse be handed over to 1. 492 00:26:18,920 --> 00:26:20,960 To the one of the King's most noble officials. 493 00:26:21,240 --> 00:26:24,520 Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let 494 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:26,720 them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, 495 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,440 proclaiming before him. Thus shall it be done to the one 496 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,640 whom the king delights to honor. And then the king said to Haman, 497 00:26:33,720 --> 00:26:37,200 Hurry, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do 498 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:41,440 so to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the King's gate. 499 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,360 Leave out nothing that you have mentioned. 500 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,640 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai, 501 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,280 and he led him through the square of the city, proclaiming 502 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,760 before him. Thus shall it be done to whom 503 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:57,040 the man delights to honor. My Christian friend, you may be 504 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,000 waiting on God for a number of things. 505 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:04,440 Take heart, God will not forget the ones who fear Him. 506 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:08,760 He is attentive. He is looking to strengthen 507 00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:10,200 those whose hearts are committed to Him. 508 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:14,560 He sees, in fact, even the smallest of your faithful acts. 509 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,320 Mark 941. Whoever gives you a cup of water 510 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:21,280 to drink because you belong to Christ, will by number means 511 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:24,600 lose his reward. Even the faith, your 512 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,800 faithfulness done in secret, that no one but God will ever 513 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:31,840 see you will be rewarded for Matthew 6. 514 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:35,880 Give, pray, fast, do all these things in secret, and your 515 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:38,720 Father who sees in secret will reward you. 516 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:41,720 You can trust Him while you wait. 517 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:49,280 We saw the ungodly speak and they revealed the distrust of 518 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:51,480 God. The godly spoke. 519 00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:57,520 We saw their repentant hearts. God was listening, poised and 520 00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,680 ready to take note to ensure their future reward. 521 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:04,960 And in verses 17 and 18, we see that when God speaks, we see His 522 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:07,840 mercy. Look at verse 17. 523 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,680 They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I 524 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,920 make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man 525 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:22,000 spares his Son who serves him. And then once more you shall see 526 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,080 the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, 527 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:27,640 between one who serves God and one who does not serve him. 528 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:32,720 Again, we just think about how little these repentant sinners 529 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,120 have done so far. They got together and they spoke 530 00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:37,200 with one another. And God says you're going to be 531 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,920 mine, my treasured possession. I will spare them. 532 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:44,080 Clearly it's not because anything them that is 533 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:46,920 impressive, but it's because God is merciful. 534 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:50,680 God is merciful. He does not give us what we 535 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,120 deserve. He didn't have to speak through 536 00:28:53,120 --> 00:28:55,520 Malachi. As we remember from last week, 537 00:28:56,520 --> 00:28:59,720 their fathers, they had this history of disobedience against 538 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,480 God. They could have been wiped out 539 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:02,960 long before this book was written. 540 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:04,400 He didn't have to speak through Malachi. 541 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:06,160 He could have judged the rebellious people. 542 00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:10,760 He would have been just in doing so, even if he acknowledged the 543 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:12,320 repentance. He certainly didn't have to make 544 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:15,760 them his treasure to call them his own treasured possession. 545 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:18,800 So maybe a couple questions enter your own mind. 546 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:21,040 How could God be so merciful to them? 547 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:23,600 And why would God be so merciful to them? 548 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:26,760 First, how? How could be he be so merciful 549 00:29:26,960 --> 00:29:32,080 to such an obstinate people? God is holy and his sin is 550 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,440 offensive against Him and it deserves punishment. 551 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:37,920 And they had been racking up this growing list of debts 552 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:40,960 against him through all their disobedience. 553 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:43,040 So how did the economics of that even work out? 554 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:46,720 Someone has to pay for all that faithlessness against him, 555 00:29:46,760 --> 00:29:51,320 right? Yes, someone does, and someone 556 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:54,120 would. God himself would pay for their 557 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:58,040 faithlessness against him. God would send one who would pay 558 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:03,000 for all of their offenses, one who would bear our griefs and 559 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,520 carry our sorrows, One who would be stricken by men, smitten by 560 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:11,720 God, and afflicted. God sent Jesus, who was pierced 561 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,960 for our transgressions. He was crushed for our 562 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,960 iniquities. Upon Him was the chastisement 563 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:22,600 that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. 564 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:27,240 Isn't that what forgiveness is? Taking the weight and pain of 565 00:30:27,240 --> 00:30:30,520 someone else's wrongs against you, and taking those weight 566 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:34,000 upon yourself, relieving them of any debt of repayment? 567 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:38,320 My Christian friend, rest in that truth. 568 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,520 There's no repayment left to be made for your soul. 569 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:44,560 He won't. God won't let you take partial 570 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:46,040 credit. It's finished. 571 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,000 There's nothing left for you to contribute to your own salvation 572 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:56,160 because of the perfect and merciful love of God and Jesus's 573 00:30:56,160 --> 00:30:58,720 work on the cross and Him being raised from the dead. 574 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:02,080 He said the work is finished. He's purchased us. 575 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,480 He's made us his own. And if you're not yet following 576 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,760 Jesus, what a wonderful gift that God wants to leave you with 577 00:31:07,760 --> 00:31:10,600 this morning and that He wants you to receive. 578 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:15,040 He wants you to receive eternal life with Him, the cleansing of 579 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:18,160 your conscience of all of your sins, past, present and future. 580 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:21,920 Now that doesn't mean that we go on sinning just because our 581 00:31:21,920 --> 00:31:23,240 sins, though covered, are covered. 582 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:25,120 Oh boy, it gets to carry on in my sin. 583 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:29,560 No, God loves us too much to let us continue in the deathly grip 584 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:32,520 of sin. He intends for His people to be 585 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:36,880 holy and pure. In the book of Titus chapter 2, 586 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,720 it says that God gave himself for us to redeem us or purchase 587 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:44,440 us back from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people. 588 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,480 Here's that word again. For his own possession, who are 589 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:51,320 zealous for good works. So while our sins are paid for, 590 00:31:51,320 --> 00:31:53,840 that doesn't mean that there's no cost to following Jesus. 591 00:31:53,840 --> 00:31:56,960 It surely will cost you everything he can. 592 00:31:57,080 --> 00:31:58,400 Only he is the one who can be lured. 593 00:31:58,400 --> 00:32:01,000 We can't have two Lords or two masters at the same time. 594 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:03,560 But my friends, the exchange is worth it. 595 00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:06,600 We get again. We get to be freed from the sin 596 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,760 that's killing us. The eternal wrath of God in hell 597 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,200 that awaits us if we do, if we refuse to repent. 598 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:15,480 And instead we get to receive the hope of eternity with God, 599 00:32:16,560 --> 00:32:18,560 an eternal Kingdom that cannot be shaken. 600 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:21,280 And best of all, we get to receive God himself. 601 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,360 He can be our treasured possession, just as he says that 602 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:29,000 he will treasure us and we will be His treasured possession. 603 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:34,560 In the wise words of Jim Elliott, he said he is no fool 604 00:32:34,560 --> 00:32:37,720 who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 605 00:32:38,360 --> 00:32:44,200 The exchange is worth it of those who turn to him. 606 00:32:44,200 --> 00:32:48,200 God says they shall be mine, my treasured possession, not 607 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,520 because they're impressive, but because God is merciful. 608 00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:53,560 How could he do that? He could do that because he sent 609 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,640 his son to pray the price to purchase back for himself a 610 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:59,160 repentant people. Why on earth would God do that? 611 00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:01,360 Why would he make them his treasured possession? 612 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:03,960 Admittedly, it's a bit of a funny question to ask and to 613 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:06,080 answer because if you think about your own treasured 614 00:33:06,080 --> 00:33:08,320 possessions and ask why do you treasure them? 615 00:33:10,080 --> 00:33:12,000 And by the way, I'm not talking about things that you like or 616 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:13,760 enjoy. Even if you use a strong word 617 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,600 like love to say I love, I love ultimate Frisbee. 618 00:33:16,600 --> 00:33:18,040 It gives me a sort of return on investment. 619 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:19,680 You might say it's exciting and I enjoy it. 620 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,840 I love coffee, the modest return on investment I get from my 621 00:33:23,840 --> 00:33:26,480 coffee morning routine. But we don't use the same 622 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:28,080 language for the things that we treasure most. 623 00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:32,520 It's like a different category. Why do I love my wife and my 624 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:35,280 children? I can't not love them. 625 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,000 Try to make me stop loving them and I can't do it. 626 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:42,880 Why does God? Or I should say to an infinitely 627 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:44,960 greater extent, God loves his children. 628 00:33:45,400 --> 00:33:47,920 He loves those who repent and follow him. 629 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,080 He gave his own sons so they could be saved from sin and 630 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:53,040 hell. Why does he love them those who 631 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:55,720 turn away from their sins? Perhaps the best answer is that 632 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:57,760 because it's in the character of God to do so. 633 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:02,960 He is faithful, He is merciful, He keeps his covenant and his 634 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,640 promises, and he is steadfast in his love. 635 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:11,280 You might say that he can't not love those who turn to Him in 636 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:14,760 faith. They shall be mine, My treasured 637 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:16,960 possession, God says, and I will spare them. 638 00:34:18,639 --> 00:34:22,239 There is great reward waiting for those who fear God. 639 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:27,120 I know all of us would admit that waiting is difficult. 640 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,760 In our waiting we can distrust God, we can throw in the towel, 641 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:34,080 we can say it's not worth it. It's vain to serve Him. 642 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,440 Or we can repent of our pride and our waywardness, and we can 643 00:34:38,440 --> 00:34:41,639 receive His mercy. We can do so with the assurance 644 00:34:41,639 --> 00:34:44,159 that God will not forget the ones who fear Him. 645 00:34:45,639 --> 00:34:50,320 He will reward them generously. Kurt will address this in 646 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:54,040 greater detail next week. But God promises clearly here 647 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,080 that the day is coming, where, as we see in the end of verse 648 00:34:57,080 --> 00:34:59,760 18, you shall see the distinction between the 649 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,280 righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and 650 00:35:03,280 --> 00:35:07,280 one who does not serve Him. On the surface, based on our 651 00:35:07,280 --> 00:35:10,200 circumstances, it may seem that in our days the wicked prosper 652 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,480 and the righteous suffer. But it will not be that way 653 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:16,520 forever. God will make a distinction 654 00:35:16,720 --> 00:35:19,680 between those who serve Him and those who do not. 655 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:23,520 Those who reject Him will suffer in eternity apart from Him. 656 00:35:23,680 --> 00:35:27,960 Those who fear Him will be remembered, for He has written 657 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:31,360 their names down in His book. He will surely reward them and 658 00:35:31,360 --> 00:35:38,280 treasure them and save them. And while we wait, May God give 659 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:40,400 us assurance. It's not vain to serve Him. 660 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:43,840 He's worth following. He will remember His people. 661 00:35:44,680 --> 00:35:48,560 So may we say along with the Psalmist from Psalm chapter 27, 662 00:35:48,680 --> 00:35:53,680 verses 13 and 14, I believe that I shall look upon the goodness 663 00:35:53,680 --> 00:35:55,560 of the Lord in the land of the living. 664 00:35:56,120 --> 00:36:01,480 Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage and 665 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:05,200 wait for the Lord. Let's stand together, continue 666 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:08,800 to worship our God through our faith, through singing to our 667 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,880 faithful God. Worship team can come on up.